WHMA (AM)
Encyclopedia
WHMA is a radio station
licensed
to serve Anniston, Alabama
, USA. The station is owned by Williams Communications, Inc.
It broadcasts a Gospel music
format and features news programming from Fox News Radio
.
, 95.5 MHz class C 100 kW, was added in 1947. In 1952, WHMA purchased WSPC
, their primary competitor in Anniston, and took over this station's operation at 1390 kHz, 5 kW-D, 1-kW DA-N.
In March 1984, Anniston Broadcasting Company reached an agreement to sell WHMA to Calhoun Broadcasting Co., Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 26, 1984, and the transaction was consummated on October 5, 1984.
In February 1988, Calhoun Broadcasting Co., Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Anniston Radio, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 18, 1988, and the transaction was consummated on July 11, 1988. In June 1988, control of Anniston Radio passed from Paul C. Stone to Charles A. Giddens. This transfer of control was approved by the FCC on July 14, 1988.
In September 1989, Anniston Radio Inc. reached an agreement to sell this station to Emerald Broadcasting of the South Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on October 19, 1989, and the transaction was consummated on January 3, 1990. In January of 1991, Emerald Broadcasting of the South Inc. merged with Sapphire Broadcasting, Inc. In October 1992, an agreement was reached to transfer control of Sapphire Broadcasting, Inc., from Thomas P. Gannon to Bridge Capital Investors II. This transfer was approved by the FCC on December 8, 1993, and the transaction was consummated on June 1, 1994.
On November 6, 1996, Sapphire Broadcasting, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station and sister station WHMA-FM (which is now WNNX in College Park, Georgia
) to Susquehanna Radio Corporation
subsidiary WNNX License Investment Company for $15.05 million. The deal was approved by the FCC on January 27, 1997, and the transaction was consummated on May 22, 1997. In November 1997, WNNX License Investment Company reached an agreement to transfer the broadcast license for WHMA to WNNX LiCo, Inc. The transfer was approved by the FCC on December 10, 1997, and the transaction was consummated the same day.
On April 1, 2002, Susquehanna Radio Corporation (through subsidiary license holder WNNX LiCo, Inc.) reached an agreement to sell this station to Casey Network LLC (a division of Jarrell Communications) for $150,000. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 23, 2002, and the transaction was consummated on June 29, 2002.
In May 2003, Casey Network LLC (Jimmy Jarrell, president/CEO) reached an agreement to sell this station to Williams Communications Inc. (Walton E. Williams Jr., president) for a reported sale price of $275,500. The deal was approved by the FCC on August 12, 2003, and the transaction was consummated on October 9, 2003. At the time of the sale, WHMA aired a news/talk format. Jarrell cited a desire to focus on country music
stations as his primary reason for selling WHMA.
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
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to serve Anniston, Alabama
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
, USA. The station is owned by Williams Communications, Inc.
It broadcasts a Gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
format and features news programming from Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio is an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel.- History :In 2003, Fox News began syndicating one minute radio updates to radio stations via syndication service Westwood One. On June 1, 2005, Fox News Radio employed 60 people and provided five minute newscasts at the top...
.
History
WHMA began broadcasting in Anniston on 3 November 1938. Operating on 1420 kHz (kilocycles or kc) with a daytime-only power of 100 W, it was owned by the Anniston Broadcasting Company. The call letters were for Harry M. Ayers, president of the owning company and publisher of The Anniston Star. In about 1940, the FCC granted permission to operate at 1450 kHz with 250 W day and night. WHMA-FMWHMA-FM
WHMA-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Hobson City, Alabama, USA, it serves the Anniston-Oxford metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Williams Communications, Inc.-History:...
, 95.5 MHz class C 100 kW, was added in 1947. In 1952, WHMA purchased WSPC
WSPC
WSPC is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Albemarle, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Stanly Communications and features programing from ABC Radio , CBS Radio and Premiere Radio Networks....
, their primary competitor in Anniston, and took over this station's operation at 1390 kHz, 5 kW-D, 1-kW DA-N.
In March 1984, Anniston Broadcasting Company reached an agreement to sell WHMA to Calhoun Broadcasting Co., Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 26, 1984, and the transaction was consummated on October 5, 1984.
In February 1988, Calhoun Broadcasting Co., Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Anniston Radio, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 18, 1988, and the transaction was consummated on July 11, 1988. In June 1988, control of Anniston Radio passed from Paul C. Stone to Charles A. Giddens. This transfer of control was approved by the FCC on July 14, 1988.
In September 1989, Anniston Radio Inc. reached an agreement to sell this station to Emerald Broadcasting of the South Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on October 19, 1989, and the transaction was consummated on January 3, 1990. In January of 1991, Emerald Broadcasting of the South Inc. merged with Sapphire Broadcasting, Inc. In October 1992, an agreement was reached to transfer control of Sapphire Broadcasting, Inc., from Thomas P. Gannon to Bridge Capital Investors II. This transfer was approved by the FCC on December 8, 1993, and the transaction was consummated on June 1, 1994.
On November 6, 1996, Sapphire Broadcasting, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station and sister station WHMA-FM (which is now WNNX in College Park, Georgia
College Park, Georgia
College Park is a city located partly in Fulton County, Georgia and partially in Clayton County, Georgia, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,942...
) to Susquehanna Radio Corporation
Susquehanna Radio Corporation
The Susquehanna Radio Corporation was a media corporation which operated from 1941 to 2006 that was headquartered in York, Pennsylvania. The company was a unit of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff, a conglomerate more widely known for the Pfaltzgraff kitchenware line than its broadcasting pursuits.Some of...
subsidiary WNNX License Investment Company for $15.05 million. The deal was approved by the FCC on January 27, 1997, and the transaction was consummated on May 22, 1997. In November 1997, WNNX License Investment Company reached an agreement to transfer the broadcast license for WHMA to WNNX LiCo, Inc. The transfer was approved by the FCC on December 10, 1997, and the transaction was consummated the same day.
On April 1, 2002, Susquehanna Radio Corporation (through subsidiary license holder WNNX LiCo, Inc.) reached an agreement to sell this station to Casey Network LLC (a division of Jarrell Communications) for $150,000. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 23, 2002, and the transaction was consummated on June 29, 2002.
In May 2003, Casey Network LLC (Jimmy Jarrell, president/CEO) reached an agreement to sell this station to Williams Communications Inc. (Walton E. Williams Jr., president) for a reported sale price of $275,500. The deal was approved by the FCC on August 12, 2003, and the transaction was consummated on October 9, 2003. At the time of the sale, WHMA aired a news/talk format. Jarrell cited a desire to focus on 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...
stations as his primary reason for selling WHMA.