WISW
Encyclopedia
WISW is a news/talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina
. It serves the Columbia, South Carolina
market. The Cumulus Media
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast at 1320 kHz with 5,000 watts daytime and 2,500 watts nighttime, directional. The station goes by the name Newstalk 1320 WIS.
WISW is frequently known as "News Talk 1320 WIS" or "WIS Radio" , taking the base of its call sign from the former WIS. The latter station was the long time sister station of WIS (TV) in Columbia, the dominant NBC television station. The WIS portion of the call letters stood for "Wonderful Iodine State." The former WIS is now WVOC.
. In 1947, the station became WMSC, retaining the CBS Radio affiliation. The transmitter site was later used by WZLD
and WXRY
.
In 1953, WMSC was sold to new owners and the station became WOIC. WOIC became the first station to target the African American
community in Columbia. In 1976, WOIC applied for an FM on 103.1, which was dismissed and awarded to another group. WOIC appealed, which caused the application to be held up. The case was dismissed in October, 1981 and 103.1 became WDPN (now WOMG
) in 1982. Ironically, WDPN was acquired by WOIC's parent company, Nuance Corporation, by 1985.
By the 1980s, WOIC ratings started to decline due to the growth of new Urban Contemporary
outlet WWDM
. In the fall of 1989, it was announced by then-owners Price Broadcasting that the station would change over to a simulcast of WOMG-FM's Oldies
format. In order to prevent any community backlash, an arrangement was worked out with 1230 WODE to move the staff and programing over to their station. WODE became WOIC
, while WOIC became WOMG, simulcasting the majority of WOMG's programming, breaking off at times for broadcasting various Clemson University
sporting events.
In 1995, WOMG became All-news
WISW under a local marketing agreement with Cosmos Broadcasting then-owners of NBC affiliate WIS
. The station featured AP News as well as simulcasts of WIS's newscasts. In 1997, the syndicated Imus In The Morning
show was added. Despite the changes as well as exposure from WIS-TV, ratings did not materialize as hoped.
In August 1999, Imus was dropped for "Good Morning Columbia", hosted by longtime former WSCQ
air personalities Bill Benton, Doug Enlow, and Gene McKay (who died in 2007). Ironically, both McKay and Benton began in the Columbia market on 560 WIS (now WVOC) until leaving in the mid '70s for WSCQ, which they were part-owners. Benton's son Charlie, a WISW sales manager, joined the show in 2007 after McKay's death.
With the addition of "Good Morning Columbia", WISW shifted the format to a mostly satellite-fed Adult Standards
format, but kept the WIS newscasts in the process.
By 2002, the station adjusted its format again to a full time news-talk format, competing head-on with rival WVOC. In addition to "Good Morning Columbia", the station features a rotating "Local Angle" hour (9-10A.M.) with nationally syndicated Neal Boortz, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Rollye James, and Jim Bohannon.
Until the format and transmitter move of WNKT from St. George to Eastover, a weeknight "Prime Time Sports" program and a weekly "Sporting News Radio" program were featured, but they moved to WNKT, which was now a Columbia-area station serving sports. That opened up Mark Levin's new ABC Radio show to WISW.
Also in 2002, WISW became the official flagship station to broadcast the games of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks after Host Communications decided to take its program to Citadel Communications, who provided the Gamecocks with airtime on its more powerful FM stations. Clear Channel Communications (who owns WVOC) was not willing to move the Gamecocks programming to any of its more stronger FM stations in Columbia. The station is the exclusive home of the women's basketball program (when there is a conflict between men's and women's games, WISW broadcasts the women's games) and the official flagship station of the school.
The station is owned by Cumulus Media
, which also owns AC WTCB
, Oldies
WOMG
, The Game
, and Urban AC
WLXC
in the Columbia radio market.
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. It serves the Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
market. The Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to broadcast at 1320 kHz with 5,000 watts daytime and 2,500 watts nighttime, directional. The station goes by the name Newstalk 1320 WIS.
WISW is frequently known as "News Talk 1320 WIS" or "WIS Radio" , taking the base of its call sign from the former WIS. The latter station was the long time sister station of WIS (TV) in Columbia, the dominant NBC television station. The WIS portion of the call letters stood for "Wonderful Iodine State." The former WIS is now WVOC.
History
1320 signed on as WKIX in 1945. The station featured local and national programing from the CBS Radio NetworkCBS 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 ....
. In 1947, the station became WMSC, retaining the CBS Radio affiliation. The transmitter site was later used by WZLD
WLTY
WLTY is a variety hits radio station licensed to Cayce, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 96.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 9 kW...
and WXRY
WARQ
WARQ is a Modern Rock radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 93.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 2.8 kW...
.
In 1953, WMSC was sold to new owners and the station became WOIC. WOIC became the first station to target the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community in Columbia. In 1976, WOIC applied for an FM on 103.1, which was dismissed and awarded to another group. WOIC appealed, which caused the application to be held up. The case was dismissed in October, 1981 and 103.1 became WDPN (now WOMG
WOMG
WOMG is an Oldies radio station licensed to Lexington, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6 kW...
) in 1982. Ironically, WDPN was acquired by WOIC's parent company, Nuance Corporation, by 1985.
By the 1980s, WOIC ratings started to decline due to the growth of new Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
outlet WWDM
WWDM
WWDM is a Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Sumter, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 101.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
. In the fall of 1989, it was announced by then-owners Price Broadcasting that the station would change over to a simulcast of WOMG-FM's 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. In order to prevent any community backlash, an arrangement was worked out with 1230 WODE to move the staff and programing over to their station. WODE became WOIC
WOIC
WOIC is a News/Talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina. It serves the Columbia market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1230 kHz with an effective radiated power of 1 kW full time...
, while WOIC became WOMG, simulcasting the majority of WOMG's programming, breaking off at times for broadcasting various Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
sporting events.
In 1995, WOMG became All-news
All-news radio
All-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcast of news.All-news radio is available in both local and syndicated forms, and is carried in some form on both major US satellite radio networks...
WISW under a local marketing agreement with Cosmos Broadcasting then-owners of NBC affiliate WIS
WIS
WIS, channel 10, is an NBC-affiliated television station in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. Owned by Raycom Media, WIS has studios on Bull Street in downtown Columbia, and transmitter located in Lugoff, South Carolina.-History:...
. The station featured AP News as well as simulcasts of WIS's newscasts. In 1997, the syndicated Imus In The Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
show was added. Despite the changes as well as exposure from WIS-TV, ratings did not materialize as hoped.
In August 1999, Imus was dropped for "Good Morning Columbia", hosted by longtime former WSCQ
WXBT
WVOC-FM is a news/talk station licensed to West Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 100.1 MHz with an ERP of 5.9 kW...
air personalities Bill Benton, Doug Enlow, and Gene McKay (who died in 2007). Ironically, both McKay and Benton began in the Columbia market on 560 WIS (now WVOC) until leaving in the mid '70s for WSCQ, which they were part-owners. Benton's son Charlie, a WISW sales manager, joined the show in 2007 after McKay's death.
With the addition of "Good Morning Columbia", WISW shifted the format to a mostly satellite-fed Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
format, but kept the WIS newscasts in the process.
By 2002, the station adjusted its format again to a full time news-talk format, competing head-on with rival WVOC. In addition to "Good Morning Columbia", the station features a rotating "Local Angle" hour (9-10A.M.) with nationally syndicated Neal Boortz, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Rollye James, and Jim Bohannon.
Until the format and transmitter move of WNKT from St. George to Eastover, a weeknight "Prime Time Sports" program and a weekly "Sporting News Radio" program were featured, but they moved to WNKT, which was now a Columbia-area station serving sports. That opened up Mark Levin's new ABC Radio show to WISW.
Also in 2002, WISW became the official flagship station to broadcast the games of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks after Host Communications decided to take its program to Citadel Communications, who provided the Gamecocks with airtime on its more powerful FM stations. Clear Channel Communications (who owns WVOC) was not willing to move the Gamecocks programming to any of its more stronger FM stations in Columbia. The station is the exclusive home of the women's basketball program (when there is a conflict between men's and women's games, WISW broadcasts the women's games) and the official flagship station of the school.
The station is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
, which also owns AC WTCB
WTCB
WTCB is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to Orangeburg, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 106.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
, 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....
WOMG
WOMG
WOMG is an Oldies radio station licensed to Lexington, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6 kW...
, The Game
WNKT
WNKT is a Sports Talk radio station licensed to Eastover, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 107.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 40 kW...
, and Urban AC
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
WLXC
WLXC
WLXC is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 103.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6 kW...
in the Columbia radio market.