WOBG (AM)

Last updated
WOBG
Broadcast area
Frequency 1400 kHz
BrandingMemories 1400
Programming
Format Defunct, was adult standards
Ownership
Owner
  • Burbach Broadcasting Co.
  • (Burbach of DE, LLC)
WGIE, WGYE, WHTI, WXKX
History
First air date
April 21, 1937
Last air date
December 17, 2009
Former call signs
  • WEXP (1936, CP)
  • WBLK (1936–1957)
  • WBOY (1957–1976)
  • WBBN (1976–1980)
  • WPQZ (1980–1985)
  • WKKW (1985–1987)
  • WPQZ (1987–1989)
Call sign meaning
"Oldies But Goodies"
Technical information
Class C
Power 1,000 Watts day and night

WOBG was an adult standards formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Clarksburg, West Virginia, serving Clarksburg and Harrison County in West Virginia. WOBG was owned and operated by Burbach Broadcasting Company.

Contents

History

WBLK went on the air on April 21, 1937. [1] It was owned by the Exponent Company of Clarksburg and began its operations on 1370 kHz as a daytime-only station. Within months of signing on, however, the Federal Communications Commission approved the station's request to go unlimited time, saying that any interference to station WPAY would not be sufficient to deny the application. [2] The station's base in the Robinson Grand Theater was devastated by a $350,000 fire on May 31, 1939; alert staffers saved equipment and transcriptions, and the station was back on the air within 45 minutes, using emergency studios at its transmitter site, to report news of the blaze, [3] which endangered 20 firefighters. [4]

WBLK was sold in 1941, days after moving to 1400 kHz in the wake of NARBA, to the Charleston Broadcasting Company. [5] Sales to the News Publishing Company (in 1947) and the Ohio Valley Broadcasting Corporation (in 1951) followed, as did a venture into television. In 1952, WBLK filed for channel 12 in Clarksburg, seeking to trade on the TV first call rights it held from its NBC radio affiliation. [6] Two issues delayed the application—and the television station—for years. The first was a challenge by the publisher of Clarksburg's two daily newspapers, saying that Ohio Valley's ownership of the TV station would result in a monopoly; this led to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit overturning the FCC's grant. [7] The newspapers withdrew their obligations in 1957, while the FCC ruled that new owners WSTV, Inc.—owners of WSTV radio and television in Steubenville, Ohio—could set up the station in Clarksburg because there was minimal overlap between the two cities. [8] WBLK became WBOY in 1957, [5] call letters that the new WBOY-TV would also adopt before its sign-on in 1958.

The Rust Craft station group held on to WBOY radio and television through 1976, when it sold the two to separate buyers. The WBBN Broadcasting Company, headed by Lee Dixon, acquired the radio station for $90,000; the TV station kept the WBOY designation, and the radio station became WBBN, retaining the middle-of-the-road music format and NBC affiliation of WBOY. [1] [9] The format survived another call letter change when Allegheny Broadcasting bought the station in 1980 and renamed it WPQZ. Allegheny did not hold on long, selling WPQZ for $128,000 two years later to the Gilcom Corporation of West Virginia, making it a sister to stations in Weirton and Altoona, Pennsylvania. [10] Gilcom sold WPQZ to Radio Two, owner of Clarksburg FM station WKKW, for $387,500 just 14 months later. [11] Between 1985 and January 1987—when Radio Two's sister company Radio One sold off the FM—the two stations formed a simulcast, with the AM adopting the WKKW call letters and its country music format. [12]

On May 5, 1989, WPQZ became WOBG, part of a year of major changes that included a format flip to oldies [13] and the station's sale for $100,000 to Hilber Corporation, owned by Robert Steinhilber. [14] Later in 1990, Hilber bought the station's second FM partner, new station WXKI in Salem, which became WOBG-FM after having signed on December 31, 1989. [13] : B-362  Hilber sold both stations to Burbach Broadcasting for nearly $625,000 in 1998; the sale price included the assumption of almost $265,000 in debt. [15]

Ultimately, aging equipment sealed WOBG's fate in 2009, by which time the station was broadcasting adult standards music. In asking for authority to remain silent with the FCC, Burbach informed the commission that WOBG went off the air on December 17 of that year due to a series of fatal failures of its transmitter. [16] The station never returned to the air, with its license expiring as a matter of law on December 18, 2010. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBLK</span> Radio station in Depew–Buffalo, New York

WBLK is a commercial radio station licensed to Depew that serves Western New York, the Buffalo metropolitan area and the Niagara Region of Ontario. WBLK is owned by Townsquare Media and has an urban contemporary radio format, featuring hip hop, R&B and soul. The station carries the syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTPA-FM</span> Radio station in Pennsylvania, United States

WTPA-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts a classic rock format. Its broadcast tower is located on Reesers Summit in Fairview Township, York County, at.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDTV</span> CBS affiliate in Weston, West Virginia

WDTV is a television station licensed to Weston, West Virginia, United States, serving as the CBS affiliate for North-Central West Virginia. It is owned by Gray Television alongside Clarksburg-licensed dual Fox/CW+ affiliate WVFX. The two stations share studios on Television Drive in Bridgeport ; WDTV's transmitter is located in an unincorporated area between Clarksburg and Arlington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBOY-TV</span> NBC/ABC affiliate in Clarksburg, West Virginia

WBOY-TV is a television station licensed to Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States, serving North Central West Virginia as an affiliate of NBC and ABC. Owned by Nexstar Media Group, the station maintains studios on West Pike Street in downtown Clarksburg, and its transmitter is located east of downtown and US 50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOKV (AM)</span> Sports radio station in Jacksonville, Florida, United States

WOKV is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Jacksonville, Florida, United States. WOKV is owned by Cox Media Group and broadcasts a sports format from studios in Jacksonville's Southside district and transmitters in Orange Park and Baldwin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLOA</span> Radio station in Farrell, Pennsylvania

WLOA is a commercial rhythmic contemporary radio station licensed to Farrell, Pennsylvania. Owned by Over/Under, LLC, the station serves both the Sharon, Pennsylvania, and Youngstown, Ohio markets. WLOA also simulcasts over Youngstown translator W272EI. The WLOA studios are located in the city of Meadville, while the transmitter for WLOA resides off of South State Line Road in Masury, Ohio; W272EI's transmitter is located off of Mabel Street in Youngstown's Lansingville neighborhood. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WLOA is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKJG</span> Radio station in Fort Wayne, Indiana

WKJG is a radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station, owned by Federated Media, is Fort Wayne's Fox Sports Radio affiliate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCLG-FM</span> Radio station in Morgantown, West Virginia

WCLG-FM is an active rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Morgantown, West Virginia, serving North-Central West Virginia. WCLG-FM is owned by WVRC Media and operated under their AJG Corporation licensee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSTV</span> Adult hits radio station in Roanoke, Virginia

WSTV is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Roanoke, Virginia, serving Metro Roanoke and the New River Valley. WSTV has an adult hits format WSTV is owned and operated by iHeartMedia.

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

WRVV is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and broadcasts a classic rock format. The station's studios and offices are located at 600 Corporate Circle in Harrisburg.

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

WROZ is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Lancaster and serving South Central Pennsylvania. The station is owned and operated by the Educational Media Foundation and carries its Air1 Christian worship music radio format. WROZ's studios and offices were formerly located off Route 283 at 1996 Auction Road in Manheim.

WKKW is a country music formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Fairmont, West Virginia, serving North Central West Virginia. WKKW is owned and operated by WVRC Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WROV-FM</span> Radio station in Martinsville, Virginia

WROV-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Martinsville, Virginia. WROV-FM is owned and operated by iHeartMedia and airs a classic rock radio format. WROV-FM's signal covers the Roanoke-Lynchburg media market, including the New River Valley and the Southside of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPDX (AM)</span> Radio station in Morgantown, West Virginia

WCLG is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Morgantown, West Virginia, carrying a classic country. Serving both Morgantown and Monongalia County, WPDX is owned by WVRC Media and operated under their AJG Corporation licensee.

WHTI is a radio station licensed to Salem, West Virginia, serving the Clarksburg/Fairmont area. WHTI is owned and operated by LHTC Media.

KZER is a commercial radio station located in Santa Barbara, California. Owned by Lazer Broadcasting, the station airs a regional Mexican music format. KZER is simulcast on FM translator K293CK in Santa Barbara.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEIR</span> Radio station in Weirton, West Virginia

WEIR is a News/Talk/Sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Weirton, West Virginia, serving the Weirton/Steubenville area. WEIR is owned and operated by Cody Barack, through licensee Ohio Midland Newsgroup, LLC known River Talk North with WLYV 1290 100.1 being River Talk South covering Bellaire/Wheeling.

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

KBNN is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMRN-FM</span> Radio station in Marion, Ohio

WMRN-FM is a country music radio station in Marion, Ohio, currently owned by iHeartMedia.

References

  1. 1 2 "WBOY" (PDF). 1976 Broadcasting Yearbook. 1976. p. C-216. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Request of Radio Station Approved". Charleston Daily Mail. Associated Press. July 2, 1937. p. 15. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Fire Damage at WBLK Held Down by Alert Staff" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 15, 1939. p. 36. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Clarksburg Theater Destroyed By Fire". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. June 1, 1939. p. 31. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  5. 1 2 FCC History Cards for WOBG
  6. ↑ "Clarksburg Files For Video Permit". The Charleston Daily Mail. United Press. February 15, 1952.
  7. ↑ "FCC Hearing Set For TV Outlet In Clarksburg". The Raleigh Register. Associated Press. May 17, 1956. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  8. ↑ "FCC Approves TV Channel 12 For Clarksburg Area". Weirton Daily Times. United Press. April 8, 1957. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  9. ↑ "WBBN" (PDF). 1978 Broadcasting Yearbook. 1978. p. C-236–237. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Ownership changes" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 16, 1982. p. 67. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 17, 1983. p. 70. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  12. ↑ "WKKW(AM)" (PDF). 1986 Broadcasting Yearbook. 1986. p. B-308. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  13. 1 2 "WOBG(AM)" (PDF). 1991 Broadcasting Yearbook. 1991. p. B-359. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  14. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 22, 1990. p. 63. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  15. ↑ Messmer, Jack (November 30, 1998). "Transaction Digest" (PDF). Radio Business Report. p. 14. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  16. ↑ BLSTA-20091217ACI — Request for Remain Silent Authority — WOBG
  17. ↑ WOBG license cancellation


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.