WBLF
Encyclopedia
WBLF is a news radio station licensed to Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
serving State College, Pennsylvania
. It is currently owned by Magnum Broadcasting, Inc. WBLF was founded by Cary H. Simpson on August 1, 1958, and operates at the federally-assigned frequency of 970 kilohertz with a maximum power output of 1,000 watts daytime, 61 watts at night.
. Though many believe that the WBLF call letters stand for its city of license, it's speculated that Simpson named the station after his wife, the former Betty Lou Finnegan, who was part owner of the AMN until her death in 1997. WBLF originally operated on 1330 AM.
WRSC
. This allowed residents in Northern Centre County
to receive WRSC's programming, especially in the evening and at night. In March, 2005, then owner Dame Broadcasting sold its radio stations in the State College market (including WBLF) to 2510 Licenses, LLC. During this change in ownership, the simulcast was discontinued, and WBLF aired placeholder programming. In June, 2005, WBLF was sold by 2510 to Magnum Broadcasting, Inc., a local operator and owner of four other Pennsylvania radio stations, including the Philipsburg licensed QWiK Rock.
. As part of the launch, WBLF hired former WRSC broadcaster Jeff "Ironhead" Byers, who had just returned to State College following a brief period in Punxsutawney at WPXZ. Byers performed a morning show alongside Centre County personality Tor Michaels, who had also worked at WRSC in the past. Byers and Michaels were joined by newcomers Jennifer MacIsaac and Todd Brown. The original WBLF weekday lineup included original local affairs programming in the morning with MacIsaac, Michaels and Byers, Rush Limbaugh
and Thom Hartmann
in the afternoon, original local sports programming with Brown in the late afternoon, and Phil Hendrie
in the evening. During not otherwise scheduled programming (overnights and often on the weekend), WBLF aired the Fox Sports Radio
feed. National news is provided at the top and bottom of the hour by Fox News Radio.
While WBLF's main competitor WRSC features a nearly entire lineup of conservative hosts such as Glenn Beck
, Sean Hannity
, Michael Savage
and Mark Levin
, WBLF has a somewhat more balanced lineup, airing Alan Colmes of Fox in addition to conservatives Dennis Miller and Rush Limbaugh.
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Bellefonte is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies about twelve miles northeast of State College and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
serving State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
. It is currently owned by Magnum Broadcasting, Inc. WBLF was founded by Cary H. Simpson on August 1, 1958, and operates at the federally-assigned frequency of 970 kilohertz with a maximum power output of 1,000 watts daytime, 61 watts at night.
Early history
WBLF was one of the original nine stations built by the Allegheny Mountain Network in Tyrone, PennsylvaniaTyrone, Pennsylvania
Tyrone is a borough in Blair County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Altoona, on the Little Juniata River. Tyrone was of considerable commercial importance in the twentieth century. It was an outlet for the Clearfield coal fields, and it was noted for the manufacture of paper products. There were...
. Though many believe that the WBLF call letters stand for its city of license, it's speculated that Simpson named the station after his wife, the former Betty Lou Finnegan, who was part owner of the AMN until her death in 1997. WBLF originally operated on 1330 AM.
Recent history
For many years prior to the summer of 2005, WBLF simulcast programming on State College'sState College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
WRSC
WRSC
WRSC is a business news radio station broadcasting in State College, Pennsylvania operating at 1390 kHz on the AM band with a power of 2,000 watts daytime, and 1,000 watts nighttime. It is currently branded under the Fox News Radio...
. This allowed residents in Northern Centre County
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
to receive WRSC's programming, especially in the evening and at night. In March, 2005, then owner Dame Broadcasting sold its radio stations in the State College market (including WBLF) to 2510 Licenses, LLC. During this change in ownership, the simulcast was discontinued, and WBLF aired placeholder programming. In June, 2005, WBLF was sold by 2510 to Magnum Broadcasting, Inc., a local operator and owner of four other Pennsylvania radio stations, including the Philipsburg licensed QWiK Rock.
Relaunch
In October, 2005, WBLF relaunched as a separate talk station, the first station in the State College market in direct competition with long-established talk station WRSCWRSC
WRSC is a business news radio station broadcasting in State College, Pennsylvania operating at 1390 kHz on the AM band with a power of 2,000 watts daytime, and 1,000 watts nighttime. It is currently branded under the Fox News Radio...
. As part of the launch, WBLF hired former WRSC broadcaster Jeff "Ironhead" Byers, who had just returned to State College following a brief period in Punxsutawney at WPXZ. Byers performed a morning show alongside Centre County personality Tor Michaels, who had also worked at WRSC in the past. Byers and Michaels were joined by newcomers Jennifer MacIsaac and Todd Brown. The original WBLF weekday lineup included original local affairs programming in the morning with MacIsaac, Michaels and Byers, Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
and Thom Hartmann
Thom Hartmann
Thom Hartmann is an American radio host, author, former psychotherapist and entrepreneur, and progressive political commentator. His nationally-syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, airs in the United States and has 2.75 million listeners a week...
in the afternoon, original local sports programming with Brown in the late afternoon, and Phil Hendrie
Phil Hendrie
Philip Stephen Hendrie is an American radio personality. He is best known as the host of The Phil Hendrie Show, a comedy talk radio program that is syndicated throughout North America on Talk Radio Network...
in the evening. During not otherwise scheduled programming (overnights and often on the weekend), WBLF aired the Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
feed. National news is provided at the top and bottom of the hour by Fox News Radio.
Current status
The programming schedule was revamped slightly in late March 2007. It now includes "Centre County This Morning," a live, local morning news and information program with Jerry Fisher.Programming
On Monday, June 16, 2008, WBLF inaugurated In The Zone with Ironhead, a new live local sports talk show hosted by Jeff Byers. As of July, 2009 WBLF airs Meyers and Hartman, a sports talk show from Fox Sports Radio hosted by Chris Myers and Steve Hartman, in the time slot previously held by In The Zone.While WBLF's main competitor WRSC features a nearly entire lineup of conservative hosts such as Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
, Michael Savage
Michael Savage (commentator)
Michael Savage is a conservative American radio host, author, and political commentator. He is the host of The Savage Nation, a nationally syndicated talk show that airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network...
and Mark Levin
Mark Levin
Mark Reed Levin is a lawyer, author and the host of American syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show. Levin served in the cabinet of President Ronald Reagan and was a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese...
, WBLF has a somewhat more balanced lineup, airing Alan Colmes of Fox in addition to conservatives Dennis Miller and Rush Limbaugh.