WOYL: Difference between revisions
m →History: Delink dates (WP:MOSUNLINKDATES) using Project:AWB |
Correction: The directional antenna system had nothing to do with WSAJ (which operated at separate times from WOYL). WOYL was only directional to protect WKSN-Jamestown & WSTV Steubenville. |
||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
==History== |
==History== |
||
WOYL was the very first radio station in all of Venango County, first going on the air on February 14, 1946, while the area was still in its oil-drilling and oil-producing heyday. It operated for many years under the call letters WKRZ. Somewhat unusual for this radio station was its two-tower daytime directional antenna pattern on a Class C "local" frequency at 1340 kHz, as well as its VERY unusual share-time arrangement (the station would sign off from 7:00-8:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 7:00-8:00 PM on Sundays). This was mandated by the FCC in order to protect another station operating on this same frequency at nearby Grove City College. That station, [[WSAJ]], first went on the air in 1920. However, the FCC determined in later years that WOYL did not cause an interference problem with WSAJ and lifted |
WOYL was the very first radio station in all of Venango County, first going on the air on February 14, 1946, while the area was still in its oil-drilling and oil-producing heyday. It operated for many years under the call letters WKRZ. Somewhat unusual for this radio station was its two-tower daytime directional antenna pattern on a Class C "local" frequency at 1340 kHz, as well as its VERY unusual share-time arrangement (the station would sign off from 7:00-8:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 7:00-8:00 PM on Sundays). This was mandated by the FCC in order to protect another station operating on this same frequency at nearby Grove City College. That station, [[WSAJ]], first went on the air in 1920. However, the FCC determined in later years that WOYL did not cause an interference problem with WSAJ and lifted the "shared time" restrictions, though WOYL continues to operate using the same directional pattern to protect [[WKSN]] in Jamestown, NY and [[WSTV]] in Steubenville, OH, which also operate on 1340 khz. The station further benefited by being granted permission to raise its nighttime operating power from 250 to 1,000 watts around-the-clock, following the lead of many Class C channel stations (known then as Class IV). WSAJ-AM ceased operations in 2006, when the college decided the investment required to keep an AM station on the air for only four hours per week was too costly and it would instead concentrate resources on WSAJ-FM. This allowed WOYL to remain on the air during times previously controlled by WSAJ. |
||
Like most small-market AM radio stations of its ilk, WKRZ programmed a format of full-service news, sports, and adult contemporary music, with world and national news provided by the NBC radio network (it originally affiliated itself with the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]] on April 27, 1946, becoming its 300th station, with the network broadcasting a two-hour prime-time special, ''Mutual's 300 Party'', honoring the event). From the time of its sign-on until the sale to its current owner, the station maintained its studios and offices at its transmitter site at 746 Orange Street on a hilltop overlooking downtown Oil City. |
Like most small-market AM radio stations of its ilk, WKRZ programmed a format of full-service news, sports, and adult contemporary music, with world and national news provided by the NBC radio network (it originally affiliated itself with the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]] on April 27, 1946, becoming its 300th station, with the network broadcasting a two-hour prime-time special, ''Mutual's 300 Party'', honoring the event). From the time of its sign-on until the sale to its current owner, the station maintained its studios and offices at its transmitter site at 746 Orange Street on a hilltop overlooking downtown Oil City. |
||
Revision as of 03:17, 18 January 2010
| Frequency | 1340 kHz (AM) |
|---|---|
| Branding | The Allegheny News-Talk Sports Network |
| Programming | |
| Format | News, talk, sports |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Forever Broadcasting, LLC |
| History | |
First air date | 1946 |
Call sign meaning | OYL City (city of license) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1000 watts (unlimited) |
| Links | |
| Website | http://myantsnetwork.com/ |
WOYL is an American radio station, licensed to the community of Oil City, Pennsylvania. WOYL operates at the assigned frequency of 1340 (kHz) and a fulltime output power of a thousand watts.
Though licensed to Oil City, some programming, sales and administrative functions do not originate out of Oil City, but rather Meadville, Pennsylvania, the headquarters of Forever Broadcasting's other northwest Pennsylvania broadcast properties. WOYL is owned and operated by Forever Broadcasting, LLC, which also owns its primary programming vehicle, the Allegheny News Talk Sports Network.
History
WOYL was the very first radio station in all of Venango County, first going on the air on February 14, 1946, while the area was still in its oil-drilling and oil-producing heyday. It operated for many years under the call letters WKRZ. Somewhat unusual for this radio station was its two-tower daytime directional antenna pattern on a Class C "local" frequency at 1340 kHz, as well as its VERY unusual share-time arrangement (the station would sign off from 7:00-8:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 7:00-8:00 PM on Sundays). This was mandated by the FCC in order to protect another station operating on this same frequency at nearby Grove City College. That station, WSAJ, first went on the air in 1920. However, the FCC determined in later years that WOYL did not cause an interference problem with WSAJ and lifted the "shared time" restrictions, though WOYL continues to operate using the same directional pattern to protect WKSN in Jamestown, NY and WSTV in Steubenville, OH, which also operate on 1340 khz. The station further benefited by being granted permission to raise its nighttime operating power from 250 to 1,000 watts around-the-clock, following the lead of many Class C channel stations (known then as Class IV). WSAJ-AM ceased operations in 2006, when the college decided the investment required to keep an AM station on the air for only four hours per week was too costly and it would instead concentrate resources on WSAJ-FM. This allowed WOYL to remain on the air during times previously controlled by WSAJ.
Like most small-market AM radio stations of its ilk, WKRZ programmed a format of full-service news, sports, and adult contemporary music, with world and national news provided by the NBC radio network (it originally affiliated itself with the Mutual Broadcasting System on April 27, 1946, becoming its 300th station, with the network broadcasting a two-hour prime-time special, Mutual's 300 Party, honoring the event). From the time of its sign-on until the sale to its current owner, the station maintained its studios and offices at its transmitter site at 746 Orange Street on a hilltop overlooking downtown Oil City.
FM signs on
WOYL also became the very first FM licensee in Venango County when it signed on its sister FM station on May 1, 1957. In later years, WOYL-FM would develop into a 20,000 watt powerhouse and remains the only such powerful station in all of Venango County, though now under different call letters and ownership.
Sale to Robert J. Shupala
In early 1977 ownership of the stations changed principally to orthodontist Robert J. Shupala, who changed the AM call letters to WOYL and the FM call letters to WRJS, named for Shupala's initials. The stations had been simulcasting, but under the new ownership and management they began separate programming. WOYL's music became Top-40 based (although retaining the news and information), while WRJS briefly became Easy Listening, then settled into Beautiful Music (station was semi-automated with only occasional interruptions by an announcer). Upon Shupala's death in 1980, his wife Jean assumed control of the stations.
Sale to Fidelity Communications
Both stations were sold in 1982 to Fidelity Communications, which continued to operate both stations until a brief period of duopoly ownership by its competitor in 1998 before the sale to Forever Broadcasting in 2000. Under Fidelity's ownership, WOYL remained the same, but the FM station would adopt a country music format with a live and local airstaff, unlike other stations in a market this size that would choose to automate their programming. When Oil Valley Broadcasting, headed by Thomas Sauber (whose father owned competitors WFRA AM/FM in Franklin and WTIV Titusville), purchased the stations, WRJS' call letters changed to WOYL-FM and took on the moniker "98.5 The (oil) Well", but maintained its country music format. However, WOYL turned into a part-time simulcast of this newly-named station.
Sale to Forever Broadcasting
Thomas Sauber, who had managed WOYL's competitors in Franklin, the county seat, agreed to sell both stations to Forever Broadcasting, of Altoona, Pennsylvania in the summer of 2000. Sauber's father, Robert Sauber, had founded WFRA and WTIV, both AM stations in Franklin and Titusville, respectively, and WFRA-FM in Franklin. Tom Sauber also owned an FM station of his own in Cooperstown, which also was sold to Forever Broadcasting in a separate transaction.
WOYL today
Following its acquisition by Forever Broadcasting, WOYL was established as an affiliate of Forever's newly-formed Allegheny News Talk Sports Network, which programs a mixture of local and syndicated talk, along with the Pittsburgh pro sports franchises of the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. The network is set up as a "quadcast", that is, a simultaneous rebroadcast of the same programming over four radio stations, including WOYL. The others are:
The four radio stations do however, break down their morning programming into a two-station simulcast, with WFRA and WOYL airing program matter exclusive to Venango County, while WTIV and WMGW air programming more exclusive to Crawford County. WFRA and WOYL air their live morning show from studios at 1411 Liberty Street in Franklin, the longtime home of WFRA. A satellite sales office also operates from this location. Following the morning show, the quadcast among the four stations resumes.
WOYL's longtime general manager under Fidelity ownership, Sam Gordon (who had been with the station since the WKRZ days), left the station after its sale to join competing station WKQW-AM/FM, where he works as an advertising sales representative.
External links
- Template:AMQ
- Template:AML
- WOYL in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
  | This article about a radio station in Pennsylvania is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |