.gif)
WKBN (AM)
Encyclopedia
WKBN is an AM
radio station
in Youngstown, Ohio
, USA broadcasting at 570 kHz with a talk radio
format. The station also carries games for the Cleveland Browns
, Cleveland Indians
, and Youngstown State Penguin
football and basketball. The station recently signed a deal to carry Youngstown State football and basketball; they had previously carried Ohio State football and basketball, which has now been moved to 1390 WNIO
and 106.1 WBBG
.
's General Order 40
on November 11, 1928 the station moved 570 kHz where it remains today.
Shortly after WKBN's launch, the station became a charter affiliate of the nascent CBS Radio Network
, an affiliation that would last until the end of the century. In the 1930s and 1940s, WKBN established a major presence in Youngstown as the city's CBS network affiliate, and for many years it was one of only two radio stations licensed to Youngstown (the other being WFMJ, now WNIO
, which signed on in 1939).
Williamson started WKBN-FM in 1948, and for many years it transmitted the same programming as the AM station. The FM station is now WMXY
. He also started WKBN-TV
in 1953, which became a predominantly CBS-TV affiliate in part due to the AM station's long history with the radio network (WKBN-TV to this day has retained the CBS-TV affiliation).
On January 22, 1999 WKBN Broadcasting Corporation sold WKBN and WKBN-FM to Jacor Communications, ending 75 years of Williamson family ownership. Jacor, however, did not own the stations very long. On April 29, 1999 Clear Channel Communications completed its $6.5 billion purchase of Jacor and its 454 stations, including WKBN and WKBN-FM.
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
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...
in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, USA broadcasting at 570 kHz with a 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. The station also carries games for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and Youngstown State Penguin
Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country...
football and basketball. The station recently signed a deal to carry Youngstown State football and basketball; they had previously carried Ohio State football and basketball, which has now been moved to 1390 WNIO
WNIO
WNIO — branded 1390 WNIO — is an AM radio station in Youngstown, Ohio, USA broadcasting at 1390 kHz with an Sports talk radio format dubbed "The Sports Animal." WNIO also carries Ohio State University football and basketball, Cleveland Cavaliers basketball, and Pittsburgh Steelers...
and 106.1 WBBG
WBBG
WBBG is a commercial FM radio station in Youngstown, Ohio market broadcasting at 106.1 MHz with an oldies format. The station is licensed to Niles, Ohio, with programming similar to fellow Clear Channel stations WWSW-FM in Pittsburgh and WMJI in Cleveland....
.
History
The station was founded in 1926 by Warren P. Williamson, Jr. (1900–1996). It was Youngstown's first radio station, signing on the air on September 26, 1926 at 1400 kHz at 50 watts. The original facilities were in the basement of Williamson's home, but by the following year operations had moved to studios in the YMCA in downtown Youngstown. Ownership was organized in the name of the Radio Electric Service Co., and later WKBN Broadcasting Corporation. With the implementation of the FRCFederal 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...
's General Order 40
General Order 40
General Order 40 was an order issued on August 30, 1928 by the new Federal Radio Commission under the Radio Act of 1927 which provided for a reallocation of the commercial broadcast radio spectrum....
on November 11, 1928 the station moved 570 kHz where it remains today.
Shortly after WKBN's launch, the station became a charter affiliate of the nascent 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 ....
, an affiliation that would last until the end of the century. In the 1930s and 1940s, WKBN established a major presence in Youngstown as the city's CBS network affiliate, and for many years it was one of only two radio stations licensed to Youngstown (the other being WFMJ, now WNIO
WNIO
WNIO — branded 1390 WNIO — is an AM radio station in Youngstown, Ohio, USA broadcasting at 1390 kHz with an Sports talk radio format dubbed "The Sports Animal." WNIO also carries Ohio State University football and basketball, Cleveland Cavaliers basketball, and Pittsburgh Steelers...
, which signed on in 1939).
Williamson started WKBN-FM in 1948, and for many years it transmitted the same programming as the AM station. The FM station is now WMXY
WMXY
WMXY is a radio station in Youngstown, Ohio, broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary music format. It is the Youngstown affiliate for Delilah in the evening.-History:...
. He also started WKBN-TV
WKBN-TV
WKBN-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Youngstown, Ohio. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 41 from a transmitter at WKBN's studios on Sunset Boulevard in Boardman Township. Owned by New Vision Television, WKBN is sister to and shares studios with low-power...
in 1953, which became a predominantly CBS-TV affiliate in part due to the AM station's long history with the radio network (WKBN-TV to this day has retained the CBS-TV affiliation).
On January 22, 1999 WKBN Broadcasting Corporation sold WKBN and WKBN-FM to Jacor Communications, ending 75 years of Williamson family ownership. Jacor, however, did not own the stations very long. On April 29, 1999 Clear Channel Communications completed its $6.5 billion purchase of Jacor and its 454 stations, including WKBN and WKBN-FM.