WICC (AM)

WICC
Broadcast areaGreater Bridgeport
Frequency600 kHz
BrandingWICC 600 AM and 95.9 FM
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatTalk radio
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WEBE, WEZN-FM, WFOX, WPLR, WYBC-FM
History
First air date
November 8, 1926; 98 years ago (1926-11-08)
Call sign meaning
"Industrial Capital of Connecticut"
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID72345
ClassB
Power
  • 1,000 watts (day)
  • 500 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
41°9′36.35″N 73°9′51.4″W / 41.1600972°N 73.164278°W / 41.1600972; -73.164278
Translator(s)107.3 W297CP (Bridgeport)
Repeater(s)
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wicc600.com

WICC (600 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Bridgeport, Connecticut, owned by Connoisseur Media. It airs as a news–talk radio format featuring local shows with Melissa Sheketoff, Lisa Wexler and Paul Pacelli. Nationally syndicated programs include Erick Erickson, Lars Larson, Dave Ramsey and Red Eye Radio. Weekends feature shows on safe money, music with the Oh Wow Oldies Show, featuring DJ Rob Ray ("the Music Professor"). Most hours begin with world and national news from CBS News Radio. WICC was formerly a member of the New York Yankees Radio Network and formerly aired Sacred Heart University athletics.

The WICC studios are located on Wheelers Farms Road in Milford, and its 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.[3] Programming is also heard on WFOX (95.9 FM) in Southport, FM translator 107.3 W297CP in Bridgeport, and using an HD Radio, on sister stations 107.9 WEBE-HD2 and 99.1 WPLR-HD2.

History

[edit]

WICC is Bridgeport's first radio station and one of the first in Connecticut.[4] 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.[5] The station became an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network on September 25, 1932.[6]

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.[7][8] In the 1970s and 1980s, the music moved closer to an Adult Top 40 sound.

In November 2001, WICC was acquired by Cumulus Media, which became one of the largest owners of radio stations in the U.S., as part of its $219.6 million acquisition of Aurora Communications.[9] Over time, as music listening shifted from AM to FM radio, WICC added more talk programming, becoming an all-talk station in June 2002.[10]

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.[11] The swap was consummated on June 26, 2019.

On September 3, 2024, Connoisseur began simulcasting WICC's programming on WFOX (95.9 FM), which had previously been a rock station.[1] The simulcast was in part prompted by the end of the all-news format of WCBS in New York City; concurrently with the start of the simulcast, WICC began carrying CBS Radio Network newscasts,[12] relaunched as "The Voice of Connecticut",[13] and announced that Erick Erickson's syndicated program would be replaced by a local early afternoon show hosted by former WCBS anchor Brigitte Quinn effective September 30.[14]

Translator

[edit]
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W297CP 107.3 FM Bridgeport, Connecticut 202762 250 D 41°9′39″N 73°9′53″W / 41.16083°N 73.16472°W / 41.16083; -73.16472 (W297CP) LMS

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Venta, Lance (September 3, 2024). "WFOX Gives Way to WICC Simulcast in Fairfield County". RadioInsight. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WICC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Radio-Locator
  4. ^ Collins, Michael. "Time Line For Connecticut Broadcasting". Connecticut Broadcasters Association.
  5. ^ "WFEA Joins Net" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 15, 1932. p. 6. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  6. ^ "(untitled brief)" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 1, 1932. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  7. ^ "Who Was Bob Crane?".
  8. ^ "Bob Crane, former WICC host, up for Radio Hall of Fame". January 21, 2012.
  9. ^ BIA Financial Networks (November 26, 2001). "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "Format Changes & Updates". The M Street Journal. June 12, 2002. p. 5.
  11. ^ Cumulus Media Sells KLOS To Meruelo Media Swaps Bridgeport To Connoisseur For Allentown
  12. ^ Turmelle, Luther (September 4, 2024). "Connecticut radio station WFOX drops rock music, shifts to news and talk". Connecticut Post. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "With Expanded Reach, WICC Is Now 'The Voice Of Connecticut.'". Inside Radio. September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  14. ^ Venta, Lance (September 6, 2024). "Brigitte Quinn Joins WICC For 12-2pm Show". RadioInsight. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
[edit]
FM translator
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