WBHV (AM)
Encyclopedia
WBHV is an American radio station
, licensed to the community of Somerset, Pennsylvania
. The station is licensed to operate at 1330 kHz, with a daytime power of 5,000 watts, and a nighttime power of 35 watts. The station is owned by Results Radio Company.
WADJ was first granted its license in December 1980, doing business as Nor-Lin Broadcasters, building a new two-tower directional antenna array at Cannel Drive on the outskirts of Somerset, which would also house the station's studios and general offices. It began operations as a sunrise to sunset only operation, but managed to compete well with its well-established and more powerful crosstown competitor, WVSC-AM (now WNTW
), which had gone on the air many years before.
WADJ was very much a family business, with Lorence managing the station and overseeing all aspects of programming, while his wife Norma oversaw the sales department. When their son Brad came of age, he gradually assumed the programming duties from his father.
In 1988, Nor-Lin Broadcasters purchased WYSN (now WCCL
), adding an FM station, known as Sunny 101.7, to its portfolio. It was also in this same year that WADJ was granted 24 hour broadcasting rights, allowing it to remain on the air at 35 watts after sunset. WADJ, which had been an adult contemporary and talk formatted station, would then assume the WYSN calls and format in March 1997, following the switch of WYSN-FM from adult standards to adult contemporary music and the assumption of the call sign WSRA. WADJ at this time became known as "Sunny 1330" to retain its loyal FM listener base for this niche format. The decision had been made by Nor-Lin to go through with the format switch after WVSC-AM/FM had been sold to Forever Broadcasting and the FM station dropping its heritage adult contemporary format (mostly automated) for contemporary country music.
Though both stations demonstrated long-term profitability for Nor-Lin Broadcasters, the Lorence Family decided to sell WYSN and WRSA to Dame Media, which had owned radio properties in Johnstown since 1990, in December 2000. At Dame's request, Ron Lorence stayed on as General Manager, primarily to assist with the transfer of ownership. Lorence decided it was time to retire and stepped down in 2002. Brad Lorence stayed on, taking many of his father's former duties and remained a part of the station, including that as morning show host on WRSA (which became WCCL
in 2001 and adopted an oldies format). Brad Lorence and morning show co-host Jessica Taylor were abruptly fired in 2004, prompting an angry response by many Johnstown area radio listeners and a front page story in the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat.
By this time, the station's longtime studio location at Cannel Drive was later moved to Dame's other properties in Johnstown.
The following year, Dame Media decided to get out of the radio business in Johnstown to concentrate on their other broadcast interests in central and eastern Pennsylvania. The stations of the former Nor-Lin Broadcasters were then sold in March 2005 to Results Radio - 2510 Licenses, LLC, which also purchased Nor-Lin's former competitors in Somerset. Shortly after the purchase, WYSN's call letters were changed to WBHV.
station WPRR
. Programming still originates from studios in Johnstown. On June 1, 2011 WBHV went silent.
, WCCL
, and WLKH to Forever Broadcasting Inc. (Carol Logan, president) for a reported combined sale price of $3 million. 2510 Licenses LLC (Nicholas Galli, managing member) still owns all four stations, as the FCC rejected the deal; however, the licensee allows Forever to operate the stations through a local marketing agreement
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, licensed to the community of Somerset, Pennsylvania
Somerset, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,762 people, 3,035 households, and 1,717 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,466.0 people per square mile . There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 1,208.2 per square mile...
. The station is licensed to operate at 1330 kHz, with a daytime power of 5,000 watts, and a nighttime power of 35 watts. The station is owned by Results Radio Company.
History: Beginnings as WADJ
WBHV made its debut in the spring of 1981 as WADJ, owned by Johnstown radio and television legend Ron Lorence, known best to WJAC-TV audiences as the host of such popular locally-produced programs such as "Seniors Today" and "Scholastic Squares". Lorence was also known for many years (and still is today) as the voice of Pennsylvania's Allied Milk Producers' radio commercials.WADJ was first granted its license in December 1980, doing business as Nor-Lin Broadcasters, building a new two-tower directional antenna array at Cannel Drive on the outskirts of Somerset, which would also house the station's studios and general offices. It began operations as a sunrise to sunset only operation, but managed to compete well with its well-established and more powerful crosstown competitor, WVSC-AM (now WNTW
WNTW (AM)
WNTW is an American radio station, licensed to serve Somerset, Pennsylvania; the seat of government for Somerset County. The station broadcasts on a frequency of 990 kHz and a maximum output power of 10,000 watts, using a two-tower directional antenna system...
), which had gone on the air many years before.
WADJ was very much a family business, with Lorence managing the station and overseeing all aspects of programming, while his wife Norma oversaw the sales department. When their son Brad came of age, he gradually assumed the programming duties from his father.
In 1988, Nor-Lin Broadcasters purchased WYSN (now WCCL
WCCL
WCCL is an American radio station physically located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania located at 101.7 FM, but licensed to the community of Central City, Pennsylvania. The oldies formatted station is the radio home for Motown, Soul and Rock and Roll. The station is owned by the Results Radio...
), adding an FM station, known as Sunny 101.7, to its portfolio. It was also in this same year that WADJ was granted 24 hour broadcasting rights, allowing it to remain on the air at 35 watts after sunset. WADJ, which had been an adult contemporary and talk formatted station, would then assume the WYSN calls and format in March 1997, following the switch of WYSN-FM from adult standards to adult contemporary music and the assumption of the call sign WSRA. WADJ at this time became known as "Sunny 1330" to retain its loyal FM listener base for this niche format. The decision had been made by Nor-Lin to go through with the format switch after WVSC-AM/FM had been sold to Forever Broadcasting and the FM station dropping its heritage adult contemporary format (mostly automated) for contemporary country music.
Though both stations demonstrated long-term profitability for Nor-Lin Broadcasters, the Lorence Family decided to sell WYSN and WRSA to Dame Media, which had owned radio properties in Johnstown since 1990, in December 2000. At Dame's request, Ron Lorence stayed on as General Manager, primarily to assist with the transfer of ownership. Lorence decided it was time to retire and stepped down in 2002. Brad Lorence stayed on, taking many of his father's former duties and remained a part of the station, including that as morning show host on WRSA (which became WCCL
WCCL
WCCL is an American radio station physically located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania located at 101.7 FM, but licensed to the community of Central City, Pennsylvania. The oldies formatted station is the radio home for Motown, Soul and Rock and Roll. The station is owned by the Results Radio...
in 2001 and adopted an oldies format). Brad Lorence and morning show co-host Jessica Taylor were abruptly fired in 2004, prompting an angry response by many Johnstown area radio listeners and a front page story in the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat.
By this time, the station's longtime studio location at Cannel Drive was later moved to Dame's other properties in Johnstown.
The following year, Dame Media decided to get out of the radio business in Johnstown to concentrate on their other broadcast interests in central and eastern Pennsylvania. The stations of the former Nor-Lin Broadcasters were then sold in March 2005 to Results Radio - 2510 Licenses, LLC, which also purchased Nor-Lin's former competitors in Somerset. Shortly after the purchase, WYSN's call letters were changed to WBHV.
WBHV Today
Following the purchase of the new WBHV, the station dropped its southern gospel programming and picked up the simulcast of Johnstown affiliate ESPN RadioESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
station WPRR
WNTJ
WKGE is an American AM radio station licensed to broadcast on 850 kHz at 10 kW day and night, serving the community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania...
. Programming still originates from studios in Johnstown. On June 1, 2011 WBHV went silent.
Ownership
In November 2007, a deal was reached to sell WBHV plus co-owned stations WPRRWNTJ
WKGE is an American AM radio station licensed to broadcast on 850 kHz at 10 kW day and night, serving the community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania...
, WCCL
WCCL
WCCL is an American radio station physically located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania located at 101.7 FM, but licensed to the community of Central City, Pennsylvania. The oldies formatted station is the radio home for Motown, Soul and Rock and Roll. The station is owned by the Results Radio...
, and WLKH to Forever Broadcasting Inc. (Carol Logan, president) for a reported combined sale price of $3 million. 2510 Licenses LLC (Nicholas Galli, managing member) still owns all four stations, as the FCC rejected the deal; however, the licensee allows Forever to operate the stations through a local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
.