WABC (AM)
In November 1920, the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company established its first broadcasting station, KDKA, located in East Pittsburgh. This initial venture proved successful enough to prompt plans for additional stations in major population centers by early 1921. On September 30 of that year, Westinghouse received authorization for a new station with call letters WJZ at their factory on Orange and Plane streets in Newark. The transmitter operated on a wavelength of 360 meters while housed within a shack accessible only via ladder.
Test transmissions began around October 1, followed immediately by broadcasts of the 1921 World Series baseball games starting October 5. Announcer Thomas H. Cowan relayed descriptions phoned from Polo Grounds field by sportswriter Sandy Hunt. By mid-December 1921, another station named WDY shared the same wavelength before eventually merging operations under RCA control. Within months, numerous other broadcasters joined the crowded frequency, leading to disputes over airtime allocation.
The Department of Commerce issued regulations December 1 requiring Limited Commercial licenses for public broadcasts. WJZ became one of few existing stations meeting this standard despite being second oldest license holder in New Jersey state history after RCA's earlier grant. A remote studio opened the 5th of February 1922 inside Waldorf-Astoria hotel using telegraph wires provided by Western Union due to AT&T refusal to connect directly. This setup produced noisy audio quality where even company president Newcomb Carleton's voice drowned out during transmission attempts.
the 15th of May 1923 marked simultaneous major changes when ownership shifted entirely to Radio Corporation of America and studios relocated to Aeolian Hall building sixth floor location. The Federal Communications Commission later assigned sole use of 660 kilohertz while sister station WJY operated nearby on different frequencies until quietly discontinued the 1st of January 1927. NBC Red Network originated from WEAF whereas Blue Network launched with WJZ as originating station that same day.
October 1928 saw movement into newly constructed NBC studios at 711 Fifth Avenue before both entities consolidated under single roof November following year. March 1941 brought frequency shift from 760 kHz to current assignment of 770 kHz designated Class I-A clear-channel status allowing nighttime-only operation rights across Eastern United States regions. Disputes arose over interference caused by KOB Albuquerque station eventually settled through legal battles lasting thirty-eight years ending 1980 court decision favoring FCC rulings protecting unrestricted coverage for WABC.
the 23rd of January 1942 approved transfer operating license from RCA corporation directly owned company called Blue Network Inc after Federal Communications Commission ruled no broadcaster could hold multiple AM stations within single market area. the 12th of October 1943 sale completed transferring assets including network operations plus direct predecessor known simply then named "The Blue Network" briefly existing little more than one full calendar year before official rechristening occurred the 15th of June 1945 becoming American Broadcasting Company itself.
Hal Neal hired Rick Sklar program director who would later enter National Radio Hall Fame credited pioneering architecture behind Top Forty format implementation beginning early sixties period. Under Skar leadership playlist shortened dramatically making number-one song heard approximately every hour daytime versus seventy-five minutes nightly intervals while other top five tracks played nearly equally frequently throughout broadcast hours totaling around nine hits per airshift combined several non-current selections under five-year age limit reaching total count roughly seventy songs overall.
Dan Ingram Herb Oscar Anderson Charlie Greer Scott Muni Chuck Dunaway Jack Carney Bruce Morrow Bob Lewis among earliest disc jockeys followed mid-sixties through seventies lineup featuring Harry Harrison Ron Lundy Chuck Leonard Johnny Donovan Bob Cruz Frank Kingston Smith Roby Yonge George Michael Jim Nettleton Jim Perry Steve O'Brien alongside noted sportscaster Howard Cosell hosting late Sunday interview show titled Speaking Of Everything teenager listeners across metropolitan areas tuned transistor radios easily over hundred miles distance covering Catskill Pocono Mountains Connecticut Rhode Island regions beyond sunset AM wave propagation capabilities extending much Eastern U.S Canadian territories nationwide reach achieved thanks strong signal strength exceeding one-hundred-mile radius coverage area consistently maintained during evening nighttime periods allowing pickup widespread audience engagement levels recorded thousands enthusiastic singing along street-level interactions documented August 1964 Beatles hotel room window broadcasts illegal yet successful FCC rule violations ignored until discovered post-event consequences faced immediately following completion of such activities conducted without prior knowledge regarding regulatory restrictions involved therein.
May tenth noon marked official end twenty-two year run music station format April thirtieth announcement confirmed switch occurring exactly date specified earlier February confirmation stated ample notice provided before actual transformation took place May seventh ninth departing air staff members bid final goodbyes individually last time together. Last song played Imagine John Lennon followed familiar Chime Time jingle then few seconds silence preceding minute-long introduction new talk radio format officially launched Monday morning May tenth nine o'clock farewell program hosted Dan Ingram Ron Lundy.
Initial lineup included Ross Wilson Owen Spann Art Athens Michael Jackson Toni Grant Alan Colmes sports segments starting six-thirty p.m continuing till nine hours nightly schedule featuring advice shows religion discussions Yankees baseball games weekend programming child psychology home garden topics religious themes entertainment variety content mixed conservative liberal hosts including Lynn Samuels alongside growing number right-wing commentators gradually shifting overall tone direction toward political conservatism becoming very successful ratings achieved late eighties period after initial struggles lower listener numbers compared previous musical era success levels recorded consistently throughout early years existence current news/talk configuration established firmly within first decade operation history spanning four decades total duration exceeding original Top Forty tenure length itself now surpassing two-and-a-half times longer than former incarnation ever lasted since inception beginning 1982 onward until present day ongoing operations continue uninterrupted despite occasional personnel changes affecting specific show lineups over time periods involved.
February sixth twenty-six Walt Disney Company announced sale WABC plus other properties not affiliated ESPN Radio along ABC News Talk FM networks Citadel Broadcasting company for $2.7 billion transaction finalized June twelfth year following announcement date September sixteen eleven merged together forming Cumulus Media entity subsequently acquired Red Apple Media owned John Catsimatidis purchasing station March second thousand and twenty million dollars cash deal closed July first took control WLIR-FM Long Island simulcast arrangement converted main signal broadcast rights transferred accordingly Brian Kilmeade program substituted locally hosted Frank Morano Sunday nights overnight shift The Other Side Midnight October replacement Red Eye Radio replaced later elected New York City Council succeeded Lionel June twenty-five.
Previous programs included nationally syndicated Rush Limbaugh Sean Hannity started here though currently heard rival WOR Don Imus morning show aired final time March twenty-nine eighteen Bernard McGuirk co-hosted after retirement died October twenty-two Phil Boyce departed October eight replaced Laurie Cantillo resigned November thirty-one Chuck Armstrong interim director January fourteen Craig Schwalb named permanent PD April twenty-five signed longtime broadcaster John Sterling Saturday afternoon sports talk return sixteen-year hiatus ended December 2015 season expired Army football games contract lost Yankees radio rights WCBS Devils moved WFAN Rangers overflow stations WEPN Knicks rights NYM all eventually shifted away forcing solidification evening talk lineup attempts made recently.
Fifty-thousand-watt non-directional clear channel signal covers Eastern United States Canada nighttime hours primarily due transmitter located Lodi New Jersey studio headquarters Third Avenue Midtown Manhattan location. Primary entry point Emergency Alert System metropolitan area including New Jersey region additionally simulates on FM Hampton Bays eastern Long Island station WLIR frequency assignment allows broad geographic coverage extending hundreds miles radius beyond city limits itself ensuring consistent reception throughout designated listening zones regardless weather conditions or terrain obstacles encountered during transmission paths traveled daily basis year-round operations maintained continuously without interruption except occasional technical maintenance periods scheduled accordingly.
Class I-A unrestricted status granted following legal battles lasting decades finally settled court decisions protecting unlimited protected range from transmitters originally set seventy-fifth mile limit reduced further opening band additional distant stations allowed operate simultaneously sharing same frequency space allocated equally between competing entities involved disputes resolved through federal regulatory oversight mechanisms implemented gradually over time spanning multiple administrations changes affecting overall operational parameters governing standard broadcast bands used nationwide today still subject ongoing review adjustments made periodically ensure fair competition among various stakeholders participating actively within industry landscape existing currently functioning effectively serving millions listeners across vast geographical areas covered efficiently by powerful signals generated consistently day-night cycles operating reliably under normal circumstances experienced regularly by audiences residing anywhere within reach of transmitted waves originating specifically from this particular source facility situated strategically positioned optimal locations maximizing potential audience exposure levels achieved successfully over extended durations covering entire history since inception beginning early twentieth century until present moment continuing forward indefinitely into future generations yet unborn.
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Common questions
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.
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.