WCMC-FM

Last updated

WCMC-FM
WCMC ESPN Radio logo.svg
Broadcast area Raleigh/Durham
Research Triangle
Frequency 99.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding99.9 The Fan
Programming
Format Sports
Subchannels HD1: WCMC-FM analog
HD2: WDNC simulcast (sports)
HD3: Simulcast of HD2
HD4: WDUR simulcast (Indian/South Asian)
Affiliations ESPN Radio
Carolina Hurricanes
Charlotte FC
Ownership
Owner Capitol Broadcasting Company
WDNC, WRAL, WRAL-TV, WCLY, WRAZ, WNGT-CD
History
First air date
October 2005 (2005-10)
Former call signs
WFXQ (1990–2005)
Call sign meaning
"Country Music for Carolina" (previous format)
Technical information
Facility ID 51760
Class C2
ERP 26,500 watts
HAAT 206 meters (676 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
35°40′35.6″N78°32′7.0″W / 35.676556°N 78.535278°W / 35.676556; -78.535278
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website wralsportsfan.com

WCMC-FM (99.9 MHz) is a sports radio station based in Raleigh, North Carolina and licensed to nearby Holly Springs. Its studios are located in north Raleigh along with WRAL-FM, an adult contemporary music station, two sports talk stations WDNC (620 The Buzz) and WCLY (1550 The Buzz) (simulcasted on HD2 and HD3. All are owned and operated by Capitol Broadcasting Company which also owns NBC television affiliate WRAL-TV, Fox affiliate WRAZ-TV (FOX 50), and the Durham Bulls minor-league baseball team, among other properties.

Contents

WCMC-FM transmits from an antenna located in the Auburn community southeast of Raleigh, on a tower shared with WRDC, WRAL-FM, and WQDR-FM. The station also broadcasts in HD Radio. [1]

History

Prior to 2005, this station was WFXQ in Chase City, Virginia, one of several southern Virginia stations purchased by former Raleigh radio host Tom Joyner in 2001. For 11 years prior to Joyner's purchase of the station, it was a country music station known as "99.9 The Fox". During Joyner's years as owner, the station was black gospel as "Rejoice Radio 99.9" and adult standards as "Stardust 99.9." Joyner sold WFXQ to Capitol Broadcasting, and the Stardust format moved to WSHV in South Hill, Virginia, one of several Joyner-owned stations purchased by Lakes Media. WFXQ got permission to move its city of license to Creedmoor and increase its power to 22,000 watts. [2]

logo, 2005-2007 WCMC-FM (radio station) logo.png
logo, 2005–2007
logo, 2007-2016 WCMC-FM -99.9 The Fan Sportsradio logo.png
logo, 2007–2016

WCMC signed on the air in October 2005 with a country music format called "99.9 Genuine Country". The slogan was "Country Favorites From Today and Yesterday" and it played a mix of new country and older country [3]

In October 2006, WCMC moved to another tower, taller than the previous one, but reduced its power to 8,000 watts. [2]

On September 10, 2007, at 9 PM, WCMC began stunting with a classic rock format. On October 10, at 3 PM, the sports format debuted, known as "99.9 The Fan." [4] In September 2009, Capitol Broadcasting purchased 620 WDNC from McClatchey broadcasting. Along with the purchase came nearly the entire staff of WRBZ (850 The Buzz – sister station to WDNC). Brian Maloney, who started the sports talk format in the Raleigh-Durham market and was the general manager of WDNC/WRBZ, was hired by Capitol to spearhead the integration of both WDNC and WCMC.

Since moving to the Triangle, WCMC had broadcast from an antenna located 485 feet above ground level located three miles northwest of Youngsville. The short tower and relatively modest power resulted in the station providing only grade B coverage to Chapel Hill, Garner, Cary and most of Durham. In 2010 WCMC was granted permission to move its city of license to Holly Springs and boost its power to 26,500 watts, providing a fairly strong city-grade signal to all of Wake County and most of Durham County. However, Chapel Hill, the third point in the Triangle, still gets only a grade B signal. This may be due to the need to protect WMAG in High Point, at nearby 99.5.

On June 16, 2015, WCMC FM was awarded North Carolina Large Market Station of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters.

In 2016, WCMC-FM was a national finalist for Sports Station of The Year – NAB.

HD channels

On February 29, 2016, WCLY relaunched as an English-language sports station, "1550 the Ticket". The station featured a mix of sports programming from ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, and Fox Sports Radio, which also aired on the WCMC-FM HD3 channel. ESPN Deportes continued to air on HD4. [5]

On May 1, 2018, WDNC rebranded from "The Buzz" (which continues on WCMC-HD2 and the 96.5 and 99.3 translators) to "The Ticket" (moved from WCLY and still aired on the WCMC-FM HD3 channel). [6]

On its HD-4 channel, WCMC rebroadcasts Durham-based WDUR 1490 AM's South Asia Radio format.

On August 4, 2022, The HD2 programming was dropped from the 96.5 and 99.3 translators. [7]

Sports

WCMC has been the flagship station for the Carolina Hurricanes since 2007, following a two-year run on Curtis Media-owned WWMY. The games are a straight simulcast of the audio feed from Bally Sports South/Southeast (formerly FOX Sports Carolinas). [8] In addition, the station broadcasts the weekly football and basketball coaches shows for the NC State Wolfpack, while sister station WRAL-FM will broadcast the games. [9]

On November 30, 2008, WCMC became an ESPN Radio affiliate. This follows the decision by McClatchey Broadcasting to discontinue ESPN programming on its two sports talk stations, WDNC and WRBZ, because of ESPN's insistence on the stations airing more ESPN programming than the company wanted to. [10] This dispute ended when Capitol bought WDNC.

On April 1, 2009, WCMC became the new flagship station of the Durham Bulls. They are expected to carry the full allotment of 144 during the season, along with playoff games, although some games may be moved over to their HD channel on dates that might conflict with a Carolina Hurricanes broadcast. [11]

On May 13, 2010, it was announced that WCMC would become the Triangle affiliate for the Carolina Panthers Radio Network. [12]

On March 19, 2020, it was announced that the "Adam & Joe Show" would end. About a month later, "The OG" had their first air date. On April 26, 2023, it was announced that "The OG" would end.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRAL-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina

WRAL-TV is a television station licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, serving as the NBC affiliate for the Research Triangle area. It is the flagship station of the locally based Capitol Broadcasting Company, which has owned the station since its inception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTVD</span> ABC TV station in Durham, North Carolina

WTVD is a television station licensed to Durham, North Carolina, United States, serving as the ABC outlet for the Research Triangle area. Owned and operated by the network's ABC Owned Television Stations division, it maintains business offices and master control facilities on Liberty Street in downtown Durham, with newscasts originating from studios on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, as well as news bureaus in Chapel Hill and Fayetteville. The station's transmitter is located in Auburn, North Carolina. On-air branding uses ABC 11 as a station identifier, with the call letters taking a secondary role.

WCLY is a radio station located in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company along with sister radio stations WRAL-FM, WCMC-FM and WDNC, and television stations WRAL-TV and WRAZ-TV. Its studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter tower is just south of downtown Raleigh. Established in 1962 as WNOH, WCLY broadcasts a sports radio format, simulcasting sister stations 620 WDNC and 99.9 WCMC-HD2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitol Broadcasting Company</span> American media company

The Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. (CBC) is an American media company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Capitol owns three television stations and nine radio stations in the Raleigh–Durham and Wilmington areas of North Carolina and the Durham Bulls minor league baseball team as well as the Coastal Plain League, a college summer baseball league. It is one of the few family-owned broadcasting companies left in the country, owned by four generations of the Fletcher-Goodmon family.

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">WRAL (FM)</span> Adult contemporary radio station in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

WRAL is a commercial radio station licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, and serving the Research Triangle. It is owned by the Capitol Broadcasting Company and broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for part of November and December. Capitol Broadcasting also owns NBC network affiliate WRAL-TV, Fox affiliate WRAZ-TV, and the Durham Bulls minor-league baseball team, along with several other radio stations. WRAL carries the audio of the Six O'Clock News broadcast from sister station WRAL-TV. During tornado warnings, WRAL-FM also simulcasts WRAL-TV's audio of their tornado coverage.

WQDR-FM is a commercial radio station in Raleigh, North Carolina, broadcasting to the Research Triangle, including the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Wilson, and Goldsboro. "94.7 QDR" presents a country music radio format and is owned by the Curtis Media Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDCG</span> Radio station in Durham, North Carolina

WDCG is a commercial Top 40 (CHR) station licensed to Durham, North Carolina and serving the Raleigh-Durham radio market. Its studios are located on Smoketree Court in Raleigh's Highwoods Office Park and owned by iHeartMedia, along with WNCB, W237BZ, WRDU, and WTKK. The transmitter site for the station is in Apex.

WDNC is a sports radio station licensed to Durham, North Carolina but based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Owned and operated by Capitol Broadcasting Company as part of a cluster with NBC affiliate WRAL-TV, Fox affiliate WRAZ, and sister radio stations WCLY, WCMC-FM and WRAL, the station's studios are in Raleigh, and the transmitter site is in Durham. WDNC is branded as The Buzz and is affiliated with ESPN Radio. In addition, WDNC is the flagship station for the Duke Blue Devils and is the local affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRJD</span> Radio station in Durham, North Carolina

WRJD is a radio station based in Durham, North Carolina, which currently broadcasts a Spanish Christian format. It was a heritage radio station that went by WSRC for over half a century.

WRDU is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Wake Forest, North Carolina. The station is owned by iHeartMedia though licensee iHM Licenses, LLC and broadcasts a classic rock format. Its broadcast tower is near Middlesex at. The station's service contour covers a large portion of Eastern North Carolina, including the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Rocky Mount, Greenville, and Roanoke Rapids.

WTKK, known as "106.1 FM Talk", is a radio station that is licensed to Knightdale, North Carolina and serves the Raleigh-Durham media market. WTKK airs a talk radio format and is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. Sister stations include WDCG, WNCB, and WRDU. The station's studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter site is in Garner.

KRSK is a commercial radio station licensed to Molalla, Oregon, and broadcasting to the Portland metropolitan area. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs a hot adult contemporary radio format. The station broadcasts in HD Radio. The HD-2 subchannel carries Audacy's "Channel Q" LGBTQ service

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKXB</span> Radio station in Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina

WKXB is a rhythmic oldies formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina and serving the Wilmington, North Carolina area.

WKIX is an AM radio station with an oldies format. Licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, the station serves the Research Triangle area. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group. Studios are located in Raleigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQDR (AM)</span> Radio station in Raleigh, North Carolina

WQDR is a classic rock AM radio station, licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, which serves the Triangle region, including Durham and Chapel Hill. Its studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter is co-located at the WPTF transmitter site in Cary. WQDR's programming is also carried on two translator stations in Raleigh, W225DF and W262CZ, as well as in Durham on W227CZ, and in Chapel Hill on W228CV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQOK</span> Radio station in Carrboro, North Carolina

WQOK is a commercial radio station licensed to Carrboro, North Carolina, and serving the Raleigh/Durham radio market. WQOK is owned and operated by Urban One and airs an urban contemporary radio format, featuring hip hop and R&B music. Its studios and offices are located on Creedmoor Road in Raleigh. Its transmitter tower is in Oak Grove, just east of Durham.

WMFD is a commercial AM radio station in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is owned by the Capitol Broadcasting Company and broadcasts a sports format, primarily from ESPN Radio. The radio studios and offices are on North Kerr Avenue in Wilmington.

Dance radio is a format that consists of current and recent dance and electronic music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDUR</span> Radio station in Durham, North Carolina

WDUR is an Indian/South Asian radio station in Durham, North Carolina, owned by Ravi Cherukuri, through licensee Arohi Media LLC. The station plays primarily Bollywood Hits while embracing the rest of the South Asian culture through news, Tamil/Telugu Music and much more.

References

  1. "HD Radio station guide for Raleigh–Durham, NC". Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos". Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
  3. Danny Hooley, "Station Goes Country," The News & Observer, October 14, 2005.
  4. Danny Hooley, "Tune In for Carol Results," The News & Observer, October 16, 2007.
  5. Venta, Lance (February 23, 2016). "Capitol To Launch Third Raleigh Sports Talker". RadioInsight.com. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  6. Venta, Lance (May 1, 2018). "Capitol Broadcasting Launches That Station in Raleigh". Radioinsight. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  7. "Buzz Moves In Raleigh". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  8. Luke DeCock, "Canes Move to WCMC," The News & Observer, Friday, June 29, 2007.
  9. Chip Alexander, "Pack, WPTF Part Ways, The News & Observer, April 26, 2007.
  10. Roger Van Der Horst, "The Fan Picks Up ESPN," The News & Observer, October 29, 2008.
  11. Bulls Reach New Partnership with 99.9 the Fan – Press release from CBC; April 1, 2009.
  12. "99.9 The Fan to carry Panthers games". wralsportsfan.com. May 13, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2010.