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Call signs throughout Al.
- Thread starter simplydj
- Start date
> Just out of curiosity... I've noticed from time to time that
> some of the call signs actually have a meening other than 4
> letters put together... some quite well thought out. Is
> there a list of meanings? or does anyone know any off the
> top of their heads?
>
<a href = "http://www.oldradio.com/archives/nelson/origins.html"> Bob Nelson's exhaustive list of call meanings from throughout the US. </a>
Some Birmingham area ones of note:
WAPI originally stood for Alabama Polytechnic Institute and was licensed to Auburn.
WDXB stood for Dixie Broadcasting (the original owners).
WURL in Moody uses "Where You Are Loved" as its slogan, a cute play on the calls. Not sure if they were actually requested to fit the slogan or if the Davidson Evangelical Association is just making the best of sequentially-assigned calls.
And CBS 42's calls were changed from WBMG (for Birmingham Media General) to WIAT when they adopted the "It's About Time" slogan for their horrible news.
> some of the call signs actually have a meening other than 4
> letters put together... some quite well thought out. Is
> there a list of meanings? or does anyone know any off the
> top of their heads?
>
<a href = "http://www.oldradio.com/archives/nelson/origins.html"> Bob Nelson's exhaustive list of call meanings from throughout the US. </a>
Some Birmingham area ones of note:
WAPI originally stood for Alabama Polytechnic Institute and was licensed to Auburn.
WDXB stood for Dixie Broadcasting (the original owners).
WURL in Moody uses "Where You Are Loved" as its slogan, a cute play on the calls. Not sure if they were actually requested to fit the slogan or if the Davidson Evangelical Association is just making the best of sequentially-assigned calls.
And CBS 42's calls were changed from WBMG (for Birmingham Media General) to WIAT when they adopted the "It's About Time" slogan for their horrible news.
C
Charles
Guest
> WDXB stood for Dixie Broadcasting (the original owners).
Are you sure about this one? WDXB has been owned by Clear Channel, and before that, AM-FM and Ameron since the mid '90's, when they were first WZBQ (Z-102, then Cool 102.5), then WOWC (102 Wow Country). They took the WDXB call letters in '99 or '00 when they changed their on-air handle "Dixie 102.5". They are now known as 102-5 the Bull, and have done what everyone thought was impossible: dethrone WZZK as the #1 country station in Birmingham.
Are you sure about this one? WDXB has been owned by Clear Channel, and before that, AM-FM and Ameron since the mid '90's, when they were first WZBQ (Z-102, then Cool 102.5), then WOWC (102 Wow Country). They took the WDXB call letters in '99 or '00 when they changed their on-air handle "Dixie 102.5". They are now known as 102-5 the Bull, and have done what everyone thought was impossible: dethrone WZZK as the #1 country station in Birmingham.
C
Charles
Guest
> Just out of curiosity... I've noticed from time to time that
> some of the call signs actually have a meening other than 4
> letters put together... some quite well thought out. Is
> there a list of meanings? or does anyone know any off the
> top of their heads?
>
Here are some of the ones that I know about:
From Birmingham/Tuscaloosa:
WBRC-6 (orginally radio, now television): Bell Roadio Corporation: the original owners of Birmingham's first radio station
WVTM-13: Vulcan Times Mirror. Times Mirror bought WAPI-TV and changed the call letters to reflect the new ownership
WDBB-17: Dubose Broadcasting (the ownership that put this station on the air)
WTTO-21: Television Twenty-One
WABM-68: Alabama's Best Movies
WAGG-610 AM: Alabama's Gospel Giant (also, it was the initials of the owner of the station when it was on 1320 AM, A.G. Gaston)
WJOX-690: A play on the station's all-sports format
WVSU-91.1 FM: Voice of Samford University (my alma mater, BTW...class of '83)
WGIB-91.9: Glen Iris Baptist Church (owner and operator of this station)
A couple of others from around the state:
WSFA-12, Montgomery: South's Finest Airport (Dannely Field). These call letters were originally on 1440-AM. I've never flown in or out of this airport, so I can't comment on whether it was or is a fine airport.
WAUD-1230, Auburn. WAUB was taken, so this was the closest sounding set of calls that were available.
> some of the call signs actually have a meening other than 4
> letters put together... some quite well thought out. Is
> there a list of meanings? or does anyone know any off the
> top of their heads?
>
Here are some of the ones that I know about:
From Birmingham/Tuscaloosa:
WBRC-6 (orginally radio, now television): Bell Roadio Corporation: the original owners of Birmingham's first radio station
WVTM-13: Vulcan Times Mirror. Times Mirror bought WAPI-TV and changed the call letters to reflect the new ownership
WDBB-17: Dubose Broadcasting (the ownership that put this station on the air)
WTTO-21: Television Twenty-One
WABM-68: Alabama's Best Movies
WAGG-610 AM: Alabama's Gospel Giant (also, it was the initials of the owner of the station when it was on 1320 AM, A.G. Gaston)
WJOX-690: A play on the station's all-sports format
WVSU-91.1 FM: Voice of Samford University (my alma mater, BTW...class of '83)
WGIB-91.9: Glen Iris Baptist Church (owner and operator of this station)
A couple of others from around the state:
WSFA-12, Montgomery: South's Finest Airport (Dannely Field). These call letters were originally on 1440-AM. I've never flown in or out of this airport, so I can't comment on whether it was or is a fine airport.
WAUD-1230, Auburn. WAUB was taken, so this was the closest sounding set of calls that were available.
> > WDXB stood for Dixie Broadcasting (the original owners).
>
> Are you sure about this one? WDXB has been owned by Clear
> Channel, and before that, AM-FM and Ameron since the mid
> '90's, when they were first WZBQ (Z-102, then Cool 102.5),
> then WOWC (102 Wow Country). They took the WDXB call
> letters in '99 or '00 when they changed their on-air handle
> "Dixie 102.5". They are now known as 102-5 the Bull, and
> have done what everyone thought was impossible: dethrone
> WZZK as the #1 country station in Birmingham.
>
I stand corrected. I had it conflated with the Tennessee WDX_ stations with which it was apparently never associated.
>
> Are you sure about this one? WDXB has been owned by Clear
> Channel, and before that, AM-FM and Ameron since the mid
> '90's, when they were first WZBQ (Z-102, then Cool 102.5),
> then WOWC (102 Wow Country). They took the WDXB call
> letters in '99 or '00 when they changed their on-air handle
> "Dixie 102.5". They are now known as 102-5 the Bull, and
> have done what everyone thought was impossible: dethrone
> WZZK as the #1 country station in Birmingham.
>
I stand corrected. I had it conflated with the Tennessee WDX_ stations with which it was apparently never associated.
> Just out of curiosity... I've noticed from time to time that
> some of the call signs actually have a meening other than 4
> letters put together... some quite well thought out. Is
> there a list of meanings? or does anyone know any off the
> top of their heads?
>
WDRM - Decatur Radio Market<P ID="signature">______________
<div align="center"><a href="http://wrcf.tk">
</P></span></P></span>
http://dingo100.tk
http://wrcf.tk</P>
> some of the call signs actually have a meening other than 4
> letters put together... some quite well thought out. Is
> there a list of meanings? or does anyone know any off the
> top of their heads?
>
WDRM - Decatur Radio Market<P ID="signature">______________
<div align="center"><a href="http://wrcf.tk">
http://dingo100.tk
http://wrcf.tk</P>
WDXB - Dixie Birmingham, as he said for "Dixie 102.5"
Also, WBHK is Birmingham's Kiss and WBHJ is Birmingham's JAMZ. WBPT is Birmingham's Point. Cox, not that creative.
I believe WYSF was for "Your Soft Rock Favorites". I remember a commercial they ran about it some years back.
Also, WERC is just a slight change on its former calls WBRC. When ownership changed hands back in the 80s (not to clear channel, that came much later on), they changed the calls to separate themselves from their TV counterparts.
> > WDXB stood for Dixie Broadcasting (the original owners).
>
> Are you sure about this one? WDXB has been owned by Clear
> Channel, and before that, AM-FM and Ameron since the mid
> '90's, when they were first WZBQ (Z-102, then Cool 102.5),
> then WOWC (102 Wow Country). They took the WDXB call
> letters in '99 or '00 when they changed their on-air handle
> "Dixie 102.5". They are now known as 102-5 the Bull, and
> have done what everyone thought was impossible: dethrone
> WZZK as the #1 country station in Birmingham.
> <P ID="signature">______________
"He deserved to have ice cream smashed in his face, because he's a lying 50 year-old man!"
-Dane Cook</P>
Also, WBHK is Birmingham's Kiss and WBHJ is Birmingham's JAMZ. WBPT is Birmingham's Point. Cox, not that creative.
I believe WYSF was for "Your Soft Rock Favorites". I remember a commercial they ran about it some years back.
Also, WERC is just a slight change on its former calls WBRC. When ownership changed hands back in the 80s (not to clear channel, that came much later on), they changed the calls to separate themselves from their TV counterparts.
> > WDXB stood for Dixie Broadcasting (the original owners).
>
> Are you sure about this one? WDXB has been owned by Clear
> Channel, and before that, AM-FM and Ameron since the mid
> '90's, when they were first WZBQ (Z-102, then Cool 102.5),
> then WOWC (102 Wow Country). They took the WDXB call
> letters in '99 or '00 when they changed their on-air handle
> "Dixie 102.5". They are now known as 102-5 the Bull, and
> have done what everyone thought was impossible: dethrone
> WZZK as the #1 country station in Birmingham.
> <P ID="signature">______________
"He deserved to have ice cream smashed in his face, because he's a lying 50 year-old man!"
-Dane Cook</P>
R
RDP
Guest
Some that I know of:
WBIH channel 29 Selma
(We Bring It Home)
Our area's newest TV station
WAKA channel 8 Selma/Montgomery
(We Are Kicking A--)
Back in 1984, this TV station was a small broadcast in Selma but wasn't doing too well. They had tried several times to increase their coverage area but was denined. After their were granted their power increase, they changed the calls from WSLA (Selma) to the current ones.
WCOV channel 20 Montgomery
Named after the Covington Family, the founders. Once WAKA expanded to Montgomery, they were forced to drop CBS and then signed on with Fox, after it got started.
WMCF channel 45 Montgomery
Where Montgomery Christians Fellowship
WNCF channel 32 Montgomery
Where News Comes First
WALX 100.9 FM Selma
Named after the family that still owns this station (Alexander)
WMRK 1340 AM Selma
Named after Mark Alexander, a member of the Alexander Family
WHBB 1490 AM Selma
We're Heart of the Black Belt
(One of Alabama's Oldest Radio Stations)
WDXX 100.1 FM Selma
Dixie
WJAM 107.9 FM Selma
Judson and Marion
(Named after the two major colleges in Marion and was once located in Marion before moving to Selma in 1993)
WAPR 88.3 FM Selma
Alabama Public Radio
WRNF 89.5 FM Selma
(Not on Yet)
These calls will be in honor of long time President of Moody Bible Institue Robert C. Neff
(I will let you know when this station does sign on)
WLBF 89.1 FM Montgomery
We Live By Faith
WVAS 90.7 FM Montgomery
Have no clue about the V but WAS stands for We're Alabama State
WTSU 89.9 FM Montgomery
We're Troy State University
WMFT 88.9 FM Tuscaloosa
We're Moody for Tuscaloosa
(Tuscaloosa's Newest Radio Station) (Signed on durring the summer of 05)
RDP <><
WBIH channel 29 Selma
(We Bring It Home)
Our area's newest TV station
WAKA channel 8 Selma/Montgomery
(We Are Kicking A--)
Back in 1984, this TV station was a small broadcast in Selma but wasn't doing too well. They had tried several times to increase their coverage area but was denined. After their were granted their power increase, they changed the calls from WSLA (Selma) to the current ones.
WCOV channel 20 Montgomery
Named after the Covington Family, the founders. Once WAKA expanded to Montgomery, they were forced to drop CBS and then signed on with Fox, after it got started.
WMCF channel 45 Montgomery
Where Montgomery Christians Fellowship
WNCF channel 32 Montgomery
Where News Comes First
WALX 100.9 FM Selma
Named after the family that still owns this station (Alexander)
WMRK 1340 AM Selma
Named after Mark Alexander, a member of the Alexander Family
WHBB 1490 AM Selma
We're Heart of the Black Belt
(One of Alabama's Oldest Radio Stations)
WDXX 100.1 FM Selma
Dixie
WJAM 107.9 FM Selma
Judson and Marion
(Named after the two major colleges in Marion and was once located in Marion before moving to Selma in 1993)
WAPR 88.3 FM Selma
Alabama Public Radio
WRNF 89.5 FM Selma
(Not on Yet)
These calls will be in honor of long time President of Moody Bible Institue Robert C. Neff
(I will let you know when this station does sign on)
WLBF 89.1 FM Montgomery
We Live By Faith
WVAS 90.7 FM Montgomery
Have no clue about the V but WAS stands for We're Alabama State
WTSU 89.9 FM Montgomery
We're Troy State University
WMFT 88.9 FM Tuscaloosa
We're Moody for Tuscaloosa
(Tuscaloosa's Newest Radio Station) (Signed on durring the summer of 05)
RDP <><
B
Braswell
Guest
WDXB, etc.
Going back to '47, the WDXB calls were on the 1490 AM facility in Chattanooga (now WJOC). It was called "Dix-bee".
As for some others in Alabama...
WHOD/Jackson - W)onderful H)eart O)f D)ixie
WJDB/Thomasville - J.) D)ige B)ishop (original owner) Bishop also built/owned:
WCTA/Andalusia - C)ovingT)on A)ndalusia
WJAM/Marion - J)udson A)nd M)arion
WABF/Fairhope - A)labama B)aldwin F)airhope
WYLS/York - Y)ork L)ivingS)ton
WBHP/Huntsville - W)ilton "B)uster" H)arvey P)ollard (original owner)
WEBJ/Brewton - W)allace )Emmett )Brooks J)r. (original owner's son)
WRFS/Alexander City - R)ussell F)amily S)weatshirts (now Russell Athletics)
More later
<P ID="signature">______________
Jay Braswell - Moderator
Atlanta/North Florida/South Carolina/Georgia Boards</P>
Going back to '47, the WDXB calls were on the 1490 AM facility in Chattanooga (now WJOC). It was called "Dix-bee".
As for some others in Alabama...
WHOD/Jackson - W)onderful H)eart O)f D)ixie
WJDB/Thomasville - J.) D)ige B)ishop (original owner) Bishop also built/owned:
WCTA/Andalusia - C)ovingT)on A)ndalusia
WJAM/Marion - J)udson A)nd M)arion
WABF/Fairhope - A)labama B)aldwin F)airhope
WYLS/York - Y)ork L)ivingS)ton
WBHP/Huntsville - W)ilton "B)uster" H)arvey P)ollard (original owner)
WEBJ/Brewton - W)allace )Emmett )Brooks J)r. (original owner's son)
WRFS/Alexander City - R)ussell F)amily S)weatshirts (now Russell Athletics)
More later
<P ID="signature">______________
Jay Braswell - Moderator
Atlanta/North Florida/South Carolina/Georgia Boards</P>
Re: WDXB, etc.
First, a couple of gentle corrections to proffer upthread:
WERC/B'ham was spun off from WBRC-TV in 1972 (or possibly 1973). WBRC parent Taft Broadcasting sold radio to Mooney Broadcasting (WBSR, WMAK). AM taken top-40, FM taken parttime AOR.
WBMG-TV never referred to Media General. I believe the call change to WIAT coincided with MG's purchase of the property, but I'm not entirely sure. Channel 42 signed on in 1965 as WBMG-TV, and it stood for (B)ir(M)in(G)ham.
WVAS(FM): I think it's (V)oice of (A)labama (S)tate.
I maintain a 'repository', so to speak, of Alabama call meanings here:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/russellw/airchecks/alacalls.htm
Please add any you can think of ... it's a living document, so I'm always open to additions, corrections, modifications, etc.
> WYLS/York - Y)ork L)ivingS)ton
Always thought this one meant (Y)ork, (L)ivingston, (S)umter ....
First, a couple of gentle corrections to proffer upthread:
WERC/B'ham was spun off from WBRC-TV in 1972 (or possibly 1973). WBRC parent Taft Broadcasting sold radio to Mooney Broadcasting (WBSR, WMAK). AM taken top-40, FM taken parttime AOR.
WBMG-TV never referred to Media General. I believe the call change to WIAT coincided with MG's purchase of the property, but I'm not entirely sure. Channel 42 signed on in 1965 as WBMG-TV, and it stood for (B)ir(M)in(G)ham.
WVAS(FM): I think it's (V)oice of (A)labama (S)tate.
I maintain a 'repository', so to speak, of Alabama call meanings here:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/russellw/airchecks/alacalls.htm
Please add any you can think of ... it's a living document, so I'm always open to additions, corrections, modifications, etc.
> WYLS/York - Y)ork L)ivingS)ton
Always thought this one meant (Y)ork, (L)ivingston, (S)umter ....
B
Braswell
Guest
Re: WDXB, etc.
> > WYLS/York - Y)ork L)ivingS)ton
> Always thought this one meant (Y)ork, (L)ivingston, (S)umter
I'll quickly yield to your belief. Several years ago, I stopped and visited a few minutes with (the late) Barney Grant. At one point, I asked about the calls, and he quipped, "W)e're Y)our L)ucky S)pot". Then, just as quickly, I thought he said York-Livingston, but he may have added Sumter to that. Hew did say the FM calls stood for same thing, only backwards, since, as everyone knows, FM is backwards from AM. He was an interesting fellow.<P ID="signature">______________
Jay Braswell - Moderator
Atlanta/North Florida/South Carolina/Georgia Boards</P>
> > WYLS/York - Y)ork L)ivingS)ton
> Always thought this one meant (Y)ork, (L)ivingston, (S)umter
I'll quickly yield to your belief. Several years ago, I stopped and visited a few minutes with (the late) Barney Grant. At one point, I asked about the calls, and he quipped, "W)e're Y)our L)ucky S)pot". Then, just as quickly, I thought he said York-Livingston, but he may have added Sumter to that. Hew did say the FM calls stood for same thing, only backwards, since, as everyone knows, FM is backwards from AM. He was an interesting fellow.<P ID="signature">______________
Jay Braswell - Moderator
Atlanta/North Florida/South Carolina/Georgia Boards</P>
> Some that I know of:
>
> WBIH channel 29 Selma
> (We Bring It Home)
> Our area's newest TV station
>
> WAKA channel 8 Selma/Montgomery
> (We Are Kicking A--)
> Back in 1984, this TV station was a small broadcast in Selma
> but wasn't doing too well. They had tried several times to
> increase their coverage area but was denined. After their
> were granted their power increase, they changed the calls
> from WSLA (Selma) to the current ones.
>
> WCOV channel 20 Montgomery
> Named after the Covington Family, the founders. Once WAKA
> expanded to Montgomery, they were forced to drop CBS and
> then signed on with Fox, after it got started.
>
> WMCF channel 45 Montgomery
> Where Montgomery Christians Fellowship
>
> WNCF channel 32 Montgomery
> Where News Comes First
>
> WALX 100.9 FM Selma
> Named after the family that still owns this station
> (Alexander)
>
> WMRK 1340 AM Selma
> Named after Mark Alexander, a member of the Alexander Family
>
>
> WHBB 1490 AM Selma
> We're Heart of the Black Belt
> (One of Alabama's Oldest Radio Stations)
>
> WDXX 100.1 FM Selma
> Dixie
>
> WJAM 107.9 FM Selma
> Judson and Marion
> (Named after the two major colleges in Marion and was once
> located in Marion before moving to Selma in 1993)
>
> WAPR 88.3 FM Selma
> Alabama Public Radio
>
> WRNF 89.5 FM Selma
> (Not on Yet)
> These calls will be in honor of long time President of Moody
> Bible Institue Robert C. Neff
> (I will let you know when this station does sign on)
>
> WLBF 89.1 FM Montgomery
> We Live By Faith
>
> WVAS 90.7 FM Montgomery
> Have no clue about the V but WAS stands for We're Alabama
> State
>
> WTSU 89.9 FM Montgomery
> We're Troy State University
>
> WMFT 88.9 FM Tuscaloosa
> We're Moody for Tuscaloosa
> (Tuscaloosa's Newest Radio Station) (Signed on durring the
> summer of 05)
>
> RDP <
>
just remembered another
WRTR - Roll Tide Roll<P ID="signature">______________
<div align="center"><a href="http://wrcf.tk">
</P></span></P></span>
http://dingo100.tk
http://wrcf.tk</P>
>
> WBIH channel 29 Selma
> (We Bring It Home)
> Our area's newest TV station
>
> WAKA channel 8 Selma/Montgomery
> (We Are Kicking A--)
> Back in 1984, this TV station was a small broadcast in Selma
> but wasn't doing too well. They had tried several times to
> increase their coverage area but was denined. After their
> were granted their power increase, they changed the calls
> from WSLA (Selma) to the current ones.
>
> WCOV channel 20 Montgomery
> Named after the Covington Family, the founders. Once WAKA
> expanded to Montgomery, they were forced to drop CBS and
> then signed on with Fox, after it got started.
>
> WMCF channel 45 Montgomery
> Where Montgomery Christians Fellowship
>
> WNCF channel 32 Montgomery
> Where News Comes First
>
> WALX 100.9 FM Selma
> Named after the family that still owns this station
> (Alexander)
>
> WMRK 1340 AM Selma
> Named after Mark Alexander, a member of the Alexander Family
>
>
> WHBB 1490 AM Selma
> We're Heart of the Black Belt
> (One of Alabama's Oldest Radio Stations)
>
> WDXX 100.1 FM Selma
> Dixie
>
> WJAM 107.9 FM Selma
> Judson and Marion
> (Named after the two major colleges in Marion and was once
> located in Marion before moving to Selma in 1993)
>
> WAPR 88.3 FM Selma
> Alabama Public Radio
>
> WRNF 89.5 FM Selma
> (Not on Yet)
> These calls will be in honor of long time President of Moody
> Bible Institue Robert C. Neff
> (I will let you know when this station does sign on)
>
> WLBF 89.1 FM Montgomery
> We Live By Faith
>
> WVAS 90.7 FM Montgomery
> Have no clue about the V but WAS stands for We're Alabama
> State
>
> WTSU 89.9 FM Montgomery
> We're Troy State University
>
> WMFT 88.9 FM Tuscaloosa
> We're Moody for Tuscaloosa
> (Tuscaloosa's Newest Radio Station) (Signed on durring the
> summer of 05)
>
> RDP <
>
just remembered another
WRTR - Roll Tide Roll<P ID="signature">______________
<div align="center"><a href="http://wrcf.tk">
http://dingo100.tk
http://wrcf.tk</P>
Call Letter Definition List
Here's a great list in case any of you have not seen it:
http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/6375/origins.call-list.html
Here's a great list in case any of you have not seen it:
http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/6375/origins.call-list.html
Re: WDXB, etc.
> > > WYLS/York - Y)ork L)ivingS)ton
>
> > Always thought this one meant (Y)ork, (L)ivingston,
> (S)umter
>
> I'll quickly yield to your belief. Several years ago, I
> stopped and visited a few minutes with (the late) Barney
> Grant. At one point, I asked about the calls, and he
> quipped, "W)e're Y)our L)ucky S)pot". Then, just as quickly,
> I thought he said York-Livingston, but he may have added
> Sumter to that. Hew did say the FM calls stood for same
> thing, only backwards, since, as everyone knows, FM is
> backwards from AM. He was an interesting fellow.
>
thought of some more
WHDF (UPN 15) - Huntsville - Decatur - Florence
WBPT - Birmingham's Point (though that's sure to change with it being the eagle now)
WBHM- Birmingham
WAHR - Arnold Hornbuckle Radio
WTAK - Take 10 (originally on 1000 AM)
WLPH - We're the Lords Power House
WGBA - Where Georgia Borders Alabama (Now WSHE)
WACT - Alabama Crimson Tide
WGAD - Gadsden
WDJC - D.J. Crawford
<P ID="signature">______________
<div align="center"><a href="http://wrcf.tk">
</P></span></P></span>
http://dingo100.tk
http://wrcf.tk</P>
> > > WYLS/York - Y)ork L)ivingS)ton
>
> > Always thought this one meant (Y)ork, (L)ivingston,
> (S)umter
>
> I'll quickly yield to your belief. Several years ago, I
> stopped and visited a few minutes with (the late) Barney
> Grant. At one point, I asked about the calls, and he
> quipped, "W)e're Y)our L)ucky S)pot". Then, just as quickly,
> I thought he said York-Livingston, but he may have added
> Sumter to that. Hew did say the FM calls stood for same
> thing, only backwards, since, as everyone knows, FM is
> backwards from AM. He was an interesting fellow.
>
thought of some more
WHDF (UPN 15) - Huntsville - Decatur - Florence
WBPT - Birmingham's Point (though that's sure to change with it being the eagle now)
WBHM- Birmingham
WAHR - Arnold Hornbuckle Radio
WTAK - Take 10 (originally on 1000 AM)
WLPH - We're the Lords Power House
WGBA - Where Georgia Borders Alabama (Now WSHE)
WACT - Alabama Crimson Tide
WGAD - Gadsden
WDJC - D.J. Crawford
<P ID="signature">______________
<div align="center"><a href="http://wrcf.tk">
http://dingo100.tk
http://wrcf.tk</P>
WBMG, WERC
> WERC/B'ham was spun off from WBRC-TV in 1972 (or possibly
> 1973). WBRC parent Taft Broadcasting sold radio to Mooney
> Broadcasting (WBSR, WMAK). AM taken top-40, FM taken
> parttime AOR.
>
Hehe, yeah I was off a whole decade on that one. I take the fall. However, Mooney were responsible for changing the name from WBRC-FM/AM to WERC-FM/AM, basically to separate from the TV entity. Which is kind of ironic considering it was the tv entity that originally spawned from the radio entity, which was the first radio station to launch in Birmingham. Almost a full circle ideal.
> WBMG-TV never referred to Media General. I believe the call
> change to WIAT coincided with MG's purchase of the property,
> but I'm not entirely sure. Channel 42 signed on in 1965 as
> WBMG-TV, and it stood for (B)ir(M)in(G)ham.
>
Actually, MG did not purchase WBMG, but rather it's parent company Park Communications, which owned it since the 70s. This happened in 1997. The top of the next year, Media General's newly placed boss, Eric Land, fired the entire newsstaff and put news on the ice. For some time, during the 5:00-5:30 timeslot, WIAT aired a giant clock. Yeah...just a clock.
I remember there was quite a bit of anticipation in Bham when all this happened. But of course, once the clock went away...people stopped caring about 42 all over again.
The It's About Time slogan was an attempt to re-vamp the tired 42 newscast. Of course...it failed. 42's ratings have actually dropped to new lows as of recent.
More irony: Most of the fired staff went to Fox 6 and helped the station keep 33/40's surging newscast at bay. Others went to various stations around the SE or retired from the biz. Now the two stations (33/40 and 6) swap the top spots on a regular basis during various time slots, but Fox 6 is still king.<P ID="signature">______________
"He deserved to have ice cream smashed in his face, because he's a lying 50 year-old man!"
-Dane Cook</P>
> WERC/B'ham was spun off from WBRC-TV in 1972 (or possibly
> 1973). WBRC parent Taft Broadcasting sold radio to Mooney
> Broadcasting (WBSR, WMAK). AM taken top-40, FM taken
> parttime AOR.
>
Hehe, yeah I was off a whole decade on that one. I take the fall. However, Mooney were responsible for changing the name from WBRC-FM/AM to WERC-FM/AM, basically to separate from the TV entity. Which is kind of ironic considering it was the tv entity that originally spawned from the radio entity, which was the first radio station to launch in Birmingham. Almost a full circle ideal.
> WBMG-TV never referred to Media General. I believe the call
> change to WIAT coincided with MG's purchase of the property,
> but I'm not entirely sure. Channel 42 signed on in 1965 as
> WBMG-TV, and it stood for (B)ir(M)in(G)ham.
>
Actually, MG did not purchase WBMG, but rather it's parent company Park Communications, which owned it since the 70s. This happened in 1997. The top of the next year, Media General's newly placed boss, Eric Land, fired the entire newsstaff and put news on the ice. For some time, during the 5:00-5:30 timeslot, WIAT aired a giant clock. Yeah...just a clock.
I remember there was quite a bit of anticipation in Bham when all this happened. But of course, once the clock went away...people stopped caring about 42 all over again.
The It's About Time slogan was an attempt to re-vamp the tired 42 newscast. Of course...it failed. 42's ratings have actually dropped to new lows as of recent.
More irony: Most of the fired staff went to Fox 6 and helped the station keep 33/40's surging newscast at bay. Others went to various stations around the SE or retired from the biz. Now the two stations (33/40 and 6) swap the top spots on a regular basis during various time slots, but Fox 6 is still king.<P ID="signature">______________
"He deserved to have ice cream smashed in his face, because he's a lying 50 year-old man!"
-Dane Cook</P>
Re: WBMG, WERC
> Hehe, yeah I was off a whole decade on that one. I take the
> fall. However, Mooney were responsible for changing the name
> from WBRC-FM/AM to WERC-FM/AM, basically to separate from
> the TV entity. Which is kind of ironic considering it was
> the tv entity that originally spawned from the radio entity,
> which was the first radio station to launch in Birmingham.
> Almost a full circle ideal.
By 1972, WBRC-TV had certainly far outshadowed WBRC Radio, and had better 'value' on the TV station. By the time Mooney bought WBRC-AM/FM, it was a struggling duo all but left twisting in the wind by Taft ... while WBRC-TV 6 was far and away the leading station in B'ham. I suppose Taft, as part of the deal, wanted to keep the WBRC letters for TV.
Plus, I believe the FCC at the time didn't allow the same call letters for separately owned radio and TV (I think it even extended to co-owned to where both had to be in the same BUILDING). Of course, this is not the case today; in Memphis, for instance, you have WHBQ-TV and WHBQ-AM ..... despite having been separate entities since the late '80s.
>> WBMG-TV never referred to Media General. I believe the call
>> change to WIAT coincided with MG's purchase of the property,
>> but I'm not entirely sure. Channel 42 signed on in 1965 as
>> WBMG-TV, and it stood for (B)ir(M)in(G)ham.
>
> Actually, MG did not purchase WBMG, but rather it's parent
> company Park Communications, which owned it since the 70s.
> This happened in 1997.
Oh well, I guess I can take the fall on that. [g] That would explain why Media General now has WDEF-12 in Chattanooga (which I believe was Park's flagship).
> I remember there was quite a bit of anticipation in Bham
> when all this happened. But of course, once the clock went
> away...people stopped caring about 42 all over again.
Ah yes, that's my Birmingham......
> The It's About Time slogan was an attempt to re-vamp the
> tired 42 newscast. Of course...it failed. 42's ratings have
> actually dropped to new lows as of recent.
That's sad. The product isn't bad, at least what I've seen of it. I'd take it over a lot of other newscasts I've seen.
-RW
> Hehe, yeah I was off a whole decade on that one. I take the
> fall. However, Mooney were responsible for changing the name
> from WBRC-FM/AM to WERC-FM/AM, basically to separate from
> the TV entity. Which is kind of ironic considering it was
> the tv entity that originally spawned from the radio entity,
> which was the first radio station to launch in Birmingham.
> Almost a full circle ideal.
By 1972, WBRC-TV had certainly far outshadowed WBRC Radio, and had better 'value' on the TV station. By the time Mooney bought WBRC-AM/FM, it was a struggling duo all but left twisting in the wind by Taft ... while WBRC-TV 6 was far and away the leading station in B'ham. I suppose Taft, as part of the deal, wanted to keep the WBRC letters for TV.
Plus, I believe the FCC at the time didn't allow the same call letters for separately owned radio and TV (I think it even extended to co-owned to where both had to be in the same BUILDING). Of course, this is not the case today; in Memphis, for instance, you have WHBQ-TV and WHBQ-AM ..... despite having been separate entities since the late '80s.
>> WBMG-TV never referred to Media General. I believe the call
>> change to WIAT coincided with MG's purchase of the property,
>> but I'm not entirely sure. Channel 42 signed on in 1965 as
>> WBMG-TV, and it stood for (B)ir(M)in(G)ham.
>
> Actually, MG did not purchase WBMG, but rather it's parent
> company Park Communications, which owned it since the 70s.
> This happened in 1997.
Oh well, I guess I can take the fall on that. [g] That would explain why Media General now has WDEF-12 in Chattanooga (which I believe was Park's flagship).
> I remember there was quite a bit of anticipation in Bham
> when all this happened. But of course, once the clock went
> away...people stopped caring about 42 all over again.
Ah yes, that's my Birmingham......
> The It's About Time slogan was an attempt to re-vamp the
> tired 42 newscast. Of course...it failed. 42's ratings have
> actually dropped to new lows as of recent.
That's sad. The product isn't bad, at least what I've seen of it. I'd take it over a lot of other newscasts I've seen.
-RW
M
moedog1
Guest
Re: WBMG, WERC
>
> Oh well, I guess I can take the fall on that. [g] That
> would explain why Media General now has WDEF-12 in
> Chattanooga (which I believe was Park's flagship).
>
Regarding Roy Parks flagship station: In terms of the first Parks put on the air, that would be WNCT/9/CBS (circa 1953)in Greenville NC, which he retained until the end and is now Media General. In terms of market size, that honor would fall to WBMG. In terms of audience size, the honor would fall to WTVR/6/CBS in Richmond, though, due to Park's cheap pocketbook, WTVR rated third there too, despite a superior signal and net affilation. Though maybe not true at WDEF, most Parks stations were run on a shoestring.
>
> Oh well, I guess I can take the fall on that. [g] That
> would explain why Media General now has WDEF-12 in
> Chattanooga (which I believe was Park's flagship).
>
Regarding Roy Parks flagship station: In terms of the first Parks put on the air, that would be WNCT/9/CBS (circa 1953)in Greenville NC, which he retained until the end and is now Media General. In terms of market size, that honor would fall to WBMG. In terms of audience size, the honor would fall to WTVR/6/CBS in Richmond, though, due to Park's cheap pocketbook, WTVR rated third there too, despite a superior signal and net affilation. Though maybe not true at WDEF, most Parks stations were run on a shoestring.
Re: WBMG, WERC
> > Hehe, yeah I was off a whole decade on that one. I take
> the
> > fall. However, Mooney were responsible for changing the
> name
> > from WBRC-FM/AM to WERC-FM/AM, basically to separate from
> > the TV entity. Which is kind of ironic considering it was
> > the tv entity that originally spawned from the radio
> entity,
> > which was the first radio station to launch in Birmingham.
>
> > Almost a full circle ideal.
>
> By 1972, WBRC-TV had certainly far outshadowed WBRC Radio,
> and had better 'value' on the TV station. By the time
> Mooney bought WBRC-AM/FM, it was a struggling duo all but
> left twisting in the wind by Taft ... while WBRC-TV 6 was
> far and away the leading station in B'ham. I suppose Taft,
> as part of the deal, wanted to keep the WBRC letters for TV.
Was there a WBRC-FM? I know 106.9 began as WERC-FM and I thought it was the only station to have ever been paired with 960. . .
> > I remember there was quite a bit of anticipation in Bham
> > when all this happened. But of course, once the clock went
>
> > away...people stopped caring about 42 all over again.
>
> Ah yes, that's my Birmingham......
That clock probably got the best ratings they've ever had from 5-5:30.
>
> > The It's About Time slogan was an attempt to re-vamp the
> > tired 42 newscast. Of course...it failed. 42's ratings
> have
> > actually dropped to new lows as of recent.
>
> That's sad. The product isn't bad, at least what I've seen
> of it. I'd take it over a lot of other newscasts I've seen.
It is better than that of their sister station in Toccoa, GA, but that's not saying much. That one weather girl is good (and cute), but otherwise, they simply don't measure up to 6, 33/40, and 13. Of course, not many stations anywhere do. We're lucky to have 3 very solid news departments here.
> > Hehe, yeah I was off a whole decade on that one. I take
> the
> > fall. However, Mooney were responsible for changing the
> name
> > from WBRC-FM/AM to WERC-FM/AM, basically to separate from
> > the TV entity. Which is kind of ironic considering it was
> > the tv entity that originally spawned from the radio
> entity,
> > which was the first radio station to launch in Birmingham.
>
> > Almost a full circle ideal.
>
> By 1972, WBRC-TV had certainly far outshadowed WBRC Radio,
> and had better 'value' on the TV station. By the time
> Mooney bought WBRC-AM/FM, it was a struggling duo all but
> left twisting in the wind by Taft ... while WBRC-TV 6 was
> far and away the leading station in B'ham. I suppose Taft,
> as part of the deal, wanted to keep the WBRC letters for TV.
Was there a WBRC-FM? I know 106.9 began as WERC-FM and I thought it was the only station to have ever been paired with 960. . .
> > I remember there was quite a bit of anticipation in Bham
> > when all this happened. But of course, once the clock went
>
> > away...people stopped caring about 42 all over again.
>
> Ah yes, that's my Birmingham......
That clock probably got the best ratings they've ever had from 5-5:30.
>
> > The It's About Time slogan was an attempt to re-vamp the
> > tired 42 newscast. Of course...it failed. 42's ratings
> have
> > actually dropped to new lows as of recent.
>
> That's sad. The product isn't bad, at least what I've seen
> of it. I'd take it over a lot of other newscasts I've seen.
It is better than that of their sister station in Toccoa, GA, but that's not saying much. That one weather girl is good (and cute), but otherwise, they simply don't measure up to 6, 33/40, and 13. Of course, not many stations anywhere do. We're lucky to have 3 very solid news departments here.
WBRC-FM
> Was there a WBRC-FM? I know 106.9 began as WERC-FM and I
> thought it was the only station to have ever been paired
> with 960. . .
Yes. 106.9 signed on in 1959 as WBRC-FM, and after the Taft spinoff became WERC-FM. Supposedly programmed separately as a B/EZ (I'm told they had a jukebox-like automation device which handled about 100 records), but by '71 'BRC-FM was trying its hand at top-40.
What's more, there was an earlier version of WBRC-FM in the late '40s at 102.5; wattage was something like 500 kW - at the time said to be the most powerful FM facility in the world. Was pulled off the air in 1949 to make way for another use for the FM's xmitter building atop Red Mountain: to house the new WBRC-TV.
Now THERE'S a what-if for you: had the first WBRC-FM not gone dark, just imagine what kind of station that puppy would've been today, thanks to grandfathering of those early stations' monster wattages.
> That clock probably got the best ratings they've ever had
> from 5-5:30.
Ain't that the truth............
> ...otherwise, they simply don't measure up
> to 6, 33/40, and 13. Of course, not many stations anywhere
> do. We're lucky to have 3 very solid news departments here.
Yes, Birmingham is very fortunate. Usually markets that size do well to have two solid newscasts.
I think you hit on a big reason why 42 can't cut it; still, I'd love to have 42's newscast to shake things up out here in sleepy Savannah.
> Was there a WBRC-FM? I know 106.9 began as WERC-FM and I
> thought it was the only station to have ever been paired
> with 960. . .
Yes. 106.9 signed on in 1959 as WBRC-FM, and after the Taft spinoff became WERC-FM. Supposedly programmed separately as a B/EZ (I'm told they had a jukebox-like automation device which handled about 100 records), but by '71 'BRC-FM was trying its hand at top-40.
What's more, there was an earlier version of WBRC-FM in the late '40s at 102.5; wattage was something like 500 kW - at the time said to be the most powerful FM facility in the world. Was pulled off the air in 1949 to make way for another use for the FM's xmitter building atop Red Mountain: to house the new WBRC-TV.
Now THERE'S a what-if for you: had the first WBRC-FM not gone dark, just imagine what kind of station that puppy would've been today, thanks to grandfathering of those early stations' monster wattages.
> That clock probably got the best ratings they've ever had
> from 5-5:30.
Ain't that the truth............
> ...otherwise, they simply don't measure up
> to 6, 33/40, and 13. Of course, not many stations anywhere
> do. We're lucky to have 3 very solid news departments here.
Yes, Birmingham is very fortunate. Usually markets that size do well to have two solid newscasts.
I think you hit on a big reason why 42 can't cut it; still, I'd love to have 42's newscast to shake things up out here in sleepy Savannah.
Re: WBRC-FM
> > Was there a WBRC-FM? I know 106.9 began as WERC-FM and I
> > thought it was the only station to have ever been paired
> > with 960. . .
>
> Yes. 106.9 signed on in 1959 as WBRC-FM, and after the Taft
> spinoff became WERC-FM. Supposedly programmed separately as
> a B/EZ (I'm told they had a jukebox-like automation device
> which handled about 100 records), but by '71 'BRC-FM was
> trying its hand at top-40.
>
> What's more, there was an earlier version of WBRC-FM in the
> late '40s at 102.5; wattage was something like 500 kW - at
> the time said to be the most powerful FM facility in the
> world. Was pulled off the air in 1949 to make way for
> another use for the FM's xmitter building atop Red Mountain:
> to house the new WBRC-TV.
>
> Now THERE'S a what-if for you: had the first WBRC-FM not
> gone dark, just imagine what kind of station that puppy
> would've been today, thanks to grandfathering of those early
> stations' monster wattages.
Knowing how well WMC and KZZO get out, and how stations in Birmingham tend to have good extended ranges anyway. . . Whoa! It'd have like insane AM skywave-type coverage. WDRM, WELR, WYVC, WCKS, and WKXX probably wouldn't exist .
>
> > That clock probably got the best ratings they've ever had
> > from 5-5:30.
>
> Ain't that the truth............
>
> > ...otherwise, they simply don't measure up
> > to 6, 33/40, and 13. Of course, not many stations
> anywhere
> > do. We're lucky to have 3 very solid news departments
> here.
>
> Yes, Birmingham is very fortunate. Usually markets that
> size do well to have two solid newscasts.
Hey, we're #40. I think there are others in that range with 2 or even 3 strong news operations, but probably none with 4.
>
> I think you hit on a big reason why 42 can't cut it; still,
> I'd love to have 42's newscast to shake things up out here
> in sleepy Savannah.
>
Maybe they should ship the cast and crew to a market where they'd have a chance at success. It will never happen here. They had the most informative newscast by far in the 80s and 90s and did nothing. This incarnation isn't that good yet, although it has improved over the past year or so.
I understand their early 70s newscast basically sort of morphed into a comedy show because no one watched it for the news anyway. They should try that. A local variant on the Daily Show, if well-cast and well-written, would probably beat 21's overplayed Simpsons reruns. Actually, considering the absolute lack of local humor on radio, it might even become a hit.
> > Was there a WBRC-FM? I know 106.9 began as WERC-FM and I
> > thought it was the only station to have ever been paired
> > with 960. . .
>
> Yes. 106.9 signed on in 1959 as WBRC-FM, and after the Taft
> spinoff became WERC-FM. Supposedly programmed separately as
> a B/EZ (I'm told they had a jukebox-like automation device
> which handled about 100 records), but by '71 'BRC-FM was
> trying its hand at top-40.
>
> What's more, there was an earlier version of WBRC-FM in the
> late '40s at 102.5; wattage was something like 500 kW - at
> the time said to be the most powerful FM facility in the
> world. Was pulled off the air in 1949 to make way for
> another use for the FM's xmitter building atop Red Mountain:
> to house the new WBRC-TV.
>
> Now THERE'S a what-if for you: had the first WBRC-FM not
> gone dark, just imagine what kind of station that puppy
> would've been today, thanks to grandfathering of those early
> stations' monster wattages.
Knowing how well WMC and KZZO get out, and how stations in Birmingham tend to have good extended ranges anyway. . . Whoa! It'd have like insane AM skywave-type coverage. WDRM, WELR, WYVC, WCKS, and WKXX probably wouldn't exist .
>
> > That clock probably got the best ratings they've ever had
> > from 5-5:30.
>
> Ain't that the truth............
>
> > ...otherwise, they simply don't measure up
> > to 6, 33/40, and 13. Of course, not many stations
> anywhere
> > do. We're lucky to have 3 very solid news departments
> here.
>
> Yes, Birmingham is very fortunate. Usually markets that
> size do well to have two solid newscasts.
Hey, we're #40. I think there are others in that range with 2 or even 3 strong news operations, but probably none with 4.
>
> I think you hit on a big reason why 42 can't cut it; still,
> I'd love to have 42's newscast to shake things up out here
> in sleepy Savannah.
>
Maybe they should ship the cast and crew to a market where they'd have a chance at success. It will never happen here. They had the most informative newscast by far in the 80s and 90s and did nothing. This incarnation isn't that good yet, although it has improved over the past year or so.
I understand their early 70s newscast basically sort of morphed into a comedy show because no one watched it for the news anyway. They should try that. A local variant on the Daily Show, if well-cast and well-written, would probably beat 21's overplayed Simpsons reruns. Actually, considering the absolute lack of local humor on radio, it might even become a hit.
- Status