Wikipedia

WWWC (AM)

WWWC (1240 AM), also known as 3WC, is a 24-hour Southern gospel radio station located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United States, serving Wilkes County. The station which is owned by Foothills Media, Inc., broadcasts with a power of 1 kilowatt at 1240 kHz on the AM band, as well as over the internet.

WWWC
Broadcast areaWilkes County, North Carolina
Frequency1240 kHz
Branding1240 3WC
Programming
FormatSouthern gospel
Ownership
OwnerFoothills Media, Inc. (John Wishon)
History
First air date
January 26, 1970[1]
Call sign meaning
"Wonderful World of Wilkes County"[2]
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID22017
ClassC
Power1,000 watts unlimited
Repeater(s)100.1 W261CG
103.5 W278CZ (Elkin)
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.12403wc.com

History

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On November 20, 1968, Paul Cashion and J.B. Wilson, doing business as Wilkes County Radio, obtained a construction permit for a new 100-watt radio station in Wilkesboro. WWWC signed on January 26, 1970, with a country music format.[4][1] Later that year, the station increased its power to 500 watts during the day and 250 watts at night.[5] Shortly after, the station shifted towards a Top 40 format, which remained for most of the next 30 years.

In 1983, Tomlinson Broadcasting acquired WWWC for $410,000.[6] However, the company filed for bankruptcy reorganization in 1991, owing most of its debt to the original owners, Cashion and Wilson. The station went off the air on November 12, 1992, and returned on December 4 with Cashion and Wilson once again at the helm.[7] This revival was short-lived, as Cashion suffered a stroke and decided to withdraw, leading to the station's closure again on January 7, 1993.[8]

WWWC remained off the air until the station was purchased by Ken Byrd, Alan Combs, and John Wishon and adopted its Southern gospel format on July 11, 1994.[9] 3WC is currently owned by John Wishon, who bought out the station from co-owner Alan Combs in 2006 for $200,000.[10]

Translators

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In addition to the main station, WWWC is relayed by translators to widen its broadcast area. Cumberland Communities Communications Corporation, owner of WDVX, sold the Wilkesboro frequency to Foothills Media Inc. for $20,000.[11] In July 2019, a second transmitter was put in place near Elkin, adding an FM signal to the northeast of Wilkesboro.

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class FCC info
W261CG 100.1 FM Wilkesboro, North Carolina 142229 250 D LMS
W278CZ 103.5 FM Elkin, North Carolina 202509 250 D LMS

References

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  1. ^ a b "WWWC" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. 1971. p. B-154 (346). Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "Meet Ric Vandett, New Superintendent". The Charlotte Observer. March 29, 2006.
  3. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WWWC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ "New Station in Wilkes Begins Broadcasting". Winston-Salem Journal. January 30, 1970. p. 34. Retrieved May 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ FCC History Cards for WWWC
  6. ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 18, 1983. p. 47. ProQuest 1014702775. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  7. ^ "Wilkes Station Is Back on the Air". Winston-Salem Journal. December 3, 1992. p. 26. Retrieved May 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "WWWC Goes Off Air Again". Winston-Salem Journal. January 10, 1993. p. E3. Retrieved May 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "WWWC-AM to return to the air Monday". Winston-Salem Journal. July 9, 1994. p. 18. Retrieved May 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Deals". Broadcasting and Cable. April 17, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "NC translator going commercial". RBR. March 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
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36°09′00″N 81°09′42″W / 36.15000°N 81.16167°W / 36.15000; -81.16167

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