WNLC (AM)

Last updated
WNLC
Frequency 1510kHz
Ownership
Owner Hall Communications
History
First air date
September 13, 1936 (1936-09-13)
Last air date
1997 (1997)
Former call signs
WWJY (1998)
Former frequencies
1500 kHz (1936–1941)
1490 kHz (1941–1961)

WNLC was a radio station broadcasting at 1510 kHz AM in New London, Connecticut. It broadcast from 1936 to 1997, having been the first station established in New London, and was last owned by Hall Communications.

Contents

Early years

WNLC signed on September 13, 1936, [1] broadcasting on 1500 kHz with 100 watts during the daytime only. [2] The station was owned by the Thames Broadcasting Corporation and built by Daniel E. Noble, an engineer who had built WCAC, an early educational station at the University of Connecticut. The transmitter was grounded to the nearby railroad tracks. [3] Original studios were in the Mohican Hotel with transmitter at Winthrop Point. [1] It was the first radio station in the state east of the Connecticut River. [4] The station maintained affiliations with the Mutual Broadcasting System and the regional Yankee and Colonial networks. [5]

The 1938 New England hurricane slammed into New London with force. It knocked WNLC off the air for three weeks and crumpled its tower, while the storm surge battered the transmitter building and washed out the front and back walls. [6] The station continued to operate from its studios in the Mohican Hotel, broadcasting news on the hotel's speaker. [6] It was able to return to the air when a shortwave transmitter arrived from WOR, fed by power from the hotel; other outlets in the region also aided in restoring operations. [6] The station was permitted to operate at night in 1939 and with 250 watts in 1940; NARBA reallocation moved it and other stations on 1500 to 1490 kHz effective March 29, 1941. [2]

WNLC was prepared to move from the world of radio to television. Gerald J. Morey, executive of Thames, disclosed in 1952 that the station had planned for potential television facilities with an audio chain ready for television, a partly built FM radio site on Raymond Hill, and sufficient studio space. [7] The television station, however, was never built, and in November 1956, the Federal Communications Commission ordered WNLC and others to build their television stations or lose their permits. [8]

Instead, Morey focused on improving the WNLC AM facility, especially after WSUB (980 AM) went on the air from nearby Groton in 1957. [5] In August 1958, it filed to move to 1510 kHz, relocate its transmitter, and broadcast with 5,000 watts; the FCC granted the application in November 1960. [2] The frequency change cleared the way for a new station to open at Greenwich on 1490. [9] The new facility was highly directional to the southeast, operating from an eight-tower array; four towers were used in daytime operation and six at night. [5] A second boost took place in 1964, this time to a daytime power of 10,000 watts. [2] WNLC got a sister FM station on December 29, 1969 when WTYD (100.9 FM) began broadcasting. [10]

New owners, new formats

WNLC-WTYD entered into negotiations in 1975 to sell the Mercury Broadcasting Corporation based in Maryland, after nearly 40 years under the same ownership that had founded the station in 1936. The sale was triggered because 60-year old Gerald Morey, who had founded the station when he was 20, [1] was in poor health. [11] Thames sold the stations to Mercury the next year for $1.1 million. [12] The FM continued with its "easy-listening" programming, while WNLC's musical programming shifted from Top 40 toward adult contemporary. [13] One night in 1977, the station went off the air for two hours as a safety precaution while rescue workers sought to talk a 30-year old man who made a living building and painting radio towers from committing suicide by jumping off the 180-foot (55 m) mast. [14]

WNLC was sold twice in a five-year span in the 1980s. Norman Drubner, a real estate investor from Waterbury, bought it and WTYD from Mercury in 1984. [15] Two years later, Drubner sold WNLC and WTYD to Andross Communications for $5.2 million; by this time, the AM station was airing an oldies format, with the adult contemporary music having moved to WTYD. [16] Hall Communications of Norwich purchased the stations for $3.5 million in 1994, adding to the two stations that it already owned in Norwich. [17]

Closure and move of WNLC to FM

In its final years of operation, WNLC aired an adult standards format, after having flipped to news/talk prior to the Hall acquisition. [18] [19] In late 1997, however, Hall opted to move WNLC and its standards programming to the FM band. It did so by acquiring WXZR (98.7 FM), a satellite-fed Z Rock station, for $2 million; [20] that September, WXZR became WNLC-FM. [21]

Hall then took the AM facility silent in an attempt to repair the eight-tower directional array at Waterford, which had been malfunctioning since a 1997 fire. [22] The call letters on the facility were changed to WWJY. In April, Hall surrendered its nighttime operating authority, which would have left the station a daytime-only outlet using three of the eight towers. However, it never returned to operation, and it was deleted. [23]

Related Research Articles

WFCR is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Amherst, Massachusetts. It serves as the National Public Radio (NPR) member station for Western Massachusetts, including Springfield. The station operates at 13,000 watts ERP from a transmitter on Mount Lincoln in Pelham, Massachusetts, 968 feet above average terrain. The University of Massachusetts Amherst holds the license. The station airs NPR news programs during the morning and afternoon drive times and in the early evening. Middays and overnights are devoted to classical music and jazz is heard during the later evening hours.

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

WTIC is a commercial AM radio station in Hartford, Connecticut. It airs a news/talk format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. The station's studios and offices are on Executive Drive in Farmington.

KFIO is an AM radio station licensed to Dishman, Washington and serves the greater Spokane media market. The station is owned by Thomas R. Read, through licensee Liberty Broadcasting System, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCCC (FM)</span> K-Love radio station in Hartford, Connecticut

WCCC (106.9 FM) – branded K-Love – is a non-commercial contemporary Christian radio station licensed to serve Hartford, Connecticut. Owned by the Educational Media Foundation, WCCC does not broadcast any local programming, functioning as the K-Love network affiliate for Greater Hartford, the Pioneer Valley and portions of the Naugatuck Valley. The station's transmitter is located in West Hartford; in addition to a standard analog transmission, WCCC is also available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLLH</span> Radio station in Lawrence, Massachusetts

WLLH is a commercial radio station in Lawrence, Massachusetts, serving the Merrimack Valley region. The station is owned by Gois Broadcasting, LLC, and airs a tropical music radio format. The transmitter site is on Common Street, near the Lawrence Police Department Headquarters.

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

WHCN is a commercial radio station licensed to Hartford, Connecticut. It broadcasts a classic hits radio format for the Hartford, Waterbury and New Haven areas, and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It is branded "The River 105.9", a reference to the Connecticut River. Its studios and offices are located on Columbus Boulevard in Hartford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRCH (FM)</span> Adult contemporary radio station in New Britain–Hartford, Connecticut

WRCH is a commercial radio station licensed to New Britain, Connecticut, and serving the Greater Hartford and New Haven areas. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an adult contemporary radio format.

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

WSDK is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Bloomfield, Connecticut, and serving the Hartford metropolitan area. It is owned by Blount Communications and broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on WSDK include Chuck Swindoll, John Daly, June Hunt, David Jeremiah and John MacArthur. WSDK uses a brokered programming plan, where hosts pay for time on the station and they may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries.

WARM is an AM radio station licensed to the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and serving the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton radio market. The station is owned by Seven Mountains Media, through licensee Southern Belle, LLC. The station is silent; it most recently simulcast classic country with former sister station WLGD. The studios and offices are on Baltimore Drive in Wilkes-Barre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPOP</span> News/talk radio station in Hartford, Connecticut

WPOP is a commercial radio station in Hartford, Connecticut, broadcasting a news–talk–sports radio format. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are located on Columbus Boulevard in Hartford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDRC (AM)</span> News/talk radio station in Hartford, Connecticut

WDRC is a commercial AM radio station in Hartford, Connecticut. It is owned by Full Power Radio and airs a conservative talk radio format. The studios and transmitter site are located on Blue Hill Avenue in Bloomfield, Connecticut, with other radio stations.

WWSZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Decatur, Georgia, and serving the Atlanta metropolitan area. It is owned by JDJ Communications, LLC, and airs a mainstream urban radio format. The station calls itself "Streetz 94.5, Atlanta's New Hip Hop Station." WWSZ is simulcast on FM translator station 94.5 W233BF in Atlanta, which forms the middle leg of a three-transmitter simulcast of Streetz on 94.5 MHz. The station competes along with WHTA and WVEE-FM.

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

WELI is an AM commercial radio station licensed to New Haven, Connecticut, and serving the New Haven and Bridgeport areas. It broadcasts a news/talk radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. WELI's studios are in Radio Towers Park on Benham Street in Hamden, where it shares facilities with sister stations WKCI-FM and WAVZ. Transmitting towers for WELI are also at this location.

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

WBOM is a commercial radio station licensed to Meriden, Connecticut, and covering Central Connecticut. The station broadcasts an urban adult contemporary format, aimed at the Hartford area. The station is owned by Full Power Radio, through Red Wolf Broadcasting Corporation. WBOM's programming is also heard on FM translator W273DS (102.5); the station's branding emphasizes the FM frequency.

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

WSKP is an AM radio station licensed to Hope Valley, Rhode Island. The station is owned by John Fuller's Red Wolf Broadcasting Corporation and airs an oldies radio format. WSKP operates as part of the "Kool Radio" simulcast, along with 990 WNTY in Southington, Connecticut, and formerly with 1270 WACM in Springfield, Massachusetts.

WACE is an AM radio station broadcasting a Catholic radio format. Licensed to Chicopee, Massachusetts, the station serves the Springfield radio market and has been permitted to identify itself as "Chicopee-Springfield" since 1969. The station is owned by Holy Family Communications, and operates as part of its The Station of the Cross network. EWTN Radio programming is also heard.

<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">WPDC</span> Radio station in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

WPDC is a commercial AM radio station licensed to serve Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by JVJ Communications, Inc. and airs an Oldies radio format, featuring hits from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The studios and offices are on Dairy Lane in Elizabethtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBZY (Connecticut)</span> Radio station in Torrington, Connecticut (1948–1964)

WBZY was a daytime-only radio station that was licensed to Torrington, Connecticut, United States, and operated from 1948 to 1964. The station was last owned by Pioneer States Broadcasters.

WTHT was a radio station in Hartford, Connecticut, United States, that operated from 1936 to 1954. It was owned by The Hartford Times, the city's afternoon daily newspaper. As a result of the merger of WTHT with WONS, which brought the companies together in anticipation of building a television station, WTHT closed on February 15, 1954, and its programs were merged with WONS as WGTH on the WONS frequency. Its studios on 555 Asylum Street were converted into television facilities for WGTH-TV, which debuted later that year. The 1230 frequency was occupied by Manchester, Connecticut–based WINF beginning in 1958.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "WNLC To Celebrate 35th Birthday". Hartford Courant. September 12, 1971. p. 47. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "History Cards for WNLC". Federal Communications Commission. (Guide to reading History Cards)
  3. ↑ "WNLC, New 100-Watter, Signs Sponsors Quickly" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 15, 1936. p. 61. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ↑ Collins, Michael (2005). "Time Line for Connecticut Broadcasting". Connecticut Broadcasters' Association. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Huniwell, Shannon (November 2002). "Shannon's Broadcast Classics: The Power Towers Of Connecticut" (PDF). Popular Communications. pp. 44–46. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  6. 1 2 3 "WNLC WORST HIT In New England, Tidal Wave Hitting Transmitter" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 15, 1938. p. 26. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Radio Station Executive Discloses TV Preparations". Hartford Courant. July 20, 1952. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  8. ↑ "UHF Permittees Get Ultimatum To Justify Extension Requests" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 26, 1956. p. 74. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  9. ↑ "FCC Approves Two New State FM Stations". Hartford Courant. November 24, 1960. p. 77. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Stereo FM Station Starts Broadcasts". Hartford Courant. December 29, 1969. p. 15. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Radio Firm May Sell Station". Hartford Courant. August 23, 1975. p. 16. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Radio Firm To Change Ownership". Hartford Courant. April 23, 1976. p. 46. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  13. ↑ Whalen, Michael J. (May 8, 1976). "New Owners Will Change Radio Station". Hartford Courant. p. 12. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Life Threat Stills WNLC". Hartford Courant. June 10, 1977. p. 38. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  15. ↑ "2 New London Stations To Be Sold". Hartford Courant. April 18, 1984. p. C2. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 11, 1988. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Street Talk" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 18, 1994. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates" (PDF). M Street Journal. April 5, 1995. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Format". WNLC. Archived from the original on February 14, 1997. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. March 24, 1997. p. 49. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates" (PDF). M Street Journal. September 3, 1997. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  22. ↑ Fybush, Scott (February 11, 2008). "Smooth Jazz Out, Rock In at 101.9 in NYC". NorthEast Radio Watch. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  23. ↑ Fybush, Scott (November 13, 1998). "NorthEast Radio Watch 11/13: So Long, WWJY". NorthEast Radio Watch. Archived from the original on August 29, 2006. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
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.