WACQ

Last updated
WACQ
Wacq.jpg
Broadcast area Auburn, Alabama
Columbus, Georgia
Frequency 580 kHz
BrandingClassic Hits 580 WACQ and FM 98.5
Programming
Format Classic hits
Affiliations ABC Radio
Ownership
OwnerTiger Communications, Inc.
OperatorFred Randall Hughey
WAUD, WQNR, WQSI, WTGZ
History
First air date
1952 (as WTUS)
Former call signs
WTUS (1952-1959)
WABT (1959-1973)
WBIL (1973-2012)
Technical information
Facility ID 1018
Class D
Power 500 watts day
139 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
32°22′36″N85°39′28″W / 32.37667°N 85.65778°W / 32.37667; -85.65778
Translator(s) 98.5 W253CZ (Tallassee)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website wacqradio.com

WACQ (580 AM) is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Tuskegee, Alabama. The station's broadcast license is held by Tiger Communications, Inc. and operated by Fred Randall Hughey. [1]

Contents

Programming

Since June 28, 2012, the station has broadcast an oldies music format to the Montgomery, Alabama, area. The music mix, described as the "greatest hits of all time", is hosted by live, local personalities including Fred Randall Hughey, Brother Rick Dorley, Lamar Godwin, Fr. Mateusz Rudzik, Michael Bird, and Scott Adcock. This programming traces its origins to the June 1979 sign-on of then-WACQ (1130 AM, now WALQ) in Tallassee, Alabama.

WACQ provides coverage to the Reeltown High School athletic teams, a commitment that began when WACQ signed on in 1979. The first song ever played on WACQ in 1979 was "Let Your Love Flow," by The Bellamy Brothers. The first record was played by owner and general manager Fred Randall Hughey.

Today, the Listen Live application on the website, wacqradio.com, as well as the TuneIn app available on smartphones and other devices, give WACQ an audience far beyond the Tallassee area it calls home.

Weekday programming includes "Way of the Cross" with Brother Rick Dorley; "What's Going On?" with Rick Dorley and station owner Fred Randall Hughey; and local news, weather, and sports at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, and 12:00 each day. Weekend programming consists of "The Saturday Morning Show" with Michael Bird and Scott Adcock; Reeltown High School football replays; Troy University Trojans football; and, on Sundays, gospel music and church services from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, First Baptist Church (Reeltown), and First Baptist Church of Tallassee.

Former branding Wbil logo.jpg
Former branding

Before this change, WACQ broadcast a Gospel music format featuring programming from Citadel Media and branded as "Rejoice 580".

Outside of WACQ Studios in Downtown Tallassee Wacq purple sky.jpg
Outside of WACQ Studios in Downtown Tallassee

History

This station, then known as WABT, received its license to cover from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on September 3, 1952. [2]

In November 2005, Tiger Communications Inc. (Thomas Hayley, president) reached an agreement to acquire the station, by then known as WBIL, and WQSI from H&H Communications LLC (Fred Randall Hughey, member) for a reported combined sale price of $350,000. [3] The FCC approved the deal on February 13, 2006, and the transaction was completed on April 6, 2006. [4] In retaining partial ownership in WBIL and rights to the WACQ call sign, Fred Randall Hughey and his wife Debra began programming AM 580 effective June 28, 2012.

On July 27, 2012, the station changed its call sign from WBIL to WACQ. [5]

Early history

In 1977, Hughey Broadcasting Company, Inc., applied to the FCC for a construction permit for a new broadcast radio station. The FCC granted this permit on February 8, 1979. This new station would broadcast with 1,000 watts of power on a frequency of 1130 kilohertz, but only during daylight hours to protect KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana, CKWX in Vancouver, British Columbia, and WBBR in New York City from skywave interference. The station was assigned call sign "WACQ". After construction and testing were completed, the station was granted its broadcast license on August 6, 1979.

In August 2006, Hughey Communications applied to the FCC to increase this class D station's daytime-only power from 1,000 to 25,000 watts. The FCC granted a construction permit for this change on August 21, 2007.

WACQ began broadcasting as 580 WACQ, replacing WBIL's signal, in June 2012. From 2006 until 2019, the translator W266BJ broadcast WACQ's programming on FM 101.1. On February 14, 2019, WACQ moved to W253CZ and broadcasts on 98.5 FM.

Translators

WACQ uses a broadcast translator to expand and enhance its coverage area, adding an FM signal to its existing AM broadcast. [6]

Broadcast translators of WACQ
Call sign Frequency
(MHz)
City of license ERP
(W)
Class FCC info
W253CZ98.5 Tallassee, Alabama 250D FCC FM Query

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOLF (AM)</span> Radio station in Syracuse, New York

WOLF is a sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Syracuse, New York, serving the Syracuse metropolitan area. The station is 100% owned by Craig Fox, who also owns several other radio and low-power TV stations in the state of New York. The WOLF broadcast license is held by WOLF Radio, Inc. The station is also simulcast on FM translator W223CP at 92.5 FM and WOSW and W253BZ at 98.5 FM, Fulton, NY.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHHY-FM</span> Radio station in Montgomery, Alabama

WHHY-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by Cumulus Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTLS</span> Radio station in Tallassee, Alabama

WTLS is a radio station in Central Alabama, 30 miles northeast of Montgomery. The station broadcasts 24 hours a day. WTLS streams programming over the internet through its website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXQW</span> Radio station in Fairhope, Alabama

WXQW is a talk radio station licensed to Fairhope, Alabama, and serving the Mobile metropolitan area. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. The radio studios and offices are on Dauphin Street in Midtown Mobile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRTT-FM</span> Radio station in Huntsville, Alabama

WRTT-FM is an American commercial radio station licensed to serve the community of Huntsville, Alabama. The station, established in 1960, is currently owned by the Black Crow Media Group and the license is held by BCA Radio LLC. Black Crow Media Group owns two other Huntsville stations, WAHR and WLOR. Its studios are located off University Drive in Huntsville, and its transmitter is located north of the city.

WKSJ-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Mobile, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by San Antonio-based iHeartMedia and the broadcast license is held by iHM Licenses, LLC. Its studios are located inside the building of unrelated television station WKRG-TV on Broadcast Drive in Mobile, and the transmitter is near Robertsdale, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBXR</span> Radio station in Hazel Green, Alabama

WBXR is a radio station licensed to Hazel Green, Alabama that serves the greater Tennessee Valley area. WBXR is licensed to New England Communications, Inc. It airs a "Christian ministry" format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDLT-FM</span> Radio station in Saraland, Alabama

WDLT-FM is an American radio station licensed to the community of Saraland, Alabama. The station, founded in 1966, broadcasts to the greater Mobile metropolitan area. The station is owned and operated by Cumulus Media. The WDLT broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBTG (AM)</span> Radio station in Sheffield, Alabama

WBTG is a radio station licensed to serve Sheffield, Alabama. The station is owned by Slatton & Associates Broadcasters, Inc. It airs an adult standards format positioned as "Memory Music".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTXK</span> Radio station in Pike Road, Alabama

WTXK is a sports-formatted radio station licensed to Pike Road, Alabama, United States and serving nearby Montgomery. The station, established in 1968, is currently owned and operated by Frontdoor Broadcasting, LLC as part of a duopoly with Contemporary Christian station WVRV. Both stations share studios on Carmichael Way in eastern Montgomery, while its transmitter facilities are located between Montgomery and Pike Road.

WNGL is a radio station licensed to serve Mobile, Alabama, United States. Since September 2009, the station has been owned by Fairhope-based Archangel Communications, Inc.

WMOB is a radio station licensed to serve Mobile, Alabama, United States. The station, founded in 1961 as WLIQ, is owned by Buddy Tucker Association, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYEA</span> Radio station in Sylacauga, Alabama

WYEA is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Sylacauga, Alabama, United States, and two of only three commercial radio stations in Talladega County, they are owned and operated by Marble City Media LLC.

WQSI is an American radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Union Springs, Alabama, the station serves the Auburn, Alabama, area. The station is currently owned by Tiger Communications, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQNR</span> Radio station in Tallassee, Alabama

WQNR is a radio station broadcasting a variety hits format. Licensed to Tallassee, Alabama, United States, the station serves the Auburn, Alabama, area. The station is currently owned by Tiger Communications, Inc.

WALQ is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Carrville, Alabama. The station's broadcast license is held by Augustus Foundation, Inc. The station was established in 1979. As of June 29, 2012, the station is temporarily dark for financial reasons and seeking authorization from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to remain silent for up to one year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWWH-FM</span> Radio station in Haleyville, Alabama

WWWH-FM is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Haleyville, Alabama, United States. The station, established in 1979 as "WJBB-FM", is owned by AMS Radio, LLC.

WOAB is a radio station licensed to serve Ozark, Alabama, United States. The station, which first signed on in 1967, is owned by Fred Dockins, through licensee Dockins Communications, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJAM</span> Radio station in Selma, Alabama

WJAM is a radio station licensed to serve Selma, Alabama, United States. Originally launched in 1946, the station is currently owned by Scott Communications, Inc., and the WJAM broadcast license is held by Scott Communications, Inc.

WBIL may refer to:

References

  1. Carlyle, Jacquelyn (July 12, 2012). "WBIL now WACQ out of Tallassee while transitioning to FM transmission". The Tuskegee News. Retrieved July 13, 2012. "We have combined 580 AM (WBIL) and 1130 AM (WACQ in Tallassee)," said radio station owner Fred Randall Hughey of Hughey Communications, Inc. in Tallassee.
  2. "Application Search Details (BL-4760)". FCC Media Bureau. September 3, 1952.
  3. "Deals - 12 December 2005". Broadcasting & Cable. December 12, 2005.
  4. "Application Search Details (BTC-20051118AAB)". FCC Media Bureau. April 6, 2006.
  5. "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. U.S. Federal Communications Commission Media Bureau. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  6. "AM History Profile: WACQ". Alabama Broadcast Media Page. Retrieved December 20, 2011.