WVGB

Last updated

WVGB
Frequency 1490 kHz
BrandingPraise 94.5
Programming
Format Gospel
Ownership
OwnerMount Carmel Baptist Church
History
First air date
January 1962 (1962-01)
Former call signs
WSIB (1962–1981)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 70408
Class C
Power
  • 500 watts day
  • 1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
 32°26′8″N80°41′54″W / 32.43556°N 80.69833°W / 32.43556; -80.69833
Translator(s) 94.5 W233AW (Beaufort)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website 945praise.com

WVGB (1490 AM) is a radio station licensed to Beaufort, South Carolina, United States. The station is currently owned by Mount Carmel Baptist Church and broadcasts a gospel music format known as "Praise 94.5", reflecting the frequency of its FM translator.

Contents

Established in 1962 as WSIB, the second radio station in Beaufort, a license revocation by the Federal Communications Commission over billing fraud resulted in what amounted to a forced sale in 1981. For most of the time since then, under the WVGB call sign, the station has served the local Black community.

History

WSIB

In 1957, the Sea Island Broadcasting Company was incorporated, signaling the beginning of a bid to bring a second station to Beaufort, which already had one, the daytime-only WBEU (960 AM). [2] However, it was another company with the same name but different stockholders that applied two years later to construct a 100-watt station on 1490 kHz at Beaufort. [3] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the application on July 26, 1961, after reaching a settlement with Ben Davies, who also sought the frequency. [4] Construction took place in late 1961, in advance of a January 1962 opening. [5] [6]

The original shareholders sold WSIB in 1965 to the Sea Island Broadcasting Corporation of S.C., which was controlled by Charles Bell, the station's chief engineer, with the Merritt and Klatt families owning the remainder. [7] Bell applied for and received power increases to 500 watts daytime, activated in 1967, and 250 watts at night, effective in 1969. [3]

On November 28, 1973, the FCC issued an order to Sea Island Broadcasting Corporation ordering it to show cause why its license should not be revoked for fraudulent billing practices. [8] The case was designated for hearing, and in May 1975, FCC examiner Chester F. Naumowicz issued an initial decision calling for its revocation. Naumowicz charged Bell with making a series of false statements to the FCC and its investigators in connection with the case, which probed the use of "double billing" between 1971 and 1973, [9] and noted that the actions "merited the severest sanctions". [10] Double billing was a type of fraud in relation to co-op advertising for local distributors of national products and services; WSIB would charge the national firm double the actual cost of advertising then rebate half that amount to the local business. [11] Bell lodged an appeal, while his attorneys released a statement noting of their "shock" at the ruling. [12]

The decision was appealed to the full FCC, which ruled 6–0 on June 24, 1976, in favor of revocation. [13] It also denied a proposal to allow Sea Island Broadcasting to sell the station; Bell promised a "fight to the end". [11] Arguing that a leak of the decision in Broadcasting magazine influenced the decision and calling the FCC's ruling "predetermined", Sea Island first appealed to the FCC again without success and then took the case to a federal appeals court. [14] At the start of 1980, a three-judge panel of the court found against Sea Island, and the station was ordered off the air if it did not intend to pursue the case further. [15] After the Supreme Court of the United States also sided with the commission, WSIB was originally ordered to close by January 21, 1981, [16] but it never went off the air, as an agreement was reached to allow interim operating authority to be held by William and Vivian Galloway, who had also filed for permanent authority to run the station. [17]

On March 18, Bell was murdered after having apparently surprised a yard worker attempting to steal silver; his body was found in a field in Early Branch, while his car was stolen and recovered in Jacksonville, Florida. [18] The suspect, Billy Eugene Brooker, pleaded guilty to charges including murder, kidnapping, and grand larceny in December 1981 and sentenced to three life terms in prison. [19]

WVGB

On June 1, 1981, the Galloways changed the call sign of the interim station to WVGB. [3] The format was shifted to focus on the Black community in the area with urban contemporary music. [20] Meanwhile, a competition shaped up for permanent authority to operate the frequency. In addition to the Galloways, the Merrill and Klatt families also lodged a bid; they were also attempting to settle Bell's estate and claimed they were owed a total of $130,000. [21] The Galloway application was selected by an FCC administrative law judge because the Merrill–Klatt group failed to prove it was financially qualified. [22]

In 1984, the Galloways and two other applicants for a new FM station at Port Royal merged, winning the construction permit. [23] It signed on as WGCQ (92.1 FM) in June 1985. [24]

By 1991, WVGB had found its programming niche, serving the Lowcountry's Black community with a gospel music format as well as broadcasts of local worship services. [25] By 1998, Galloway also owned a funeral home and a limousine rental business. [26]

After constructing an FM translator, W233AW (94.5 FM), in 2011, the Galloways sold WVGB after 30 years to Partners Broadcasting Company, which owned regional FM station WLHH; Galloway would continue to be involved in producing music and talk programming for the outlet. [27] The sale terms stipulated that at least four hours a week of programming on Sunday mornings continue to be aimed at local Black listeners. [28] In addition, Galloway continued to be heard on WVGB, as the services of the First Euhaw Baptist Church in Ridgeland, where he was pastor, aired weekly. [29] However, the station dropped the gospel format and flipped to contemporary hit radio, targeting the Hilton Head Island area, as "94.5 The Party". [30] The station flipped to classic hits as "94.5 The Coast" in July 2012, after partner Joel Garrett bought the other two owners out. [31]

Partners Broadcasting sold WVGB and W233AW to Mount Carmel Baptist Church in 2015 for $300,000, the same price they had purchased the station for three years prior. [31] [32] The church returned the station to a gospel format as "Praise 94.5" that August. [33]

Related Research Articles

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

WSVH is a 96,000-watt public radio station broadcasting from Savannah, Georgia, and transmitting from the WVAN-TV 9 tower to the west in Pembroke, Georgia, north of Fort Stewart. It provides the radio service of Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) serves the upper Georgia coast and areas well inland, and adjacent areas of far southern South Carolina.

WMYA-TV is a television station licensed to Anderson, South Carolina, United States, broadcasting the digital multicast network Dabl to Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. It is owned by Cunningham Broadcasting and operated under a local marketing agreement (LMA) by Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of Asheville, North Carolina–based ABC/MyNetworkTV affiliate WLOS. However, Sinclair effectively owns WMYA-TV, as the majority of Cunningham's stock is owned by the family of deceased group founder Julian Smith. The nominal main studio for WMYA-TV is the WLOS news bureau on Villa Road in Greenville, South Carolina; WMYA-TV's transmitter is located in Fountain Inn, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KEXC</span> Public radio station in Alameda, California

KEXC is a non-commercial radio station serving the San Francisco Bay Area, licensed to Alameda, California, United States. It is owned by the non-profit entity Friends of KEXP, an affiliate of the University of Washington, and broadcasts an AAA format specializing in indie music programmed by its disc jockeys as "KEXP Bay Area", a near-total simulcast of Seattle's KEXP-FM. The station's transmitter is located on Sutro Tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTGS</span> TV station in Hardeeville, South Carolina

WTGS is a television station licensed to Hardeeville, South Carolina, United States, serving as the Fox affiliate for the Savannah, Georgia, area. Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, WTGS maintains transmitter facilities on Fort Argyle Road/SR 204 in western unincorporated Chatham County, Georgia, while its studios are located in the Savannah Morning News building on Chatham Parkway in Savannah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHIZ (AM)</span> Radio station in Zanesville, Ohio

WHIZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Zanesville, Ohio, featuring a full service format known as "AM 1240 The Voice". Owned by Marquee Broadcasting, this station is the local affiliate for ABC News Radio, the Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ohio State Buckeyes radio networks, in addition to carrying ESPN Radio and Westwood One programming. WHIZ's studios are located in a combined facility with WHIZ-TV, WHIZ-FM and WZVL on Downard Road in Zanesville, while the transmitter is located to the northeast of the city's downtown. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WHIZ is relayed over low-power Zanesville translator W272EE and is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRNV-DT</span> TV station in Reno, Nevada

KRNV-DT is a television station in Reno, Nevada, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Cunningham Broadcasting, which maintains joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of Fox affiliate KRXI-TV, for the provision of certain services. However, Sinclair effectively owns KRNV-DT as the majority of Cunningham's stock is owned by the family of deceased group founder Julian Smith. Sinclair also manages primary sports-formatted independent station and secondary MyNetworkTV affiliate KNSN-TV under a separate JSA with Deerfield Media. The three stations share studios on Vassar Street in Reno; KRNV-DT's transmitter is located on Slide Mountain between SR 431 and I-580/US 395/US 395 ALT in unincorporated Washoe County.

WKSF is a country music station licensed to Old Fort, North Carolina, serving the Asheville area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and broadcasts from a tower on Mount Pisgah, southwest of Asheville.

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

WKFS is a radio station in the Cincinnati, Ohio, market, licensed to nearby Milford. It broadcasts a gold-based Top 40 format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The WKFS studios are located in Kenwood Towne Centre, and the station transmitter is located in Mount Auburn, a neighborhood northeast of downtown Cincinnati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKIX (AM)</span> Oldies radio station in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

WKIX is an AM radio station with an oldies format, licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group, and serves the Research Triangle area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRNV-FM</span> Regional Mexican radio station in Reno, Nevada, United States

KRNV-FM is a commercial radio station located in Reno, Nevada, United States, broadcasting on 102.1 FM. KRNV-FM airs a Regional Mexican music format branded as "La Tricolor 102.1".

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

WINC is a commercial broadcast radio station licensed to Winchester, Virginia, United States. The station carries a news, talk, and sports format. Owned by Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport, LLC, WINC serves the Northern Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The station's studios are located in Winchester while the transmitter resides south of the city in nearby Kernstown. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WINC is available online.

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

WTJZ is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and serving Hampton Roads. The station is owned and operated by Delmarva Educational Association. Branded as "Praise 104.9", it airs an urban gospel radio format.

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

WLES is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Bon Air, Virginia, United States, serving the Greater Richmond Region. WLES is owned and operated by Stuart Epperson, through licensee Truth Broadcasting Corporation. It airs a Christian radio format as part of "The Truth Network", originating in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.Programming is also heard on FM translator station W249CI at 97.7 MHz.

WLNL is a radio station in Horseheads, New York, United States, serving the Elmira-Corning area. The station is owned by Trinity Media, Ltd. 1000 AM. Operating on a United States and Mexican clear-channel frequency, WLNL must cease broadcasting from sunset to sunrise to prevent interfering with the nighttime skywave signal of WMVP in Chicago.

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

WXXI-FM is a non-commercial radio station in Rochester, New York, United States. It broadcasts news, talk and informational programming as a member station of National Public Radio (NPR). WXXI-FM is owned by the WXXI Public Broadcasting Council, Rochester's primary public broadcaster. The station was founded as WJZR in January 1993 by North Coast Radio, Inc., and broadcast a smooth jazz format for 29 years before it was taken silent in July 2022 upon the owner's retirement. Since May 2023, WXXI-FM has carried WXXI's news/talk service, which originates from WXXI.

WRIG is a radio station broadcasting a sports format licensed to Schofield, Wisconsin, United States, and serving the Wausau area. The station is currently owned by Midwest Communications and features programming from Fox Sports Radio. It is also broadcast on FM translator W230BU at 93.9 MHz.

WSAU is an AM radio station broadcasting a conservative talk format serving Wausau, Wisconsin, United States, area, and simulcast on WSAU-FM (99.9) in Stevens Point. The station is owned by Wausau-based Midwest Communications, with studios on Scott Street. The WSAU transmitter is located along County Highway X in Kronenwetter, Wisconsin.

KGWD is a radio station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. KGWD is owned and operated by Real Presence Radio, a Catholic radio network based in Fargo, North Dakota.

WMJX was a commercial radio station licensed to Miami, Florida, United States, that broadcast at 96.3FM from 1948 to 1981. The station was last owned by The Charter Company. WMJX's broadcast license was revoked by the Federal Communications Commission due to the use of fake news stories to promote a 1975 contest and an error in which advertisers were billed for commercials that did not air.

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

KZIS is a radio station in Sacramento, California, United States. It is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, broadcasting from the iHeartMedia studio center in North Sacramento and a tower north of the city near Elverta, also used by KXPR and KQEI-FM. The station is broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format focusing on hits of the 1990s and 2000s as "Kiss 107.9".

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WVGB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "Second Radio Station Seen In Application". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. March 7, 1957. p. 1-A. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 "History Cards for WVGB". Federal Communications Commission. (Guide to reading History Cards)
  4. ↑ "FCC Approval Granted New Radio Station". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. August 3, 1961. p. 1-A. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "New Radio Station". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. November 16, 1961. p. 1-C. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "To Our Many Friends And Well Wishers". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. January 25, 1962. p. 4-A. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 24, 1965. p. 97. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 10, 1973. p. 57. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  9. ↑ "WSIB in jeopardy" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 19, 1975. p. 49. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  10. ↑ Westbury, Thomas (May 7, 1975). "Station Plans Appeal: WSIB License Revoked". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. p. 1A, 10A. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "FCC yanks WSIB license". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. July 15, 1976. p. 1, 12. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "WSIB Radio Answers FCC Charges". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. May 9, 1975. p. 14. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Billings coverup costs S.C. station: FCC affirms initial decision revoking WSIB's license" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 19, 1976. pp. 35–36. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  14. ↑ "WSIB loses appeal". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. May 23, 1977. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "WSIB ordered off air". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. January 24, 1980. p. 1, 12. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "WSIB's deadline is Wednesday". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. January 19, 1981. p. 12. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Bushman, David (January 21, 1981). "WSIB will stay on air". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. p. 1, 10. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Polson, Jim (March 18, 1981). "Broadcaster slain; car theft charge lodged". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. p. 1, 14. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Killer sentenced". The Index-Journal. Greenwood, South Carolina. December 2, 1981. p. 15. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Norman, Diane (August 21, 1981). "Local radio provides variety". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. p. 7. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Polson, Jim (March 8, 1982). "Broadcasters in competition for station". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. p. 1, 12 . Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Vivian Broadcasting to operate station". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. December 27, 1982. p. 12. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Radio station to be built in Port Royal". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. September 27, 1984. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "New radio station cranks up in Beaufort". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. July 1, 1985. p. 5. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ Hunter, T.C.; Szaroleta, Tom (June 25, 1991). "Radio stations seek identities, listeners". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. p. 8B. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ Graffo, Cheryl (February 25, 1998). "Two black businesses thriving in Beaufort". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. p. 7B. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Local AM, FM stations to be purchased". The Beaufort Gazette. Beaufort, South Carolina. July 30, 2011. p. 8A. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Hilton Head radio sale includes local clause". Radio Business Report. July 28, 2011. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Pastor presides over living history". Bluffton Today. February 20, 2013. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  30. ↑ Venta, Lance (August 28, 2011). "Translator Report 8/28". RadioInsight.
  31. 1 2 Venta, Lance (July 31, 2012). "The Coast Reaches Hilton Head". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  32. ↑ Venta, Lance (May 15, 2015). "Station Sales Week Of 5/15". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  33. ↑ Venta, Lance (August 4, 2015). "WVBG Brings Praise To Hilton Head". RadioInsight.
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.