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Wikipedia

The transmitter and tower for WQMC/WAYS-TV/WUTV was originally set up where the studios of WCCB-TV are located.

It all dates back to the building of what is now Cricket Arena (then the Charlotte Coliseum). Not having the money to do remote trucks or microwave relays, the owners figured the proximity to the Coliseum/Ovens Auditorium would give them the ability to broadcast live events on Channel 36.

Channel 3's remote trucks and microwave links doomed that idea. That station struggled through at least three ownerships before dying shortly after WSOC-TV signed on channel 9. The facilities and the channel 36 transmitter sat dark for about five years until Cy Bahakel bought it in 1964.

Bahakel operated it on Channel 36 for a couple of years, while he worked a move of the Channel 18 allocation from Fayetteville to Charlotte. He built a taller tower (the current one) in the Newell/Hickory Grove area, and signed on Channel 18.

At that point, the Channel 36 transmitter was removed from behind the Coliseum. A different group, Charlotte Television United, put Channel 36 back on the air as WCTU-TV, from the studio-transmitter complex on Hood Road, in 1968.
 
It's my understanding that's what the taller tower was used for out on Radio Road. It held the UHF TV antenna many years ago, then later WROQ.
Click to expand...

In the 1950's WAYS was owned by the Thoms Radio Company...Co-owned with WCOG in Greensboro and WISE in Asheboro. At that time, 400 Radio Road was a transmitter complex for WAYS-AM. Studios for WAYS AM and FM were in the Radio Center Apartments on South Boulevard. As for WAYS-FM, they took it dark about 1957 and it was resurrected as WBT-FM - slightly different frequency - in 1960.

I'm almost certain that the original licensee of Channel 36 built it behind what is now Cricket Arena...and the Thoms people would have bought it at that location.

Thoms did not abandon Radio Center until the early 60's, and no studio facilities were constructed at the transmitter site until that time period. For a UHF operation and the 36 transmitter to have been at 400 Radio Road would have made no sense, because that area was rather sparsely populated in the 1950's. Growth and money was building south and east of the city. Also, the terrain from South Boulevard toward NC 16 west of the city is some of the most hilly in Charlotte...making microwave transmission prohibitively expensive for a cash-strapped TV operation of the time.

I don't think channel 36 was on the air for a long time as WAYS-TV, and very unlikely from 400 Radio Road. The tall tower at that property was (I think) constructed in 1975 specifically to take WROQ to a power of 100,000 watts. I do remember that from Radio Road its signal picket-fenced badly in uptown Charlotte. That was a problem until it was moved LONG after the Kaplans sold it.

Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
 
Thanks to Mike and Matt for the replies. I was sure the original 36 broadcast from the present location of the WCCB studios--I can remember the tower being there in my childhood, besides it was the perfect location for a UHF transmitter of the time--on relatively high terrain and right in the middle of all those people. WTVI built their original tower there also (which they used until the late 80s). I still don't believe 36 spent much time on the air until Cy Bahakel put it on the air in 1964. Some of you may have seen the newspaper headline WSOC-TV posted on their website concerning their 50th aniversary. It stated "second TV station comes on air." Would the Charlotte Observer have been that inacurate, if 36 had been on the air since 1953? Looking back at achives of TV Guide listings, 36 was never listed there, even though they listed early UHF stations in Raleigh, Winston Salem, Asheville (WISE-TV/62, apparently also owned by Thoms) and the famous WAIM/40 in Anderson. One thing about the Charlotte situation, from 1952 it was clear that Charlotte would never have but 2 VHF channels, so it seems like someone would have tried to make UHF work. In two nearby smaller markets, Knoxville and Columbia, it was made to work. Regarding Mike's comparison of the demise of UHF in Buffalo, that was a different situation, since the city had been allocated 3 VHF channels and 17 went off the air when WKBW/7 finally came on the air. In a similar sized market, Hartford-New Haven, a NBC owned UHF, actually the original WNBC-TV, survived against two VHFs and in fact is again owned by NBC today--WVIT/30. I'd still like to know the real story....
 
Another question---the original 95.1. Wasn't that WIST-FM? I think when the Kaplans bought it it had been WRNA-FM for a few years and still broadcasting from the WIST tower near Elizabeth. I can remember when the new tower for WROQ was built on Radio Road in Oakdale--it was a big deal since everyone expected great things on FM from the Kaplans.
 
A couple of quick things about Channel 36. Everyone remembers the WRET days, right (from the mid-1970s). A young Atlanta businessman by the name of Ted Turner bought the station and ran an eclectic mix of programming on it and (yes) Atlanta Braves baseball! It was Charlotte's version of WTBS, and they did a bunch of advertising for the channel in TV Guide from that period. Ted sold out to Westinghouse Broadcasting who took 36 and made it WPCQ-TV in the 1980s. I can't remember who Group W sold out to, but I do remember the owners changing the calls to WCNC and playing up "Channel 6" (their cable TV channel in Charlotte) instead of channel 36, their dial position.

Now, about the WROQ tower...I remember when 'ROQ went to 100 KW and the Kaplans made a huge deal out of the WROQ tower being the "tallest radio tower in the Carolinas." This was in the 1970s, and the announcer talked about the newfound power for 95Q while a helicopter circled the tower, showing it off in the television commercial that was aired.

'ROQ wasn't the only tower promotion. I remember when Jefferson-Pilot announced their pending move from Spencer Mountain for WBTV and then-WBCY. That was promoted as "tall tower" on the air in a variety of spots during the move. They stressed that there would be times where the signal would be better or worse during the move but that Channel 3 was getting set to bring a better signal to its audience. I don't think the radio gang made as big a deal about it.

Also, does anyone recall the newscast where the tall tower was announced? WBTV said the site, near Denver, NC, would feature some type of "family amusement park" at the base of the tower, in addition to the transmission facilities. Wouldn't that have been a hoot had it happened?

Finally, 95.1 was the old WIST-FM frequency. I know...I worked with a guy who worked at WIST while all that was going down.
 
Matt, I stand corrected what you say does make more sense. I'm sure someone told me the tall tower on Radio Road had been used for TV but they must have been wrong. Since I wasn't here and don't have first hand information I take back what I said.

As for not being able to make a go of 36 I don't think it was a matter of trying but rather you need to make a certain amount of money to stay in business. The Charlotte market was much smaller then and UHF stations didn't have the high power they have today.

Thanks for the info on the "Radio Center" studios. I have always heard about them but in in quite as much detail. Someone should put a radio station in there again. I like the round window and the art deco look of the place.
 
Wow I don't remember anyone saying anything about a family amusment park at the base of the WBTV tower in Dallas. They must have been kidding around....?

I do remember helping a friend of mine after the WBTV tall tower was completed. We installed TV antennas for needy people who called WBTV and said they were still having problems receiving the station. One of probems was an elderly couple who cound't watch WBTV because of some inconsiderate CBer who was running way too much power.

Where I live in Charlotte WBTV still has a really weak signal. HD will be an improvement I think although I haven't tried it with an indoor antenna.
 
In the mid and late 70s, channel 36 call letters were WRET and the station was independent. They used to air movies every night and carried a lot of syndicated reruns during the day and cartoons/kids shows in the "after school" hours. I remember watching The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Rin Tin Tin, That Girl, I Love Lucy, and many other classic TV shows on channel 36 during those years.

In the early 80s, channel 36 changed its call letters to WPCQ. I'm not sure when they became a network affiliate, but I remember back in 82 they carried a local show called Bowling For Dollars.
 
104.7 was started as WYFM, by the Vaughan Family (same folks who started Carolina School of Broadcasting). It ran a format of Classical Music and Easy Listening tunes during the week and some specialty programs (a program of Greek Music and commentary with local commercials in Greek comes to mind) on the weekends. They were unique as the only stand-alone FM in Charlotte with no sister AM station. In the early 1970's, Art Kellar's E-Z Communications bought the station, changed the call letters to WEZC and the format to all Beautiful Music.

95.1 was originally WIST-FM and simulcast 930/1240-WIST until the late 60's, when it split from the AM to be Charlotte's "Underground" station...first as WIST-FM, then with the calls WRNA. The Kaplans bought it out in the 1970's, changed the call letters to WROQ, and partially simulcast it with their AM station 610-WAYS

WAYS-FM was originally at 107.7, and simulcast WAYS-610 for most of its existence. It went dark in the late 50's. WBT-FM signed on at 107.9 in 1960 as Charlotte's premiere Beautiful Music station, becoming AOR/CHR WBCY in the late 70's, then back to the WBT-FM calls in its "Sunny" days...then to their current format as WLNK.

The original WBT-FM was at 99.9, and was on-air from 1947-1953, and was primarily used to broadcast background music to retail businesses during business hours. Its license was surrendered due to lack of profitability. The next station to use a frequency near this was Kannapolis station WRKB-FM at 99.7...the current WRFX...which signed on in 1964

WSOC-FM has always been at 103.7, at various times used for background music and at others simulcast of 1240/930-WSOC until 1973, when they went Country.

To my knowledge, those are the only five FM stations that were ever licensed to Charlotte.

Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
 
I remember seeing "promos" on Channel 36 when I was a kid that reminded people filling out a "ratings service diary" that they were watching Channel 36, WPCQ. A station would get crucified for airing something similar today.
 
I remember those, Larry Sprinkle voiced them, they said "IF YOU ARE KEEPING A RATING SERVICE DIARY, PLEASE BE SURE TO NOTE THAT YOU ARE WATCHING TV 36", actually, as far as I know, it is fine and dandy today, I run similar liners on a couple of radio stations right now, as long as you don't say "WRITE IT DOWN" or "ARBITRON".

Kahuna
www.thatwasradio.com
 
Matt Smith said:
95.1 was originally WIST-FM and simulcast 930/1240-WIST until the late 60's, when it split from the AM to be Charlotte's "Underground" station...first as WIST-FM, then with the calls WRNA. The Kaplans bought it out in the 1970's, changed the call letters to WROQ, and partially simulcast it with their AM station 610-WAYS
Click to expand...
I have a book that said WIST-FM was playing oldies in 1967.

I forgot to check to see what they said about Channel 36 but they sure didn't mention it being on the air in the 50s.
 
Really didn't know put in this in the z-100 thread or this thread, but since it's dealing with wikipedia, I'll put it in this thread. The wikipedia entry says that WRFX broadcast at 100,000 watts, but according to the FCC database and radio-locator, it's only 84kw.
 
The key to understanding this is "effective" radiated power. For FM, this is a function of three factors...transmitter output power, antenna gain and antenna height.

I don't know what WRFX's transmitter puts out, but if it's put into a typical 10-bay antenna with a gain of 4.0 - 5.0, it's probably only putting out 15-20 KW of raw power,

Assuming the station we're talking about is a straight "Class C", the FCC figures its 100,000 watt power limit based on a "standard" tower height for a given class of station. If the antenna is, in fact, higher than that standard, its output power must be lowered to give an "equivalent" coverage area to a station with a lower antenna operating at 100,000 watts.

Even though the FCC database will show WRFX with 84,000 watts, it is, indeed, effectively covering an area equivalent to what a 100,000 watt station would cover at the standard tower height for that class.

Hopefully, that makes sense.

Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
 
The database also shows it to be directional with the pattern sucked in roughly to the east and west. This and the fact that it is a C1 may account for the 84 kW ERP.
 
I have added and expanded the article about WPEG. Anyone who remembers this station's history, please check what I put there, and if your memory is any better than mine, tell me or better yet, correct the entry.

Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
 
Re: Wikipedia - WKKT

I have added and expanded the article about WKKT, with information about its days as WDBM-FM, WOOO and WLVV. Anyone who remembers this station's history, please check what I put there, and if your memory is any better than mine, tell me or better yet, correct the entry.

Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
 
Matt Smith said:
I have added and expanded the article about WPEG. Anyone who remembers this station's history, please check what I put there, and if your memory is any better than mine, tell me or better yet, correct the entry.

Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV
Click to expand...

I did add a blurb on the call letters recently. They were derived from Jim Keel's wife's name (Peggy).

Didn't Keel own WEGO in Concord as well?

(EDIT: Just checked the entry and it answered my question. Thanks Matt.

Robyn
 
Another question: Didn't WPEG upgrade it's signal in the early 90's? I remember that it was shortspaced with WCOS-FM/Columbia (back when they were 97.9) untill 1991 when they changed frequencies to 97.5.

Robyn
 
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