WHCN
Encyclopedia
WHCN is a classic hits
music formatted radio station
based in Hartford, Connecticut
. The city of license is Hartford. The Clear Channel Communications
outlet broadcasts at 105.9 MHz with an effective radiated power
of 16,000 watts from West Peak State Park in Meriden, CT. Its format blends classic rock and new wave, with current and recurrent hit songs of today. It is similar to the "JACK-FM" formats that have been heard across the U.S. Studios are at 10 Columbus Boulevard, in Hartford, Connecticut. "The River" brand, shared with many adult contemporary stations nationwide, is a local reference to the Connecticut River
.
WHCN has a long history. going back to when it was licensed as W1XSL in 1936. It subsequently became W1XPW, W65H, WDRC-FM and WFMQ before arriving at WHCN in 1958. The call letters stood for "Hartford Concert Network." WHCN remained a Classical music
station from that point until shifting to progressive rock in 1969. The format was flipped to main stream album rock in late 1976. Known as "106-WHCN", it was very successful in the 1970s and the 1980s. It was home to the morning show Picozzi and The Horn
, up until the mid 1990s,. Picozzi would later move across town to WCCC-FM
, where he is to this day. WHCN flipped to Classic rock
in the mid 1990s to compete for the older rock audience that grew up with WHCN, but changing owners would signal changes at WHCN as well. It would become "105-9 WHCN" and adapt a harder-edged classic rock sound billed as "Classic Rock that really rocks!". WHCN would be snapped up by Liberty Broadcasting and then SFX Broadcasting/Capstar, then AMFM and then Clear Channel Communications
in 2000.
After years of declining ratings, the 33-year run of the WHCN brand would come to an abrupt end in March 2002 when WHCN became known as "The River 105.9", surprisingly retaining most of its on-air staff in its infancy from the previous classic rock incarnation. The station's "The Rock" slogan (and later the station's former Asylumn Street location after it moved to its current location) would be snatched up by former rival WCCC. The playlist was different and much more diverse than other stations in the market and the station shot up in ratings from 13th place to 5th place within a year. "The River 105.9" would target listeners of WRCH
and WTIC-FM
by launching its current hot adult contemporary format, which is a blend of classic rock hits of the 1970s and 1980s with recurrent and current hits of today. A similar format had been successful in the nearby Albany market on WRVE
99.5. The call letters have been retained to reflect the station's past.
The station appeals to baby boomers and Generation X listeners with various programming such as the "Eighties at Eight", which is an hour of Eighties music starting at 8am. The 10 o'clock Artist Spotlight at 10am and the "High School reunion" at 6pm, focused on a specific year.
The station carries a "deep tracks" format on its HD Radio HD-2 subchannel.
WHCN is a Class B FM station, a class allowed to transmit up to 50,000 watts Effective Radiated Power at 150 meters Above Average Terrain (AAT). Stations broadcasting at higher elevations transmit at ERPs reduced on a sliding scale that varies with height. WHCN transmits at 264 meters AAT, with an ERP of 16,000 watts—equivalent to 50,000 watts at 150 meters. (FCC Facility 72144). The facility radiates in a directional pattern, with maximum ERP at 30° azimuth, in the direction of Hartford. The signal is reduced in other directions. Its weakest strengths are at 190° and 230° azimuth, toward the southwest, where another signal on 105.9 transmits from the Empire State Building in New York City. In those directions the signal is .45 of full power, or 7,200 watts.
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
music formatted radio station
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...
based in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. The city of license is Hartford. The Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
outlet broadcasts at 105.9 MHz with an effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 16,000 watts from West Peak State Park in Meriden, CT. Its format blends classic rock and new wave, with current and recurrent hit songs of today. It is similar to the "JACK-FM" formats that have been heard across the U.S. Studios are at 10 Columbus Boulevard, in Hartford, Connecticut. "The River" brand, shared with many adult contemporary stations nationwide, is a local reference to the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
.
WHCN has a long history. going back to when it was licensed as W1XSL in 1936. It subsequently became W1XPW, W65H, WDRC-FM and WFMQ before arriving at WHCN in 1958. The call letters stood for "Hartford Concert Network." WHCN remained a Classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
station from that point until shifting to progressive rock in 1969. The format was flipped to main stream album rock in late 1976. Known as "106-WHCN", it was very successful in the 1970s and the 1980s. It was home to the morning show Picozzi and The Horn
Picozzi and The Horn
Picozzi and The Horn was a morning drive radio program in Hartford, Connecticut.It aired from May 1986 until May 1997 on WHCN 105.9 FM.It featured co-hosts Michael Picozzi and Gary Lee Horn....
, up until the mid 1990s,. Picozzi would later move across town to WCCC-FM
WCCC-FM
WCCC-FM branded as "The Rock 106.9" is a radio station serving central Connecticut that plays hard rock and occasionally classic rock. WCCC markets itself as the only non-corporate operation in Connecticut, with no pre-recorded DJs The station regularly invites listeners to make requests and also...
, where he is to this day. WHCN flipped to Classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
in the mid 1990s to compete for the older rock audience that grew up with WHCN, but changing owners would signal changes at WHCN as well. It would become "105-9 WHCN" and adapt a harder-edged classic rock sound billed as "Classic Rock that really rocks!". WHCN would be snapped up by Liberty Broadcasting and then SFX Broadcasting/Capstar, then AMFM and then Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
in 2000.
After years of declining ratings, the 33-year run of the WHCN brand would come to an abrupt end in March 2002 when WHCN became known as "The River 105.9", surprisingly retaining most of its on-air staff in its infancy from the previous classic rock incarnation. The station's "The Rock" slogan (and later the station's former Asylumn Street location after it moved to its current location) would be snatched up by former rival WCCC. The playlist was different and much more diverse than other stations in the market and the station shot up in ratings from 13th place to 5th place within a year. "The River 105.9" would target listeners of WRCH
WRCH
WRCH is a radio station in the Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. area and broadcasts at 100.5 FM with an Adult contemporary format. Its transmitter is located on Rattlesnake Mountain with antenna on the WTIC-TV tower, with a backup transmitter in "Radio Park" behind the Connecticut School of Broadcasting...
and WTIC-FM
WTIC-FM
WTIC-FM is a radio station primarily serving the Hartford, Connecticut market, though its signal can be picked up throughout most of Connecticut and into Springfield, Massachusetts. It currently broadcasts a Hot Adult Contemporary format. It is located on the dial at 96.5 MHz...
by launching its current hot adult contemporary format, which is a blend of classic rock hits of the 1970s and 1980s with recurrent and current hits of today. A similar format had been successful in the nearby Albany market on WRVE
WRVE
WRVE is a Hot Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Schenectady, New York and serving the Capital District and Upper Hudson Valley of New York. It broadcasts at 99.5 FM at 14.5 kilowatts ERP from a transmitter in Guilderland, New York...
99.5. The call letters have been retained to reflect the station's past.
The station appeals to baby boomers and Generation X listeners with various programming such as the "Eighties at Eight", which is an hour of Eighties music starting at 8am. The 10 o'clock Artist Spotlight at 10am and the "High School reunion" at 6pm, focused on a specific year.
The station carries a "deep tracks" format on its HD Radio HD-2 subchannel.
WHCN is a Class B FM station, a class allowed to transmit up to 50,000 watts Effective Radiated Power at 150 meters Above Average Terrain (AAT). Stations broadcasting at higher elevations transmit at ERPs reduced on a sliding scale that varies with height. WHCN transmits at 264 meters AAT, with an ERP of 16,000 watts—equivalent to 50,000 watts at 150 meters. (FCC Facility 72144). The facility radiates in a directional pattern, with maximum ERP at 30° azimuth, in the direction of Hartford. The signal is reduced in other directions. Its weakest strengths are at 190° and 230° azimuth, toward the southwest, where another signal on 105.9 transmits from the Empire State Building in New York City. In those directions the signal is .45 of full power, or 7,200 watts.