WCHL-AM
Encyclopedia
WCHL is a radio station based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
broadcasting at 1360 AM. It is the flagship station of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
radio sports broadcasts and an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network
. Much of its programming is geared towards the Chapel Hill/Carrboro
community, with a focus on local news and community affairs programming.
's WBAG-FM in 1983, moving it to Raleigh as WZZU (now WKSL "Kiss 93.9").
Over the years, the station developed a loyal following for being highly community-oriented. The WCHL news department brought home many Associated Press awards. WCHL played top 40 music, and later adult contemporary before going news/talk in the early 1990s. In 1997, The Village Companies (now Vilcom) sold WCHL to the Raleigh-based Curtis Media Group
for $400,000. Curtis moved WCHL's studios to the WDNC studios at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park
and dumped the highly acclaimed local news and community-driven talk for an automated middle-of-the-road/oldies
format, limited news and a simulcast
morning show with co-located WDNC. However, in 2002, Vilcom regained control of its former property's sales and programming under a local marketing agreement
. Vilcom moved the station back to Chapel Hill and returned the station's format to local news and talk on November 25, 2002, just two months before the station celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003. In June 2004, Vilcom bought the station back from Curtis Media Group for $775,000.
Vilcom's longtime owner, Jim Heavner, sold a minority stake in WCHL to Barry Leffler, former president of WNCN
in Raleigh, in late 2009. He now serves the station as CEO and managing partner. Heavner has remained as chairman.
On January 21, 2010, WCHL's affiliate Air America filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
and ceased live programming the same night. Reruns of Air America's programming continued to air until Monday, January 25 at 9PM Eastern Time
.
In 2012, WCHL will expand to the FM band by acquiring a translator station from Liberty University
in Virginia. The station, currently licensed to Creedmoor, North Carolina
at 98.5 FM, is expected to move to Chapel Hill and broadcast on 97.9 FM, pending FCC approval. The new signal should improve nighttime coverage of the station.
's color commentator on Tar Heel broadcasts for 18 years. For over 30 years, Ron Stutts has hosted an hourlong pregame show prior to the Tar Heel Sports Network
beginning its coverage.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
broadcasting at 1360 AM. It is the flagship station of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
radio sports broadcasts and an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network
CBS Radio Network
The CBS Radio Network provides news, sports and other programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the United States. The network is owned by CBS Corporation, and operated by CBS Radio ....
. Much of its programming is geared towards the Chapel Hill/Carrboro
Carrboro, North Carolina
Carrboro is a town in Orange County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 19,582 at the 2010 census. The town, which is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan statistical area, was named after North Carolina industrialist Julian Shakespeare Carr.Located near Chapel Hill and...
community, with a focus on local news and community affairs programming.
History
Chapel Hill's oldest continuous broadcaster signed on January 25, 1953 under the ownership of Sandy McClamroch, who went on to become the town's longest-serving mayor. Originally a 1,000 watt station, the station boosted its daytime power to 5,000 watts in 1978. WCHL served as the launching point for the Village Broadcasting Companies, which bought BurlingtonBurlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
's WBAG-FM in 1983, moving it to Raleigh as WZZU (now WKSL "Kiss 93.9").
Over the years, the station developed a loyal following for being highly community-oriented. The WCHL news department brought home many Associated Press awards. WCHL played top 40 music, and later adult contemporary before going news/talk in the early 1990s. In 1997, The Village Companies (now Vilcom) sold WCHL to the Raleigh-based Curtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group is a broadcast media company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The company owns and operates several North Carolina radio stations and four radio networks.-AM:*WPTF 680 AM *WQDR 570 AM...
for $400,000. Curtis moved WCHL's studios to the WDNC studios at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Durham Bulls Athletic Park, frequently called the DBAP , is a ballpark in Durham, North Carolina that is home to the Durham Bulls, the AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. It is also home to the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Central Eagles college baseball teams. The...
and dumped the highly acclaimed local news and community-driven talk for an automated middle-of-the-road/oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format, limited news and a simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
morning show with co-located WDNC. However, in 2002, Vilcom regained control of its former property's sales and programming under 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...
. Vilcom moved the station back to Chapel Hill and returned the station's format to local news and talk on November 25, 2002, just two months before the station celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003. In June 2004, Vilcom bought the station back from Curtis Media Group for $775,000.
Vilcom's longtime owner, Jim Heavner, sold a minority stake in WCHL to Barry Leffler, former president of WNCN
WNCN
WNCN is the NBC affiliate television station in the Triangle region of North Carolina , broadcasting on digital channel 17. It is licensed to Goldsboro, but its studios are just outside of downtown Raleigh...
in Raleigh, in late 2009. He now serves the station as CEO and managing partner. Heavner has remained as chairman.
On January 21, 2010, WCHL's affiliate Air America filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 7 of the Title 11 of the United States Code governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States...
and ceased live programming the same night. Reruns of Air America's programming continued to air until Monday, January 25 at 9PM Eastern Time
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
.
In 2012, WCHL will expand to the FM band by acquiring a translator station from Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
in Virginia. The station, currently licensed to Creedmoor, North Carolina
Creedmoor, North Carolina
Creedmoor is a city in Granville County, North Carolina, United States . The population was 4,124 at the 2010 census.-Brief History of the Town:...
at 98.5 FM, is expected to move to Chapel Hill and broadcast on 97.9 FM, pending FCC approval. The new signal should improve nighttime coverage of the station.
Sports Programming
WCHL is best known as the flagship station of UNC football and basketball. Vilcom was the rights holder for Tar Heel sports until selling them to Learfield Communications in the early 21st century, and Heavner was Woody DurhamWoody Durham
Woody Lombardi Durham , known as "The Voice of the Tar Heels", was the longtime play-by-play radio announcer for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football and basketball teams from 1971 to 2011. Durham grew up in Albemarle, North Carolina alongside Bob Harris, longtime accouncer for UNC...
's color commentator on Tar Heel broadcasts for 18 years. For over 30 years, Ron Stutts has hosted an hourlong pregame show prior to the Tar Heel Sports Network
Tar Heel Sports Network
Tar Heel Sports Network is a radio network in the United States dedicated to broadcasting live events and programming relating to North Carolina Tar Heels athletics. It is operated by Tar Heel Sports Properties, a property of Learfield Communications, Inc., which manages the multimedia rights for...
beginning its coverage.