WICC (AM)
| File:WICC (AM) Radio Logo.png | |
| Broadcast area | Bridgeport New Haven Fairfield County |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 600 kHz |
| Branding | WICC |
| Programming | |
| Format | Talk |
| Affiliations | Westwood One NBC News Radio New York Yankees Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | November 8, 1926 |
Call sign meaning | "Industrial Capital of Connecticut" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 72345 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 41°09′36″N 73°09′53″W / 41.16000°N 73.16472°W |
| Translator(s) | 107.3 W297CP (Bridgeport) |
| Repeater(s) | 99.1 WPLR-HD2 (New Haven) 107.9 WEBE-HD2 (Westport) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | wicc600 |
WICC (600 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Bridgeport, Connecticut, owned by Connoisseur Media. It airs as a talk radio format featuring local shows with Melissa Sheketoff, Lisa Wexler and Paul Pacelli. Nationally syndicated programs include Dave Ramsey, Ben Shapiro and Red Eye Radio. Weekends feature shows on money, real estate, technology, Italian music, oldies and adult standards. Weekend hosts include Jim Bohannon. Most hours begin with world and national news from NBC News Radio. WICC is a member of the New York Yankees Radio Network and also airs Sacred Heart University athletics.
The WICC studios are located on Wheelers Farms Road in Milford with other Connoisseur radio stations. The transmitter is on Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport on a peninsula extending into Long Island Sound. WICC's signal is heard in much of Southern Connecticut and reaches into Long Island, New York.[2] Programming is also heard on FM translator 107.3 W297CP, and using an HD Radio, on sister stations 107.9 WEBE-HD2 and 99.1 WPLR-HD2.
History
WICC is Bridgeport's first radio station and one of the first in Connecticut.[3] It signed on the air on November 8, 1926. Its call letters stand for "Industrial Capital of Connecticut," which described Bridgeport throughout the early and mid-20th century.
In the early days, as radio assignments were being formalized, WICC broadcast from various places on the AM dial, including 1060 kHz, 1400 kHz, 1130 kHz, 1190 kHz and 1430 kHz until finally settling at 600 kHz in 1930.
Before March 1932, WICC affiliated with the Yankee Network.[4] The station became a CBS Radio network affiliate September 25, 1932.[5]
When network programming shifted from radio to television in the 1950s, WICC became a full service, middle of the road station, featuring popular music, news, talk and sports. Notably, Bob Crane was a host and Disc jockey from late 1951 through 1956.[6][7] In the 1970s and 80s, the music moved closer to an Adult Top 40 sound.
Over time, as music listening shifted from AM to FM radio, WICC added more talk programming, becoming an all-talk station in the 1990s. In 1992, WICC was acquired by Cumulus Media, which became one of the largest owners of radio stations in the U.S.[8]
On April 15, 2019, Cumulus Media announced that WICC and co-owned 107.9 WEBE would be swapped to Connoisseur Media, which began operating the stations under a local marketing agreement (LMA) on May 1.[9] The swap was consummated on June 26, 2019.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WICC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator
- ^ Collins, Michael. "Time Line For Connecticut Broadcasting". Connecticut Broadcasters Association.
- ^ "WFEA Joins Net" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 15, 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- ^ "(untitled brief)" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 1, 1932. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ https://vote4bobcrane.org/biography/
- ^ https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Bob-Crane-former-WICC-host-up-for-Radio-Hall-of-2670233.php
- ^ Information from Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-125
- ^ Cumulus Media Sells KLOS To Meruelo Media Swaps Bridgeport To Connoisseur For Allentown
External links
- WICC600 official website
- Facility details for Facility ID WICC ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
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