WFPA (AM)

Last updated

WFPA
Broadcast areaNE Alabama, NW Georgia, and SW Tennessee
Frequency 1400 kHz
BrandingNewsTalk 1400 WFPA
Programming
Format Defunct (was News/talk)
Affiliations Fox News Radio, Talk Radio Network
Ownership
OwnerSouthern Torch Media
WKEA-FM, WMXN-FM
History
First air date
January 8, 1950 (1950-01-08)
Last air date
August 7, 2023 (2023-08-07)
Former call signs
  • WFPA (1950–1997)
  • WMXN (1997–1999)
  • WDLL (1999–2002) [1]
Call sign meaning
Fort Payne, Alabama
Technical information
Facility ID 33782
Class C
Power 1,000 watts (unlimited)
Transmitter coordinates
 34°26′22.3″N85°42′10.9″W / 34.439528°N 85.703028°W / 34.439528; -85.703028
Translator(s) 93.9 MHz  W230CX (Fort Payne)

WFPA (1400 AM, "NewsTalk 1400") was an American radio station in Fort Payne, Alabama. The station, which broadcast from 1950 to 2023, was owned and operated by Southern Torch Media, located in Rainsville, Alabama. It aired a news/talk format.

Contents

History

WFPA began broadcasting on January 8, 1950, as the first radio station in Fort Payne and DeKalb County. [2] The owner was James Louis Killian. [3] Killian sold WFPA to its general manager, George A. Gothberg, Jr., for $15,000 two years later; [4] Gothberg, a resident of Cleveland, began operating the station 24 hours, unusual for that time in such a small market. [5] In 1953, WFPA dropped its commercial programming for several hours in order to hold a fundraiser to buy the Fort Payne Fire Department a resuscitator. [6] The station was a country music outlet known as "Radio Ranch" and did not air newscasts, unusual in that era. [7]

The station suffered the first serious challenge to its existence four years after signing on the air. In 1954, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) advised Gothberg that the license renewal application would be designated for hearing. [8] An examiner recommended denial of the station's renewal in 1955 because Gothberg had failed to disclose to the FCC that his father had provided some of the funds to buy WFPA. [9] Gothberg appealed, and the commission found that the inconsistencies between his statements to the FCC and to a divorce court did not disqualify him, renewing the license. [10] WFPA's religious director, the Rev. C. E. Dean, suffered a fatal heart attack on the air while hosting his program in 1959. [11]

In 1962, Gothberg sold WFPA to clothing store owner Robert H. Johnson for $33,000. [12] Two years later, Johnson was approved to increase WFPA's day power from 250 to 1,000 watts. Night power remained 250 watts. [3] Johnson transferred the station in 1971 to WFPA, Inc., a corporation he owned; [3] he would retain it until selling WFPA in 1979 to C. Albert Dick and his son James A. Dick of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for $360,000. [13] Five years later, however, the Dicks went bankrupt and WFPA fell silent; as forgiveness for an unpaid note, Johnson, his wife Beatrice, and their daughter bought back the station. [14] Robert Johnson died later that year, leaving the others to sell WFPA to the Fort Payne Broadcasting Company for $350,000 in 1985. [15] In 1987, it was added to the Radio & Records adult contemporary reporting panel. [16] The Watts family, owners of Fort Payne Broadcasting, sold the station to PEPA Communications in 1990 for $200,000; [17] however, WFPA, now an oldies outlet, sold for just $34,650 four years later to KEA Radio. [18]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, WFPA changed its call letters twice, to WMXN in 1997 and WDLL in 1999 (after being sold to the Delgiorno Broadcasting Corporation), before returning to the original WFPA in 2002 [1] in the wake of a $112,000 sale to DeKalb County Community Radio. [19] WFPA would then be sold to J.A.R. Services in 2006 and to the Wallace Broadcasting Corporation in 2010. [20]

On October 18, 2019, while WFPA was in the middle of its local morning show, it was served with an eviction notice by its landlord for failing to pay rent. [21] Less than six hours later, the WFPA broadcast tower had been dismantled. [22] Southern Torch, the owner of two radio stations in nearby Scottsboro and Stevenson, filed to buy WFPA from Wallace in 2020; at that time, the station was operating from a temporary longwire antenna. [23] Southern Torch took WFPA silent on August 7, 2023, noting the considerable costs involved in restoring licensed operation and opting to "conserve economic resources" instead of continuing the longwire antenna. [24] It never returned to the air; Southern Torch surrendered the license on October 25, 2024, [25] shortly after the FCC had determined that the station had not returned to the air in a year and demanded proof of resumption of operations to avoid automatic license expiration. [26]

The Federal Communications Commission cancelled the station’s license on November 4, 2024. [27]

Programming

WFPA primarily broadcast syndicated Fox News conservative talk programming with syndicated national hosts, such as Jerry Doyle, Michael Savage, Gary Sullivan, Brian Kilmeade, and Rusty Humphries, [28] as well as Alabama Crimson Tide sports.

Related Research Articles

WMGM-TV is a television station licensed to Wildwood, New Jersey, United States, affiliated with the True Crime Network. It is owned by TelevisaUnivision alongside Vineland, New Jersey–licensed Univision owned-and-operated station WUVP-DT and Philadelphia-based low-power, Class A UniMás outlet WFPA-CD. The stations share studios on North Delsea Drive in Vineland, while WMGM-TV's transmitter is located along Avalon Boulevard in Swainton.

KCKY was a radio station in Pinal County, Arizona. The station was licensed to the city of Coolidge and was owned by the Cortaro Broadcasting Corporation.

KBMB was a commercial radio station licensed to Black Canyon City, Arizona, and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. Owned by Entravision Communications, it last broadcast a Spanish-language sports format. Most programming came from the TUDN Radio Network.

WJZN is a radio station licensed to serve Augusta, Maine, United States. The station, established in 1932 as WRDO, is owned by Townsquare Media; it broadcast an alternative rock format simulcast from WCYY in Portland prior to going silent in May 2023. WJZN's programming is also heard on W240DH in Augusta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPJL</span> Radio station in Knightdale, North Carolina

WPJL is a non-commercial AM radio station, licensed to Knightdale, North Carolina, and serving the Research Triangle. The station, owned by Divine Mercy Radio, simulcasts the Catholic radio format broadcast by WETC.

WAXO was a radio station formerly broadcasting a country music and classic rock format. Licensed to Lewisburg, Tennessee, United States, the station, prior to its bankruptcy, was owned and operated by Marshall County Radio Corporation and featured programming from Westwood One. It also operated a low-power television station on digital channel 29.

KIIS was a commercial radio station licensed to Thousand Oaks, California, United States. It operated from 1971 to 2004. At the time of its sign-off, KIIS was owned by Salem Media Group and broadcast a top 40 music format as a simulcast of KIIS-FM in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPMH</span> Radio station in Newport News, Virginia

WPMH is a Christian talk radio station licensed to Newport News, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. The station is owned and operated by Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corporation.

WMXN-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Stevenson, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by Southern Torch Media, Inc. Launched in 1977 as WVSV, this station broadcasts primarily to Jackson and DeKalb counties. Coverage extends into eastern Madison (Huntsville), Marshall (Albertville/Guntersville) and Northern Etowah (Gadsden) counties in Alabama. Counties in Tennessee include Marion and Franklin (Winchester). Counties with coverage in Georgia include Dade (Trenton) and Walker (LaFayette) counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBSC (AM)</span> Radio station in Bennettsville, South Carolina

WBSC was a commercial radio station licensed to serve the community of Bennettsville, South Carolina. WBSC was last owned and operated by D-Mitch Broadcasting, Inc. The station, established in June 1947, fell silent in October 2011 and had its broadcast license revoked by the Federal Communications Commission in November 2012.

KBSZ is a commercial radio station broadcasting a classic rock radio format. Licensed to Apache Junction, Arizona, the station is owned by 1TV.com. The studios and offices are on Broadway in Miami, Arizona.

WVNR was a radio station licensed to serve Poultney, Vermont. The station was owned by Loud Media. It aired a classic country music format. WVNR and its FM counterpart, 94.1 WNYV in Whitehall, New York, were simulcast 100% of the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFLL</span> Radio station in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

WFLL is a radio station in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving the Miami-Fort Lauderdale radio market. It airs a Brazilian Portuguese Ethnic format. The station is owned by International Church of the Grace of God, Inc.

KMHI is a radio station that is licensed to Mountain Home, Idaho, United States and serves the Boise area. The station is owned by CSN International and broadcasts a Christian radio format.

KNCR was a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format. Licensed to Fortuna, California, United States, the station served the Eureka area. The station was last owned by Del Rosario Talpa, Inc.

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

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">WQMV</span> Radio station in Waverly, Tennessee

WQMV is a radio station broadcasting an oldies music format. Licensed to Waverly, Tennessee, United States, the station is currently owned by DCDL Media and features live and syndicated programing relating to classic rock & roll music.

WSQR is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Sycamore, Illinois, the station is owned by Nelson Multimedia Inc. WSQR also broadcasts on FM translators W225CC 92.9 Sycamore, W263BM 100.5 DeKalb, and W273CZ 102.5 Plano.

WJPJ is a Spanish radio station licensed to serve Humboldt, Tennessee. The station's broadcast license is held by Palmer Johnson, Inc.

WBRL was a radio station that broadcast on 1400 AM in Berlin, New Hampshire. Under two separate license incarnations from 1962 to 1980 and again from 1980 to 1990, the station served the Berlin area. The last owner of WBRL was Metrocomco, Inc.

References

  1. 1 2 "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ↑ "DeKalb County's first radio station..." Fort Payne Journal. January 11, 1950. p. 8. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 FCC History Cards for WFPA
  4. ↑ "FCC roundup" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 15, 1952. p. 103. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  5. ↑ "WFPA Now On The Air 24 Hours A Day". Fort Payne Journal. August 13, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  6. ↑ "WFPA Buys a Resuscitator" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 20, 1953. p. 111. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  7. ↑ Thames, Roger (January 8, 1956). "TV series to star Stuart Hamblen". Birmingham News. p. E-3. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  8. ↑ "McFarland Letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 3, 1954. p. 101. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Examiner Proposes to Deny WFPA License Renewal Bid" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 13, 1955. p. 87. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  10. ↑ "FCC Renews License For WFPA, Reverses Examiner's Ruling" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 28, 1957. p. 56. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Fates & Fortunes" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 10, 1959. p. 82. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  12. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 25, 1962. p. 92. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. April 30, 1979. p. 33. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 6, 1984. p. 163. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 19, 1985. p. 72. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  16. ↑ Kinosian, Mike (November 6, 1987). "Introducing New Reporters" (PDF). Radio & Records. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  17. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 17, 1990. p. 78. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. September 16, 1994. p. 6. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Transaction Digest" (PDF). Radio Business Report. November 26, 2001. p. 7. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Transactions: 1-14-10". RBR. January 14, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  21. ↑ "DeKalb County radio station evicted from studio, plans to return to air". WHNT-TV. October 20, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  22. ↑ Venta, Lance (October 20, 2019). "WFPA Fort Payne Silent Following Eviction From Studio/Tower Site". RadioInsight. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  23. ↑ Venta, Lance (November 13, 2020). "Station Sales Week Of 11/13: Rox Adjusts NW Arkansas Cluster With Purchase And Divestiture". RadioInsight.
  24. ↑ Southern Torch Media, Inc. (August 9, 2023). "Request for Silent Authority of an AM Station Application, Station WFPA(AM), Fort Payne, AL (Facility ID No. 33782)". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  25. ↑ "Cancellation Application". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. October 25, 2024.
  26. ↑ "In re: WFPA(AM), Fort Payne, AL, Facility ID No. 33782, Silent since August 7, 2023, Notification of License Expiration". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. October 9, 2024.
  27. ↑ "License Cancelled". Federal Communications Commission Licensing and Management System. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  28. ↑ "WFPA, 1400 AM, Gadsden, AL | Free Internet Radio - program listing". TuneIn. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
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.