1110 New Format

[amos1001]

..wasn't 980 WEGO for a while, before it was 'TOB?

yes, it was. WTOB started life as WAAA, then WTIX, then WEGO, then WTOB.
the original WTOB at 1380 later became WWNT.
the original WEGO at 1410 in Concord was later WTIX
the original WTIX at 690 in New Orleans, LA was later WIST and then WQNO
the original WIST at 930 in Charlotte was later WSOC and then WYFQ.
AND to try to get back to the thread subject: WBT at 1110 in Charlotte was 4XD. in 1922 it became WBT, where it remains.

 

[amos1001]

I was part of the Management Team (Sales Manager) at WKSI, we flipped it from WRQK in June 1985. Stan Thomas was GM, and our programming consultant was the late great Randy Kabrich.

I worked at WRQK, Greensboro NC before it became WKSI
i worked at WZFM, Charles Town, WV before it became WKSI (COL moved to Stephens City, VA)
see a pattern?
oh about Randy Kabrich. I wish I had been lucky enough to work for him. you're right about him being the late great Randy Kabrich.

 

[Josh Owens]

yes, it was. WTOB started life as WAAA, then WTIX, then WEGO, then WTOB.
the original WTOB at 1380 later became WWNT.
the original WEGO at 1410 in Concord was later WTIX
the original WTIX at 690 in New Orleans, LA was later WIST and then WQNO
the original WIST at 930 in Charlotte was later WSOC and then WYFQ.
AND to try to get back to the thread subject: WBT at 1110 in Charlotte was 4XD. in 1922 it became WBT, where it remains.

Roger on all that. What's his name, that likes to shuffle callsigns around like playing cards, Buck somethingorother?

 

[Josh Owens]

I was part of the Management Team (Sales Manager) at WKSI, we flipped it from WRQK in June 1985. Stan Thomas was GM, and our programming consultant was the late great Randy Kabrich.

Thanks for chiming in and I remember the switch from 'RQK to KSI. I believe it was on a Sunday. I vaguely remember Stan Thomas from 'PET, wasn't that involved with them, until starting in '89, didn't know he went as far back as '85. I remember, he left there and went to WTNC, Thomasville and flipped it to the Solid Gospel network, for a while. When did Tom Armshaw leave and Bahackle (sp) start owning the stations?

 

[Josh Owens]

I worked at WRQK, Greensboro NC before it became WKSI
i worked at WZFM, Charles Town, WV before it became WKSI (COL moved to Stephens City, VA)
see a pattern?
oh about Randy Kabrich. I wish I had been lucky enough to work for him. you're right about him being the late great Randy Kabrich.

) As I've said before, Amos, you've been everywhere. If I'd-a-done things different than I did, I may still be pulling buttons and pushing nobs today.

 

[cc333]

I just got caught up on this thread, and I am absolutely astonished that this is still ongoing after nearly six months!

I must say, though, that I actually like the music (rather reminiscent of the old Seeburg 1000 playlists in form and feel). Do away with the annoying and now completely pointless "Charlotte's on the move..." voice overs, and it would be perfect background music.

c

 

[Dan Gorby]

Thanks for chiming in and I remember the switch from 'RQK to KSI. I believe it was on a Sunday. I vaguely remember Stan Thomas from 'PET, wasn't that involved with them, until starting in '89, didn't know he went as far back as '85. I remember, he left there and went to WTNC, Thomasville and flipped it to the Solid Gospel network, for a while. When did Tom Armshaw leave and Bahackle (sp) start owning the stations?

Armshaw sold the stations to Robins Communications(a subsidiary of Robins Pharmaceuticals, I.e. Robitussin) in early 1985 and brought in new management team including Stan and myself. We soon flipped the format from WRQK in June 1985. Bahakel purchased the stations in 1987. I left shortly thereafter and went to WROQ in Charlotte. Stan Thomas passed away back in 2020.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Oh and to further complicate the 'TOB, 'BG saga, wasn't 980 WEGO for a while, before it was 'TOB? Talk about the regional callsign shuffle!

Parked letters, maybe.

The old WEGO played oldies, simulcasting WSAT, at the end.

Before that it simulcast WAVO with the standards I may have mentioned, which were brought back on WHVN so it could be sold.

Billy Graham (the organization, not the man) didn't want it. Took over the translator and left a city of over 100,000 without a radio station. But WMIT can be heard really well there.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I just got caught up on this thread, and I am absolutely astonished that this is still ongoing after nearly six months!

I must say, though, that I actually like the music (rather reminiscent of the old Seeburg 1000 playlists in form and feel). Do away with the annoying and now completely pointless "Charlotte's on the move..." voice overs, and it would be perfect background music.

c

I discovered a bunch of Seeburg recordings on YouTube. At some point a "video" I was told about in the Facebook group stopped, and another video started. By continuing to do that, I've discovered a bunch of "videos" that I posted in the group. I suppose there would be a place to do that here.

 

[tylerSC]

So is Beasley more to blame for the demise of 1110 rather than Radio One? Because if Beasley allegedly owns the physical property and is choosing to sell the real estate, then Radio One is apparently forced to move, sell, or surrender the license. If I understand correctly. And it seems as if Radio One has decided that 1110 is no longer a viable entity that is beneficial for them to continue, from a business perspective. But I am still not clear on how Beasley ended up owning the physical plant of 1110, without actually owning the broadcaster WBT. Something to do with mergers, acquisitions, and swapping stations?

 

[Kent]

But I am still not clear on how Beasley ended up owning the physical plant of 1110, without actually owning the broadcaster WBT. Something to do with mergers, acquisitions, and swapping stations?

Beasley bought Greater Media in 2016. It was already at the limit for Charlotte and sold WBT AM/FM and WLNK to Entercom. Entercom swapped Charlotte to Urban One for St. Louis and WPHI 103.9 in Philadelphia.

 

[Rusty Muck]

So is Beasley more to blame for the demise of 1110 rather than Radio One? Because if Beasley allegedly owns the physical property and is choosing to sell the real estate, then Radio One is apparently forced to move, sell, or surrender the license. If I understand correctly. And it seems as if Radio One has decided that 1110 is no longer a viable entity that is beneficial for them to continue, from a business perspective.

Not having any programming on 1110 for six months has completely flushed the audience. Any new format, even a fully-syndicated conservatalk format, would now require marketing the signal heavily, and one has to wonder if the ROI even exists.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Beasley bought Greater Media in 2016. It was already at the limit for Charlotte and sold WBT AM/FM and WLNK to Entercom. Entercom swapped Charlotte to Urban One for St. Louis and WPHI 103.9 in Philadelphia.

I'm curious if Beasley owning the 1110 transmitter land was partly what prompted the Entercom-Urban One swap (along with moving KYW to FM and removing a sports competitor to WJFK-FM in Washington).

 

[amos1001]

From the 2016 sale contract of 610, 1110, 99.3, and 107.9 from Beasley to Entercom (with rights later transferred to Radio One), Radio One owns the land under the towers and transmission building, with Beasley retaining the remainder. Should Radio One decide to sell the land, Beasley gets 60% of the proceeds and Radio One 40%.

So, as Lance told us back on March 12, the land parcel is split, with the land under the actual broadcast plant owned by Radio One, and the rest of the parcel owned by Beasley. And if Radio One decides to sell their is a 60/40 split in proceeds.
Below is all the details:

WBT-AM Transmitter Site.

(a) Buyer will be granted a perpetual interest in the WBT Land for $1 per year pursuant to a lease agreement with respect to the use of the land (“WBT Lease”) and a deed of trust with respect to Buyer’s interest in the event of a sale of the WBT Land (“WBT Deed of Trust”). The form of the WBT Lease and the WBT Deed of Trust will be mutually agreed to by the parties, in good faith, prior to Closing and the forms thereof shall be consistent with customary industry AM land leases and real estate provisions, provided that Buyer’s use of the WBT Land shall not be exclusive but shall be subject to the requirements set forth herein and in the WBT Lease and WBT Deed of Trust. Buyer will own all improvements on the WBT Land.

(b) If Seller or its successors decide to sell the WBT Land (which sale shall be subject to Buyer’s (and its successor’s) continuing right to use the property pursuant to the WBT Lease and the WBT Deed of Trust), then proceeds will be used to first reimburse Buyer for the estimated cost, as mutually agreed upon by Seller and Buyer, (or actual cost if Buyer elects to relocate) of relocating WBT-AM (including new land, towers, etc.) and Buyer and Seller (or their respective successors) shall split the remaining profits as follows: with 60% to Seller and 40% to Buyer.

(c) If Seller or its successors desire to develop the WBT Land (by allowing its use by any third party in any manner), then Seller (or its successors) shall not do so
without the prior written consent of Buyer or its successor, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; provided that Buyer’s failure to consent to develop the WBT Land shall not be deemed to be unreasonable if such development would impair or interfere with Buyer’s use of the site consistent with its past practices. If the parties consent to development of the WBT Land (which shall be subject to Buyer’s (and its successor’s) continuing right to use the property pursuant to the WBT Lease and the WBT Deed of Trust), proceeds will be used to first reimburse Buyer (or its successor) for
the estimated cost, as mutually agreed upon by Seller and Buyer (or their respective successors), (or actual cost if Buyer elects to relocate) of relocating WBT-AM (including new land, towers, legal fees, lease costs, etc.) and Buyer and Seller (or their respective successors) shall split the remaining profits as follows: with 60% to Seller and 40% to Buyer.

So whatever that land sells for, Urban One (Radio One) only gets 40%. Beasley gets a big 60% check.
I really thought a 50kw heritage AM station would be worth more than 40% of that land's value. My biggest question now is this: If U1 never planned on anything but a land sale, why did they tell us they had a new format planned? Obviously we'll never know if there was a new format planned or not. It's certainly possible that this was the planned outcome all along, but I think most of us believe that they had something planned other than selling the land.
Que Sera Sera.

 

[Josh Owens]

Armshaw sold the stations to Robins Communications(a subsidiary of Robins Pharmaceuticals, I.e. Robitussin) in early 1985 and brought in new management team including Stan and myself. We soon flipped the format from WRQK in June 1985. Bahakel purchased the stations in 1987. I left shortly thereafter and went to WROQ in Charlotte. Stan Thomas passed away back in 2020.

Roger on that, thanks for the History lesson. Wow, just thought of Kiss's old phone number 275-5477, haven't thought of that in years.

 

[Josh Owens]

Parked letters, maybe.

The old WEGO played oldies, simulcasting WSAT, at the end.

Before that it simulcast WAVO with the standards I may have mentioned, which were brought back on WHVN so it could be sold.

Billy Graham (the organization, not the man) didn't want it. Took over the translator and left a city of over 100,000 without a radio station. But WMIT can be heard really well there.

Gotcha. I remember coming through Concord one Sunday morning and hearing a live (as in from-the-church-over-the-phone I reckon) broadcast from 8:30-9, googling the church some years later and finding out they're still there, with a new pastor. Got that old ID 'round here on a tape, somewhere.

 

[Josh Owens]

So is Beasley more to blame for the demise of 1110 rather than Radio One? Because if Beasley allegedly owns the physical property and is choosing to sell the real estate, then Radio One is apparently forced to move, sell, or surrender the license. If I understand correctly. And it seems as if Radio One has decided that 1110 is no longer a viable entity that is beneficial for them to continue, from a business perspective. But I am still not clear on how Beasley ended up owning the physical plant of 1110, without actually owning the broadcaster WBT. Something to do with mergers, acquisitions, and swapping stations?

Hmmm, interesting, still sad all the way 'round.

 

[Josh Owens]

Beasley bought Greater Media in 2016. It was already at the limit for Charlotte and sold WBT AM/FM and WLNK to Entercom. Entercom swapped Charlotte to Urban One for St. Louis and WPHI 103.9 in Philadelphia.

Gotcha. Intercom owned WPET for a time, as well.

 

[Josh Owens]

So, as Lance told us back on March 12, the land parcel is split, with the land under the actual broadcast plant owned by Radio One, and the rest of the parcel owned by Beasley. And if Radio One decides to sell their is a 60/40 split in proceeds.
Below is all the details:

So whatever that land sells for, Urban One (Radio One) only gets 40%. Beasley gets a big 60% check.
I really thought a 50kw heritage AM station would be worth more than 40% of that land's value. My biggest question now is this: If U1 never planned on anything but a land sale, why did they tell us they had a new format planned? Obviously we'll never know if there was a new format planned or not. It's certainly possible that this was the planned outcome all along, but I think most of us believe that they had something planned other than selling the land.
Que Sera Sera.

Roger on all that, Amos and Lance, above. Hate to see one of the heritage and yes, big AMs go down.

 

[Rusty Muck]

My biggest question now is this: If U1 never planned on anything but a land sale, why did they tell us they had a new format planned? Obviously we'll never know if there was a new format planned or not.

It's possible, however remote, that Urban One might have been in talk with iHeart/Premiere to use 1110 as a dumping ground for syndicated conservative talk product or to carry something like Black Information Network full-time. If that were the case, it just didn't work out.

It's certainly possible that this was the planned outcome all along, but I think most of us believe that they had something planned other than selling the land.
Que Sera Sera.

There's not really that much you can do with an Ancient Modulation signal that is now fully invisible, regardless of the wattage. Outside of us, most people have no idea 11-Ten~ even exists now.