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WHAM (AM)
Encyclopedia
WHAM is a clear-channel talk radio
station in Rochester, New York
, owned by Clear Channel Communications
. Its 50,000-watt transmitter
is located in Chili, New York
, and the station broadcasts on 1180 kHz.
The station first went on the air in 1922. While not the first station to be licensed to the Rochester market (that distinction belongs to the defunct WHQ), it is the oldest surviving station in the area. The selection of the "WHAM" call letters came from a suggestion from industrialist George Eastman
(founder of the Eastman Kodak Co.
, based in Rochester). He helped the University of Rochester launch the station and thought the "WHAM" name would prove to be a clever marketing tool.
The station's 50,000-watt signal covers most of the eastern half of North America at night.
WHAM has ties to two of the city's television stations. It spawned the city's first station, WHAM-TV, in 1949; that station is now WROC-TV
, the area's CBS
affiliate. In 2005, the area's ABC
affiliate, WOKR-TV, changed its calls to WHAM-TV
; Clear Channel bought the station in 2002 and sold its entire television group to Providence Equity Partners
in 2007; the two stations still have a news partnership.
Like its Clear Channel sister stations, WHAM carries the standardized Clear Channel talker lineup of Glenn Beck
, Rush Limbaugh
, Sean Hannity
, Michael Savage
and Coast to Coast AM
. However, these programs do not necessarily air live or in their entirety. Only the first two hours of Beck are heard, Savage's program is heard on a two-hour delay, Hannity's show is aired in the late-night hours, and most notably, WHAM is one of only a few stations that airs Limbaugh's show on a two-hour tape delay. Weekend programming includes a line of nationally syndicated shows such as Coast to Coast AM
, The Mutual Fund Show with Adam Bold
, Dr. Dean Edell and Kim Komando
.
Its radio signals can be picked up quite strongly in portions of southern Ontario. This gives some Canadian listeners the ability to hear programs such as Limbaugh and Savage which Canadian stations cannot legally carry due to that country's laws and regulations against broadcast of what the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (Canada's official broadcast regulator) regard as racist, sexist or prejudicial "hate speech".
In addition to the syndicated programming, WHAM boasts a local morning news team, an afternoon news magazine, a midday talk show hosted by Bob Lonsberry
, and a sports talk show hosted by Rochester Democrat and Chronicle columnist Bob Matthews along with a rotating co-host, among whom are Marv Levy
, Chuck Dickerson
and Fred Smerlas
.
With Clear Channel
launching simulcasts of news-talk radio stations in other New York
markets (WGY-FM in Albany, New York
& WSYR-FM
in Syracuse, New York
), it is rumoured WHAM-AM will simulcast its programming on one of Clear Channel's weaker-performing FMs in the region, dropping its music format and changing calls to WHAM-FM. However, no announcement of such plans has yet been made.
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...
station in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, owned by Clear Channel Communications
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...
. Its 50,000-watt transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
is located in Chili, New York
Chili, New York
Chili is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 28,625 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of the city of Rochester.The Town of Chili was established in 1822 from part of the Town of Riga....
, and the station broadcasts on 1180 kHz.
The station first went on the air in 1922. While not the first station to be licensed to the Rochester market (that distinction belongs to the defunct WHQ), it is the oldest surviving station in the area. The selection of the "WHAM" call letters came from a suggestion from industrialist George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
(founder of the Eastman Kodak Co.
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
, based in Rochester). He helped the University of Rochester launch the station and thought the "WHAM" name would prove to be a clever marketing tool.
The station's 50,000-watt signal covers most of the eastern half of North America at night.
WHAM has ties to two of the city's television stations. It spawned the city's first station, WHAM-TV, in 1949; that station is now WROC-TV
WROC-TV
WROC-TV, virtual channel 8, is a CBS affiliate based in Rochester, New York, USA, owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group. WROC-TV operates Fox affiliate WUHF through a shared services agreement. The two share studios on Humboldt Street in Rochester...
, the area's 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...
affiliate. In 2005, the area's ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate, WOKR-TV, changed its calls to WHAM-TV
WHAM-TV
WHAM-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Rochester, New York. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter on Pinnacle Hill on the border between Rochester and Brighton. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 13 and in high definition...
; Clear Channel bought the station in 2002 and sold its entire television group to Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners is a global private equity investment firm focused on media, entertainment, communications and information investments...
in 2007; the two stations still have a news partnership.
Format
Founded by Jordan Barney working in behalf of the University of Rochester in 1922, WHAM has grown to become the dominant AM newstalk station serving Rochester and the Genesee Valley. The station was sold in the mid-1920s to Stromberg-Carlson Corporation, a maker of radio and telecommunications equipment then based in Rochester. Stromberg-Carlson expanded the station's operations and boosted its signal to 5,000 watts in 1927. It was relocated from 1080 to 1150 kHz in the overall national reorganization of the AM radio band by the Federal Radio Commission in 1928. Later, in 1933, WHAM was allowed to increase power first to 25,000 watts, then to its current 50,000 watt level. In the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement shuffling of the AM band in March of 1941, WHAM changed frequency once more to its current 1180 kHz.Like its Clear Channel sister stations, WHAM carries the standardized Clear Channel talker lineup of Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
, Michael Savage
Michael Savage (commentator)
Michael Savage is a conservative American radio host, author, and political commentator. He is the host of The Savage Nation, a nationally syndicated talk show that airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network...
and Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
. However, these programs do not necessarily air live or in their entirety. Only the first two hours of Beck are heard, Savage's program is heard on a two-hour delay, Hannity's show is aired in the late-night hours, and most notably, WHAM is one of only a few stations that airs Limbaugh's show on a two-hour tape delay. Weekend programming includes a line of nationally syndicated shows such as Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
, The Mutual Fund Show with Adam Bold
Adam Bold
Adam Bold is an American author and businessman. He is the founder and minority shareholder of The Mutual Fund Store, and host of The Mutual Fund Show, a national weekly talk radio show focused on actively managed mutual fund investments...
, Dr. Dean Edell and Kim Komando
Kim Komando
Kim Komando is the host of an American talk radio program based on the popularity of personal computers, the use of the Internet, and the complexities of consumer electronics. The Kim Komando Show is broadcast and syndicated on over 450 radio stations in the U.S. and two stations in Ontario, Canada...
.
Its radio signals can be picked up quite strongly in portions of southern Ontario. This gives some Canadian listeners the ability to hear programs such as Limbaugh and Savage which Canadian stations cannot legally carry due to that country's laws and regulations against broadcast of what the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (Canada's official broadcast regulator) regard as racist, sexist or prejudicial "hate speech".
In addition to the syndicated programming, WHAM boasts a local morning news team, an afternoon news magazine, a midday talk show hosted by Bob Lonsberry
Bob Lonsberry
Bob Lonsberry is an American radio talk show host, columnist, author and conservative political commentator. A newsman for 25 years, Lonsberry claims to have won in excess of 80 journalism and broadcasting awards, including top Associated Press commentary awards in newspaper, radio and...
, and a sports talk show hosted by Rochester Democrat and Chronicle columnist Bob Matthews along with a rotating co-host, among whom are Marv Levy
Marv Levy
Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills...
, Chuck Dickerson
Chuck Dickerson
Chuck Dickerson is a former position coach in the National Football League and Canadian Football League and sports radio host in Buffalo, New York. Currently, he is a regular featured commentator during the Buffalo Bills season....
and Fred Smerlas
Fred Smerlas
Frederic Charles Smerlas is a former American football defensive lineman who was a 5-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots.Smerlas, of Greek-American descent, graduated from Waltham High School in...
.
With 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...
launching simulcasts of news-talk radio stations in other New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
markets (WGY-FM in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
& WSYR-FM
WSYR-FM
WPHR-FM is an American radio station licensed in Gifford, Florida, serving the Vero Beach / Fort Pierce market. The station, owned and operated by the Aloha Stations Trust, airs talk shows....
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
), it is rumoured WHAM-AM will simulcast its programming on one of Clear Channel's weaker-performing FMs in the region, dropping its music format and changing calls to WHAM-FM. However, no announcement of such plans has yet been made.