J
Jul
Guest
I would like to know the history of 1470 AM WBIG and why was the station shutdown in 1986. If you have any WBIG airchecks from the last day, please post a link to the audio
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If my memory serves correctly, WBIG was owned by the Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Company - then headquartered in Greensboro. While the station was still enjoying some degree of success, it was determined that the property on which the transmitter was located was worth more than the business. The company signed the station off and sold the property (located along Battleground Avenue). It became a Lowes Home Improvement Center - and home to other commercial properties.
The frequency was revived a few years ago by, I believe, Truth Broadcasting under the calls WWBG. There was a brief attempt to bring the heritage back to life, but it was short lived.
The format was switched to Spanish and in 2005, the station, along with WTOB (Grensboro) were sold to Davidson Media Group - in a swap for two stations in the Raleigh-Durham market. The station's current format is listed as "Spanish Christian".
The frequency was revived a few years ago by, I believe, Truth Broadcasting under the calls WWBG. There was a brief attempt to bring the heritage back to life, but it was short lived.
The format was switched to Spanish and in 2005, the station, along with WTOB (Grensboro) were sold to Davidson Media Group - in a swap for two stations in the Raleigh-Durham market. The station's current format is listed as "Spanish Christian".
Que Pasa is LMA'ing it. The format is Regional Mexican.
Don't Forget "Big 102"
Lest we not forget...though I'm unsure of the EXACT timeline...WBIG saw life on the FM as country "Big 102". I believe it may have been that WBIG "moved" from 1470AM to the FM dial. Longtime southern gospel station WWMO had essentially been a Reidsville station until this time. Someone can chime in and fill in or clear up any holes here.
Billy Buck--whose resume includes the old K-97 WLVK(now WKKT-Kat Kountry, Charlotte); WFMX; Classic Country 94.5; and presently mornings on Statesville's 1400 WSIC--was on Big 102.
Lest we not forget...though I'm unsure of the EXACT timeline...WBIG saw life on the FM as country "Big 102". I believe it may have been that WBIG "moved" from 1470AM to the FM dial. Longtime southern gospel station WWMO had essentially been a Reidsville station until this time. Someone can chime in and fill in or clear up any holes here.
Billy Buck--whose resume includes the old K-97 WLVK(now WKKT-Kat Kountry, Charlotte); WFMX; Classic Country 94.5; and presently mornings on Statesville's 1400 WSIC--was on Big 102.
When 1470 came back on, did it have different nighttime protection contours? Did it have to "ratchet down"?
Their previous signal was 5 kw day and night, running a DA-2 (Two different directional patterns, day and night). If memory serves, they had three towers for both patterns
Their current signal is 10 kw days and 5 kw nights, still running a DA-2. Current radio-locator data says that the night pattern uses five towers, so I would say that the patterns were changed when they returned.
When Jeff-Pilot turned in the license for 1470, a station in Yadkinville, NC filed to move to the frequency, and was given a construction permit for it. I believe they signed off back in the early 90's to build it out, ran out of $$$ and never returned, but held onto the construction permit for as long as they could, hoping to sell it to someone to build the station...but no takers.
The reason it took so long to rebuild 1470 in Greensboro was partially that, and partially that once the construction permit expired they had to apply for it as an open frequency with a completely new set of studies...none of the engineering data from the old WBIG was applicable because the new facility was no longer eligible for "first-service" lenient interference protection as the old station had.
Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV 39
Their current signal is 10 kw days and 5 kw nights, still running a DA-2. Current radio-locator data says that the night pattern uses five towers, so I would say that the patterns were changed when they returned.
When Jeff-Pilot turned in the license for 1470, a station in Yadkinville, NC filed to move to the frequency, and was given a construction permit for it. I believe they signed off back in the early 90's to build it out, ran out of $$$ and never returned, but held onto the construction permit for as long as they could, hoping to sell it to someone to build the station...but no takers.
The reason it took so long to rebuild 1470 in Greensboro was partially that, and partially that once the construction permit expired they had to apply for it as an open frequency with a completely new set of studies...none of the engineering data from the old WBIG was applicable because the new facility was no longer eligible for "first-service" lenient interference protection as the old station had.
Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV 39
BIG 102, which was country, was, I believe, a Beasley owned station when it came on the air. It had no connection with the original WBIG 1470 (Jefferson Pilot). I do know Jefferson Pilot took the signal dark and released the call letters. It was sometime in the middle 1980s. Most of the old WBIG staff scattered to other stations in the Greensboro Market.
Julius May said:
Better yet, here is a story from WFMY-TV 2 about WBIG's last day (from the Raleigh-Durham Radio Waves site at http://www.geocities.com/rdurw/wjmh.html).
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=B867F1B479827220
(Note: Link is good for only 7 days, but file can be accessed at the R-DRW site.)
Best,
Robyn
Thanks for the news video on WBIG's last day. I might have told this before but here is my part of the story.....
I was doing Weekends and vacation fill at WBT in 1986 when Mike Collins approached me about driving up to Greensboro to work an airshift. He said the entire staff would be in an important staff meeting. They would be happy to pay mileage and even buy my dinner for going up there to fill in. I declined becuase it just didn't seem worth it to learn a new board and all that for a one time thing. It turns out that was the meeting where the staff was told about the shut down. I'm glad I didn't go. It would have been awful to see all those people being put out of work.
I was told the property the station was on became more valuable than the station itself.
I was doing Weekends and vacation fill at WBT in 1986 when Mike Collins approached me about driving up to Greensboro to work an airshift. He said the entire staff would be in an important staff meeting. They would be happy to pay mileage and even buy my dinner for going up there to fill in. I declined becuase it just didn't seem worth it to learn a new board and all that for a one time thing. It turns out that was the meeting where the staff was told about the shut down. I'm glad I didn't go. It would have been awful to see all those people being put out of work.
I was told the property the station was on became more valuable than the station itself.
E
eckwood
Guest
There was also a lot of corporate politics involved with the shutdown of WBIG. Yes, the land was very valuable and that was certainly one of the factors, but there were other reasons. The Radio headquarters for Jeff Pilot was in Charlotte, and they didn't like the fact that WBIG was in Greensboro with the Corporate owners, so they were letting WBIG just slowly die. A meager effort was made to buy an FM in Greensboro to go along with 1470, but that didn't go very far. 98.7 WRQK was for sale during that time, and they could have bought the station and created a combo. When they let that idea die, everyone knew they weren't serious about the Triad Market. In fact, I personally know of some people who tried to buy WBIG from Jeff Pilot both before and immediately after they took it dark. Jeff Pilot refused to discuss a sale because they didn't want anyone else to have the station. They preferred it just go dark and go away. If I remember correctly, an Infinity station in Washington, DC got the calls and kept them for several years. Now they are on an AM in Aurora, Illinois.
Someone from WBT did come up that day and run the board during the meeting. He was shocked to find out after the meeting what had happened.
Someone from WBT did come up that day and run the board during the meeting. He was shocked to find out after the meeting what had happened.
I don't remember ever listening to the station, but I knew a number of the people who worked there - worked with them in some other markets and at some other stations in the Greensboro market. It is always a sad day when a heritage station dies.
I remember it wasn't too many years ago that WMFR was financially successful. Today it hardly pays the light bill. Even in the early part of this century the station had some success. Hard to bring one back once the decline begins!
I remember it wasn't too many years ago that WMFR was financially successful. Today it hardly pays the light bill. Even in the early part of this century the station had some success. Hard to bring one back once the decline begins!
I
IFB64
Guest
Xtalker, you have that right....if you EVER let your guard down on an AM signal...it is gone. Unfortunately, I think that this sale of WSJS could be its last gasp of breath. While I have not heard SJS in a while, it appears (from the posts here) that it has become a ghost of what it was just a few years ago.
SJS still has a decent audience, and the business continues to be pretty good (although not as good as it was). Morning show still has Glenn, although he does it remotely from Horse Shoe, NC. Rest of that team is in the studio. Laura Ingraham and Rush holding strong (Winter book was a good as they have had for a while - at least 12+.)
Station is doing well with the Yankees games and NASCAR racing. Weekend shows have diminished of late.
Problem is afternoon. McBride would make a great morning host. Lots of pop culture, fluff stuff, and features, but not much substance.
Biggest problem is sales department has too much say about guests!!!!
Its not over for WSJS. New owners will help, I believe. I'm hoping for a smaller, more local ownership, but heard a rumor today that Entercom is a player for all of the CBS spinoffs. WSJS would be a nice addition to Oldies, Jams and Simon!
Station is doing well with the Yankees games and NASCAR racing. Weekend shows have diminished of late.
Problem is afternoon. McBride would make a great morning host. Lots of pop culture, fluff stuff, and features, but not much substance.
Biggest problem is sales department has too much say about guests!!!!
Its not over for WSJS. New owners will help, I believe. I'm hoping for a smaller, more local ownership, but heard a rumor today that Entercom is a player for all of the CBS spinoffs. WSJS would be a nice addition to Oldies, Jams and Simon!
S
stevechapman
Guest
I remember the old WBIG very well as i was working there part-time when JP pulled the Plug.It was a very sad day indeed. The station had a very health account list. but JP choose to not to be active in the Greensboro market. There were alot of great people there...Dusty Dunn, Dennis Elliott, Jim Krusulla,among others. I often ran the overnight programming and I also was heard on the legal ID.
I still remember it.....
" We're 60 years strong and with information first this is Stereo am1470 WBIG, Greensboro."
I still remember it.....
" We're 60 years strong and with information first this is Stereo am1470 WBIG, Greensboro."
I would hate to see the WSJS studios leave Downtown/West End Winston-Salem. I'm worried the next owners will move them to the airport. WSJS should buy a space on 4th Street or Trade Street and have large windows facing the street so fans can look-in during the street festivals. The visability in the largest urbanized area (Winston-Salem) in the Triad would do great things for them. Of course the biggest mistake was not buying 830 WXII-AM a few years ago. A 50,000 watt 830 WSJS with five towers near the Winston-Salem/Walkertown city limit and a signal that reaches all 12 counties day and night would be a much easier sell. 600 is weak at the airport at night and almost non-existant in downtown Greensboro after dark. I can listen to 830 in Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh after dark.
S
stevechapman
Guest
X talker,
Tom Jackson was PD at WBIG at one time. He and Stan Adams became a team at WRQK. I worked under botrh of them at that station which saw the change from ac to CHR an dthe switch of Calls from WRQK to WKSI. Both Tom and Stan were very good to me. Tom did go to Charlotte and was pd for I believe WBT-FM when they were WBCY.(A JP property) I lost track of him after that.
Tom Jackson was PD at WBIG at one time. He and Stan Adams became a team at WRQK. I worked under botrh of them at that station which saw the change from ac to CHR an dthe switch of Calls from WRQK to WKSI. Both Tom and Stan were very good to me. Tom did go to Charlotte and was pd for I believe WBT-FM when they were WBCY.(A JP property) I lost track of him after that.
Here's an idea... one that's way out there, but an idea nonetheless:
Entercom buys WSJS/WSML. They then make Truth an offer they can't refuse for WTRU: the WSJS and WSML frequencies, towers, studios and then some. Entercom then takes the WSJS calls to 830 and moves the studios to Winston Tower with a windowed remote studio on the street level.
Aside from Truth not wanting to give up WTRU, anything wrong with that plan?
Entercom buys WSJS/WSML. They then make Truth an offer they can't refuse for WTRU: the WSJS and WSML frequencies, towers, studios and then some. Entercom then takes the WSJS calls to 830 and moves the studios to Winston Tower with a windowed remote studio on the street level.
Aside from Truth not wanting to give up WTRU, anything wrong with that plan?
I think Tom is still with JP - working with the Internet side of the business.
As for WSJS moving from Winston-Salem, don't count on it. They have a long term lease on 5th and Summit and it is unlikely they would move. You are right about downtown on 4th street! They had the chance at the building at 4th and Marshall across from the Stevens Center, but the GM didn't want to move!
The 830 deal should have happened before WXII go it! It was actually in the works and fell apart over a lease on a studio on High Point Road in Greensboro! Problem with the 830 signal, however, is it is highly directional and doesn't reach west very well. It's only the radio guys who care if you can hear it in Atlanta or anywhere outside the Greensboro Metro. From a business perspective, anything outside the metro means nothing and generates no money for the business.
SJS is having some problems overcoming noise in Greensboro, and the 1200 signal hasn't helped much. Too bad Clear Channel didn't upgrade 1200 when they owned it. Could go to 50,000 day and (I believe) 10,000 night if it weren't for WOAI! of course, CC cold have accepted the interference and allowed the increase. That would have solved the Greensboro issues.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda!!
As for WSJS moving from Winston-Salem, don't count on it. They have a long term lease on 5th and Summit and it is unlikely they would move. You are right about downtown on 4th street! They had the chance at the building at 4th and Marshall across from the Stevens Center, but the GM didn't want to move!
The 830 deal should have happened before WXII go it! It was actually in the works and fell apart over a lease on a studio on High Point Road in Greensboro! Problem with the 830 signal, however, is it is highly directional and doesn't reach west very well. It's only the radio guys who care if you can hear it in Atlanta or anywhere outside the Greensboro Metro. From a business perspective, anything outside the metro means nothing and generates no money for the business.
SJS is having some problems overcoming noise in Greensboro, and the 1200 signal hasn't helped much. Too bad Clear Channel didn't upgrade 1200 when they owned it. Could go to 50,000 day and (I believe) 10,000 night if it weren't for WOAI! of course, CC cold have accepted the interference and allowed the increase. That would have solved the Greensboro issues.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda!!
Idea of Winston Tower is a good one.
Not sure the frequency swap would be as productive as you think. See previous post concerning directional nature of 830 signal.
I would seriously doubt Truth would be interested in such a deal.
Lots of speculation on who the buyer of WSJS is. Rumor has it it is one of the big players in the business, although some think WSJS/WSML would make a nice addition to the WKRR/WKZL family.
Not sure the frequency swap would be as productive as you think. See previous post concerning directional nature of 830 signal.
I would seriously doubt Truth would be interested in such a deal.
Lots of speculation on who the buyer of WSJS is. Rumor has it it is one of the big players in the business, although some think WSJS/WSML would make a nice addition to the WKRR/WKZL family.
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