On August 17, 2018, Richard “Dickey” Gilchrist “flipped the switch” and a sports radio station for all Pike County became a reality.

Gilchrist is the general manager of WTBF-Radio that is the voice of Pike County and its close neighbors.

With that flip of the switch, WTBF now has a new station, FM 96.3 that will offer a stronger signal across a larger broadcast area and will be a translator station with the station’s AM 970. The two stations will broadcast concurrently.

“Our AM station 970, which originated in 1947, will remain the same,” Gilchrist said. “What will change is that WTBF will offer sports radio that will include Auburn’s regular season football games and the post season. And we just signed a contract to broadcast Atlanta Braves’ baseball. We are also working to include the Paul Finebaum show.”

Gilchrist said Finebaum’s primary focus is sports, particularly those in the Southeast.

“Paul Finebaum’s show is very popular among sports fans and his show would be a great addition to our FM 96.3 translator station,” he said.

Troy University football will continue to be on FM 94.7, as will high school football. “We have ask our listeners to let us know what they would like to hear on FM 96.3 and what we are hearing is ‘country music’ and we are taking that into consideration,” Gilchrist said, adding that additions to the new station will be made for the benefit of WTBF’s listeners but, for now, it’s a sports talk show that includes Auburn football and Braves baseball.