WBVM

For the radio station in Utica, New York that previously used these calls, see WUSP (AM).
WBVM
Spirit FM 90.5
HD2 The Light
City Tampa, Florida
Broadcast area Tampa Bay and Sarasota-Bradenton metropolitan areas
Branding "Spirit FM 90.5," "HD2: The Light" and "HD3: El Fuego"
Frequency 90.5 (MHz)
First air date 1986
Format Christian radio
ERP 77,000 watts
HAAT 294 metres (965 feet)
Facility ID 5373
Callsign meaning Blessed Virgin Mary
Owner Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg
(Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg)
Webcast Listen Live Spirit FM 90.5
Listen Live HD2 The Light
Website http://www.spiritfm905.com

WBVM, branded as Spirit FM 90.5, is a Christian-based radio station in Tampa, Florida, broadcasting on 90.5 FM with an ERP of 77,000 watts. It signed on in May 1986 and began broadcasting a second channel in digital HD radio in 2007. In June 2008, the station began streaming its HD channel on the internet. The station's signal covers the Tampa Bay Area cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, as well as the Sarasota-Bradenton metropolitan area and Lakeland, Florida.

The non-commercial station is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg and is primarily listener-supported through donations, including an annual "Shareathon" pledge drive. The general manager is John T. Morris and program director is Olivia Hoegstrom. In 2009, the station moved to larger studios at 717 S. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. WBVM's $1 million facility (pictured) was formally dedicated on October 31.[1] WBVM shares a broadcast tower in Riverview with PBS TV station WEDU Channel 3.

Programming is predominantly Christian Contemporary music, hosted by staff disc jockeys, along with local diocesan speakers, traffic reports, and Spanish language programs on Sunday evenings. Some syndicated programs are carried, such as Focus on the Family Minute, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Christopher Close-up. WBVM's HD radio digital channels, HD2: The Light, with more talk and prayer features, and HD3: El Fuego, a Spanish-language service, are separately programmed. A popular locally-produced Saturday morning children's program is Kid's Kingdom with Elle.[2]

The long-running Sacred Classics show, a weekly program of traditional choral and organ music, originates at the station.[3] It is broadcast Sunday mornings on the analog channel and repeated Saturday and Sunday evenings on the "HD2: The Light" channel.

The station reports that it has listeners online from every continent and all 50 U.S. states.[1] Programming from WBVM is also simulcast on WWLC, 88.5 MHz, in Cross City, Florida, owned by the neighboring Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine.

In 2012, WBVM received the Gabriel Award as best Religious Radio Station of the Year by the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals. It also received a Gabriel Award in the category Best Ecumenical or Interreligious Program for Local Release.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Grand Opening, SpiritFM 90.5, October 31, 2009.
  2. ↑ Mildebrath, Dana (April 1, 2000). "Faith meets fun house in radio hodgepodge". St. Petersburg Times. p. 6B. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
  3. ↑ Carter, Kelley L. (1997-06-25). "Airport chief stays grounded with music". St. Petersburg Times. pp. 1 & 6.
  4. ↑ "The Gabriel Awards". Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals. May 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-07. Category 19: Religious Radio Station of the Year
Station manager John Morris (right) with Jim Howes, Sacred Classics producer

Coordinates: 27°50′53″N 82°15′50″W / 27.848°N 82.264°W / 27.848; -82.264

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