WBCN (North Carolina)

Last updated

WBCN
Broadcast area Charlotte metropolitan area
Frequency 1660 kHz
Programming
Format Defunct (was Sports)
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
December 2003 (2003-12)
Last air date
December 31, 2020 (2020-12-31)
Former call signs
  • WBHE (1998–2003)
  • WFNA (2003–2009)
  • WBMX (2009)
  • WBCN (2009–2021)
  • WJBX (2021–2022) [1]
Call sign meaning
"Boston Concert Network". Call sign was parked from its heritage use at 104.1 FM in Boston
Technical information
Facility ID 87037
Class B
Power 10,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
 35°14′56″N80°51′44″W / 35.24889°N 80.86222°W / 35.24889; -80.86222

WBCN (1660 AM) was the call sign assigned from 2009 until 2021, and the last call sign used on the air, for radio station WJBX in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The station, while silent, was assigned the call letters WJBX by the Federal Communications Commission on February 5, 2021. The license was deleted on August 24, 2022, before any broadcasts under the WJBX call letters.

Contents

The station was last owned by Beasley Broadcast Group, with studios located on South Boulevard in Charlotte's South End, and a transmitter site off Mattoon Street in West Charlotte. As WBCN, it last broadcast a sports radio format known as "Fox Sports Charlotte", which was simulcast on the third digital subchannel (HD3) of sister station 103.7 WSOC-FM, as well as FM translator station 94.7 W234BY. [2]

WBCN ceased broadcasting on December 31, 2020, due to the sale of the transmitter site for residential development. The translator station continued airing "Fox Sports Charlotte" on 94.7 FM, fed by the HD3 subchannel of WSOC-FM.

History

The station originated as the expanded band "twin" of an existing station on the standard AM band. On March 17, 1997, the FCC announced that eighty-eight stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with WGIV in Charlotte authorized to move from 1600 to 1660 kHz. [3]

A construction permit for the expanded band station was assigned the call letters WBHE on September 4, 1998. [1] The FCC's initial policy was that both the original station and its expanded band counterpart could operate simultaneously for up to five years, after which owners would have to turn in one of the two licenses, depending on whether they preferred the new assignment or elected to remain on the original frequency, [3] although this deadline was extended multiple times. On June 2, 2004, the license for the original standard AM band station on 1600 kHz, WGIV, was formally deleted. [4]

Programming on the expanded band station, which changed its call letters to WFNA on December 9, 2003, [1] rather than supplementing WGIV's programming, was instead paired with a co-owned sports outlet station, WFNZ at 610 AM. WFNA had first signed on in December 2003 to help improve WFNZ's coverage, airing some of that station's programming. [5] WFNZ must power down to 1,000 watts at night, rendering it all but unlistenable in some parts of the Charlotte radio market.

The station was switched its call sign to WBMX on July 29, 2009. A few weeks later, on August 12, it again switched its call letters to WBCN. [1] The assignment of the WBMX and WBCN call letters came as CBS Radio prepared for a radio station shuffle in Boston. WBCN, Boston's longtime rock station, was set to move to a digital-only platform, while 98.5 WBMX was moving to WBCN's old frequency at 104.1 FM. This swap was being made to create a new Boston sports radio station at 98.5 FM. On August 5, 2009, Mix 98.5 in Boston switched its callsign from WBMX-FM to WBZ-FM. The WBMX call sign was parked in Charlotte, while WBCN aired for its final days. Shortly after midnight on August 12, 2009, WBCN signed off, and the WBCN and WBMX calls were switched to complete the process.

According to The Charlotte Observer , CBS decided to park the WBCN call letters in Charlotte to keep another Boston station from picking them up and trading on the station's 51-year heritage in Boston (including 41 years as a rock station). Bill Schoening, CBS Radio manager for Charlotte, said, "It's very common in the business. It was a major signal with call letters that still have value and heritage." [6]

Switch to Talk

On September 14, 2009, WBCN became "America's Talk", a conservative talk radio station featuring syndicated hosts Michael Smerconish, Melanie Morgan, Jason Lewis, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, John Gibson and Phil Hendrie. The target audience was primarily male and ages 25 to 54. Operations manager DJ Stout said, "We feel that Charlotte has never really had an alternative when it comes to news talk." Jason Lewis, a former host at 1110 WBT, said, "I think it'll be the stiffest competition WBT has seen in a while." Local newscasts each hour were produced jointly with local TV station WCNC-TV. [6] Lewis moved back to WBT in 2011.

Switch to CBS Sports

On June 21, 2012, Mark Washburn of The Charlotte Observer reported that, starting in 2013, WBCN would be one of the charter affiliates of the new CBS Sports Radio network and would carry that network's programming throughout the day. [7] WBCN began airing network programming on January 2, 2013. It also aired any Wake Forest or Davidson basketball games that conflicted with Charlotte Hornets games on WFNZ. [8]

On October 2, 2014, CBS Radio announced that it would trade all of its Tampa and Charlotte stations, including WBCN, as well as WIP in Philadelphia to the Beasley Broadcast Group in exchange for five stations located in Miami and Philadelphia. [9] The swap was completed on December 1, 2014. [10]

On September 8, 2015, WBCN changed back to conservative talk, branded as "America's Pulse 1660". [11]

Switch to "Smoke"

On June 19, 2017, at 6 a.m., WBCN flipped formats to classic rock, branded as "94.7 Smoke", and began relaying on translator W234BY (94.7 FM). The station aired an original playlist, focused on Southern classic rock artists including Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers and Tom Petty, as well as local artists, and some Southern country tracks. [12] [13]

It competed with iHeartMedia's longtime classic rock outlet WRFX. While WBCN was also heard on FM through a 250-watt translator station, WRFX's effective radiated power is 84,000 watts.

Switch to Fox Sports

On February 4, 2019, the station returned to a sports format, now with an affiliation with Fox Sports Radio. [14]

Station goes dark

On December 31, 2020, WBCN went silent. The "Fox Sports Charlotte" sports format continued on W234BY 94.7 FM and WSOC-FM HD3. On February 5, 2021, the call sign of the still silent station was changed to WJBX in a swap with a radio station near Fort Myers, Florida. WJBX's license was cancelled on August 24, 2022. [15]

Related Research Articles

WBT is a commercial AM radio station serving the Charlotte metropolitan area, including parts of North Carolina and South Carolina. The station airs a news/talk radio format simulcast on Chester, South Carolina-licensed WBT-FM (99.3) and the HD2 digital subchannel of co-owned WLNK. First licensed on March 18, 1922, it is one of America's first radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKQC</span> Adult contemporary radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina

WKQC is a commercial radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is owned by the Beasley Broadcast Group and airs a gold-based, 1980s-centric adult contemporary radio format. For most of November and December, it switches to all-Christmas music. WKQC's studios are located on South Boulevard in Charlotte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZLX</span> Classic rock radio station in Boston

WZLX is a classic rock radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. This station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. WZLX was one of America's first classic rock FM stations. Its studios are in Medford, and its transmitter is atop the Prudential Tower.

Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. As of May 2024, the company owned 59 stations under the Beasley Media Group name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWBX</span> Boston radio station

WWBX is a radio station with a hot adult contemporary format in Boston, Massachusetts. The format started at 98.5 FM on February 9, 1991, and moved to 104.1 FM, replacing WBCN on August 12, 2009, to allow for the launch of WBZ-FM at 98.5 the next day. Its studios are located in Brighton, and its transmitter is on the upper FM mast of the Prudential Tower.

WLNK is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Charlotte, North Carolina. The station is owned by Urban One and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format. Its studios are located at One Julian Price Place on West Morehead Street, just west of Uptown Charlotte, and the station shares a broadcast tower with former television partner WBTV located near Dallas. WLNK broadcasts using HD Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSOC-FM</span> Country music radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina

WSOC-FM is a commercial radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group and airs a country music radio format, calling itself "Country 103.7". Its primary country competitor is iHeartMedia's WKKT. WSOC-FM's studios are located on South Boulevard in Charlotte's South End and the transmitter is located in East Charlotte near Reedy Creek Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBAV-FM</span> Radio station in Gastonia, North Carolina

WBAV-FM is an urban adult contemporary radio station serving the Charlotte metropolitan area (Metrolina). Owned by Beasley Broadcast Group, WBAV's studios and offices are on South Boulevard in Charlotte's South End. In morning drive time, it carries the syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNKS</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

WNKS is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Charlotte, North Carolina. The station is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group through licensee Beasley Media Group, LLC and broadcasts a contemporary hit radio format. Studios are located on South Boulevard in Charlotte's South End and the station's broadcast tower is located near Dallas, North Carolina, at.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPEG</span> Radio station in North Carolina, United States

WPEG is a mainstream urban radio station serving the Charlotte, North Carolina, market. It is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group. The station's studios are located on South Boulevard in the city's South End, and a transmitter tower is located north of Dallas, North Carolina.

WBT-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Chester, South Carolina, that primarily serves the western region of the Charlotte metropolitan area. The station is owned by Urban One. The station's programming primarily consists of simulcasts of the news/talk radio format of WBT in Charlotte.

WKIS is a commercial radio station licensed to Boca Raton, Florida, and serving South Florida. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs a country music radio format. Its studios are located in Audacy's Miami office on Northeast Second Avenue. The transmitter tower is off NW 210 Street in Miami Gardens, shared with WTVJ.

WYFQ and WYFQ-FM are two radio stations in the Charlotte metropolitan area of North Carolina that serve as the flagship stations of the Bible Broadcasting Network. The AM station operates with a power of 5,000 watts daytime and 1,000 watts nighttime, and is licensed to Charlotte. A directional antenna system is used during the station's nighttime hours. The FM station operates with an effective radiated power of 8,700 watts, and is licensed to the Wadesboro, North Carolina. The FM station serves mainly as a repeater for the eastern portion of the Charlotte radio market.

WFNZ, known on air as "102.5 The Block", is a commercial AM radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Owned by Urban One, the station airs an urban contemporary radio format. Its studios and offices are at 1 Julian Price Place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFNZ-FM</span> Radio station in Harrisburg–Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

WFNZ-FM is a sports radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, owned and operated by Radio One. The station's studios are located at 1 Julian Price Place just off Morehead Street in Charlotte, and its transmitter site is in Charlotte's Newell South neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZRM</span> Spanish-language radio station in Brockton–Boston, Massachusetts

WZRM is a Spanish-language radio station in the Boston, Massachusetts, market, carrying a Spanish contemporary hits format. Owned and operated by iHeartMedia, it serves the Metro Boston and South Shore areas of Massachusetts, and is licensed to Brockton. The station's studios are located in Medford and the transmitter site is atop Great Blue Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOSF</span> Radio station in Gaffney, South Carolina

WOSF is an urban adult contemporary station licensed to Gaffney, South Carolina; serving the Charlotte, North Carolina market. WOSF is the Charlotte affiliate of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. Owned by Urban One, the station's studios are located in South Charlotte near Carowinds, and the transmitter site is located in Dallas, North Carolina.

WBCN, branded as "ESPN Southwest Florida", is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a sports radio format. Licensed to North Fort Myers, Florida, the station is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., through licensee Beasley Media Group, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBZ-FM</span> Sports radio station in Boston

WBZ-FM is a commercial sports radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, serving Greater Boston and much of surrounding New England. Owned by the Beasley Broadcast Group, WBZ-FM is the Boston affiliate for Fox Sports Radio; the flagship station for the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, and New England Revolution radio networks; and the radio home of Fred Toettcher, Scott Zolak, Mike Felger, Tony Massarotti, and Bob Socci. The WBZ-FM studios are located in Waltham, while the station transmitter resides in the Boston suburb of Newton. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WBZ-FM broadcasts over two HD Radio channels, and is available online.

WGIV was a commercial AM radio station, licensed to Charlotte, North Carolina, and serving the Charlotte metropolitan area. It was the first station in the Charlotte radio market to target the African-American audience full time.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Call Sign History (Facility ID 87037)". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ↑ "Station Search Details". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations" (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
  4. ↑ FCC Station Search Details: DWGIV (Facility ID: 6585)
  5. ↑ Washburn, Mark (September 3, 2009). "Talking back: CBS to take on WBT". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 1D, 2D . Retrieved August 28, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Washburn, Mark (August 21, 2009). "WPEG stars pay tribute to life, impact of mentor Nate Quick". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 1E, 5E . Retrieved August 28, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Washburn, Mark (June 21, 2012). "Another sports radio station for Charlotte". The Charlotte Observer . Archived from the original on January 15, 2016.
  8. ↑ Washburn, Mark (December 27, 2012). "Charlotte scores another sports station". The Charlotte Observer . Archived from the original on April 7, 2013.
  9. ↑ Venta, Lance (October 2, 2014). "CBS And Beasley Swap Philadelphia/Miami For Charlotte/Tampa". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016.
  10. ↑ Venta, Lance (December 1, 2014). "CBS Beasley Deal Closes". RadioInsight. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  11. ↑ Venta, Lance (September 2, 2015). "WBCN Flipping to Conservative Talk". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016.
  12. ↑ Venta, Lance (June 20, 2017). "Beasley Brings Southern Rock Smoke to Charlotte". RadioInsight.
  13. ↑ "Beasley Media Group Launches 94.7 Smoke Charlotte". Beasley Media Group (Press release). June 20, 2017.
  14. ↑ Venta, Lance (February 4, 2019). "Smoke Gives Way To Fox Sports In Charlotte". RadioInsight.
  15. ↑ FCC Station Search Details: DWJBX (Facility ID: 87037)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.