WMC (AM)

Last updated
WMC
The Bet 790AM logo.png
Broadcast area Memphis metropolitan area
Frequency 790 kHz
BrandingThe Bet Memphis
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Sports gambling
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
January 20, 1923 (1923-01-20)
Call sign meaning
 Memphis Commercial Appeal (former sister newspaper)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 19185
Class B
Power 5,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
 35°10′7″N89°53′6″W / 35.16861°N 89.88500°W / 35.16861; -89.88500
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live (via  Audacy)

WMC (790 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, broadcasting a sports gambling format. It is one of the city's oldest radio stations, and still uses its original three-letter call sign. WMC maintains studios in the Audacy, Inc. complex in Southeast Memphis, and has its transmitter towers (a four-tower array) in Northeast Memphis.

Contents

The station runs direct satellite feeds of BetQL Network and Infinity Sports Network. In addition to sports talk shows, WMC features longtime Memphis disc jockey George Klein's weekly tribute program to Elvis Presley. Klein and Presley were close friends and confidantes during the latter's lifetime and the former's long stint on WHBQ.

The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., which (as Entercom) it purchased from CBS Radio in September 2006. [2] WMC and sister WMC-FM (now WLFP) were for many years owned and operated by Scripps Howard Broadcasting, along with its one-time co-owned TV sister WMC-TV Channel 5, before SHB sold the stations in 1993. WMC is one of five radio properties in the Memphis market held by Audacy; the others are WLFP, WMFS, WMFS-FM and WRVR.[ citation needed ] WMFS and WMFS-FM, like WMC, are sports stations. All three formerly shared feeds from ESPN Radio (which remains on the WMFS stations), although WMFS and WMFS-FM also have local hosts, while WMC sometimes carries Infinity Sports Network.

History

Schedule for WMC's debut broadcast on January 20, 1923 Program schedule for January 20, 1923 debut broadcast of radio station WMC, Memphis, Tennessee.gif
Schedule for WMC's debut broadcast on January 20, 1923

WMC was first licensed in January 1923 to the Memphis Commercial Appeal , and the call letters reflected the M and C from its owner's initials. The station was initially authorized to transmit on both the "Class B" high-power "entertainment" wavelength of 400 meters (750 kHz) as well as the "market and weather forecasts" wavelength of 485 meters (619 kHz). [4]

The newspaper reported that it received WMC's initial authorization via a telegram from the government, and it began test transmissions on the evening of January 17, 1923, [5] in preparation for the station's formal debut on the evening of January 20, 1923. [3] Among the station's unique features were late night concerts from blues singers. Although Memphis was racially segregated, Bessie Smith performed at WMC on October 5, 1923. [6] The station's signal was wide-ranging, and in the summer of 1924 it reported that it had been heard as far south as off the coast of Chile, in addition to having been one of the stations previously heard during an Arctic expedition led by Donald Baxter MacMillan. [7]

In the 1930s, WMC carried the NBC Red Network, while rival WMPS, owned by the Memphis Press-Scimitar , aired the NBC Blue Network. [8] Starting in the 1930s, the station used a riverboat whistle as its sounder, a nod to Memphis' location on the Mississippi River—a practice that continued well into the 1990s.

WMC added an FM sister station, WMCF (later WMC-FM; now WLFP), in 1947 and a TV station, WMCT (now WMC-TV), in 1948. [9] WMC had been an NBC Radio affiliate since 1927, so WMC-TV also affiliated with the NBC TV Network, which it still carries to this day.

During the 1960s, WMC had a middle of the road format of popular adult singers (known in the industry as MOR). In 1973, WMC became the first 24-hour full-time country music station in Memphis and was often #1 in the ratings. By the 1980s, music listening was shifting from AM radio to FM and in 1983, 105.9 WGKX (KIX 106) went country as WMC's first full signal FM country competition. By 1989, WMC switched to news/talk.

After 67 years with NBC Radio, WMC switched to CBS Radio News in 1994. [10]

In 1997, "News/Talk 790" gave up Rush Limbaugh to rival 600 WREC as well as its morning news show. [11]

In July 2001, WMC made the switch to all-sports as "Sportsplus 790". The Good Times Show, with news about casino gambling in Tunica, Mississippi, made its debut on the station at that time. [12]

In December 2005, CBS Radio changed WMC to a classic country format, because the Memphis radio market had many competing sports stations. [13] Most programming was provided by Jones Radio Networks' Classic Hit Country network, which subsequently became Dial Global's Classic Country network. The station returned to an all-sports format on October 17, 2011, taking the Fox Sports Radio affiliation from 730 KQPN. [14]

On May 1, 2014, WMC picked up the ESPN Radio affiliation (rebranding as "ESPN 790") in addition to its CBS Sports Radio affiliation. [15]

On December 9, 2021, WMC changed its affiliation to a combination of BetQL and CBS Sports Radio as "The Bet 790". [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWKB</span> Radio station in New York, United States

WWKB is a commercial radio station in Buffalo, New York. It broadcasts a sports gambling format and is owned and operated by Audacy, Inc. It is one of two sports radio stations owned by Audacy in the Buffalo radio market, with WGR primarily broadcasting local sports programming. The studios are on Corporate Parkway in Amherst, New York. The station used the WKBW callsign from its 1926 founding until 1986, and had periods broadcasting pop-rock music and talk radio.

WLFP is a commercial country music radio station licensed to Memphis, Tennessee, serving the Memphis metropolitan area and much of surrounding West Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and eastern Arkansas. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. The WLFP studios are located in Memphis' Colonial Acres neighborhood, while the station transmitter resides in northeast Memphis. Besides a standard analog transmission, WLFP is also available online via Audacy.

Audacy, Inc. is an American broadcasting company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1968 as Entercom Communications Corp., it is the second largest radio company in the United States, owning over 220 radio stations across 47 media markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMC-TV</span> TV station in Memphis, Tennessee

WMC-TV is a television station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate WTME-LD. The two stations share studios on Union Avenue in midtown Memphis; WMC-TV's transmitter is located in northeast Memphis, near the suburb of Bartlett, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXST</span> Radio station in North Las Vegas, Nevada (1956–2023)

KXST was a commercial radio station licensed to North Las Vegas, Nevada, and broadcasting to the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The station was owned by Audacy, Inc. It aired a sports radio and sports betting format, primarily from the co-owned BetQL Network and the CBS Sports Radio Network. That programming continues on 98.5 KLUC-FM-HD2, also owned by Audacy.

WJFK is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a sports gambling radio format. Licensed to Morningside, Maryland, and serving the Washington metropolitan area, the station is owned by Audacy, Inc. The radio studios are in Southeast DC in the Navy Yard neighborhood. Programming is supplied by the co-owned BetQL Network and Infinity Sports Network.

WQAM is a commercial radio station in Miami, Florida. It broadcasts a sports radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. The studios are in Audacy's Miami office on Northeast Second Avenue. Weekdays on WQAM begin with The Joe Rose Show, hosted by the former Miami Dolphins tight end. He's followed by Tobin & Leroy. In afternoon drive time, Hochman & Crowder are heard. Nights and weekends feature syndicated shows from Infinity Sports Network and the BetQL Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJZ (AM)</span> Radio station in Maryland, United States

WJZ is a commercial AM radio station in Baltimore, Maryland. It is owned by Audacy, Inc., and broadcasts a sports betting radio format, carrying the BetQL Network during the day and evening, with Infinity Sports Network heard nights and weekends. Its studios are on Clarkview Road in Baltimore, off Jones Falls Expressway.

KFNZ is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Kansas City, Missouri. The Audacy, Inc.-owned station broadcasts a sports radio format. Its studios and offices are located on Squibb Road in Mission, Kansas. KFNZ is one of the oldest radio stations in the Kansas City metropolitan area, going on the air in 1922.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPRV</span> Radio station in Rhode Island, United States

WPRV is a commercial radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and airs a sports radio format, largely focused on sports betting. The studios are on Wampanoag Trail in East Providence. Established in 1922 as WEAN, the station is the oldest surviving radio station in Rhode Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXYT (AM)</span> Radio station in Michigan, United States

WXYT is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Detroit, Michigan. It airs a betting-oriented sports radio format known as "The Bet Detroit". Most programming comes from the BetQL Network and Infinity Sports Network. During College football season, WXYT airs live play-by-play from the Central Michigan University Chippewas football team. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station serves Metro Detroit and much of Southeast Michigan. The studios and offices are on American Drive off 11 Mile Road in Southfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KIKK</span> Radio station in Pasadena, Texas, United States

KIKK is a daytime-only station, licensed to Pasadena, Texas, which broadcasts a sports gambling format under ownership of Audacy, Inc. Its studios are located in the Greenway Plaza district of Houston, and its transmitter is located in Pasadena. While it only broadcasts during daytime hours at 250 watts, KIKK's low frequency gives the station a large coverage area, stretching from Flatonia, Texas to the west, and past Lake Charles, Louisiana to the east.

WMFS-FM is a United States commercial sports radio station in Bartlett, Tennessee, broadcasting to the Memphis, Tennessee area, owned by Audacy, Inc. WMFS is the radio home for the Memphis Grizzlies. The station's studios are in Southeast Memphis, and the transmitter tower is in Northeast Memphis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSSP</span> Sports radio station in Milwaukee

WSSP is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, owned by Audacy, Inc. It airs a sports radio format known as "1250 AM The Fan". Most of its programs are from Infinity Sports Network and the BetQL Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAXY (AM)</span> Radio station in South Miami, Florida

WAXY is an AM radio station licensed to South Miami, Florida, with a Spanish adult contemporary and conservative talk format. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. Its studios are located in Audacy's Miami office on Northwest Second Avenue, and its transmitter is in Everglades National Park.

WYRD, branded as "The Fan Upstate", is a sports-formatted commercial AM radio station, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to Audacy, Inc. in Greenville, South Carolina, which serves Upstate South Carolina. Studios and transmitter site are located in Greenville.

KAMP – branded as 1430 AM The Bet – is a commercial sports AM radio station licensed to Aurora, Colorado, and serving the Denver metropolitan area. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station's format focuses on sports betting, and is the market affiliate for Infinity Sports Network and the BetQL Network. The KAMP studios located in the Denver Tech Center, while the transmitter is located in nearby Highlands Ranch, near Colorado State Highway 470.

WMFS is a commercial AM radio station located in Memphis, Tennessee. WMFS airs sports radio programming branded as "ESPN 680AM Sports Radio Memphis". The station simulcasts with WMFS-FM 92.9. WMFS is home to the Geoff Calkins Show, the Jason and John Show, the Giannotto & Jeffrey Show, and the Gabe Kuhn Show. As of the 2007 baseball season, WMFS has become the home of St. Louis Cardinals broadcasts in the Memphis area. It also broadcasts Tennessee Volunteers football and basketball games.

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

WREC is a commercial AM radio station in Memphis, Tennessee. It broadcasts a news/talk format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Memphis. WREC is West Tennessee's primary entry point station for the Emergency Alert System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infinity Sports Network</span> Sports radio network

Infinity Sports Network is an American sports radio network. It debuted as CBS Sports Radio with hourly sports news updates on September 4, 2012, and with 24/7 programming on January 2, 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WMC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Hicks, Ed (2006-08-21). "Entercom Buys 3 CBS Radio Stations in Memphis". Memphis Business Journal.
  3. 1 2 "Radio Fans Tune In! WMC Opens Tonight", Memphis (Tennessee) Commercial Appeal, January 20, 1923, page 1.
  4. ↑ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, February 1, 1923, page 3.
  5. ↑ "'This is Radio WMC,' Announcer Remarks", Memphis Commercial Appeal, January 18, 1923, page 1.
  6. ↑ "Hit On Radio," Chicago Defender, October 6, 1923, p. 8
  7. ↑ "WMC Hits Into South Pacific Territories", Memphis Commercial Appeal, July 13, 1924, page 15.
  8. ↑ "Radio Center: A Landmark of American Music" (PDF). www.radiocenterflats.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  9. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook (1977 edition)
  10. ↑ Stark, Phyllis (June 4, 1994). "Vox Jox". Billboard . Vol. 106, no. 23. p. 129.
  11. ↑ Hanas, Jim (January 22, 1998). "WMC-AM abandoned its morning news show. Now, rival WREC-AM gives it a shot". www.memphisflyer.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
  12. ↑ Robison, John (2001-07-01). "GoodTimes Radio Moves to SportsPlus 790 WMC". Casino City Times. Archived from the original on 2006-10-29.
  13. ↑ Tucker, Ken (2005-12-30). "Legendary Station Brings 'Country Legends' to Memphis". Radio Monitor.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. ↑ "Confirmed: "Country Legends" WMC-AM (790) in Memphis to flip to sports". Radio-Info.com. October 14, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  15. ↑ Venta, Lance (May 1, 2014). "Entercom Expands ESPN Brand in Memphis". RadioInsight. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  16. ↑ Venta, Lance (December 8, 2021). "Audacy Launches 790 The Bet In Memphis". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
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.