Summary
WGOL (920 AM, "Real Country 920") is a radio station licensed to serve Russellville, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by Pilati Investments Corporation.
 | |
| Frequency | 920 AM (kHz) |
|---|---|
| Branding | Real Country 920 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic Country |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Pilati Investments Corp. |
| WKAX | |
| History | |
First air date | May 29, 1949[1] |
Former call signs | WWWR (1949-1987) WJRD (1987-1998)[2] |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 60506 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 1,000 watts (day) 40 watts (night) |
Transmitter coordinates | 34°30′50″N 87°42′55″W / 34.51389°N 87.71528°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wgolam.com |
Programming edit
WGOL broadcasts a Classic Country music format in C-QUAM AM Stereo.[3]
In addition to its usual music programming, WGOL carries significant sports programming as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide Sports Network. This includes Alabama Crimson Tide football,[4] men's basketball,[5] women's basketball,[6] baseball,[7] and the Hey Coach call-in show with Crimson Tide head coaches.[8]
History edit
This station first signed on in 1949 as WWWR.[1][2]
WWWR made national headlines in early 1950 when a three-foot rattlesnake forced the radio station off the air for "more than an hour."[9] Engineers discovered the snake had "crawled into the tuning unit, shorting the circuit."[9]
In March 1986, SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc. reached an agreement to purchase WWWR from Franklin Broadcasting, Inc.[10] The deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on June 4, 1986, and the transaction was consummated on October 28, 1986.[10] The station's new owners had the FCC assign new call letters WJRD on August 17, 1987.[2]
On November 15, 1997, William A. Grant Jr., the owner of WJRD license holder SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc., died.[11] In March 1998, control of the company passed involuntarily to William A. Grant III and Walter B. Grant.[12] The Federal Communications Commission approved this transfer on May 21, 1998, and it was formally consummated on the same day.[12] The station was immediately put up for sale.
In June 1998, McCurry Broadcasting Company, Inc. reached an agreement to purchase WJRD from SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc.[13] The deal was approved by the FCC on July 29, 1998, and the transaction was consummated on August 12, 1998.[13] The new owners applied for and received new call letters WGOL from the FCC on August 17, 1998.[2]
In December 1999, Wanda Patricia Underwood reached an agreement to purchase WGOL from McCurry Broadcasting Company, Inc.[14] The deal was approved by the FCC on January 20, 2000, and the transaction was consummated on January 24, 2000.[14]
In April 2005, Pilati Investments Corporation (Karl H. Pilati, president) reached an agreement to purchase WGOL from Wanda Patricia Underwood.[15] The station sold for a reported $171,500.[16] The FCC approved the deal on August 25, 2005, and the transaction was consummated on August 31, 2005.[15]
References edit
- ^ a b "About WGOL". WGOL.
- ^ a b c d "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
- ^ "Football Radio Network". RollTide.com - The official website of the University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
- ^ "Men's Basketball Radio Network". RollTide.com. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
- ^ "Women's Basketball Radio Network". RollTide.com. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
- ^ "Baseball Radio Network". RollTide.com. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
- ^ "Hey Coach". RollTide.com. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
- ^ a b "Beasts vs. Man". The New York Times Magazine. March 5, 1950. p. 172.
- ^ a b "Application Search Details (BAL-19860304EH)". FCC Media Bureau. 1986-10-28.
- ^ "Search Results". Social Security Death Index. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- ^ a b "Application Search Details (BTC-19980306GO)". FCC Media Bureau. 1998-05-21.
- ^ a b "Application Search Details (BAL-19980615EF)". FCC Media Bureau. 1998-08-12.
- ^ a b "Application Search Details (BAL-19991025AEV)". FCC Media Bureau. 2000-01-24.
- ^ a b "Application Search Details (BAL-20050405AAG)". FCC Media Bureau. 2005-08-31.
- ^ "Deals - 4/18/2005". Broadcasting & Cable. 2005-04-18.
External links edit
- WGOL official website
- WGOL in the FCC AM station database
- WGOL in Nielsen Audio's AM station database