WHIL-FM
Encyclopedia
WHIL-FM is an NPR-affiliated radio station
in Mobile, Alabama
. It primarily features classical music and news and talk programming. WHIL-FM's signal travels in about a 45-mile radius from Mobile--serving the extreme southern tip of Alabama
along the state's portion of the Gulf Coast (and some counties to the north, in southwestern Alabama), as well as the Gulf Coast counties of southeastern Mississippi
and extreme northwestern Florida
.
Until 2011, the station maintained studios on the campus of Spring Hill College
, a Jesuit
institution that started the station and held the broadcast license.
On July 1, 2011, WHIL discontinued operations as a stand-alone station, having been acquired by the University of Alabama
to serve as a local affiliate for its Alabama Public Radio
network.
. Only a week later, Hurricane Frederic
struck the Alabama Gulf Coast, rendering the station silent for some time thereafter due to transmitter and tower damage. From those rough beginnings, the station grew to provide one of the few non-commercial radio services available to the region with programming not designed for religious proselytization. In later years, it used the branding "Fine Arts Radio for the Gulf Coast," a summary of its mission and scope.
Of the public radio stations and networks located in Alabama, WHIL was the only one not operated by an agency or educational institution of the state. It was the fourth chronologically, after Huntsville
's WLRH, Birmingham
's WBHM
, and Troy
's WTSU
; only Tuscaloosa
(Alabama Public Radio) came later, in 1982
.
On March 21, 2011, Spring Hill College and University of Alabama officials announced the sale of WHIL to UA, which converted WHIL into a translator of APR on July 1, 2011. This move reflected increasing consolidation in non-commercial radio, a situation largely occurring because of the economic downturn that has taken place since 2008.
. Because these seemed to denigrate the moral positions of the Roman Catholic order of the Society of Jesus
, the parent organization of the college, WHIL discontinued airing NPR news programs for several years. Protests from disappointed and angry listeners prompted WHIL to restore Morning Edition
, but the station continued to preempt All Things Considered
in favor of classical music and Public Radio International
's Marketplace
. However, in response to a survey of local public radio listeners, WHIL returned ATC to its schedule in early 2007
.
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...
in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. It primarily features classical music and news and talk programming. WHIL-FM's signal travels in about a 45-mile radius from Mobile--serving the extreme southern tip of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
along the state's portion of the Gulf Coast (and some counties to the north, in southwestern Alabama), as well as the Gulf Coast counties of southeastern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and extreme northwestern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Until 2011, the station maintained studios on the campus of Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College is a private, Roman Catholic Jesuit liberal arts college in the United States. It was founded in 1830 on the Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama, by Most Rev. Michael Portier, Bishop of Mobile, Alabama...
, a Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
institution that started the station and held the broadcast license.
On July 1, 2011, WHIL discontinued operations as a stand-alone station, having been acquired by the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
to serve as a local affiliate for its Alabama Public Radio
Alabama Public Radio
Also, the WQPR signal has a translator that covers the Huntsville-Decatur market on 100.7 FM.-Weekday hosts:*Maggie Martin--Morning Edition*David Duff and Bob Woodman--daytime classical music...
network.
History
WHIL-FM first broadcast on September 5, 19791979 in radio
The year 1979 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*September - KDWB-FM in Minneapolis, Minnesota breaks away from their Top 40 AM sister, becoming album-oriented rock as "K101"...
. Only a week later, Hurricane Frederic
Hurricane Frederic
Hurricane Frederic was the sixth tropical cyclone, third hurricane and second major hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. Frederic was the costliest hurricane to ever hit the U.S. Gulf Coast at that particular time...
struck the Alabama Gulf Coast, rendering the station silent for some time thereafter due to transmitter and tower damage. From those rough beginnings, the station grew to provide one of the few non-commercial radio services available to the region with programming not designed for religious proselytization. In later years, it used the branding "Fine Arts Radio for the Gulf Coast," a summary of its mission and scope.
Of the public radio stations and networks located in Alabama, WHIL was the only one not operated by an agency or educational institution of the state. It was the fourth chronologically, after Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
's WLRH, Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
's WBHM
WBHM
WBHM is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format during the daytime and mostly classical music overnight. Licensed to Birmingham, Alabama, USA, the station serves the Birmingham area and through repeater WSGN also serves the Gadsden area. The station is licensed to the...
, and Troy
Troy, Alabama
Troy is a city in Pike County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,003. Troy experienced a growth spurt of over 4,000+ people since 2000. The city is the county seat of Pike County....
's WTSU
Troy University Public Radio
Troy University Public Radio is a network of public radio stations based in Troy, Alabama, USA that serve southeastern Alabama and parts of western Georgia and northwestern Florida with classical music, folk music, and jazz programs, as well as news and feature programs from the National Public...
; only Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
(Alabama Public Radio) came later, in 1982
1982 in radio
The year 1982 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*23 July - KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh, becomes the first AM station to broadcast in Stereo sound....
.
On March 21, 2011, Spring Hill College and University of Alabama officials announced the sale of WHIL to UA, which converted WHIL into a translator of APR on July 1, 2011. This move reflected increasing consolidation in non-commercial radio, a situation largely occurring because of the economic downturn that has taken place since 2008.
Programming
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Spring Hill College officials took exception to some news reports on National Public Radio about subjects such as abortion rights and homosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Because these seemed to denigrate the moral positions of the Roman Catholic order of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, the parent organization of the college, WHIL discontinued airing NPR news programs for several years. Protests from disappointed and angry listeners prompted WHIL to restore Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
, but the station continued to preempt All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
in favor of classical music and Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
's Marketplace
Marketplace
A marketplace is the space, actual, virtual or metaphorical, in which a market operates. The term is also used in a trademark law context to denote the actual consumer environment, ie. the 'real world' in which products and services are provided and consumed.-Marketplaces and street markets:A...
. However, in response to a survey of local public radio listeners, WHIL returned ATC to its schedule in early 2007
2007 in radio
The year 2007 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 8: Nanci "The Fabulous Sports Babe" Donnellan returns to radio after a six-year absence, filling in for local hosts in Florida....
.