• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WJLK-AM/FM

K

KlassikKountry

Guest
I seem to remember a time when WJLK simulcasted on AM and FM and the format was Hit Parade, the same format that WIFI 92.5 had here in Philly in the 70's. The only difference was WJLK had the Solid Gold package, where-as WIFI was just Hit Parade. This was a really good format for new FM stations that utilized the Stereo effect. I think it was a tape format with local calls and commercials thrown in. Did this really occur, I am almost sure I can remember this format on WJLK, I know the AM went full time oldies for awile, really good oldies plenty of "oh wow" tunes.
 
> I seem to remember a time when WJLK simulcasted on AM and FM
> and the format was Hit Parade,

WJLK AM/FM simulcasted each other until the early 1980s (1982 or 1983?) when the FM split off from the AM took on a CHR format and became known as K-94. By that that time the AM evolved into a full service oldies format and was known as "Great Gold 1310." The AM oldies station played alot of "oh-wow oldies" right into the late 1980s as it was entirely local programmed.

Later in 1980s, the FM eventually moved to a taller tower near MP 102 of the Garden State Parkway and significally increased their coverage of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The studios for both stations were located on Bangs Avenue in Asbury Park. This building was also occupied by the Asbury Park Press until the newspaper moved to Neptune in the mid-1980s, leaving the radio stations in a rather old building in a pretty rough neighborhood.

In 1989, Press Broadcasting (owners of WJLK-AM/FM) bought WKXW and WBUD Trenton. Since this was in the days before one owner could own more than one station in the general vicinity, they put 'JLK on the block. In June 1989, WJLK-AM-FM was purchased by D&F Broadcasting. The new owners decided to dump most of the local programming on the AM (leaving just Larry Brennan in the morning and Charlie Roberts in the afternoon) and went to the ABC satelite oldies format during the rest of the day. The decline of the AM was well under way by that point, and WJLK-AM struggled along with the oldies format until 1992 when WZVU, Long Branch picked up the same exact satelite oldies format and 1310 picked up a country format (for the first time).

In the early 1990s, the studios for both stations moved to the Seaview Square Mall in Ocean Twp. and eventually were sold to Nassau Broadcasting and then Milenium Radio Group. The calls of the AM were changed in the late 1990s to WADB.

-Mike
 
Just some additional information: WJLK, which was originally an FM-only station when it signed on in 1947, began simulcasting with the AM after Press Broadcasting purchased WCAP (which was owned by the City of Asbury Park) a short time later. WJLK-FM had 1000 watts and the AM had 250 watts.

From the late 1940's until the mid 1970's, WJLK AM&FM was on the air from 6am to midnight, airing a full service format that included 15-minute newscasts at the top of each hour (The Radio Voice of the Asbury Park Press) and even short headlines at the bottom of the hour. Music was what was then called MOR (Middle of the Road), which included a lot of standards and lighter pop hits. That format (in general) became what was known as AC by the 70's. Jocks were live and local, as were all the newscasters.

At night, WJLK would program different live and local formats each night of the week. A Top 40 show for high school kids a couple of nights a week. An Oldies show a couple of other nights, a Standards/Big Band show a couple of other nights (after Standards were no longer a part of the pop AC format). And of course, many nights included live coverage of local high school and college sports.

In the late 50's/early 60's, the power level of the FM went up to 3000 watts (as did most class A FM's) and the AM's power went up to 1000 watts day (directional) while keeping 250 watts (non-directional) at night.

In the mid 70's (about 1976 if memory serves me correctly), WJLK went automated (with the exception of a live and local news/infromation program in AM drive) with Drake's Hit Parade format. The station also went 24 hours during this same period. That lasted until WLJK was sold by Press in the early 80's. There was another power increase (to 2500 watts) at the AM in the early 80's, as the transmitter site for both AM and FM was moved from Bangs Avenue in Neptune to Tinton Falls (along with new editorial offices and printing presses for the Asbury Park Press).

Hope this helps.

Steve
KC2LDY
 
> Just some additional information: WJLK, which was originally
> an FM-only station when it signed on in 1947, began
> simulcasting with the AM after Press Broadcasting purchased
> WCAP (which was owned by the City of Asbury Park) a short
> time later. WJLK-FM had 1000 watts and the AM had 250
> watts.

The AM station began broadcasting 80 years ago this year. People always say how the current dial is short-spaced in New Jersey. During the infancy of broadcasting, WCAP was on the same frequency as WCAM, Camden. There was somewhat of a battle between the two stations over who would get night authorization, and eventually the Federal Radio Commission (predecessor of the FCC) gave the Asbury Park station permission to broadcast at night.

> In the late 50's/early 60's, the power level of the FM went
> up to 3000 watts (as did most class A FM's) and the AM's
> power went up to 1000 watts day (directional) while keeping
> 250 watts (non-directional) at night.

I think I remember hearing that Camden's 1310 also got a power increase during that time, and also a night authorization. In the late 1960s/early

>>That lasted until WLJK was sold by Press in
> the early 80's.

Steve- I though WJLK-AM-FM was sold to D&F by Press Broadcasting in 1989 as part of Press' acquistion of WKXW and WBUD? Was there another owner from the early 80s until D&F took over?

There was another power increase (to 2500
> watts) at the AM in the early 80's, as the transmitter site
> for both AM and FM was moved from Bangs Avenue in Neptune to
> Tinton Falls (along with new editorial offices and printing
> presses for the Asbury Park Press).

The APP (both newspaper and broadcasting divisions) was really expanded in the early to mid-1980s. Besides the upgrade of the paper's equipment as Steve mentioned, the broadcasting division expanded into TV, with two UHF stations in Florida and the purchase of Channel 65, Vineland in 1985. Press was also one of many who applied for the license for Channel 63, Newton, NJ, but was not awarded the license to what eventually became WMBC-TV.

Thanks, Steve...

-Mike
 
>Steve- I though WJLK-AM-FM was sold to D&F by Press
> Broadcasting in 1989 as part of Press' acquistion of WKXW
> and WBUD? Was there another owner from the early 80s until
> D&F took over?<

You may be right on this one. My details get a bit fuzzy in the 1980's because I moved to Florida for eight years. Part of that time was taken up as a big-shot radio station owner (LOL - WZIP, a 1kw daytimer on 1590 in South Daytona). But I remember WJLK-FM going back to a live format around 1982 while the AM switched to an automated Standards/AC format (Toby Arnold's "Unforgettables" I believe). I'm unsure if Press Broadcasting still owned it as this point or not. It's possible.

Steve
KC2LDY
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom