WCRY

Last updated

WCRY
Broadcast area Research Triangle
Frequency 1460kHz
Branding"Joy 1460"
Programming
Format Defunct
Ownership
Owner
  • Willis Broadcasting
  • (Durham Christian Radio, Inc.)
History
First air date
1949;74 years ago (1949)
Last air date
June 2004;18 years ago (2004-06)
Former call signs
WFVG (1949–1967)
WAKS (1967–1989)
WNBR (1989–1992)
Technical information
Facility ID 52645
Class D
Power 5,000 watts daytime
122 watts nighttime
Transmitter coordinates
35°36′36″N78°48′14.4″W / 35.61000°N 78.804000°W / 35.61000; -78.804000 (WCRY)

WCRY (1460 AM, "Joy 1460") was a radio station broadcasting a black gospel music format. Licensed to serve Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States, it broadcast to the Research Triangle metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1949 under the call sign WFVG, and ceased operations in 2004. The station was owned by Willis Broadcasting.

Contents

History

The station went on the air in 1949 [1] as WFVG, a 1,000-watt daytimer in Fuquay Springs owned by Wake Broadcasting Company; [2] the call letters stood for "Watch Fuquay-Varina Grow". [3] In 1950, S. S. Adcock sold a 60-percent interest in the station to J. M. Stephenson and W. J. Davis for $34,000; [4] a few months later, Adcock sold his remaining interest to Stephenson and Davis for over $50,000. [5] Davis sold his stake to B.H. Ingle Sr. for $16,000 in 1951; [6] Ingle then sold his stake to Stephenson after applying for a station in Raleigh. [7] WFVG became an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1957. [8]

James M. Stephenson was part of a group that bought WKIX AM-FM in Raleigh in 1958; [9] as a condition of this purchase, Stephenson sold WFVG to a group led by James F. Flanagan for $42,000. [10] In 1960, Gail Lewis sold his 37.5-percent stake in the station to the remaining partners, Flanagan and Dr. Robert C. Currin, for $10,000; the sale coincided with Lewis' purchase of WEYE in Sanford. [11] H. Cloid Wade Jr. and Carl W. Venters Jr., owners of WFAG in Farmville, bought WFVG in 1962. [12] As WFVG, the station provided agricultural information, along with country music and rock and roll. [3]

In 1967, WFVG was sold to Gray Broadcasting Corp.; [13] on October 18, it changed its call letters to WAKS. [14] As WAKS, the station programmed a full-time country music format. [3] Gray Broadcasting sold WAKS to Joseph B. Wilder, James M. Butts, and L. Keith Whittle for $125,000 in 1971. [15] In 1978, the station increased its power to 5,000 watts and changed its city of license to Fuquay-Varina; [14] Fuquay Springs and Varina had merged in 1963. An FM sister station, WAKS-FM (103.9), was added on December 9, 1980; it simulcast 90 percent of WAKS' programming. [16]

Wake County Broadcasting sold WAKS and WAKS-FM to Mohr-Engledow Broadcasting for $850,000 in 1986. [17] After WAKS-FM changed to easy listening station WAZZ in 1987, the country format remained on WAKS. [18] Meca Broadcasting sold WAKS and WAZZ to Ceder Communications for $1.43 million in 1989. [19] [20] On October 20, 1989, the call letters were changed to WNBR, [21] as the station moved to a business news/talk format. [3] The station was also granted 122 watts of nighttime power. [20] In December 1991, WNBR dropped the business news format and went silent. [22]

The station changed its call letters to WCRY on April 15, 1992. [21] In February 1993, WCRY returned to the air with a news/talk format [23] as the flagship station of the "North Carolina Talk Network", which also included WEEB in Southern Pines and WHPY in Clayton; [24] later that year, WCRY was sold to Pinehurst Broadcasting Corporation. [25] In August 1996, the station switched to a black gospel format and entered into a local marketing agreement with WSRC; [26] WCRY was then sold to WSRC's owner, Durham Christian Radio, controlled by L. E. Willis, for $175,000 [27] and became part of Willis Broadcasting Corporation. [28]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered Bishop Willis to surrender the licenses for four of his AM stations — KLRG in Little Rock, Arkansas, KVLA in Vidalia, Louisiana, WCRY, and WSVE in Jacksonville, Florida — on June 16, 2004, after accumulating $84,000 in fines due to violations of FCC rules dating to 1999. [29] By June 21, 2004, WCRY had left the air; [3] on June 24, WCRY's license was cancelled by the FCC. [30]

Related Research Articles

WPGP is a radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, broadcasting with a power output of 5,000 watts. The station is owned and operated by the Salem Media Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNAX-FM</span> Country music radio station in Yankton, South Dakota

WNAX-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country format. Licensed to Yankton, South Dakota, it serves the Yankton, Vermillion, and Sioux City areas. The station is currently owned by Saga Communications, Inc.

WRDU is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Wake Forest, North Carolina. The station is owned by iHeartMedia though licensee iHM Licenses, LLC and broadcasts a classic rock format. Its broadcast tower is near Middlesex at. The station's service contour covers a large portion of Eastern North Carolina, including the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Rocky Mount, Greenville, and Roanoke Rapids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVEC</span> Radio station in San Luis Obispo, California

KVEC is a commercial radio station that is licensed to San Luis Obispo, California, United States and serves the Central Coast of California. The station is owned by American General Media and broadcasts a news/talk radio format featuring a variety of nationally syndicated talk shows as well as a program hosted by Dave Congalton.

WKIX is an AM radio station with an oldies format. Licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, the station serves the Research Triangle area. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group. Studios are located in Raleigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJZN</span> Radio station in Augusta, Maine

WJZN is a radio station licensed to serve Augusta, Maine, United States. The station, established in 1932 as WRDO, is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts an alternative rock format simulcast from WCYY in Portland. WJZN's programming is also heard on W240DH in Augusta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPKX (AM)</span> Radio station in Rochester, New Hampshire

WPKX is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Rochester, New Hampshire, that broadcasts a sports radio format, largely supplied from Fox Sports Radio. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and serves the Portsmouth-Dover-Rochester media market, also heard in Southern Maine. WPKX broadcasts at 5000 watts around the clock from a transmitter off Route 108 in Rochester. To protect other stations on 930 kHz, WPKX uses a directional antenna at night.

WETC is an AM radio station, licensed to the cities of Wendell and Zebulon, North Carolina. It is owned by Divine Mercy Radio, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. It is an all-volunteer, independently owned, non-commercial radio station that airs a Catholic radio format. The call letters now stand for We're EveryThing Catholic. The station's is known as Catholic 540-AM Divine Mercy Radio and is 100% listener supported. The station's signal targets the Research Triangle region of North Carolina, including the Raleigh radio market. In addition to Raleigh and Durham, other North Carolina cities and towns within the station's primary broadcast radius include Apex, Butner, Cary, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Goldsboro, Hillsborough, Holly Springs, Kinston, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Wake Forest, Wendell, Wilson & Zebulon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZKT</span> Radio station in Walnut Creek, North Carolina

WZKT is a radio station licensed to serve Walnut Creek, North Carolina, United States. The station, founded in 1976, is owned by New Age Communications, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNNL</span> Radio station in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

WNNL is an Urban Gospel formatted station serving the Raleigh/Durham metropolitan region. Owned by Radio One with WQOK and WFXC/WFXK, "The Light 103.9" is "The Triangle's #1 Station for Inspiration" and home to the Yolanda Adams morning show. Its studios are located in Raleigh and its transmitter site is in Fuquay-Varina, the station's city of license.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBNN</span> Radio station in Lebanon, Missouri

KBNN is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Established in 1973, the station is licensed to Lebanon, Missouri, United States, and serves the Springfield, Missouri, area. The station is owned by Alpha Media and is licensed to Alpha Media Licensee LLC.

KUHL is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Santa Maria, California and serves the Santa Maria—Lompoc, California area. The station is owned by Knight Broadcasting Inc. and broadcasts a news/talk format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WICU (AM)</span> Radio station in Warren, Pennsylvania

WICU is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Warren, Pennsylvania, United States, the station is a simulcast of Erie-based WICU-FM (92.7); its programming is also heard on translator station W244DY. WICU is owned by Lilly Broadcasting.

KTNK is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Lompoc, California and serves the Santa Maria—Lompoc area. The station, established in 1963, is owned by Michael Alan Day's Cross and Crown Broadcasting Corporation and broadcasts a classic country music format. KTNK features programming from ABC Radio, Jones Radio Network, and Westwood One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCME</span> Radio station in Brunswick, Maine

WCME is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Brunswick, Maine, and serving Maine's Mid Coast; on-air, the station is currently known as "Radio Midcoast WCME 99-5 FM & 900 AM". Established in 1955, the station is owned by veteran radio news anchor and talk host Jim Bleikamp, and programs a locally-oriented, full-service oldies/soft rock radio format emphasizing news and local events. WCME's studios are in the Fort Andross complex in Brunswick. WCME's transmitter is located along U.S. Route 1 near Durham Road in Brunswick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KOND</span> Radio station in Hanford, California

KOND is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Hanford, California, United States and serves the Fresno area. The station is owned by Latino Media Network; under a local marketing agreement, it is programmed by former owner TelevisaUnivision's Uforia Audio Network. KOND broadcasts a Regional Mexican format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSMA (AM)</span> Radio station in Santa Maria, California

KSMA is a commercial AM radio station that is licensed to Santa Maria, California, United States and serves the Santa Maria-Lompoc area. The station is owned by American General Media and broadcasts a news/talk format. KSMA is rebroadcast on FM translator K258CY at 99.5 FM in Santa Maria. KSMA is an affiliate of the Los Angeles Rams radio network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKJO (FM)</span> Radio station in Smithfield, North Carolina

WKJO is a classic hits formatted radio station licensed to Smithfield, North Carolina. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group, and simulcasts the "KIX 102, Carolina's Greatest Hits" programming of hit music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s that originates from WKIX-FM (102.9) in Raleigh. WKJO's transmitter tower is northwest of Smithfield in rural Clayton, North Carolina.

WSVE was a radio station licensed in Jacksonville, Florida. WSVE was owned by Willis & Sons. WSVE last operated on 1280 kHz with 5,000 watts of power daytime & 133 watts nighttime.

WLVO is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary Christian music format as an affiliate of the K-Love network. Licensed to serve Providence, Rhode Island, United States, it serves the Providence metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1955 under the call sign WPFM, and from 1966 until 2017 operated under the ownership of Brown Broadcasting Service as alternative rock radio station WBRU. The station is currently owned by the Educational Media Foundation.

References

  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-321. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  2. Broadcasting-Telecasting 1950 Yearbook Number (PDF). 1950. p. 226. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Radio R.I.P." Raleigh-Durham Radio Waves. Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  4. "FCC Actions" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting . April 3, 1950. p. 66. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  5. "New Applications" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting . July 10, 1950. p. 76. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  6. "FCC Actions" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting . April 2, 1951. p. 91. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  7. "New Applications" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting . July 30, 1951. p. 77. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  8. "Mutual Reports Rising Demand For Affiliations With Network" (PDF). Broadcasting . December 23, 1957. p. 70. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  9. "Price Group Buys WKIX Raleigh" (PDF). Broadcasting . December 17, 1958. p. 10. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  10. "For The Record" (PDF). Broadcasting . December 15, 1958. p. 84. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  11. "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting . August 1, 1960. p. 78. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  12. "For The Record" (PDF). Broadcasting . February 5, 1962. p. 79. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  13. "For The Record" (PDF). Broadcasting . August 14, 1967. p. 93. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  14. 1 2 "WAKS history cards" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  15. "For The Record" (PDF). Broadcasting . April 5, 1971. p. 84. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  16. Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1982 (PDF). 1982. p. C-171. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  17. "For The Record" (PDF). Broadcasting . August 25, 1986. p. 103. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  18. Broadcasting/Cable Yearbook 1989 (PDF). 1989. p. B-214. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  19. "In Brief" (PDF). Broadcasting . December 26, 1986. pp. 88–9. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  20. 1 2 The Broadcasting Yearbook 1990 (PDF). 1990. p. B-225. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  21. 1 2 "Call Sign History (DWCRY)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  22. "Format Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. December 2, 1991. p. 1. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  23. "Format Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. February 24, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  24. "Elsewhere" (PDF). The M Street Journal. February 24, 1993. p. 7. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  25. "Proposed Station Transfers" (PDF). The M Street Journal. September 8, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  26. "Format Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. August 14, 1996. p. 2. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  27. "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records . October 11, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  28. "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable . February 10, 1997. p. 68. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  29. "Willis Must Surrender Licenses". Radio World . June 16, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  30. "Station Search Details (DWCRY)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved March 26, 2018.