I did afternoons at WKXX back in 1987-1988 when it was licesed to Birmingham. I was through Birmingham a few weeks ago and noticed that the calls have changed and also the city of license has changed. When did that happen and why? They had and still do have a BIG signal. I assume the tower is still on Red Mountain. Does anybody know the story here?
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Birmingham's KICKS 106 (WKXX)
- Thread starter pobryan
- Start date
pobryan said:
106.9 has had many calls over the years since the WKXX calls...WBMH, as Birmingham's "Real Country", WIKX (as "Kicks/Kix? 106" again as a country station), and WODL (Oldies 106.9). The WBPT calls were put into place when the station went all 80's as "The Point". The station name and format were changed several years ago; the station is now known as "The Eagle", programming classic hits, but continues to use the WBPT calls.
The COL for WBPT was changed to facilitate a big "chess move" by several stations. WNCB (at 97.3) was originally licensed to Homewood, but later relicensed to Gardendale. The COL for WBPT was changed to Homewood to provide "service" to Homewood vacated by WNCB.
Since this was originally WBRC FM, the antenna presumably started out on the WBRC-6 tower. The radio and TV, however, separated in the early 70s.
I believe WBPT is on the new candelabra tower up where 21 and 42's studios are, on Red Mountain.
I have read that at one time WBRC-FM was authorized and ran 500 kW from the old short WBRC-TV tower that came down about 20 years ago, but can't find much on the setup or where all it was heard. I'd love to know what kind of coverage area that gave them, back in the days when FM was still pretty much wide open.
I have read that at one time WBRC-FM was authorized and ran 500 kW from the old short WBRC-TV tower that came down about 20 years ago, but can't find much on the setup or where all it was heard. I'd love to know what kind of coverage area that gave them, back in the days when FM was still pretty much wide open.
I don't remember hearing about WBRC FM having power in excess of 100 kw. There was a time, way back when, some FMs were authorized high power. I only know of two that were grandfathered in, WMC FM 99.7 Memphis and WJFM Grand Rapids Mich. Best I can remember, WMC had 300 kw, and WJFM had 280.
WMC-FM, despite 300 kw, had tower height about 1000 ft (2000 ft would have made a difference) and it didn't keep WJMI 99.7 in Jackson from getting its full coverage with 100 kw at 1000 ft.
WMC-FM, despite 300 kw, had tower height about 1000 ft (2000 ft would have made a difference) and it didn't keep WJMI 99.7 in Jackson from getting its full coverage with 100 kw at 1000 ft.
Looked at radio-locator... 93.7 Grand Rapids is 320 kw at 800 ft. It's been years since I looked at a chart that compares ERP and tower height, but I doubt this facility is better than 100 kw at 2000 ft.
The Memphis facility is listed at the higher power horizontal, but just under 100 kw vertical, one of few instances where the H & V powers are different. All FMs were originally horizontal only; maybe the high H power was grandfathered, and when the V component was added, it had to stay within the allowable 100 kw.
I suppose super-powered FM stations deserves its own forum.
The Memphis facility is listed at the higher power horizontal, but just under 100 kw vertical, one of few instances where the H & V powers are different. All FMs were originally horizontal only; maybe the high H power was grandfathered, and when the V component was added, it had to stay within the allowable 100 kw.
I suppose super-powered FM stations deserves its own forum.
Zach said:
The 1948 Broadcasting Yearbook lists:
WSGN-FM 93.7 mc 370 kw
The 1949 Broadcasting Yearbook lists:
WSGN-FM 93.7 mc 510 kw
The 1951 Broadcasting Yearbook has:
WAFM FM 99.5 mc 515 kw
WSGN FM 93.7 mc 510 kw
Do not know if this is true, but it is printed in the yearbooks
WBRC-FM came on the air several years later with only 16 kw @ 106.9
Yes, there was an earlier incarnation of WBRC-FM. 500 kW at 102.5 -- it signed on early in 1948, and billed itself as the world's most powerful station. But it was a money pit, and less than a year later it went dark. The building put up to house the station would quickly be repurposed for WBRC-TV, ditto for the tower. The present studio building is attached to the original structure.
The second WBRC-FM signed on in about 1959, with 11 kW at 106.9. Taft Broadcasting spun off WBRC-AM 960 / WBRC-FM 106.9 in 1972, to Mooney Broadcasting. Calls became WERC-AM/FM.
--Russell
The second WBRC-FM signed on in about 1959, with 11 kW at 106.9. Taft Broadcasting spun off WBRC-AM 960 / WBRC-FM 106.9 in 1972, to Mooney Broadcasting. Calls became WERC-AM/FM.
--Russell
WKXX-FM (the letters at least) is now Rainbow City/Gadsden Alabama (north of B'ham an hour) and owned by the guys at WQSB-FM. I programed it just after Kerry Rich (yes, the politician) got the letters and brought them to (Gadsden) Rainbow City back around '92-'93. It's Mixx 102.9 now with the stick up at the north end of Chandler Mountain (near where the old WQEN-FM/Gadsden tower USED to be).
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B
BamaGrrl
Guest
passtheword said:
No, it's still The NEW Eagle, this many years later....
: : :- Status