WMFC (AM)
Encyclopedia
WMFC was a daytime-only AM broadcasting
station on 1360 kHz at Monroeville, Alabama
, USA. The station, launched in 1952, was owned by Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., and was last managed by David Stewart. It was a sister station to WMFC-FM
.
(99.3 FM), passed to his widow, Carolyn H. Stewart. The AM/FM station combo was managed by their son, David Stewart, who has been involved with the station since first hosting a weekend radio show at age 10.
The station began broadcast operations in April 1952 with 250 watt
s of power at 1220 kHz on the AM band. The station was assigned the WMFC call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
. Launched by the Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., the station was co-owned by James H. Faulkner
and by William M. Stewart, publisher of the weekly Monroe Journal and South Alabamian newspaper. In 1959, Stewart assumed sole ownership and operation of Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc.
In 1956, the station moved to its final 1360 kHz frequency and increased its broadcast power to 1,000 watts. In November 1986, the FCC granted the station a construction permit
to increase the height of its broadcast tower, reduce power to 800 watts, and relocate the transmitter site to just outside the city limits of Monroeville.
WMFC's original broadcast studios were located in a Quonset hut
near downtown Monroeville. The station's final studios were in a brick building on Alabama State Route 21, just northeast of the city.
WMFC last broadcasted an oldies music format, with much of the programming fed from Citadel Media's satellite network. In addition to its usual music programming, WMFC aired University of Alabama
athletics events including Crimson Tide basketball and football
.
Monroe Broadcasting surrendered its license for WMFC (AM) on October 12, 2010, and the station license was deleted later that month. The license for WMFC-FM remains in effect, with that station still broadcasting as an oldies station.
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
station on 1360 kHz at Monroeville, Alabama
Monroeville, Alabama
Monroeville is a city in Monroe County, Alabama, United States, the county seat of Monroe County. At the 2000 census its population was 6,862. It is known as the home town of two prominent writers of the post World War II period, Truman Capote and Harper Lee, who were childhood friends in the...
, USA. The station, launched in 1952, was owned by Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., and was last managed by David Stewart. It was a sister station to WMFC-FM
WMFC-FM
WMFC-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Monroeville, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc.-Programming:...
.
History
WMFC was owned continuously, in whole or in part, by the Stewart family since its 1952 launch. After station co-founder William M. Stewart died in early 1995, ownership of Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., including sister station WMFC-FMWMFC-FM
WMFC-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Monroeville, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc.-Programming:...
(99.3 FM), passed to his widow, Carolyn H. Stewart. The AM/FM station combo was managed by their son, David Stewart, who has been involved with the station since first hosting a weekend radio show at age 10.
The station began broadcast operations in April 1952 with 250 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s of power at 1220 kHz on the AM band. The station was assigned the WMFC call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
. Launched by the Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., the station was co-owned by James H. Faulkner
James H. Faulkner
James H. Faulkner "Jimmy" was an American newspaper publisher, education supporter, industrial recruiter, and politician. He was born in Lamar County, Alabama and died in Bay Minette, Alabama...
and by William M. Stewart, publisher of the weekly Monroe Journal and South Alabamian newspaper. In 1959, Stewart assumed sole ownership and operation of Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc.
In 1956, the station moved to its final 1360 kHz frequency and increased its broadcast power to 1,000 watts. In November 1986, the FCC granted the station a construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
to increase the height of its broadcast tower, reduce power to 800 watts, and relocate the transmitter site to just outside the city limits of Monroeville.
WMFC's original broadcast studios were located in a Quonset hut
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
near downtown Monroeville. The station's final studios were in a brick building on Alabama State Route 21, just northeast of the city.
WMFC last broadcasted an oldies music format, with much of the programming fed from Citadel Media's satellite network. In addition to its usual music programming, WMFC aired University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
athletics events including Crimson Tide basketball and football
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
.
Monroe Broadcasting surrendered its license for WMFC (AM) on October 12, 2010, and the station license was deleted later that month. The license for WMFC-FM remains in effect, with that station still broadcasting as an oldies station.