WHLS
Encyclopedia
WHLS is an Oldies
radio station in Port Huron
, Michigan on AM 1450. This station broadcasts from the same tower as sister station WSAQ
with 1,000 watts of power. Since 2000 WHLS has simulcasted its programming on 1590 WHLX
Marine City. On air they are known as AM 1450 & 1590, WHLS. Both stations are owned by Radio First
of Port Huron. Most programming comes from Dial Global
's Kool Gold
format.
WHLS signed on in August 1938 and was for a time the principal Top 40 music station in the Port Huron/Blue Water area, as well as the very first radio station serving St. Clair County. The station was found by the late John Wismer and H.L. Stevens. Wismer operated the station and FM sister WSAQ
until his death on September 30, 1999 at age 85. The station was sold to Liggett Communications (now Radio First) in 2000 by Wismer's estate. Liggett had also acquired Wismer's crosstown competitor, WPHM
and WBTI
that same year from Hanson Communications.
In 2000, WHLS's satellite Oldies
was simulcasted over WHLX for the first time. Its format then changed to Adult Standards America's Best Music
format in 2001, and back to Oldies using Dial Global
's Kool Gold Timeless Classics format in 2009. WHLX continues to simulcast its sister station WHLS, providing dominance over the upper AM band in St. Clair County. The station airs the syndicated program American Standards By The Sea Saturday mornings. WHLS is also the radio home of the Port Huron Fighting Falcons
and University of Michigan
football (MSU football and basketball can be heard on sister station WPHM). WHLS also features local news, CNN Radio news, and locally oriented talk shows weekend mornings.
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....
radio station in Port Huron
Port Huron
Port Huron is the name of a city and a township in St. Clair County, Michigan. See:* Port Huron, Michigan* Port Huron Township, MichiganSee also:* Port Huron Statement...
, Michigan on AM 1450. This station broadcasts from the same tower as sister station WSAQ
WSAQ
WSAQ is a country music radio station in Port Huron, Michigan known as Q Country 107. It began broadcasting August 7, 1964 on 107.1 MHz with 6,000 watts, and remains the same today . It broadcasts from the same site as AM 1450 WHLS. Q-Country plays modern country music along with some...
with 1,000 watts of power. Since 2000 WHLS has simulcasted its programming on 1590 WHLX
WHLX
WHLX is an American radio station, licensed to Marine City, Michigan at 1590 kHz on the AM dial, with a power output of 1,000 watts day, 102 watts night. The station is currently a simulcast of 1450 WHLS in Port Huron...
Marine City. On air they are known as AM 1450 & 1590, WHLS. Both stations are owned by Radio First
Radio First
Radio First is the owner of five radio stations in St. Clair and Sanilac Counties. Radio First primarily serves listeners in the Thumb area of Michigan and Southwestern Ontario. Radio First's offices and studios are all located at 808 Huron Avenue, Port Huron, Michigan...
of Port Huron. Most programming comes from Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
's Kool Gold
Kool Gold
Kool Gold is a 24-hour music format produced by Dial Global. Its playlist is composed of oldies music from the mid 1960s to mid 1980s, from artists such as Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, Rod Stewart and dozens more artists mainly targeted at listeners 45-54...
format.
WHLS signed on in August 1938 and was for a time the principal Top 40 music station in the Port Huron/Blue Water area, as well as the very first radio station serving St. Clair County. The station was found by the late John Wismer and H.L. Stevens. Wismer operated the station and FM sister WSAQ
WSAQ
WSAQ is a country music radio station in Port Huron, Michigan known as Q Country 107. It began broadcasting August 7, 1964 on 107.1 MHz with 6,000 watts, and remains the same today . It broadcasts from the same site as AM 1450 WHLS. Q-Country plays modern country music along with some...
until his death on September 30, 1999 at age 85. The station was sold to Liggett Communications (now Radio First) in 2000 by Wismer's estate. Liggett had also acquired Wismer's crosstown competitor, WPHM
WPHM
WPHM is a news, talk and sports radio station in Port Huron, Michigan that broadcasts on AM 1380 with 5,000 watts. WPHM is owned by Radio First. The station includes programming from Dr. Joy Browne, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Dave Ramsey, and local morning show host Paul Miller...
and WBTI
WBTI
WBTI is an Adult Top 40 radio station in Lexington, Michigan. It broadcasts on 96.9 MHz with 3,000 watts and is owned by Radio First. This is the third owner in the station's 15-year history....
that same year from Hanson Communications.
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....
was simulcasted over WHLX for the first time. Its format then changed to Adult Standards America's Best Music
America's Best Music
America's Best Music is the on-air branding of an adult standards 24-hour radio network, known internally as Adult Standards and formerly known as AM Only, currently owned by Dial Global. It was one of the original Westwood One's Transtar networks...
format in 2001, and back to Oldies using Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
's Kool Gold Timeless Classics format in 2009. WHLX continues to simulcast its sister station WHLS, providing dominance over the upper AM band in St. Clair County. The station airs the syndicated program American Standards By The Sea Saturday mornings. WHLS is also the radio home of the Port Huron Fighting Falcons
Port Huron Fighting Falcons
The Port Huron Fighting Falcons are a Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based out of Port Huron, Michigan began play in 2010-11. A member of the North American Hockey League's North Division, the team plays their home games in the McMorran Arena. On July 10, 2010 the team announced its name as...
and University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
football (MSU football and basketball can be heard on sister station WPHM). WHLS also features local news, CNN Radio news, and locally oriented talk shows weekend mornings.