Hall Communications
Encyclopedia
Hall Communications is a broadcasting company based in Lakeland, Florida
. The company currently owns 21 radio stations, mainly in Polk County, Florida
, eastern Connecticut
, the lower Susquehanna River
Valley, Providence, Rhode Island
, and the Lake Champlain
region.
, founder of The Hall Syndicate
(a major newspaper syndicate), purchased his first radio station in Connecticut. In 1967, Hall would sell off his syndication company to Field Enterprises
, in order to concentrate more on broadcasting.
The company would eventually relocate to Lakeland, following the acquisition of its first two Florida properties, WONN
and WPCV
, in 1981.
Hall resigned as President in 1991 and Chair in 1998, turning the company over to his daughter Bonnie Hall Rowbotham and her husband Art.
Hall Communications operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: WICH, Incorporated is the licencee of WICH
and WCTY
and Nutmeg Brodacsting Company, licensee of WILI
and WILI-FM
.
In addition to their 21 radio stations, Hall Communications is also the 51% majority owner of Cross Country Communications, licensee of WKZA
, Lakewood, New York
.
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. The company currently owns 21 radio stations, mainly in Polk County, Florida
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
, eastern Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, the lower Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
Valley, Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, and the Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
region.
History
The company was founded in 1964 when Robert M. HallRobert M. Hall
Robert M. "Bob" Hall was an American media executive, founder of Publishers-Hall Syndicate and later Hall Communications....
, founder of The Hall Syndicate
Publishers-Hall Syndicate
Publishers-Hall Syndicate was a newspaper syndicate founded in 1944 by Robert M. Hall, the company's president and general manager.Hall had worked for The Providence Journal during high school, followed by three years at Northeastern Law School and four years at Brown University...
(a major newspaper syndicate), purchased his first radio station in Connecticut. In 1967, Hall would sell off his syndication company to Field Enterprises
Field Enterprises
Field Enterprises was a private holding company founded on August 31, 1944, by Marshall Field III and others whose main asset was the Chicago Sun. That same year the company acquired the book publishers Simon & Schuster and Pocket Books....
, in order to concentrate more on broadcasting.
The company would eventually relocate to Lakeland, following the acquisition of its first two Florida properties, WONN
WONN
WONN is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format. Licensed to Lakeland, Florida, USA, the station is currently owned by Hall Communications, Inc....
and WPCV
WPCV
WPCV 97.5 FM, , is a country music station owned and operated by Hall Communications. WPCV is licensed in Winter Haven, Florida, with studios in Lakeland, and transmitting facilities east of Haines City....
, in 1981.
Hall resigned as President in 1991 and Chair in 1998, turning the company over to his daughter Bonnie Hall Rowbotham and her husband Art.
Hall Communications operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: WICH, Incorporated is the licencee of WICH
WICH
WICH is a radio station licensed to serve Norwich, Connecticut. The station is owned by Hall Communications and licensed to WICH, Inc. It airs a Talk/Nostalgia format....
and WCTY
WCTY
WCTY is a radio station with studios in Norwich, Connecticut. Its transmitter is located on Cook Drive in Montville, Connecticut. WCTY broadcasts a country music format, and is owned by WICH, Inc., a subsidiary of Hall Communications....
and Nutmeg Brodacsting Company, licensee of WILI
WILI (AM)
WILI is a radio station in Willimantic, Connecticut, broadcasting at 1 kW. It is affiliated with the ABC Entertainment Network, the Red Sox Radio Network, the UConn Basketball and Football Networks, and the Connecticut Defenders Radio Network...
and WILI-FM
WILI-FM
WILI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 format. Licensed to the village of Willimantic, Connecticut, it serves eastern Connecticut. Willimantic is a village within the town of Windham, Connecticut. It is the sister station to WILI/1400. The station is currently owned by...
.
In addition to their 21 radio stations, Hall Communications is also the 51% majority owner of Cross Country Communications, licensee of WKZA
WKZA
WKZA is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary/Contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Lakewood, New York, USA, the station serves the Jamestown, New York area...
, Lakewood, New York
Lakewood, New York
Lakewood is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, USA. The population was 3,258 at the 2000 census.The Village of Lakewood is located in the northern part of the Town of Busti.-Geography:Lakewood is located at ....
.