WGNC
Encyclopedia
WGNC is a radio station
broadcasting a News, Talk, and Sports format. Licensed to Gastonia, North Carolina
, USA, it serves the Gastonia area.
The station is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball
and is also an affiliate of the Washington Redskins
radio network.
in 1986.
Six years after buying WCSL
in Cherryville
, Calvin Hastings bought WGNC and started KTC Broadcasting. In 1992 he bought WOHS in Shelby
and began calling the three stations Piedmont Superstations.
WCSL, WGNC and WOHS began airing Atlanta Braves baseball in 1993.. WGNC had served as the radio home of the Gastonia Rangers minor league team from 1990 to 1992.
On April 1, 1993, KTC took over WLON
in Lincolnton
in a lease agreement. WLON's Tim Biggerstaff would remain as morning DJ, and his show would be heard on all four KTC stations. News for the entire area would be expanded. The four stations aired UNC
football and basketball, Dallas Cowboys
and Washington Redskins
NFL
football, and CBS
coverage of such events as The World Series
and The Super Bowl
.
The four stations added the NFL Carolina Panthers
when the team began playing in 1995. They also aired games of the NBA
Charlotte Hornets In 2000, the stations began airing the Redskins again instead of the Panthers (WGNC aired the Panthers if there was no conflict).
Late in 1999, the four stations changed from country music
to "super oldies." Biggerstaff, the program director, said country had moved away from its traditional sound. Lillie White remained as midday host, and Andy Foster was afternoon host. Local and sports remained important, and the stations aired the One-on-One sports radio network at night .
In 2004, Biggerstaff was still hosting his show on WCSL and WLON despite diabetes-related health problems. Later he moved to Lincolnton-based Hometown Radio's Shelby operation. On WADA
he played classic country
music, and he hosted a "Swap Shop
" show on WGNC and WOHS. By this time he had experienced a kidney transplant
and two pancreas transplants
. On Memorial Day
2007, while on the air, Biggerstaff had a seizure and asked for help on the air, and a listener called 911
. He ended up being interviewed by BBC London
, Today and People Magazine.
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...
broadcasting a News, Talk, and Sports format. Licensed to Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
, USA, it serves the Gastonia area.
The station is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and is also an affiliate of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
radio network.
History
Doug McSwain's father Pat McSwain started the AM station in 1939 and the FM station in 1947. The younger McSwain was vice president and general manager of WGNC when the family sold both stations to Beasley Broadcast GroupBeasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. , based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. As of January 2011, the company owned 17 AM stations and 28 FM stations. -History:...
in 1986.
Six years after buying WCSL
WCSL
WCSL is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Cherryville, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Hrn Broadcasting, Inc. and features programing from Jones Radio Network.The station has obtained a construction permit from the FCC for a power increase...
in Cherryville
Cherryville, North Carolina
Cherryville is a small city in northwestern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,361 at the 2000 census. The New Year's Shooters preserve the area's German heritage by honoring the custom of beginning each year with a chant and the shooting of muskets...
, Calvin Hastings bought WGNC and started KTC Broadcasting. In 1992 he bought WOHS in Shelby
Shelby, North Carolina
Shelby is a city in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 19,477 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cleveland County.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....
and began calling the three stations Piedmont Superstations.
WCSL, WGNC and WOHS began airing Atlanta Braves baseball in 1993.. WGNC had served as the radio home of the Gastonia Rangers minor league team from 1990 to 1992.
On April 1, 1993, KTC took over WLON
WLON
WLON is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format and serving the Lincolnton, North Carolina area, and owned and operated by HRN Broadcasting. The station plays a mixture of 1960s, '70s and some '80s oldies music, as well as Christian contemporary and beach music on Sundays...
in Lincolnton
Lincolnton, North Carolina
Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is located northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River, and near the junction of State Highway 27 and U.S. Route...
in a lease agreement. WLON's Tim Biggerstaff would remain as morning DJ, and his show would be heard on all four KTC stations. News for the entire area would be expanded. The four stations aired UNC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
football and basketball, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football, and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
coverage of such events as The World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
and The Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
.
The four stations added the NFL Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
when the team began playing in 1995. They also aired games of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
Charlotte Hornets In 2000, the stations began airing the Redskins again instead of the Panthers (WGNC aired the Panthers if there was no conflict).
Late in 1999, the four stations changed from country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
to "super oldies." Biggerstaff, the program director, said country had moved away from its traditional sound. Lillie White remained as midday host, and Andy Foster was afternoon host. Local and sports remained important, and the stations aired the One-on-One sports radio network at night .
In 2004, Biggerstaff was still hosting his show on WCSL and WLON despite diabetes-related health problems. Later he moved to Lincolnton-based Hometown Radio's Shelby operation. On WADA
WOHS
WZGV-AM "ESPN 730" is a Sports talk radio station, affiliated with ESPN Radio. Licensed to Cramerton, North Carolina and owned by HRN Broadcasting, the station broadcasts to the Charlotte, North Carolina area.-History of WOHS:...
he played classic country
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
music, and he hosted a "Swap Shop
Tradio
Tradio is the name given to a type of talk radio show format where listeners call in to buy or sell items. The concept of is analogous to classified ads in local newspapers....
" show on WGNC and WOHS. By this time he had experienced a kidney transplant
Kidney transplantation
Kidney transplantation or renal transplantation is the organ transplant of a kidney into a patient with end-stage renal disease. Kidney transplantation is typically classified as deceased-donor or living-donor transplantation depending on the source of the donor organ...
and two pancreas transplants
Pancreas transplantation
A pancreas transplant is an organ transplant that involves implanting a healthy pancreas into a person who usually has diabetes. Because the pancreas is a vital organ, performing functions necessary in the digestion process, the recipient's native pancreas is left in place, and the donated...
. On Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
2007, while on the air, Biggerstaff had a seizure and asked for help on the air, and a listener called 911
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
. He ended up being interviewed by BBC London
BBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...
, Today and People Magazine.