WCMC-FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | Raleigh/Durham Research Triangle |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 99.9MHz(HD Radio) |
| Branding | 99.9 The Fan |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Subchannels | HD1: WCMC-FM analog HD2:WDNCsimulcast (sports) HD3: Simulcast of HD2 HD4:WDURsimulcast (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 |
Former call signs | WFXQ (1990–2005) |
Call signmeaning | "Country Music for Carolina" (previous format) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 51760 |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 26,500watts |
| HAAT | 206 meters (676 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°40′35.6″N78°32′7.0″W/ 35.676556°N 78.535278°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wralsportsfan.com |
WCMC-FM(99.9MHz) is asportsradio stationbased inRaleigh, North Carolinaand licensed to nearbyHolly Springs.Its studios are located in north Raleigh along withWRAL-FM,an adult contemporary music station, twosports talkstationsWDNC (620 The Buzz)andWCLY (1550 The Buzz)(simulcasted on HD2 and HD3. All are owned and operated byCapitol Broadcasting Companywhich also ownsNBCtelevisionaffiliateWRAL-TV,FoxaffiliateWRAZ-TV (FOX 50),and theDurham Bullsminor-league baseball team, among other properties.
WCMC-FM transmits from an antenna located in theAuburncommunity southeast of Raleigh, on a tower shared withWRDC,WRAL-FM, and WQDR-FM. The station also broadcasts inHD Radio.[2]
History
[edit]Prior to 2005, this station wasWFXQinChase City, Virginia,one of several southern Virginia stations purchased by former Raleigh radio hostTom Joynerin 2001. For 11 years prior to Joyner's purchase of the station, it was acountry musicstation known as "99.9 The Fox". During Joyner's years as owner, the station wasblack gospelas "Rejoice Radio 99.9" andadult standardsas "Stardust99.9. "Joyner sold WFXQ to Capitol Broadcasting, and the Stardust format moved toWSHVinSouth Hill, Virginia,one of several Joyner-owned stations purchased by Lakes Media. WFXQ got permission to move its city of license toCreedmoorand increase its power to 22,000 watts.[3]
WCMC signed on the air in October 2005 with acountry musicformat 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[4]
In October 2006, WCMC moved to another tower, taller than the previous one, but reduced its power to 8,000 watts.[3]
On September 10, 2007, at 9 PM, WCMC beganstuntingwith aclassic rockformat. On October 10, at 3 PM, the sports format debuted, known as "99.9 The Fan."[5]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 ofYoungsville.The short tower and relatively modest power resulted in the station providing only grade B coverage toChapel Hill,Garner,Caryand 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 ofWake Countyand most ofDurham 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 protectWMAGinHigh 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
[edit]On February 29, 2016,WCLYrelaunched as an English-language sports station, "1550 the Ticket". The station featured a mix of sports programming fromESPN Radio,CBS Sports Radio,andFox Sports Radio,which also aired on the WCMC-FM HD3 channel. ESPN Deportes continued to air on HD4.[6]
On May 1, 2018,WDNCrebranded 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).[7]
On its HD-4 channel, WCMC rebroadcasts Durham-basedWDUR1490 AM's South Asia Radio format.
On August 4, 2022, The HD2 programming was dropped from the 96.5 and 99.3 translators.[8]
Sports
[edit]WCMC has been the flagship station for theCarolina Hurricanessince 2007, following a two-year run onCurtis Media-ownedWWMY.The games are a straight simulcast of the audio feed from Bally Sports South/Southeast (formerly FOX Sports Carolinas).[9]In addition, the station broadcasts the weekly football and basketball coaches shows for theNC State Wolfpack,while sister station WRAL-FM will broadcast the games.[10]
On November 30, 2008, WCMC became anESPN Radioaffiliate. This follows the decision by McClatchey Broadcasting to discontinue ESPN programming on its two sports talk stations,WDNCandWRBZ,because of ESPN's insistence on the stations airing more ESPN programming than the company wanted to.[11]This dispute ended when Capitol bought WDNC.
On April 1, 2009, WCMC became the new flagship station of theDurham 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.[12]
On May 13, 2010, it was announced that WCMC would become the Triangle affiliate for theCarolina Panthers Radio Network.[13]
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.
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for WCMC-FM".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^"HD Radio station guide for Raleigh–Durham, NC".Archived fromthe originalon October 9, 2014.RetrievedJuly 1,2017.
- ^ab"Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos".Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2009.RetrievedNovember 6,2007.
- ^Danny Hooley, "Station Goes Country," The News & Observer,October 14, 2005.
- ^Danny Hooley, "Tune In for Carol Results,"The News & Observer,October 16, 2007.
- ^Venta, Lance (February 23, 2016)."Capitol To Launch Third Raleigh Sports Talker".RadioInsight.com.RetrievedSeptember 29,2018.
- ^Venta, Lance (May 1, 2018)."Capitol Broadcasting Launches That Station in Raleigh".Radioinsight.RetrievedSeptember 29,2018.
- ^"Buzz Moves In Raleigh".RadioInsight.RetrievedAugust 4,2022.
- ^Luke DeCock, "Canes Move to WCMC,"The News & Observer,Friday, June 29, 2007.
- ^Chip Alexander, "Pack, WPTF Part Ways,The News & Observer,April 26, 2007.
- ^Roger Van Der Horst, "The Fan Picks Up ESPN,"The News & Observer,October 29, 2008.
- ^Bulls Reach New Partnership with 99.9 the Fan– Press release from CBC; April 1, 2009.
- ^"99.9 The Fan to carry Panthers games".wralsportsfan.com. May 13, 2010.RetrievedMay 18,2010.
External links
[edit]- 99.9 The Fan website
- 99.9 Genuine Rock? WCMC gets ready for sports transition.
- Capital broadcasting to launch sports radio station – Triangle Business Journal
- Facility details for Facility ID 51760 (WCMC-FM)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WCMC-FMinNielsen Audio's FM station database