WGHQ
Encyclopedia
WGHQ is a United States
radio station
licensed to Kingston, New York
and serving the Hudson Valley
as well as a part of the Capital District
market. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting
and broadcasts on 920 kHz at 5 kilowatts daytime and 78 watts nighttime, both directional, from a three-tower array located south of Port Ewen, New York
.
with 1000 watts of power daytime only. Its transmitters and studio were located on the Glasco Turnpike, in the Town of Saugerties. In March 1960 the call letters were changed to WGHQ, the City of License was changed to Kingston, the transmitter site was moved to Route 9W, just south of Port Ewen, NY. The stations operating power was increased to 5,000 watts, still a daytimer.
WGHQ was the second radio station licensed to Kingston (after WKNY
). In 1965, WGHQ-FM was licensed on (later the original WBPM, now WKXP
) 94.3 MHz. It was a full time simulcast the AM's programming for much of the next decade. From its inception, WGHQ aired a somewhat Kingston-centric full service middle of the road format which had a vast daytime advantage to WKNY, but WKNY was a full-time station.
In 1978 the original owner, Harry Thayer, transferred ownership to the station to his daughter, Jean Maxwell, and her husband, Walter. Initially, the station kept its focus but rising costs and the decline of full service formats on AM forced the station to drop the news and change to an all music format. In 1988, WGHQ was licensed for 78 watts nighttime power, however, the station dropped local programming, going instead to mainly satellite syndicated music programming.
WGHQ would remain Adult Standards
for most of the 1990s. In 1999 the Maxwells sold WGHQ and WBPM to WRWD
/WBWZ
local radio owner Roberts Radio Group. This began a period of multiple format changes which eroded whatever audience was left for AM radio. Roberts Radio sold to Clear Channel
in mid 2000. The format changes continued through the Clear Channel ownership until WGHQ along with WBPM 92.9 MHz
was sold to Pamal Broadcasting
in April 2007.
Pamal Broadcasting changed the format from Talk Radio
to Adult Standards
in July 2007, keeping locally originated "Kingston Community Radio," produced by Walter Maxwell, in its 7-9 am time slot.
and WLNA
as the Hudson Valley Talk Radio Network. WGHQ airs one hour of "Good Morning Hudson Valley," followed by "Kingston Community Radio." The rest of the broadcast schedule consists of syndicated talk radio programs Dr. Laura Schlessinger
, Dave Ramsey
, and Fox Sports Radio
. In addition WGHQ also broadcasts single A baseball from the Hudson Valley Renegades
, Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
and Mount Saint Mary College
basketball.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
licensed to Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
and serving the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
as well as a part of the Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
market. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. is a family-owned radio ownership with stations in medium-to-small markets in the Northeast and Florida. Based in the Albany suburb of Latham, New York, Pamal Broadcasting was founded in 1986 as Albany Broadcasting when business man James J. Morrell entered broadcast...
and broadcasts on 920 kHz at 5 kilowatts daytime and 78 watts nighttime, both directional, from a three-tower array located south of Port Ewen, New York
Port Ewen, New York
Port Ewen is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 3,650 at the 2000 census.Port Ewen is in the Town of Esopus, south of Kingston, New York, along U.S...
.
History
WGHQ 920 kHz first signed on the air in mid-1955, originally as WSKN licensed to Saugerties, New YorkSaugerties (village), New York
Saugerties is a village in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 4,955 at the 2000 census.The Village of Saugerties is a Town in the eastern part of the Town of Saugerties. U.S. Route 9W passes through the village...
with 1000 watts of power daytime only. Its transmitters and studio were located on the Glasco Turnpike, in the Town of Saugerties. In March 1960 the call letters were changed to WGHQ, the City of License was changed to Kingston, the transmitter site was moved to Route 9W, just south of Port Ewen, NY. The stations operating power was increased to 5,000 watts, still a daytimer.
WGHQ was the second radio station licensed to Kingston (after WKNY
WKNY
WKNY is a radio station serving the Kingston, New York, area with an adult contemporary format. It broadcasts at a power of 1 KW from a single tower located off of Albany Avenue...
). In 1965, WGHQ-FM was licensed on (later the original WBPM, now WKXP
WKXP
WKXP is a country music station licensed to Kingston, New York and serving the Hudson Valley of New York state. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower in Kingston....
) 94.3 MHz. It was a full time simulcast the AM's programming for much of the next decade. From its inception, WGHQ aired a somewhat Kingston-centric full service middle of the road format which had a vast daytime advantage to WKNY, but WKNY was a full-time station.
In 1978 the original owner, Harry Thayer, transferred ownership to the station to his daughter, Jean Maxwell, and her husband, Walter. Initially, the station kept its focus but rising costs and the decline of full service formats on AM forced the station to drop the news and change to an all music format. In 1988, WGHQ was licensed for 78 watts nighttime power, however, the station dropped local programming, going instead to mainly satellite syndicated music programming.
WGHQ would remain Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
for most of the 1990s. In 1999 the Maxwells sold WGHQ and WBPM to WRWD
WRWD-FM
WRWD-FM are the call letters of a country music radio station licensed to Highland, New York and primarily serving the mid-Hudson Valley of New York. The station broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower near Illinois Mountain in Marlborough, New York shared with sister station WBWZ...
/WBWZ
WBWZ
WBWZ is an Hot Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to New Paltz, New York and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York state...
local radio owner Roberts Radio Group. This began a period of multiple format changes which eroded whatever audience was left for AM radio. Roberts Radio sold to Clear Channel
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
in mid 2000. The format changes continued through the Clear Channel ownership until WGHQ along with WBPM 92.9 MHz
WBPM
WBPM is a Classic Hits music formatted radio station licensed to Saugerties, New York, serving the Mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills...
was sold to Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. is a family-owned radio ownership with stations in medium-to-small markets in the Northeast and Florida. Based in the Albany suburb of Latham, New York, Pamal Broadcasting was founded in 1986 as Albany Broadcasting when business man James J. Morrell entered broadcast...
in April 2007.
Pamal Broadcasting changed the format from Talk Radio
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...
to Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
in July 2007, keeping locally originated "Kingston Community Radio," produced by Walter Maxwell, in its 7-9 am time slot.
Programming
Currently, the station's format is News Talk and is simulcast with WBNRWBNR
WBNR is the callsign of an AM radio station licensed to Beacon, New York and serving the Hudson Valley. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and broadcasts on 1260 kHz at 1,000 watts daytime and 480 watts nighttime, both directional, from a four-tower array at 475 South Avenue in the of...
and WLNA
WLNA
WLNA is the callsign of an AM radio station licensed to Peekskill, New York and serving the Hudson Valley. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and broadcasts on 1420 kHz at 5 kilowatts daytime and 1 kilowatt nighttime, both directional, from a five-tower array located just north of Peekskill...
as the Hudson Valley Talk Radio Network. WGHQ airs one hour of "Good Morning Hudson Valley," followed by "Kingston Community Radio." The rest of the broadcast schedule consists of syndicated talk radio programs Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Laura Schlessinger
Laura Catherine Schlessinger is an American talk radio host, socially conservative commentator and author. Her radio program consists mainly of her responses to callers' requests for personal advice and has occasionally featured her short monologues on social and political topics...
, Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
David L. Ramsey III is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker.Ramsey's syndicated radio program The Dave Ramsey Show is promoted with a tagline that "It's about your life and your money," and it is heard on over 450 radio stations throughout the...
, and Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
. In addition WGHQ also broadcasts single A baseball from the Hudson Valley Renegades
Hudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
, Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
and Mount Saint Mary College
Mount Saint Mary College
Mount Saint Mary College is a private, co-educational, four-year liberal arts college, located in Newburgh in the mid-Hudson Valley region of New York State...
basketball.