WWGP
Encyclopedia
WWGP is a radio station
broadcasting a Country music
format. Licensed to Sanford, North Carolina
, USA, its primary market covers Lee County
, Chatham County
, Moore County
, and Harnett County
. The station is currently owned by WWGP Broadcasting and is the AM sister station of WFJA
.
HISTORY OF W W G P- A M
----
WWGP-AM signed on the air in 1946. It was owned by Waldo Gerald Primm, for whom the call letters stand for. Later WWGP-AM was sold to Frank James Abbott, who eventually sold the station to its current owner Richard K. Feindel. The sale occurred on January 13, 1994 and today WWGP-AM is owned by WWGP Broadcasting, Inc. In its early years, WWGP had some local icons as announcers: Bill Buchanan, who for many years did mornings. Bill Cameron did the afternoon shift. WWGP-AM concentrated heavily on local news. For many years Frank James "Bud" Abbott did local news. He passed the reigns to Joan Merritt and she, upon retirement, Margaret Murchison became news director in 1979. She recently celebrated 30 years in the news broadcasting industry. Also after the noon newscast, Abbott had syndicated columnist "Drew Pearson" air his five minute editorial and when Pearson died in 1969, his partner in political crime, "Jack Anderson" aired his political commentary until his death in 2005. WWGP-AM carried "Paul Harvey News and Comment" at 8:30AM,"Paul Harvey: The Midday Report" at 12:30PM and "Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story in the late afternoon. Harvey died in early 2009. WWGP-AM also airs ABC Sports.
The station broadcasts a mix of local and satellite fed broadcasts. The satellite feeds originate from ABC Radio studios in Dallas, Texas
and the station carries the "Today's Best Country" format from ABC. On the local end of things, the morning show is live. First hosted by Bryan Lee, now since Lee's departure, another local icon serves as host, Steve Gordon, who for many years worked at cross town rival, WEYE-AM, now WXKL-AM. Gordon handles the hosting duties of the well received and liked "Swap Shop" which airs from 8 to 10 AM Monday to Friday. During "Swap Shop" Margaret Murchison airs local news updates each hour. WWGP-AM carries news from the "American Information Radio Network" of ABC at the top of each hour.[1]
References
1. Dr. Anthony Harrington, History Instructor, Central Carolina Community College and 1977 graduate of the CCTI Radio-TV Program, now known as CCCC Broadcast Production Technology Curriculum
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...
broadcasting a 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...
format. Licensed to Sanford, North Carolina
Sanford, North Carolina
Sanford is a city in Lee County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,220 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lee County.-Geography:Sanford is located at ....
, USA, its primary market covers Lee County
Lee County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 49,040 people, 18,466 households, and 13,369 families residing in the county. The population density was 191 people per square mile . There were 19,909 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
, Chatham County
Chatham County, North Carolina
Chatham County is a county located in the Piedmont area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Its county seat is Pittsboro.-History:...
, Moore County
Moore County, North Carolina
Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 74,769. Its county seat is Carthage.- History :The county was formed in 1784 from Cumberland County...
, and Harnett County
Harnett County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 91,025 people, 33,800 households, and 24,099 families residing in the county. The population density was 153 people per square mile . There were 38,605 housing units at an average density of 65 per square mile...
. The station is currently owned by WWGP Broadcasting and is the AM sister station of WFJA
WFJA
WFJA "Classic Hits and Oldies 105.5 FM" is a radio station licensed to Sanford, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by WWGP Broadcasting Corporation.-History:...
.
HISTORY OF W W G P- A M
----
WWGP-AM signed on the air in 1946. It was owned by Waldo Gerald Primm, for whom the call letters stand for. Later WWGP-AM was sold to Frank James Abbott, who eventually sold the station to its current owner Richard K. Feindel. The sale occurred on January 13, 1994 and today WWGP-AM is owned by WWGP Broadcasting, Inc. In its early years, WWGP had some local icons as announcers: Bill Buchanan, who for many years did mornings. Bill Cameron did the afternoon shift. WWGP-AM concentrated heavily on local news. For many years Frank James "Bud" Abbott did local news. He passed the reigns to Joan Merritt and she, upon retirement, Margaret Murchison became news director in 1979. She recently celebrated 30 years in the news broadcasting industry. Also after the noon newscast, Abbott had syndicated columnist "Drew Pearson" air his five minute editorial and when Pearson died in 1969, his partner in political crime, "Jack Anderson" aired his political commentary until his death in 2005. WWGP-AM carried "Paul Harvey News and Comment" at 8:30AM,"Paul Harvey: The Midday Report" at 12:30PM and "Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story in the late afternoon. Harvey died in early 2009. WWGP-AM also airs ABC Sports.
The station broadcasts a mix of local and satellite fed broadcasts. The satellite feeds originate from ABC Radio studios in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and the station carries the "Today's Best Country" format from ABC. On the local end of things, the morning show is live. First hosted by Bryan Lee, now since Lee's departure, another local icon serves as host, Steve Gordon, who for many years worked at cross town rival, WEYE-AM, now WXKL-AM. Gordon handles the hosting duties of the well received and liked "Swap Shop" which airs from 8 to 10 AM Monday to Friday. During "Swap Shop" Margaret Murchison airs local news updates each hour. WWGP-AM carries news from the "American Information Radio Network" of ABC at the top of each hour.[1]
References
1. Dr. Anthony Harrington, History Instructor, Central Carolina Community College and 1977 graduate of the CCTI Radio-TV Program, now known as CCCC Broadcast Production Technology Curriculum