WPCL
Encyclopedia
WPCL is a religious-formatted radio station
located in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania
. The station broadcasts programming from the He's Alive
network on 97.3 FM.
, which is known today as the Borough of Northern Cambria
. The station was the third and final of a group of stations founded by Raymark Broadcasting, a company owned by Ray Goss of Indiana, and Mark Harley, of Clearfield. Raymark had started their company with two other radio stations that they had built prior to this one: WCCS
-AM in Homer City and WOKW
-FM in Curwensville. Harley had purchased Goss' stake in the company by this time, as Goss wished to pursue other interests.
WCCZ operated on the same principle as its two sister operations...a small programming staff to handle local on-air duties, while relying on a satellite-delivered format to provide music and DJ's, enabling its service area to have the benefits of a full-service radio station without the expense of on-site disc jockeys. Though WCCS and WOKW used ABC/SMN's "Starstation" adult contemporary format for their own programming, Raymark chose to affiliate with "Goldies", the oldies format provided by the Jones Radio Network, along with AP world and national news. New studios and offices were constructed in a small storefront in downtown Spangler, at the intersection of PA Routes 219 and 271. In keeping with the network branding, the station became known as "Goldies 97.3".
, the seat of government for Elk County. WKYN, which operated at the adjacent frequency of 97.5, changed the call letters of WCCZ to WXVE and took on the similar call letters of WKVE to replace WKYN, using WXVE as a translator to bring 97.5's signal closer to the more populous city of Johnstown
.
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...
located in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania
Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania
Northern Cambria is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,199 at the 2000 census....
. The station broadcasts programming from the He's Alive
He's Alive
"He's Alive" is a fourth-season episode of The Twilight Zone. It tells of an American neo-Nazi who is inspired by the ghost of Adolf Hitler...
network on 97.3 FM.
Beginnings as WCCZ-FM
WPCL first signed on the air on September 30, 1991 as WCCZ-FM, licensed to SpanglerSpangler
-People:* Al Spangler, American baseball player* David Spangler, deceased United States Congressman from Ohio* David Spangler, American spiritualist* Donald H. Spangler, United States Naval officer...
, which is known today as the Borough of Northern Cambria
Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania
Northern Cambria is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,199 at the 2000 census....
. The station was the third and final of a group of stations founded by Raymark Broadcasting, a company owned by Ray Goss of Indiana, and Mark Harley, of Clearfield. Raymark had started their company with two other radio stations that they had built prior to this one: WCCS
WCCS
WCCS is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Homer City, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, and 25 miles northwest of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. WCCS operates at the federally assigned frequency of 1160 kHz with a maximum daytime power output of 10,000 watts, and...
-AM in Homer City and WOKW
WOKW
WOKW is a commercially licensed FM radio station. It operates on the federally assigned frequency of 102.9 MHz at an effective radiated power of 3,000 Watts. WOKW is licensed to Curwensville, Pennsylvania, but maintains studios and offices in Clearfield....
-FM in Curwensville. Harley had purchased Goss' stake in the company by this time, as Goss wished to pursue other interests.
WCCZ operated on the same principle as its two sister operations...a small programming staff to handle local on-air duties, while relying on a satellite-delivered format to provide music and DJ's, enabling its service area to have the benefits of a full-service radio station without the expense of on-site disc jockeys. Though WCCS and WOKW used ABC/SMN's "Starstation" adult contemporary format for their own programming, Raymark chose to affiliate with "Goldies", the oldies format provided by the Jones Radio Network, along with AP world and national news. New studios and offices were constructed in a small storefront in downtown Spangler, at the intersection of PA Routes 219 and 271. In keeping with the network branding, the station became known as "Goldies 97.3".
First Sale
However, the station did not achieve the level of success expected by Raymark. The station was put up for sale and was sold for $167,000 in the spring of 1993 to WKYN, Inc., which owned Adult CHR-formatted WKYN-FM (now WDDH) northwest of Spangler in RidgwayRidgway
-Places:*Ridgway, Colorado**Ridgway State Park*Ridgway, Illinois*Ridgway, Pennsylvania-People:*Dave Ridgway, CFL Hall of Famer*Fred Ridgway, former England and Kent cricketer*Gary Ridgway, U.S. serial killer -Places:*Ridgway, Colorado**Ridgway State Park*Ridgway, Illinois*Ridgway,...
, the seat of government for Elk County. WKYN, which operated at the adjacent frequency of 97.5, changed the call letters of WCCZ to WXVE and took on the similar call letters of WKVE to replace WKYN, using WXVE as a translator to bring 97.5's signal closer to the more populous city of Johnstown
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
.