WPCM
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | |
| Frequency | 920kHz |
| Branding | Hope 104.5 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary Christian |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WMFR | |
| History | |
First air date | September 15, 1941 |
Former call signs | WBBB (1941–1998) |
Call signmeaning | "We PlayCountry Music"(former format) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 9082 |
| Class | D |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 36°5′51.49″N79°29′10.08″W/ 36.0976361°N 79.4861333°W |
| Translator(s) | 104.5W283BT (Burlington) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WPCM(920kHz) is acommercialAMradio stationbroadcasting acontemporary Christianradio format.LicensedtoBurlington-Graham, North Carolina,the station covers theGreensboro metropolitan areaand part of theRaleigh-Durham metropolitan area.It is owned by Chuck Marsh, through licensee Triad Media Partners, Inc., and calls itself "Hope 104.5." Thestudiosand offices are on North Main Street inKernersville, North Carolina.
By day, WPCM transmits 5,000wattsnon-directional,but to avoid interference to other stations on920 AM,at night it reduces power to only 55 watts. Thetransmitteris on Tower Drive at West Front Street in Burlington.[2]Programming is also heard onFM translator104.5 MHzW283BTin Burlington.[3]
History
[edit]The stationsigned onthe air on September 15, 1941. It was the first radio station in the City of Burlington and the first inAlamance County.The originalcall signwas WBBB.[4]WBBB had its studios above Lamb's Clothing on South Main Street. It was adaytime-onlystation with 1,000wattsof power but required to go off the air at sunset. Its transmitter was on Tower Drive at the same location the station airs from today.[5]
In 1946, WBBB added an FM station at 101.3 (later 101.1). It later became a separate station known as WNCB, then WPCM and it is currentlyWYMY.[6]In 1952, WBBB increased its power to 5,000 watts, remaining a daytimer.[5]
The WBBBcall signmoved to anFM stationinRaleighin January 1998.[7][8]AM 920, which had taken on anews/talkformat that includedKen HamblinandG. Gordon Liddy,switched its call letters to WPCM. Although the area had severalcountryradio stations, WPCM began playingclassic countryby artists such asDolly Parton,George Jones,Willie NelsonandPatsy Cline.The new slogan was "We Don't Forget Who Made Country Music Great."[9]
By 2001, WPCM was playingoldies.[10]In June 2004, WPCM changed its format frombeach music.On May 14, 2005, WPCM went back to its beach music format, including operations manager/morning host Byron Tucker and afternoon DJCharlie Brown.[11]
In 2009, Brown became an honorary member of the Association of Beach and Shag Club DeeJays' DJ Hall of Fame.[12]In 2010, WPCM won the Carolina Beach Music Association's AM Station of the Year award for the third time in four years.[13]
In 2014, WPCM added W236BO, anFM translatorat 95.1 MHz which previously belonged toLiberty University.The music also changed but remained oldies.
On December 26, 2014, WPCM switched from oldies to country music. Imaging promos on the air said "WPCM. We Play Country Music." The station's Facebook page[14]had this explanation: "...Today we begin an exciting new chapter in our life as a radio station as we bring you the best in country music...." and "...Alamance County has a love of country music and it is our responsibility to the community and to ourselves to play the music that you want to hear and that our advertiser's clients want to hear...."
In 2018, WPCM switched to anall sportsformat, simulcast from co-ownedWSJSinWinston-Salem.
In January 2022, it was announced that Curtis Media Group would sell WPCM,WMFR,and its translator W283CV to Triad Media Partners. Curtis Media sold WSJS one month prior, meaning these stations were Curtis Media's last properties in the Piedmont Triad market.[15]The sale was consummated on June 16, 2022.
On April 29, 2022, WPCM changed itd format from sports to contemporary Christian, branded as "Hope 104.5".[16]
Translator
[edit]| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP(W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W283BT | 104.5 FM | Burlington, North Carolina | 142582 | 190 | D | 36°5′51.5″N79°29′10.1″W/ 36.097639°N 79.486139°W | LMS |
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for WPCM".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^Radio-Locator.com/WPCM
- ^"Curtis Cuts in the Carolinas | Radio & Television Business Report".November 26, 2018.
- ^Broadcasting Yearbook 1942 page 162
- ^ab"WBBB".Archived fromthe originalon August 8, 2014.RetrievedAugust 2,2014.
- ^"Raleigh-Durham FM Dial".Archived fromthe originalon February 1, 2003.RetrievedMay 5,2010.
- ^"Call Sign History (WBBB)".FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2009.
- ^David Menconi, "Station Opts for Format of 'Real Rock'",The News & Observer,January 29, 1998.
- ^Jeri Rowe, "WFMY Introduces New Weekend Anchors,"Greensboro News & Record,July 9, 1998.
- ^"Radio Stations,"Greensboro News & Record,August 2, 2001.
- ^Charity Apple, "Burlington-area radio station makes switch back to beach music,"Times-News,May 13, 2005.
- ^"Honorary Members of the Beach Music Hall".RetrievedApril 20,2011.
- ^"WPCM Bringing Home The Hardware Again!".WSJS.RetrievedApril 20,2011.
- ^https://www.facebook.com/951WPCM/posts/755559241146517[user-generated source]
- ^Venta, Lance (January 14, 2022)."Station Sales Week Of 1/14: Curtis Media Sells Remainder Of Greensboro/Winston-Salem Properties".RadioInsight.RetrievedJanuary 18,2022.
- ^Hope Debuts In Burlington NCRadioinsight - April 29, 2022
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 9082 (WPCM)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WPCMinNielsen Audio's AM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 142582 (W283BT)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W283BTat FCCdata.org