WSHH

Last updated

WSHH
Wshh.png
Broadcast area Greater Pittsburgh
Frequency 99.7 MHz
BrandingWish 99.7
Programming
Format Adult contemporary
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
March 8, 1948;76 years ago (1948-03-08)
Former call signs
  • WJAS-FM (1948–1957)
  • WFMP (1957–1960)
  • WJAS-FM (1960–1973)
Call sign meaning
disambiguation of the word "Wish"
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 55709
Class B
ERP 17,000 watts
HAAT 260 meters (850 ft)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website wishpittsburgh.com

WSHH (99.7 FM) is a commercial radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the flagship of Renda Broadcasting and airs an adult contemporary radio format. WSHH is Pittsburgh's affiliate of the syndicated Delilah show, which airs every night. Between Mid-November and December 25 each year, WSHH airs a Christmas music format.

Contents

The station's transmitter is co-located with NBC network affiliate WPXI on Rising Main Avenue in Pittsburgh near Interstate 279. Its studios and offices located on Parish Street.

History

WJAS-FM

WSHH on a SPARC HD Radio with RDS. WSHH RDS.png
WSHH on a SPARC HD Radio with RDS.

On March 8, 1948, the station first signed on as WJAS-FM [2] It was the FM counterpart to WJAS, owned by the Pittsburgh Radio Supply House.

The two stations simulcast and were network affiliates of CBS Radio, airing its dramas, comedies, news, sports, soap operas, game shows and big band broadcasts during the "Golden Age of Radio." As network programming moved from radio to television in the 1950s, WJAS-AM-FM carried a full service, middle of the road format of music, talk, news and sports.

On November 1, 1957, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) gained control of WJAS and WJAS-FM, adding them to their roster of network owned-and-operated stations. [3] Later that month the call letters were changed to WAMP and WFMP, which was derived from "AM and FM Pittsburgh". [4] Three years later, both stations changed back to their original call letters. [5]

Beautiful music WSHH

In the late 1960s, WJAS-FM ended its simulcast and began playing beautiful music, which continued into the 1970s and 1980s. In 1973, WJAS-AM-FM were sold to Heftel Broadcasting. [6] Heftel made some significant changes: WJAS switched to a talk format with the call sign WKTQ, while WJAS-FM became WSHH, using the moniker "Wish 100."

During the 1970s, beautiful music was well represented on Pittsburgh radio: WKJF, which later became WJOI, was the leader for many years, and KDKA-FM aired automated beautiful music during the day and classical music at night. (It became WPNT in 1979 with beautiful music (no more classical) and live announcers.) Despite the competition, by the late 1970s, WSHH was Pittsburgh's number two station behind KDKA. WSHH's ratings were helped by a full staff of live announcers, to add some personality and information, in addition to the instrumental music sweeps.

Nationwide acquisition

Nationwide Communications, a division of Nationwide Insurance, bought WKTQ and WSHH in 1975. [7] In 1982, Nationwide fired most of the WSHH staff, replacing them with an automated "live assist" format, to cut expenses. John Ford was the last live announcer before the switch.

During Wish's halcyon years, the station had only two announcers for the 24-hour broadcast day - program director and morning announcer Joe Fenn and afternoon announcer Tom Malloy. Both men would work a live four-hour on-air shift, but their pre-recorded voices would be heard for another eight hours each day.

Renda ownership

Wish was sold in October 1983 to its current owner, Renda Broadcasting Corporation. [8] It was the first major market FM acquisition for company president Anthony F. Renda, who had also owned WIXZ (now WGBN) in suburban McKeesport during the 1970s. (Renda bought that station back in 1997.) Renda also acquired WPXZ and WECZ in Punxsutawney three years prior to the acquisition of Wish 100.

While the ratings for WSHH remained high, its audience was aging, while advertisers usually prefer younger listeners. The groundwork for a format change began in 1988, when Renda lured legendary Pittsburgh DJ Jack Bogut away from WTAE to do mornings.

Switch to adult contemporary

In 1989, Renda Broadcasting decided to challenge former easy listening WLTJ's position as Pittsburgh's soft adult contemporary at-work station by changing WSHH itself to Soft AC, on December 26, 1989. [9] The switch worked with WSHH becoming the Soft AC leader.

In 1997, WSHH moved from its longtime home on Crane Avenue in Green Tree to Parrish Street, just off Greentree Road and approximately a mile from the Crane Avenue building. This new building houses WSHH's studios and offices, as well as the corporate offices for Renda Broadcasting.

In 2009, WSHH saw its AC rival WLTJ move to a younger direction as a Hot AC station. By 2012, WSHH became Pittsburgh's last remaining AC, when suburban AC station WLER-FM in Butler, flipped to mainstream rock.

Christmas music

During the Christmas season, WSHH plays holiday-themed music. Delilah usually starts playing Christmas music in the evening first. Then the station plays Christmas music around the clock, beginning in mid-November. WSHH, like many other Christmas music stations, returns to regular programming on December 26. In recent years, WSHH has aired a Christmas Preview Weekend, which is a full Christmas music format for the weekend only, in the weekends leading up to Thanksgiving. This Christmas music format competes with Classic Hits-formatted WWSW-FM, owned by iHeartMedia.

Related Research Articles

WSB-FM is a commercial radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. It carries an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by the Cox Media Group, serving as the group's flagship FM station. WSB-FM is the oldest FM radio station in Atlanta. The studios and offices are on Peachtree Street NE in Atlanta, in the WSB-TV and Radio Group Building.

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

WLIF is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Baltimore, Maryland. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. through licensee Audacy License, LLC and broadcasts an adult contemporary format. Its studios are located on Clarkview Road in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Baltimore, while its broadcast tower is located near Loch Raven Reservoir near Towson. at.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLIT-FM</span> Soft adult contemporary radio station in Chicago

WLIT-FM is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by iHeartMedia, it broadcasts a soft adult contemporary format. Its studios are located at the Illinois Center complex in the Chicago Loop, while the station transmitter is on top of the Willis Tower.

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

WLTJ is a commercial radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is owned by The Frischling Family, through licensee WPNT Media Subsidiary, LLC, and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format.

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

KDKA-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. through licensee Audacy License, LLC and broadcasts a sports radio format. Studios are located at Foster Plaza near Green Tree while the broadcast tower used by the station is located near Mount Washington, next to its former studios in Pittsburgh's South Shore neighborhood at.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWSW-FM</span> Classic hits radio station in Pittsburgh

WWSW-FM – branded 94.5 3WS – is a commercial radio station that is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It airs a classic hits radio format and switches to all–Christmas music for most of November and December each year.

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

WPGB is a commercial FM radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It broadcasts a country music format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Its studios and offices are located on Abele Rd. in Bridgeville next to I-79, along with its sister stations. WPGB carries The Bobby Bones Show on weekday mornings, syndicated from Nashville.

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

WJAS is a commercial radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station has a talk radio format. It is owned by St. Barnabas Broadcasting, a division of the Saint Barnabas Health System, with studios and offices on Fleet Street in Green Tree.

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

WGBN is an urban contemporary gospel radio station that serves the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, market in the US. Owned by Pentecostal Temple Development Corporation, the station operates with a power of 1,000 watts, and is licensed to McKeesport, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLER-FM</span> Radio station in Butler, Pennsylvania

WLER-FM is a mainstream rock radio station that officially can be heard in Butler County, Pennsylvania, but can also be heard in parts of northern Allegheny County, including Pittsburgh. The station operates with an ERP of 4,600 watts and is licensed to Butler, Pennsylvania. WLER-FM is owned by St. Barnabas Broadcasting, a division of the Saint Barnabas Health System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRVF</span> Radio station in Toledo, Ohio

WRVF is a commercial radio station in Toledo, Ohio, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format, switching to all-Christmas music for much of November and December. WRVF carries the syndicated Delilah music and call-in show in the evening. The radio studios and offices are at Superior and Lafayette in Downtown Toledo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KEZK-FM</span> Adult contemporary radio station in St. Louis

KEZK-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to St. Louis, Missouri. It broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. From mid-November through the Christmas holiday, KEZK switches to an all-Christmas music format. The studios and offices are on Olive Street in Downtown St. Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KKMJ-FM</span> Radio station in Austin, Texas

KKMJ-FM is a commercial radio station in Austin, Texas. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an adult contemporary radio format. The station has studios and offices on Westbank Drive, off Loop 360, near Westlake High School. The transmitter is off Buckman Mountain Road in Austin, amid numerous towers for other FM and TV stations. Like many AC stations, KKMJ flips to all-Christmas music from mid-November to Christmas Day. It uses the slogan "The Majic of Christmas."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEJZ</span> Adult contemporary radio station in Jacksonville, Florida

WEJZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Jacksonville, Florida. It is owned by Renda Broadcasting and airs a mainstream adult contemporary radio format. WEJZ is the Jacksonville affiliate for the syndicated Delilah show. Between mid-November and December 25 each year, the station switches to all-Christmas music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCCS</span> American radio station

WCCS is a commercially licensed American radio station in Homer City, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh and 25 miles northwest of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. WCCS broadcasts with a maximum daytime power output of 10,000 watts and 1,000 watts at night. The station operates with a four-tower directional antenna pattern and programs a daily format of news/talk, sports talk, and local news/sports reports.

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

WNSN is a commercial FM radio station in South Bend, Indiana. It is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting and airs an adult contemporary radio format known as Sunny 101.5. WNSN is usually the market's top rated radio station according to the Nielsen ratings. Sunny 101.5 carries Delilah's syndicated love songs show in the evening from Premiere Networks. Most weekends it features 1980s hits. From mid-November to Dec. 26, WNSN switches to all Christmas music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTSM-FM</span> Radio station in El Paso, Texas

KTSM-FM is a commercial radio station in El Paso, Texas. It airs an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on North Mesa Street in West Central El Paso. Evenings feature the syndicated Delilah call-in and request show. On Sunday mornings, Dave Koz hosts a smooth jazz show. The rest of the schedule features local DJs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSRW-FM</span> Radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan

WSRW-FM is a commercial radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It airs an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The studios and offices are on Monroe Center Street in Downtown Grand Rapids. The transmitter is off Payne Lake Road in Middleville.

WEZI is a commercial FM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. It airs an adult contemporary radio format focusing on music from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and some currents. It is owned by Atlanta-based Cox Media Group.

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

WGFB is a radio station broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to Rockton, Illinois, the station serves the Rockford area. WGFB is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WSHH". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 262
  3. ↑ "NBC buys WJAS Pittsburgh", Broadcasting - Telecasting, August 12, 1957, pg. 9.
  4. ↑ "NBC Changes Pittsburgh Calls", Broadcasting, November 18, 1957, page 9.
  5. ↑ "For the Record: Existing FM stations: Call Letters Assigned", Broadcasting, November 28, 1960, page 89.
  6. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1975 page C-164
  7. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1981 page C-202
  8. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1984 page B-221
  9. ↑ Information from Radio & Records January 19, 1990

40°27′48″N80°00′15″W / 40.4634°N 80.0042°W / 40.4634; -80.0042

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.