WCNN
 | |
| Broadcast area | Atlanta metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 680kHz |
| Branding | The Fan - 680 and 93.7 FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | ESPN Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Dickey Broadcasting Company |
| WIFN,WFOM | |
| History | |
First air date | September 1, 1965(as WRNG) |
Former call signs | WRNG (1965–1982) WCNN (1982–1987) WGTW (1987–1988) |
Call signmeaning | Cable News Network (CNN Headline News,the formernews radioformat carried by the station) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 56389 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 50,000wattsday 10,000 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 33°57′41″N84°15′47″W/ 33.96139°N 84.26306°W |
| Translator(s) | 93.7W229AG (Atlanta) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 680thefan.com |
WCNN(680AM) is aradio stationlicensedtoNorth Atlantaand serving theAtlanta-arearadio market.It is owned by Dickey Broadcasting and airs asports radioformat.The station is commonly known by the on-air branding as "The Fan".Local sports shows are heard weekdays with theESPN RadioNetwork airing nights and weekends. WCNN is theflagshipof theAtlanta Braves Radio Network.
WCNN broadcasts with a power of 50,000wattsduring the daytime, and 10,000 watts at night, using adirectional antennaat all times to protect other stations onAM 680includingKNBRfromSan Francisco.WCNN'stransmitterandtowersare located nearNorcross, Georgia,northeast ofAtlanta.[1]WCNN is also heard on a 250-wattFMtranslator,W229AG at 93.7MHz.[2]
The station formerly broadcast the audio portion of theCNN Headline Newschannel (hence its currentcall sign), anall-news radioformat that the station pioneered in the 1980s and re-appeared on the station later in the station's history.[3]
History[edit]
On September 1, 1965, the stationsigned onas WRNG, Atlanta's firsttalk radiostation.[3]The last three letters of the call sign represented the station's branding as "Ring Radio," as in the ringing of a telephone. The station was originally adaytimeroperating at 5,000 watts but having tosign-offat night.[4]It was the first broadcast home oftalk radiopersonalityNeal Boortz,who went onto a long career atWSBandsyndicated nationally.[3]Other, now well known talk radio personalities were also heard on the station, includingRonn Owens,later atKGOinSan Francisco,Southern HumoristLudlow Porch,and Barry Young, later atKFYIinPhoenix.
In 1982, the station began an experiment by broadcasting the audio feed ofCNN Headline News.[3]The call letters were changed to WCNN, a nod to CNN'sheadquartersbeing in Atlanta.[5]
In February 1987, the station switched to anadult standardsradio format and changed its call letters to WGTW.[3][5]Its call sign was a reference to the Atlanta-based classic movieGone with the Wind,which, coincidentally, is the favorite movie of CNN founderTed Turner.The station went by the branding "Stardust 680" during that time.[3][5]The radio format failed to gain ratings in the market.
In late 1988, chief engineer Bob Mayben and his staff built elaborate studios in the CNN Center (formerly known as The Omni) and became WCNN "All News 680", with a 24-hour local news format. TheCNN Headline Newsaudio returned in June 1990, when the local all-news format failed to generate sufficient ratings.[3][5]In 1995, WCNN was leased toCox Radiofor a 5-year term. The radio format was switched to Sports Talk as "680 The Fan".[3][5]In 1998, the format switched tonews/talkto complementWSB's programming.[3]In 2000, when theLMAexpired, control of WCNN returned to Dickey Broadcasting.[3]The "680 The Fan" branding and thesports radioformat returned to WCNN.[3][5]
WCNN was theflagship stationof theAtlanta Thrashers[6]before the Thrashers moved toWinnipeg, Manitoba,Canada, and was the flagship of theAtlanta HawksRadio Network before rivalWZGCgained the rights in 2013. It has been the flagship station of theAtlanta Braves Radio Networksince 2010.[7]WCNN is also the flagship station ofGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets footballandmen’s basketball.[8]In 2019, the station became the flagship ofAtlanta Gladiatorshockey.[9]
WCNN is now an affiliate ofESPN Radioafter years of carryingCBS Sports Radio,NBC Sports RadioandFox Sports Radioprogramming.[10]
On November 30, 2010, WCNN got an FMsimulcastonbroadcast translatorW229AG FM 93.7. In 2010, that station was actually assigned to carryWWWQFM 99.7HD3. It is located onSweat Mountain,and for several years previously carriedKAWZFM, aChristian broadcastingstation which feeds hundreds of translator stations fromCalvary ChapelinTwin Falls, Idaho.It had Sandy Plains and now Atlanta as itscommunity of license.99Xwas reportedly set to move to this station, which had aconstruction permitgranted in July 2010 to relocate to thesame towernearNorth Druid Hillsas WWWQ and W250BC, and has the same power but somewhat lower height (and thereforebroadcast range) as 99X has on W250BC. The station was still owned by Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls, when it filed for the permit in April 2010. After being approved in early July, Calvary applied just a few days later to transfer ownership of the station to Cumulus for $400,000. It is now licensed to Cumulus Licensing LLC and resides on the WWWQ tower.[11]
During the 2021 postseason, theAtlanta Braves Radio Network'scoverage of their NLDS, NLCS and World Series appearances were carried on its online stream without geo-blocking restrictions. This has since continued into the 2022 season.[citation needed]
Programming[edit]
WCNN is also an affiliate of thePerformance Racing Network,which owns theAtlanta Motor Speedwayin Hampton, Georgia.[12]
References[edit]
- ^Radio-Locator.com/WCNN
- ^Radio-Locator.com/W229AG
- ^abcdefghijkAtlanta Area AM Radio Stations
- ^Broadcasting Yearbook 1970 page B-54
- ^abcdefJeffrey Leachman - Atlanta, Georgia AM Radio Directory
- ^Atlanta Thrashers Official Site - Thrashers Broadcasters
- ^Atlanta Braves Official Site - Braves Radio Network
- ^"Georgia Tech, 680/93.7 The Fan extend, expand flagship agreement".Georgia Tech athletics.June 28, 2017.RetrievedMay 23,2019.
- ^"Gladiators land on Atlanta's sports station".October 3, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 14,2020.
- ^"ESPN Radio Changes Atlanta Affiliates. | | insideradio.com".
- ^"Cumulus Buying New Analog Translator For 99X/Atlanta | AllAccess.com".
- ^"NASCAR Cup Series Affiliates | Station Listings | Affiliates | PRN".
External links[edit]
- FCC History Cards for WCNN
- Official website
- WCNNin theFCCAM station database
- WCNNinNielsen Audio's AM station database
- W229AGin theFCCFM station database
- W229AGat FCCdata.org