PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio & TV

PBRTV Mailbag October 1-8, 2000

Dear Eric, Just yesterday afternoon I was driving to WAL-MART plaza in Monaca, PA listening to the radio. When I parked the car in the parking lot, I tuned in to 101.9 FM. WTNX has changed its format to urban AC to an "original hits" format. The call letters are now WNIO, and FM 101.9 simulcasts AM 1390. I also can pick up WVAQ 101.9 in Morgantown, WV. Am I within the halfway point of Morgantown, WV and Youngstown, OH? Where would you have to be at to get a perfect signal? Thanks. Much regards, Patrick (October 8, 2000)
OK folks, this is getting strange. I did a search for WJST on the MIT list of radio stations (http://wmbr.mit.edu/stations/list.html) and found it was the calls for a nostalgia station (who goes under the slogan "Silver 106") in Fort Meyers, FL at 106.3. And this station is NOT owned by Clear Channel, but is owned by Beasley Broadcasting (unless this is now a division of CC?). Their website is www.wjst.com and you can see what I mean. (October 8, 2000)
Eric,I have some updates about radio in Ohio Valley you might want to consider revising on your S-W page. Here they go: 97.3 WKWK is now a hot AC station and uses the new moniker "The Mix-WK 97.3" On the LMA that AMFM had on 95.7 WEEL, well Clear Channel decided not to pick that up, so it is completely run by Ohio Valley Communications now. Also WOHZ 1600 runs a children's format with occasional news and talk I guess you could say. Burbach Communications (yet another rip off of Forever/Key Market/Kirby Confer) is interested in buying 1600 AM. WBBD 1400 is also Clear Channel's, and all of the AMFM properties are now Clear Ch. (97.3, 98.7, 105.5, 107.5, 1170, 1400). Also I have a question and a comment also. Ok, WJST in New Castle, WPTS in Pittsburgh, and WXJX in Washington (W&J College's VERY low powered station) all run on at 92.1. How in the world can this be legal or even smart? At my home in Canonsburg, Washington Co., the 92.1 spot on my dial is VERY congested at nights especially. Between 8-9 PM I get WXJX, then about 9-10 WPTS, and after that till dawn WJST at 92.1 here. Why doesnt Clear Ch. complain to the FCC about this? They could easily slip the FCC, Univ of Pgh, and W&J College a few bucks to move the D.P.'s of their stations to lessen congestion on the dial. Now for the comment. The New Kiss 96.1 is a VERY big rip off of B94. The jingles and IDS sound almost indentical to B94's "style" in theirs. I thought their was already a war between 96.1 and 93.7 over jingles before this! I miss Mix, one of the few who probably do. So, until we get another modern AC sounding hot AC, I will have to listen to 100.5 WOMP-Fm and 101.9 WVAQ! I really thought Clear Channel was going to give Mix a chance, and evolve it into a modern AC and CHR further down the road. I last listened to Mix 96.1 Friday at about 3:55 PM, I sure wish I would have "savored" it more! Thanks and keep the site on trucking! :) (October 6, 2000)

Eric's Response: Well it's true they do sound alike. What nutsy attacks! However I've noticed that WKST has a bit more of a rhythmic sound than B-94. It could be due to the fact that I chose the "wrong time" to hear a good sampling of the music. However, I think they do sound a lot alike. More on that later. The 92.1 stations. There is no doubt that WJST is the most powerful and why CC doesn't do something about it I don't know. It could partly be due to the fact that WXJX and WPTS don't interfere with WJST in its target market which is the Youngstown/New Castle area. That's the most logical answer I have for that one. As for the updates, they are on their way soon!
HI ERIC, IN REGARDS TO WAMO STATION ID THE AM STATION IS IDED AS- WAMO AM MILLVALE, NOW THAT THEY HAVE NIGHT SERVICE WITH 830 WATTS. SOME STATIONS ARE THAT WAY. WCXJ IS NOW WURP, PLAYING R&B AND OLDIES IN FOREST HILLS.AND ARE NOW OWNED BY INNER CITY BROADCASTING IN NEW YORK. WXVX [AKA WPSL,WRUA,WCXJ ] IS NOW WPGR WITH TOWERS IN PENN HILLS OFF COAL VALLEY ROAD. SOON TO BE PUTTING OUT 5KW DAY, 2.5KW CR AND 1 WATT NIGHT. I HOPE THAT HELPS. PHIL Z (October 6, 2000)
Eric, in response to Clarke's question, WFGY does show very well in Bedford, but so do about 3 other country stations, so I think that's why 107.5 changed to rock. All 4 Bedford stations are now owned by Cessna Communications, locally owned and operated. (October 5, 2000)
Eric, 92.1 will not be getting the WPHH calls... instead, they will become WJST. The format reamains the same (AC). Found this out from the youngstown clear channel website http://www.youngstownradio.cc (October 5, 2000)
Eric: I tuned to 96.1 this morning and heard the WKST, Pittsburgh ID for the first time. There's one problem with this: It should say WKST-FM, Pittsburgh. It seems that Clear Channel is forgetting that they own 1200 AM in New Castle, which also uses the WKST call sign. If an FM shares a callsign with an AM, the FM must use the -FM suffix with the call letters in legal identification. Am I correct? Also - not three minutes after I heard the WKST ID on 96.1 - I flipped to 92.1 in Ellwood City to hear what the new call letters would be, and guess what? 92.1 was STILL using the WKST-FM identification! It sounds like Clear Channel definitely has some things to iron out... By the way, now that I think about it, WAMO-FM hasn't given a legal ID in a very long time. Near the top of the hour, when legal identification is required, their ID reads "This is WAMO, Beaver Falls - Pittsburgh; WSSZ, Greensburg." This *SHOULD* say WAMO-FM because, of course, the WAMO call letters are also assigned to 860 AM in Pittsburgh. Regards, Steve (October 5, 2000)

Eric's Repsonse: Well this is a convoluted mess actually. I would check 92.1 within a day or two. They have made that WJST-FM now. K and J sound a lot alike and they probably should have the official ID in place by now. Unfortunately I can't catch WJST...I'm still prime for WPTS on 92.1. As for WAMO, their partial simulcast on 860 should really allow them to have an official ID that would be a mess! I don't think 860 is licensed to anywhere but Pittsburgh. Therefore, they would have to ID themselves as (Oh Lord help me) WAMO Pittsburgh, WAMO-FM Beaver Falls Pittsburgh WSSZ Greensburg. (WHEW!)
I also think tv 33 in youngstown was once tv 33 in new castle the calls may have been wkst-tv (October 5, 2000)
Hello to all my radio friends in Pittsburgh. I'm now in Houston, evening anchor at KTRH NewsRadio 740. E-mail: tvnewsman@hotmail.com. Re: earlier submission on Joe Gearing (formerly of KDKA), Joe is alive and well running Gearing Program Services from flagship WKHB in Greensburg. Great job on your web site! Anybody have an update on WCXJ/Braddock? Also, I'm curious what is now on the site of the old WXVX 1510 AM site in Monroeville (behind the post office on Monroeville Boulevard)....I noticed the tower had been torn down the last time I was home. -- Michael Kunkle (October 5, 2000)
Eric, if you go back far enough, not only was there a WKST-FM on 101.1, but there was also a WKST-TV 45 licensed to New Castle. This station eventually moved to channel 33 and became WYTV, Youngstown. I have several old TV Guides from the 1950's with listings for WKST-TV, as well as for WFMJ-TV on channel 73! Regards, Clarke (October 5, 2000)
Eric, back as far as the 1970's the call letters for 92.1 fm ellwood city not new castle were WFEM C-92 County with Larry Conte at the helm a great Scott Station.. i just checked and the call letters are only on a low power tv. maybe..i don't think so Vito (October 4, 2000)

Eric's Response: Check out radiostation.com's database. If you call up WKST-FM you get the info for 92.1 in Ellwood City, PA. The confusion may be because WKST was once on 101.1 FM in New Castle. This according to the U.S. FM Stations as of 1950 site. That may be the same 101.1 licensed to Youngstown now as WHOT.
Eric, the Bedford information is interesting. Are WBFD (1310), WHJB (1600), WAYC (100.9), and WBVE (107.5) co-owned? Lots of confusing call letter changes there in recent years. 1310 was WBFD, WAYC, and WOOX (and now WBFD again); 1600 was WAYC, WBFD, and now WHJB; 100.9 was Country (the call letters escape me, was it WWRW?), then WOOX and WAYC; and 107.5 was WAYC, WWRW and now WBVE. Whew! Is WAYC the #1-rated station in Bedford? I'd guess that WFGY (98.1) in Altoona also gets pretty good ratings down there. Regards, Clarke Ingram. (October 4, 2000)
Eric, the WAYC calls in Bedford are on 100.9 FM. The station airs Westwood One's "Bright AC" format and is pulling a 25 share in Bedford County, so they won't be changing that anytime soon. As for 107.5 changing to rock, in my mind, one less country station is a good thing! (October 4, 2000)
Ok, so 96.1 will get the WKST call letters, but do you know what will happen to 92.1 in New Castle? Will they become WPHH? Geoff (October 4, 2000)

Eric's Response: I KNEW those call letters sounded familiar!
Eric, I got a tour of WOPC-TV 38 when I consulted in the Altoona market in 1981-82. Their studios and transmitter were on Wopsononock Mountain, along with co-owned WHGM-FM 103.9 Bellwood (now WALY). Wasn't much to see. I believe Channel 38 was ONLY on the air for the ABC prime-time schedule. WHGM was broadcasting in mono, and running awful tapes from a service called "Kaleidoscope," which appeared to be airchecks of broadcasting-school students. (I'd be interested to know if anyone else remembers this.) I'm not sure when 38 moved to 23. When Channel 8 came on the air, they were interested in being the ABC affiliate for the area, but apparently the folks at WTAE-TV (which had a very wide reach from Johnstown/Altoona all the way to Clarksburg, WV) demurred, so the ABC affiliation went to 23 (again). Some of us also remember when WJNL-TV 19 in Johnstown was the ABC affiliate in the market many years ago. (My DuMont site has a history of all the convolutions on 19, which began in the 1950s as WARD-TV 56 before ultimately ending up in Jeannette as a de facto Pittsburgh station.) The Bedford changes are interesting, especially with the recent format change at 107.5. I'm glad to see the WBFD calls return to 1310, but how about putting WAYC back on 1600? And 100.9 used to be WAKM, a Beautiful Music station that also carried the Pirates. Regards, Clarke Ingram. (October 4, 2000)
(PHHSBURGH, PA) At 12:14am, 961kiss-fm debuted a new promo and their first spot. It was a surf-to win-money promo called the 1,2,3,50k webgiveaway contest followed by a 30-sec American Egg Board spot. Then a drop saying 'more kiss music now.' The song that followed---Come on over, Christina Agulera. The second stopset was at 12:32, the web giveaeay promo, Geico, american egg board, then, 'more nonstop kiss music now...into Soul Decision, Faded. Reporting from Pittsburgh. JJ (October 4, 2000)

Eric's Response: They might want to consider advertising EggBeaters...I think they have less cholesterol.
Please support webjhn.com in welcoming a new 'player' to Pittsburgh's Radio Scene......Check it out. Give it a Test Drive. And Check back daily! www.webjhn.com The Future of Urban Entertainment in Pittsburgh!!!! (October 3, 2000)
Eric, In your article, you noted that WATM-TV started out as WOPC on Ch. 38 way back in the 1970's. I remember that station signing off the air at 11 pm every night, kind of weird for an ABC network affiliate like WOPC. When exactly did the station move to Ch. 23? Also, I would like to know about where it was located, and when exactly it became WATM-TV.(it was a satellite of Fox affil WWCP, Ch. 8 in Johnstown for a couple of years, before it went back to ABC). Also, what were some programs that were carried on the old WOPC station? Curious PBRTV surfer (October 3, 2000)

Eric's Response: Can anyone help out here?
Eric, it sure is going to be interesting having two big CHR's going head-to-head in the Burgh. As Clarke Ingram noted, with an inferior signal, WMXP really put the heat on B94. KISS sounds really hot, and it's hitting the "B" exactly where they're most vulnerable. Now we'll see how CBS/Infinity reacts. Age with the existing audience, or go after the kids. By the way, does Clarke have anything to do with KISS???? (October 3, 2000)

Eric's Response: Yes, I am wondering how the B will react - if at all.
On Sunday Oct.1 at 7:00 PM, WOOX-AM "Oldies" became WBFD, the old heritage call letters for this frequency, retaining the Oldies format. WBFD- AM 1600 signed off at 7:00PM Sunday, and returned to the air at 5:00AM Monday as, get this, WHJB,the old Greensburg call letters.The programming is Adult Standards with Religious programming during the day. As far as I know this will be it for changes to the Bedford stations. (October 3, 2000)
In addition to those noted by Eric, there was Gold 96 (or maybe 96 Gold) and Variety 96...-- Larry Berger, SLB Radio (October 3, 2000)
Eric, in response to the reader who wanted to know the many names of 96.1, I count the following: Disco 96 (when it was still WTAE-FM), 96 Kicks and 96 KX (used simultaneously), HitRadio 96, Hits 96 and The New 96 (used simultaneously), 96 WHTX, Gold 96, Variety 96, 96.1 The River, Mix 96.1, and now 96-1 Kiss FM. The call letters after WTAE-FM were WXKX, WHTX, WVTY, WDRV, and WPHH, with a new set coming soon. Hope this helps. I believe the split of WTAE-FM to 96 Kicks (other than the simulcast of O'Brien & Garry, which continued for a while) occurred on January 31, 1977. WTAE-FM had applied for the call letters WWKX, but WWKS in Beaver Falls objected, so they took WXKX instead. I don't have the ratings handy at the moment, but I remember that at its peak, 96 KX was the #3 station in the market with an 8.2 share. Eventually 96 KX was overtaken by WBZZ (B-94), which debuted on April 2, 1981, and the switch from 96 KX to HitRadio 96 happened on January 17, 1983. Your correspondent is correct about Mix Jamz bringing WBZZ to their knees. B-94 had a 9.5 share when I left the station in Spring 1990. Less than two years later WBZZ had a 4.7 share and WMXP had a 4.2. EZ then bought the station and took it Country, but they won't be able to do that this time! Regards, Clarke Ingram (96.1 alumnus from 1978-1983). (October 3, 2000)
Eric's note: The following should answer an email which I received from Clarke Ingram a few weeks prior as to where the WZUM towers are located. I am just not sure if I posted it or not...but at least you'll know!

Hi Eric, First let me tell you that your website is getting better and better! It's developing a loyal following, and is already pretty much a "must stop" website for the broadcasting community. Not havig had the chance to be stop by and browse much the past few days I don't know if the question about the WZUM towers was ever answered. While I haven't seen them persoanlly , it's my understanding that they have been moved a bit closer to Carnegie. If you aren't familiar with the area this won't mean much but here goes anyway. From where they used to be located you follow Chartiers creek a few hundred yards southeast. The towers are located on what some of us used to call "The Bottoms" below the old BFI site ( That site is where the City of Pittsburgh wanted the WJAS towers to move to BTW) and near the old train- now busway trestle that spans Chartiers Creek. I've been told there's a mobile home trnasmitter shack there as well with remote tape machines, rotating 6 hour tapes. "Live" broadcasts are piped in over phone wires from remote studios. Apparently there is no sales office as I had been led to believe. (October 3, 2000)
Eric, is a copy of an email I sent to Chuck Finder. It was a great game, an entertaining game, a disappointing loss. The only thing worse than the outcome of the game was the telecast by Channel 2. First the audio. Hell, I thought they were roasting Nellie King. Or maybe Nellie King was telling his life story as a former broadcaster for the Pirates.I put the radio audio on and turned down the TV sound. This didn't work. The radio sound was so far ahead of the telecast, I was being told that the batter grounded out to third, while the TV showed him still in the on-deck circle. Well, maybe not quite this bad, but darn near. There were quite a few times when the ball game was being played, but the TV cameras were showing Nellie in the booth b.s.-ing. Geez, I should have taken up my daughter and son-in-laws offer of going to the game with them. Nah, from the shots of the crowd I saw, I would have seen the rear end of some bimbo clapping and dancing in front of me. What to do, what to do? Aha! The perfect solution. Return with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. Listen to the broadcast on the radio. No pictures on a boob tube, just the pictures in your mind. Guess what? My brain pictures were in perfect synchronism with the play by play coming from the radio. But the dissapointing outcome was still the same. (October 2, 2000)
MIX JAMZ MIX JAMZ MIX JAMZ LIVES ON.....not since December 31, 1992, 11:59 pm has this city had the likes of a second Top 40...... In honor of WMXP, the current KISS-FM carries more than a format competition. It will put stations in check. Those who can hang will give the listener a benefit, and those who can't had it coming since the demise of MXP. As those of us Pittsburghers who remember the contest from the guy who said yi-dee-yi-dee-yi...and I quote, "Mix Jamz, Guess what's down my pants?" are HAPPY-AS-HELL that there is a choice for Rhythmic Music. Its Been A LOOOONG day coming...and to be honest, I NEVER NEVER EVER thought I would see the day of a second Top 40 in Pittsburgh. Thank you God, and Lowry Mays and Family. You have our Blessing, Unofficial MIX JAMZ Fan club President P.S., since this is when people guess the damage a station like this does, I do recall it was back when WMXP signed on, that WAMO fell from 3rd to 7th (according to a source) within two books. And B is around 7 and WAMO is at 4. By December, B will be a 5 (my guess) and WAMO a 3 (again my guess). If B Falls any faster, I also predict a format change by WZPT to urban or another flanking format to protect WBZZ. Similar to WXYV in Baltimore to Heritage (and format definition) Hot AC WWMX Mix 106-Point-5 (you must say it like that on air). Then a late 80's WPGC-OK100-WKYS type of fight until the best company wins. All in my back yard....Thank you LORD! James S. Galloway, Jr. (who wouldn't mind holding down the 7 till midnight shift at this MIX "two", since they built the station, I would build the cume) (October 2, 2000)
Dear Eric: I thought I'd share yet another e-mail message I received regarding the format change of WWMD from Easy Listening to Country. Again, I edited it for grammer and to conceal the sender's identity. I'm also including HTML tags for paragraph breaks to see if they will preserve the breaks rather than run them together.

Subject: WAYZ's old freq. 101.5, etc.

I found out that the format that got on their old freq., 101.5 MHz, is a news/talk format for the time being (like Dr. Laura, etc.) The change on 104.7 did cause the station owners to get telephone complaints for 2 weeks or so afterwards.

The WJEJ AM station took up the same music format that was on the former WWMD FM freq. and they are going to put that same music on the Internet sometime within the year.

The owner sold it because of Government tax laws on inheritance so his family would not be burdened with the problems of the death tax. If it wasn't for our Government, this FM station may well have been able to keep it's Nice Music format! WHAT A WASTE OF FM RADIO. I had called up both stations and talked to their secretaries. My FM tuners, FM receivers, and FM radios have become just about worthless and obsolete as far as choice is concerned.
(October 2, 2000)
How many different formats/identifiers can people recall for the frequency at 96.1 (once it stopped being WTAE-FM). I can think of Disco 96, 96 KX and Hit Radio 96 for starters. I believe they spun off from the AM in 1977. (October 1, 2000)

Eric's Response: Go ahead folks...give it a shot!
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