When did WABC (AM) first begin broadcasting?
WABC (AM) began broadcasting on the 30th of September 1921, as station WJZ in Newark. The transmitter operated on a wavelength of 360 meters from a shack accessible only via ladder.
Questions about WABC (AM)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What date did WABC change its call letters to WABC and become the American Broadcasting Company?
The station officially became the American Broadcasting Company on the 15th of June 1945, following a sale completed the 12th of October 1943. This rechristening occurred after the Blue Network existed for just over one calendar year under that name.
On what day did WABC switch from music format to talk radio?
WABC switched from music format to talk radio at noon on the 10th of May 1982. The final song played was Imagine by John Lennon before the new format launched with Dan Ingram and Ron Lundy hosting the farewell program.
Where is the transmitter location for WABC (AM) today?
The transmitter for WABC (AM) is located in Lodi, New Jersey. The studio headquarters remain at Third Avenue in Midtown Manhattan while the signal covers Eastern United States and Canada during nighttime hours.
When did WABC receive Class I-A clear-channel status allowing unlimited range?
WABC received Class I-A unrestricted status following legal battles lasting thirty-eight years ending in an 1980 court decision favoring FCC rulings. This status allows nighttime-only operation rights across Eastern United States regions without interference limits.