WCNL
Encyclopedia
WCNL is an AM radio station located at 1010 on the AM dial, licensed to Newport, New Hampshire
. It was Newport's first radio station
. The studios are located on Main Street in Newport, and its on-air slogan
is Country 1010 WCNL-AM.
daytimer on 1010 in 1960, before moving up the dial with 10,000 watts of daytime power on 1020 and changing call letters to WNTK. WNTK became a stand alone AM station when the original WCNL AM 1010 and WCNL-FM 101.7 were sold off to individual owners. WCNL-FM 101.7 became the original frequency for country formatted WXXK
(Kixx). WNTK was fairly successful as a stand-alone AM talk signal. WNTK would eventually add a couple FM simulcast partners, with the first FM simulcast being on 100.5 FM then known as Paul Mataruso WNBX in Lebanon
under a lease arrangement. WNTK received another simulcast partner, this time under the same ownership when the talk
programming was broadcast over WNTK-FM
99.7 in New London where the talk format remains today.
WNTK was one of the early stations on board with The Rush Limbaugh Show
, and was a huge catalyst in drawing listeners to the station. In fact, the station took advantage of Rush's popularity and even had a lifesize cardboard cutout of Rush which was brought to station live broadcasts. The owner, himself, was known to take Polaroid
shots for listeners to keep while taking a picture with the Rush cutout. This cardboard cut of Rush was way before he 'slimmed down'. When Clear Channel
bought WTSL in Hanover, New Hampshire
, The Rush Limbaugh Show migrated to the much weaker 1400 signal, since The Rush Limbaugh Shows parent company was owned by Clear Channel. This was amid strong protests from the WNTK owner citing being an early and loyal affiliate, plus WNTK's strong 10,000 watt signal against WTSL's weaker 1000 watt signal.
WNTK would then move back down the dial to 1010, this time remaining with 10,000 watts during daylight hours, and begin to broadcast with low night power. (1010 was a former Canadian clear channel frequency) When WNTK, now WCNL, operated on 1020 AM, the station had to cease operations at sunset to protect the 50,000 watt former clear channel signal of KDKA
in Pittsburgh which throws a very powerful nighttime signal over the northeastern United States and beyond.
WCNL for a time carried an Americana
format
, before evolving in 2007 on the current country music format. In September 2007 then-WNTK switched back to the previous WCNL callsign.
July 2010, WCNL became one of 5 radio stations in America to be nominated for the National Association Of Broadcasters "Small Market Radio Station Of The Year" Marconi Award. Other stations nominated were KFGO-AM/FARGO, KGMI-AM/BELLINGHAM, WA, KOFM/ENID, OK and WFRE/FREDERICK, MD. WCNL has also been recognized locally as the "Radio Station Of The Year" in 2009, and "Radio Station Of The Year" Merit Award winner from the New Hampshire Association Of Broadcasters in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
baseball and University of New Hampshire
sports along with sister stations WNTK, WCFR and WUVR. WCNL also is the weekly home of Newport High School basketball, baseball & football games. WCNL also airs the Newport Historical Society Minutes.
In December 2007, WCNL created the "Stuff a Truck" campaign for Toys For Tots - which evolved from WVRR/WMXR's former Program Director Steve Smith's Toys For Tots campaign called Stuff A Bus - 2004-2006. In 2007, WCNL raised 178 toys for Toys For Tots. In 2008, 547 toys were raised. In 2009, 831 toys were raised.
During the Fall of 2008, the Coats for the Community campaign kicked off with the United Way of Sullivan County. 342 coats were raised for needy families in Sullivan County. Coats For the Community continued in 2009, raising over 700 jackets for needy families.
September 2009: WCNL launched its FM translator on 94.7FM
Smith is the present General Manager, Program Director, and Morning Host of WCNL.
Newport, New Hampshire
Newport is a town in and the county seat of Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. It is west-northwest of Concord. The population was 6,507 at the 2010 census. A covered bridge is in the northwest...
. It was Newport's first radio station
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...
. The studios are located on Main Street in Newport, and its on-air slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
is Country 1010 WCNL-AM.
History
WCNL went on the air as a 250WWatt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
daytimer on 1010 in 1960, before moving up the dial with 10,000 watts of daytime power on 1020 and changing call letters to WNTK. WNTK became a stand alone AM station when the original WCNL AM 1010 and WCNL-FM 101.7 were sold off to individual owners. WCNL-FM 101.7 became the original frequency for country formatted WXXK
WXXK
WXXK is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction area. The station is currently owned by Great Eastern Radio, LLC and features programing from Jones Radio Network and Premiere Radio...
(Kixx). WNTK was fairly successful as a stand-alone AM talk signal. WNTK would eventually add a couple FM simulcast partners, with the first FM simulcast being on 100.5 FM then known as Paul Mataruso WNBX in Lebanon
Lebanon, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,568 people, 5,500 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 311.4 people per square mile . There were 5,707 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile...
under a lease arrangement. WNTK received another simulcast partner, this time under the same ownership when the talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
programming was broadcast over WNTK-FM
WNTK-FM
WNTK-FM is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to New London, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction area. The station is currently owned by Sheila E. Vinikoor and features programming from ABC Radio , Westwood One and AP...
99.7 in New London where the talk format remains today.
WNTK was one of the early stations on board with The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
, and was a huge catalyst in drawing listeners to the station. In fact, the station took advantage of Rush's popularity and even had a lifesize cardboard cutout of Rush which was brought to station live broadcasts. The owner, himself, was known to take Polaroid
Instant film
Instant film is a type of photographic film first introduced by Polaroid that is designed to be used in an instant camera...
shots for listeners to keep while taking a picture with the Rush cutout. This cardboard cut of Rush was way before he 'slimmed down'. When Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
bought WTSL in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, The Rush Limbaugh Show migrated to the much weaker 1400 signal, since The Rush Limbaugh Shows parent company was owned by Clear Channel. This was amid strong protests from the WNTK owner citing being an early and loyal affiliate, plus WNTK's strong 10,000 watt signal against WTSL's weaker 1000 watt signal.
WNTK would then move back down the dial to 1010, this time remaining with 10,000 watts during daylight hours, and begin to broadcast with low night power. (1010 was a former Canadian clear channel frequency) When WNTK, now WCNL, operated on 1020 AM, the station had to cease operations at sunset to protect the 50,000 watt former clear channel signal of KDKA
KDKA-TV
KDKA-TV, channel 2, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. KDKA-TV broadcasts from a transmitter located in the Perry North neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and its studios are located in downtown Pittsburgh at Gateway Center....
in Pittsburgh which throws a very powerful nighttime signal over the northeastern United States and beyond.
WCNL for a time carried an Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
, before evolving in 2007 on the current country music format. In September 2007 then-WNTK switched back to the previous WCNL callsign.
July 2010, WCNL became one of 5 radio stations in America to be nominated for the National Association Of Broadcasters "Small Market Radio Station Of The Year" Marconi Award. Other stations nominated were KFGO-AM/FARGO, KGMI-AM/BELLINGHAM, WA, KOFM/ENID, OK and WFRE/FREDERICK, MD. WCNL has also been recognized locally as the "Radio Station Of The Year" in 2009, and "Radio Station Of The Year" Merit Award winner from the New Hampshire Association Of Broadcasters in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Current programming
WCNL currently carries Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
baseball and University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
sports along with sister stations WNTK, WCFR and WUVR. WCNL also is the weekly home of Newport High School basketball, baseball & football games. WCNL also airs the Newport Historical Society Minutes.
In December 2007, WCNL created the "Stuff a Truck" campaign for Toys For Tots - which evolved from WVRR/WMXR's former Program Director Steve Smith's Toys For Tots campaign called Stuff A Bus - 2004-2006. In 2007, WCNL raised 178 toys for Toys For Tots. In 2008, 547 toys were raised. In 2009, 831 toys were raised.
During the Fall of 2008, the Coats for the Community campaign kicked off with the United Way of Sullivan County. 342 coats were raised for needy families in Sullivan County. Coats For the Community continued in 2009, raising over 700 jackets for needy families.
September 2009: WCNL launched its FM translator on 94.7FM
Smith is the present General Manager, Program Director, and Morning Host of WCNL.
Awards
- 2007: Newport Area Chamber of Commerce Busy Bee Award
- 2008: New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters Merit Award: Public Service Announcement
- 2008: New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters Golden Mike: Sports Play By Play
- 2008: Newport Area Chamber Of Commerce Community Service Award
- 2009: New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters Golden Mike: Public Service Announcement
- 2009: New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters Golden Mike: Station of the Year
- 2010: National Association Of Broadcasters - "Small Market Radio Station Of The Year" - Marconi Award Finalist
- 2010: New Hampshire Association Of Broadcasters Golden Mic: Public Service Announcement
- 2010: New Hampshire Association Of Broadcasters Golden Mic: Radio Station Of The Year - Merit Award