WHVN
Encyclopedia
WHVN is a radio station
broadcasting a Christian radio
format. Licensed to Charlotte, North Carolina
, USA, it serves the area. The station is currently owned by WHVN Inc. The station is simulcast onto WCGC
at 1270 AM and is also heard on 104.3 FM.
on 1210 kHz with the call letters WRBU. According to a 1930 Federal Radio Commission
listing, the station had a power of 100 watts and was licensed to the "A. J. Kirby Music Company". Sometime in the 1930s the station's city of license was changed to Charlotte and the call sign was changed to WSOC, supposedly meaning "We Serve Our City". The 1941 North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
(NARBA) mandated a change in frequency to 1240 kHz. In the late 1950s, most stations on "Class IV" (local) frequencies were allowed to increase their daytime power to 1,000 watts, and WSOC increased their daytime power as well. Also in the 1950s the owners of WSOC brought to the air WSOC-FM
at 103.7 MHz, and WSOC-TV
on VHF channel 9.
In the early 1960s, Cox Broadcasting Company, then-owners of WSOC, traded frequencies with WIST at 930 kHz. Under the ownership of Cosmos Broadcasting and later Henderson Belk the station gained the WIST legacy of the first true Top 40 station in Charlotte, and by the end of the decade had pioneered the Progressive rock
format in Charlotte as "The Amazing AM", but changes were in the works. In 1970, the Progressive Rock format was shifted to WIST-FM
at 95.1 MHz, and their calls were changed to WRNA. Belk then sold WIST(AM) to Statesville Broadcasting Company, which gained CBS Radio Network
affiliation for the station and began Charlotte's first talk radio
format on WIST. Charlotte radio legend Jack Knight
was hired to do the morning show. Current John Boy and Billy
sidekick Robert D. Raiford
hosted one of the talk shows, and was notorious for screaming at callers. The format was ultimately unsuccessful, and Statesville Broadcasting sold the station by the middle of the 1970s.
WIST/1240's next ownership was a partnership between former WBT ad salesman Al Munn and Consolidated Theater Corporation. Munn initially changed the format to Adult Contemporary and brought his family into the employ of the station. Munn also attempted to operate the station as a broadcasting school, eventually separating the school functions into the "WISTA School of Broadcasting." In 1979 the Charlotte radio landscape had a major change. Longtime AM Country Music
leader WAME was purchased by Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and became a Religious Station. The Country Music format hole was quickly filled by WIST, becoming "Live Country 1240". By this time the partnership between Munn and Consolidated Theaters was coming unraveled, and the theater company bought Munn out of the arrangement.
In the early '80s WIST gave Country music its last serious attempt on the AM dial in Charlotte, becoming "The Bright Spot." The format was innovative, but most Country listeners had switched to WSOC-FM and the format did not succeed. As its last gasp, WIST tried Top 40 again in the early 80s before signing off the air.
The station was purchased by George H. Buck, who at that time owned WHVN, which operated daytime-only at 1310 kHz. The original call letters were WKTC. WKTC was Charlotte's first Country music station. In 1970 WKTC switched to a Christian format. WHVN moved to the 1240 frequency, and sold its old frequency to Dick Tomlinson. Tomlinson began WGSP
on 1310, which exists today as a Regional Mexican
format.
In January 1995, WHVN began sending its programming to other stations in Statesville
in North Carolina, Camden
in South Carolina, and Montgomery, Alabama
. WAVO
in Rock Hill, South Carolina
was airing WHVN's programming by 1996 but the Statesville station was not. WAVO aired the programming of WTLT
for several months in 1997 but WAVO returned to simulcasting WHVN until ending the siumulcast in 2008.
In 1998, WHVN's owner bought WCGC
in Belmont
.
In 2009, WHVN Inc. bought an existing permit for a translator
at 93.5 FM. As of August 2009, the radio station uses another translator at 104.3 FM.
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...
broadcasting a Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
format. Licensed to Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, USA, it serves the area. The station is currently owned by WHVN Inc. The station is simulcast onto WCGC
WCGC
WCGC is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Belmont, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Charlotte/Gastonia area. The station is currently owned by WHVN Inc. The station is simulcast onto WHVN at 1240 AM.-History:...
at 1270 AM and is also heard on 104.3 FM.
History
The station which would eventually become WHVN on the 1240 frequency in Charlotte began operations in 1929 in Gastonia, North CarolinaGastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
on 1210 kHz with the call letters WRBU. According to a 1930 Federal Radio Commission
Federal Radio Commission
The Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
listing, the station had a power of 100 watts and was licensed to the "A. J. Kirby Music Company". Sometime in the 1930s the station's city of license was changed to Charlotte and the call sign was changed to WSOC, supposedly meaning "We Serve Our City". The 1941 North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, usually referred to as NARBA, is a treaty that took effect in March 1941 and set out the bandplan and interference rules for mediumwave AM broadcasting in North America. Although mostly replaced by other agreements in the 1980s, the basic bandplan...
(NARBA) mandated a change in frequency to 1240 kHz. In the late 1950s, most stations on "Class IV" (local) frequencies were allowed to increase their daytime power to 1,000 watts, and WSOC increased their daytime power as well. Also in the 1950s the owners of WSOC brought to the air WSOC-FM
WSOC-FM
WSOC-FM 103.7 is a country radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The station is owned by New York City-based CBS Radio. Its primary competitor in the country format is 96.9 The Kat...
at 103.7 MHz, and WSOC-TV
WSOC-TV
WSOC-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. The station's studio is located at North Tryon and 23rd Streets, just north of Uptown Charlotte, and is shared with sister station WAXN-TV . The transmitter is located just outside...
on VHF channel 9.
In the early 1960s, Cox Broadcasting Company, then-owners of WSOC, traded frequencies with WIST at 930 kHz. Under the ownership of Cosmos Broadcasting and later Henderson Belk the station gained the WIST legacy of the first true Top 40 station in Charlotte, and by the end of the decade had pioneered the Progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
format in Charlotte as "The Amazing AM", but changes were in the works. In 1970, the Progressive Rock format was shifted to WIST-FM
WNKS
WNKS, known on the air as KISS 95.1, is a 100,000 watt radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts at 95.1 MHz from a tower in Dallas, North Carolina, primarily serving the Charlotte metropolitan area. On air programming consists of mainstream top 40 music...
at 95.1 MHz, and their calls were changed to WRNA. Belk then sold WIST(AM) to Statesville Broadcasting Company, which gained 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 ....
affiliation for the station and began Charlotte's first talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format on WIST. Charlotte radio legend Jack Knight
Jack Knight
Jack Knight is the name of:*Jack Knight, US Airmail Pilot, airline builder*Jack Knight , American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball*Jack L...
was hired to do the morning show. Current John Boy and Billy
John Boy and Billy
John Isley and Billy James, known as John Boy & Billy, named after "John-Boy Harris and brother Bross Harris", are American radio hosts based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their comedic morning program The John Boy & Billy Big Show broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m...
sidekick Robert D. Raiford
Robert D. Raiford
Robert D. Raiford offers liberal political and conservative social commentaries during the John Boy and Billy big show. He is from Concord, North Carolina and majored in communication at the University of South Carolina. Raiford got his start in broadcasting in 1944 by calling play by play at...
hosted one of the talk shows, and was notorious for screaming at callers. The format was ultimately unsuccessful, and Statesville Broadcasting sold the station by the middle of the 1970s.
WIST/1240's next ownership was a partnership between former WBT ad salesman Al Munn and Consolidated Theater Corporation. Munn initially changed the format to Adult Contemporary and brought his family into the employ of the station. Munn also attempted to operate the station as a broadcasting school, eventually separating the school functions into the "WISTA School of Broadcasting." In 1979 the Charlotte radio landscape had a major change. Longtime AM Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
leader WAME was purchased by Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and became a Religious Station. The Country Music format hole was quickly filled by WIST, becoming "Live Country 1240". By this time the partnership between Munn and Consolidated Theaters was coming unraveled, and the theater company bought Munn out of the arrangement.
In the early '80s WIST gave Country music its last serious attempt on the AM dial in Charlotte, becoming "The Bright Spot." The format was innovative, but most Country listeners had switched to WSOC-FM and the format did not succeed. As its last gasp, WIST tried Top 40 again in the early 80s before signing off the air.
The station was purchased by George H. Buck, who at that time owned WHVN, which operated daytime-only at 1310 kHz. The original call letters were WKTC. WKTC was Charlotte's first Country music station. In 1970 WKTC switched to a Christian format. WHVN moved to the 1240 frequency, and sold its old frequency to Dick Tomlinson. Tomlinson began WGSP
WGSP (AM)
WGSP is a Spanish language radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, known as Pepe Charlotte. The programming is also aired on WXNC, at 1060 AM, along with other frequencies in various locations as of 2008.-History:...
on 1310, which exists today as a Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican is a radio format for music radio, typically defined to include Banda, Ranchera, Mariachi and Norteña. It is the most popular radio format targeting Hispanic Americans in the United States....
format.
In January 1995, WHVN began sending its programming to other stations in Statesville
WAME
WAME is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format. Licensed to Statesville, North Carolina, USA. The station is owned by Statesville Family Radio Corporation...
in North Carolina, Camden
WEAF (AM)
WEAF is a gospel music formatted radio station in Camden, South Carolina. The station is currently owned by Colonial Radio Group and is licensed to CRG president Jeff Andrulonis. Much of the programing is featured from the Rejoice! Musical Soul Food satellite feed.-History:At one time, this...
in South Carolina, and Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. WAVO
WAVO
WAVO is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards format. Licensed to Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA, the station serves the Charlotte area. The station is currently owned by Whvn.-History:...
in Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
was airing WHVN's programming by 1996 but the Statesville station was not. WAVO aired the programming of WTLT
WGFY
WGFY is a Radio Disney station serving the Charlotte, North Carolina, market. The station is owned by ABC. WGFY broadcasts with a power of 4,400 watts daytime .- History :...
for several months in 1997 but WAVO returned to simulcasting WHVN until ending the siumulcast in 2008.
In 1998, WHVN's owner bought WCGC
WCGC
WCGC is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Belmont, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Charlotte/Gastonia area. The station is currently owned by WHVN Inc. The station is simulcast onto WHVN at 1240 AM.-History:...
in Belmont
Belmont, North Carolina
Belmont is a small suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located about west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina and east of Gastonia. The population was 8,705 at the 2000 census. Once known as Garibaldi, the city named in honor of August Belmont, a prominent New York banker...
.
In 2009, WHVN Inc. bought an existing permit for a translator
Broadcast relay station
A broadcast relay station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator , rebroadcaster , or repeater is a broadcast transmitter which relays, repeats, or reflects the signal of another radio station or television station, usually to an area not covered by the signal of the originating station...
at 93.5 FM. As of August 2009, the radio station uses another translator at 104.3 FM.