WOBR-FM (95.3 MHz, "Pirate 95.3") is a radio station broadcasting a mainstream rock format. Licensed to Wanchese, North Carolina, United States, it serves the Outer Banks. The station is currently owned by East Carolina Radio, Inc.

WOBR-FM
Broadcast areaOuter Banks
Frequency95.3 MHz
BrandingPirate 95.3
Programming
FormatMainstream rock
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
United Stations Radio Networks
Ownership
OwnerEast Carolina Radio
WOBX, WOBX-FM, WRSF
History
First air date
1973
Call sign meaning
Where the Outer Banks Rocks
Outer Banks "R" (as in a pirate saying, "arrr")
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID73366
ClassC3
ERP25,000 watts
HAAT90 meters
Transmitter coordinates
35°51′52″N 75°39′1″W / 35.86444°N 75.65028°W / 35.86444; -75.65028
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitepirate953.com

History

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The station was the Outer Banks' first FM station, signing on in 1973. At first the station simulcasted their adult contemporary AM sister station during the day and broadcast easy listening music after the AM signed off at night. In the early 1980s, the station became a full-time beautiful music station, but later evolved into adult contemporary, and finally an AAA format by end of the 1980s as "Beach 95FM". In the early 1990s East Carolina Radio brought the station, and the AAA format eventually developed into an alternative rock format as "The Wave". In 1997, the station adjusted the format to "Modern Adult Contemporary". By the end of the 1990s it had become classic rock as "The Rock".

On December 5, 2012, at 10 a.m. WOBR relaunched as "Pirate 95.3 - Rock Without Rules" the next day, playing a mix of classic rock and active rock.[2]

Trivia

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Popular Norfolk radio personality Henry "The Bull" Del Toro, was briefly Program Director and Afternoon drive at WOBR in the late 1990s. This was Del Toro's last radio job before his death in 2002.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WOBR-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Venta, Lance (December 6, 2012). "WOBR Nags Head Relaunches As The Pirate". radioinsight.
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