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WICC (AM)
Encyclopedia
WICC is a news and information radio station in Bridgeport, Connecticut
, owned by Cumulus Media
. Its signal reaches down into Long Island, New York.
In the early days, as radio assignments were being formalized, WICC broadcast from various places on the AM dial, including 1060 kHz, 1400 kHz, 1130 kHz, 1190 kHz and 1430 kHz until finally settling down at 600 kHz on the AM dial in 1930.
WICC originally broadcast with 250 watts. In 1937 it raised authorized power to its current license limits of 1000 watts days, 500 watts nights, using a directional antenna at night. Because of its low dial position and its heritage transmitter site on Pleasure Beach
in Bridgeport Harbor, WICC's signal covers Southern Connecticut extremely well, has many listeners on Long Island
, can be often heard up and down the East Coast, and has received reception reports from as far away as Finland
and Portugal
.
WICC was Bridgeport's leading radio station throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s with programs of popular music and news. Famous alumni include Hogan's Heroes
star, Bob Crane
, who did the morning show on WICC right before heading out to Hollywood.
The station was constantly innovative and successful, featuring a "Service 6" format, with various experts in their field updating reports throughout the day, such as theatre critic Susan Granger, Meteorologist Walt Devanis, wine experts, vets, garden specialists and experts in their field.
As "Top 40" radio became the format of choice, WICC was a popular outlet in the 1970s, yet always with a full news commitment and newscasts at the top of every hour.
In 1976 the Tribune Corporation brought in new General Manager Vince Cremona from WQIV and WPIX in New York City. Together with Program Director Gary Peters, the station refined its format to huge market dominance and 18 shares in the late 70s.
Two years later, in 1978, the first regular airplane traffic coverage was inaugurated with veteran pilot Morgan Kaolian, who had been doing airborne beach reports since the late 1960s. A night time telephone talk show with Tiny Markle was also initiated, which quickly became the talk of the town.
In the 1980s WICC held up remarkably well as many AM stations lost a lot of listeners when FM radio became more popular. In 1989 WICC was purchased by ML Media Partners, the same company which owned WEBE
(FM), which was then led by former WICC General Manager Vince Cremona.
Curt Hansen from WEBE became Program Director, and hired WICC morning talent Tony Reno to do the morning show, which has become extraordinarily successful as "The Family Breakfast Show".
WICC moved increasingly into the talk radio arena in the 1990s, and maintained #1 audience ratings throughout most of the decade.
With the purchase of WICC by Cumulus Media in 2002 the station switched fully to an all-talk news and information format, and under the leadership of Market Manager Ann McManus the station has grown to ever higher revenue and ratings shares.
Nights on WICC feature many sports programming like all Yankee baseball
games, U-Conn basketball
and Sacred Heart University
athletics. Clark Howard
and Jim Bohannon
are usually on during late nights, as well as the popular Sportstalk in Black N' White program hosted by Bobby and the Bird on Sunday nights.
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
. Its signal reaches down into Long Island, New York.
History
WICC is Bridgeport Connecticut's first radio station, and one of the first in the state, signing on the air on November 8, 1926. Its call letters W-I-C-C stands for "Industrial Capital of Connecticut", which well described Bridgeport throughout the early and mid-20th century.In the early days, as radio assignments were being formalized, WICC broadcast from various places on the AM dial, including 1060 kHz, 1400 kHz, 1130 kHz, 1190 kHz and 1430 kHz until finally settling down at 600 kHz on the AM dial in 1930.
WICC originally broadcast with 250 watts. In 1937 it raised authorized power to its current license limits of 1000 watts days, 500 watts nights, using a directional antenna at night. Because of its low dial position and its heritage transmitter site on Pleasure Beach
Pleasure Beach
Pleasure Beach is the Bridgeport portion of a Connecticut barrier beach that extends 2-1/2 miles westerly from Point No Point...
in Bridgeport Harbor, WICC's signal covers Southern Connecticut extremely well, has many listeners on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, can be often heard up and down the East Coast, and has received reception reports from as far away as Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
WICC was Bridgeport's leading radio station throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s with programs of popular music and news. Famous alumni include Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes is an American television sitcom that ran for 168 episodes from September 17, 1965, to March 28, 1971, on the CBS network. The show was set in a German prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. Bob Crane had the starring role as Colonel Robert E...
star, Bob Crane
Bob Crane
Robert Edward "Bob" Crane was an American actor and disc jockey, best known for his performance as Colonel Robert E...
, who did the morning show on WICC right before heading out to Hollywood.
The station was constantly innovative and successful, featuring a "Service 6" format, with various experts in their field updating reports throughout the day, such as theatre critic Susan Granger, Meteorologist Walt Devanis, wine experts, vets, garden specialists and experts in their field.
As "Top 40" radio became the format of choice, WICC was a popular outlet in the 1970s, yet always with a full news commitment and newscasts at the top of every hour.
In 1976 the Tribune Corporation brought in new General Manager Vince Cremona from WQIV and WPIX in New York City. Together with Program Director Gary Peters, the station refined its format to huge market dominance and 18 shares in the late 70s.
Two years later, in 1978, the first regular airplane traffic coverage was inaugurated with veteran pilot Morgan Kaolian, who had been doing airborne beach reports since the late 1960s. A night time telephone talk show with Tiny Markle was also initiated, which quickly became the talk of the town.
In the 1980s WICC held up remarkably well as many AM stations lost a lot of listeners when FM radio became more popular. In 1989 WICC was purchased by ML Media Partners, the same company which owned WEBE
WEBE
WEBE 107.9 FM , owned by Cumulus Media, is an Adult Contemporary music formatted radio station licensed to serve the community of Westport, Connecticut. The station is usually ranked number one the Stamford-Norwalk,Bridgeport and Fairfield County ratings, and is in the top 5 of the New Haven Market...
(FM), which was then led by former WICC General Manager Vince Cremona.
Curt Hansen from WEBE became Program Director, and hired WICC morning talent Tony Reno to do the morning show, which has become extraordinarily successful as "The Family Breakfast Show".
WICC moved increasingly into the talk radio arena in the 1990s, and maintained #1 audience ratings throughout most of the decade.
With the purchase of WICC by Cumulus Media in 2002 the station switched fully to an all-talk news and information format, and under the leadership of Market Manager Ann McManus the station has grown to ever higher revenue and ratings shares.
Nights on WICC feature many sports programming like all Yankee baseball
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
games, U-Conn basketball
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
and Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is a Roman Catholic university located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Sacred Heart was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart University was the first Catholic university in...
athletics. Clark Howard
Clark Howard
Clark Howard , is a popular U.S. talk radio host of the nationally syndicated consumer advocate program The Clark Howard Show. The show covers consumer and financial news, with advice on how to spend less, save more and avoid rip-offs...
and Jim Bohannon
Jim Bohannon
James E. "Jim" Bohannon is an American broadcaster who has worked in both television and radio.During the 1980s he was a fill-in for Larry King when King had his popular nighttime national radio program. He also does much work with the Smithsonian Associates...
are usually on during late nights, as well as the popular Sportstalk in Black N' White program hosted by Bobby and the Bird on Sunday nights.