WLOF

WLOF
Elma, New York;
Broadcast area	Buffalo metropolitan area
Frequency	101.7 MHz
Branding	The Station of the Cross
Programming
Format	Catholic radio
Affiliations	EWTN Radio
Ownership
Owner	Holy Family Communications
Sister stations	WHIC
History
First air date	November 9, 1977; 46 years ago
Former call signs	WBTF (1977–1998); WXOX (1998–1999);
Call sign meaning	Our Lady of Fatima
Technical information
Class	A
ERP	2,800 watts
HAAT	148 meters (486 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	42°46′59″N 78°27′29″W / 42.783°N 78.458°W
Repeater(s)	WLGU 90.7 Lancaster, New York
Links
Webcast	Listen live
Website	thestationofthecross.com/stations/buffalo-ny/

WLOF (101.7 MHz) is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Elma, New York and serving the Buffalo metropolitan area. It broadcasts a Catholic talk and teaching radio format. Referred to as The Station of the Cross, WLOF is owned and operated by Holy Family Communications. The call sign represent Our Lady of Fatima, to whom this station is dedicated.

WLOF has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 2,800 watts. Programming is simulcast on WHIC 1460 AM in Rochester, New York, and WLGU 90.7 FM in Lancaster, New York. WLGU is powered at 1,000 watts. The stations rely on the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network for much of their programming.

History[edit]

The station signed on the air on November 9, 1977; 46 years ago (1977-11-09).^[1] The original call letters were WBTF and it called itself "BT Country," airing a country music format. It was the sister station to WBTA 1490 AM in Batavia, New York. WBTF was originally licensed to Attica.^[2]

Beginning on February 13, 1998, 101.7 FM was acquired by Broben Communications, Inc. and used WXOX as its call sign. WXOX then required nearby station WHUG in Jamestown to change frequencies in an effort to gain coverage area. As WXOX, the station broadcast modern rock as "The Spot", supposedly covering "Attica, Amherst and Buffalo" and acting as a challenger to WEDG. It made a significant advertising blitz in the Buffalo media market and even created its own "Spotfest" music festival, but it never even registered a measurable audience in the ratings. WXOX had a weak signal in Buffalo and Niagara Falls.^[3]

On August 15, 1999, Holy Family Communications acquired WXOX and began broadcasting Catholic programming as WLOF. It became the sixth Catholic radio station in the United States.^[4]

On August 15, 2009, WLOF celebrated its tenth anniversary by hosting Fr. John Corapi, a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. Over 11,000 people attended this celebration.^[5]

References[edit]

^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2009 (PDF). 2009. p. D-371. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
^ FCC history cards for WLOF. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
^ Fybush, Scott. New England Radio Watch. January 22, 1999.
^ Call Sign History
^ Buffalo News, August 16, 2009

External links[edit]

Official website
WLOF in the FCC FM station database
WLOF in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

[by2009-1] Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2009 (PDF). 2009. p. D-371. Retrieved May 6, 2020.

[2] FCC history cards for WLOF. Retrieved June 24, 2018.

[3] Fybush, Scott. New England Radio Watch. January 22, 1999.

[4] Call Sign History

[5] Buffalo News, August 16, 2009

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