WASP (AM)
Encyclopedia
WASP is a radio station
licensed to Brownsville, Pennsylvania
, USA. It serves the Pittsburgh area. The station is currently owned by Keymarket Licenses, LLC.
was granted a license to broadcast at 1110 AM from nearby Washington, Pennsylvania
at around this same time. Because of the close proximity of both stations from each other, both had to adopt directional antenna patterns to protect their adjacent competitor. WASP was the more powerful of the two stations, broadcasting at a power of 5,000 watts.
WASP was founded by James J. Humes, who formed The Humes Broadcasting Corporation. WASP operated for many years with a classic country format, and in the late 1980s, Humes Broadcasting successfully applied for an FM license. After being granted the construction permit, WASP began to add more talk to its programming lineup.
in Oliver, Pennsylvania
was first issued in 1988, it wouldn't go on the air until 1993. Nevertheless, WASP-FM did go on the air, and operated with a country music format similar to the one given up by its AM sister in favor of local and syndicated national talk.
WASP-FM, operating at 94.9, transmitted its signal from North Union Township. However, both stations shared studio space in the single-story brick building which also housed the transmitter of WASP (AM) along Route 88 (aka Blaine Road), just south of California, Pennsylvania
.
in Pittsburgh. Roach was then the flagship morning DJ of Keymarket's entire Pittsburgh Froggy operation.
For its part, WASP went to a format of MOR music from ABC Radio's Timeless Classics satellite-delivered format, and discarded much of its local programming. By 2002, WASP abandoned the satellite delivered format and simulcast co-owned Keymarket oldies station WPKL
, licensed to Uniontown.
In April 2007, Keymarket Communications successfully applied for a facility change to reduce its power from 5,000 watts directional to 1,000 watts non-directional. The change allowed WASP to only have to broadcast from one single tower, rather than two as had been the case in years past. The studio building and towers that had rested along Route 88 for many years were later destroyed as part of a Route 88 widening project.
On August 28, 2010 WASP went silent (off the air). As of Saturday, September 18, 2010, WASP resumed its ongoing simulcast of WPKL
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States, officially founded in 1785 located 35 miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River...
, USA. It serves the Pittsburgh area. The station is currently owned by Keymarket Licenses, LLC.
History
WASP was one of the first stations in a last round of FCC daytime-only licenses granted towards the end of the 1960s, at the time that FM was beginning to gain momentum. WASP was granted a license to broadcast at 1130 AM, while WKEGWKZV
WKZV is a 1,000 watt, two-tower directional, daytime-only AM radio station in the Pittsburgh radio market, licensed to Washington, Pennsylvania. As of February 2009, the station is airing country music.-The WKEG Years:...
was granted a license to broadcast at 1110 AM from nearby Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
at around this same time. Because of the close proximity of both stations from each other, both had to adopt directional antenna patterns to protect their adjacent competitor. WASP was the more powerful of the two stations, broadcasting at a power of 5,000 watts.
WASP was founded by James J. Humes, who formed The Humes Broadcasting Corporation. WASP operated for many years with a classic country format, and in the late 1980s, Humes Broadcasting successfully applied for an FM license. After being granted the construction permit, WASP began to add more talk to its programming lineup.
WASP-FM signs on
Though the construction permit for WASP-FMWOGG
WOGG is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Oliver, Pennsylvania, USA. The station is currently owned by Keymarket Licenses, LLC.-History:...
in Oliver, Pennsylvania
Oliver, Pennsylvania
Oliver is a census-designated place in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,925 at the 2000 census. Oliver is located in North Union Township.-Geography:Oliver is located at ....
was first issued in 1988, it wouldn't go on the air until 1993. Nevertheless, WASP-FM did go on the air, and operated with a country music format similar to the one given up by its AM sister in favor of local and syndicated national talk.
WASP-FM, operating at 94.9, transmitted its signal from North Union Township. However, both stations shared studio space in the single-story brick building which also housed the transmitter of WASP (AM) along Route 88 (aka Blaine Road), just south of California, Pennsylvania
California, Pennsylvania
California is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Monongahela River. The population was 5,274 as of the 2000 census. California is the home of California University of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1849, the borough was named for the territory of California following...
.
Sale to Keymarket Communications
In 1999, James Humes wanted to retire from the radio business after 30 years of ownership. He agreed to sell WASP-AM/FM to Keymarket Communications that year. Keymarket had acquired WASP-AM/FM in an effort to use WASP-FM as a vehicle for its "Froggy" brand of networked country music stations. With the transaction went WASP-FM morning announcer Jimmy Roach, who had enjoyed a highly successful run at both WDSY and WDVEWDVE
WDVE is a mainstream rock music formatted radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA at 102.5 MHz. It is often referred to by Pittsburghers as simply "DVE." WDVE's transmitter is located on Pittsburgh's North Side...
in Pittsburgh. Roach was then the flagship morning DJ of Keymarket's entire Pittsburgh Froggy operation.
For its part, WASP went to a format of MOR music from ABC Radio's Timeless Classics satellite-delivered format, and discarded much of its local programming. By 2002, WASP abandoned the satellite delivered format and simulcast co-owned Keymarket oldies station WPKL
WPKL
WPKL is a Classic Hits-formatted radio station licensed to Uniontown, Pennsylvania at 99.3 FM. WPKL's programming is simulcast on WKPL in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania at 92.1 FM...
, licensed to Uniontown.
WASP Today
The operations for WASP and its newly acquired Keymarket affiliate stations in the area moved from its longtime location on Route 88 to a new state-of-the-art facility at Foster Plaza in Greentree, just outside of Pittsburgh's city limits.In April 2007, Keymarket Communications successfully applied for a facility change to reduce its power from 5,000 watts directional to 1,000 watts non-directional. The change allowed WASP to only have to broadcast from one single tower, rather than two as had been the case in years past. The studio building and towers that had rested along Route 88 for many years were later destroyed as part of a Route 88 widening project.
On August 28, 2010 WASP went silent (off the air). As of Saturday, September 18, 2010, WASP resumed its ongoing simulcast of WPKL
WPKL
WPKL is a Classic Hits-formatted radio station licensed to Uniontown, Pennsylvania at 99.3 FM. WPKL's programming is simulcast on WKPL in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania at 92.1 FM...
.