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'''WERC-AM''' [[AM 960]] is a Clear Channel-owned news/talk format radion station licensed in [[Birmingham]] and broadcasting at 5,000 watts.
'''WERC-AM''' [[AM 960]] is a Clear Channel-owned news/talk format radion station licensed in [[Birmingham]] and broadcasting at 5,000 watts.


==History==
The station was a re-launch of the earlier [[WBRC-AM]], founded in the 1920s by physician [[J. C. Bell]]. It was purchased in [[1972]] by [[Mooney Broadcasting]], who changed the format from "middle of the road" popular music to Top 40 under the "'''96-ERC'''" name, and competing directly with market leader [[WSGN-AM]].
The station was founded in May [[1925]] by physician [[J. C. Bell]], transmitting for four hours a day on [[AM 950]] from a 10-watt tower in his back yard in [[Fountain Heights]]. The original '''WBRC''' call letters stood for "Bell Radio Corporation". A boost to 50-watt broadcast on [[AM 1210]] preceded the [[1928]] purchase of the station by [[M. D. Smith, Jr]]. Smith, owner of the [[Birmingham Awning and Tent Works]]] at [[27th Street North|27th Street]] and [[12th Avenue North]], paid $2,000 for the station and equipped it with a new 500-watt transmitter and a studio in the [[Athletic Club]] downtown. He expanded the broadcast day to 12 hours and hired [[Les Connor]]<!--or Les Conners--> as the station's first professional announcer.


In [[1931]] the power was increased again, to 5 kilowatts, and the studios moved to a glass-enclosed "Crystal Studio" on the mezzanine of the [[Temple Theater]]. The transmitter was re-erected in the community of [[Kilocycle]] in [[North Birmingham]]. A second announcer, [[John Connerly]] was brought on board and the station was incorporated. Smith and his wife held 50% of the stock while the remainder was split between J. C. Bell and [[Glenn Marshall]]. In [[1935]] WBRC became an affiliate of the NBC Radio Network. Under the requirements of the new North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA), the station moved to its current frequency.
The change was overseen by program director [[Frank Lewis]]. He brought in new deejays for a "personality radio" format that focused on letting listeners know about the real humans spinning the music by sending them out to make appearances all over town. [[Doug Layton]] and [[Dickie James]] handled morning duties, [[Super Fox]] was the mid-day deejay, and [[Coyote J. Calhoun]] attracted an enormous teen audience for the station, eager to hear themselves on the air during frequent "Boogie Checks". [[Lee Masters]] began his Birmingham radio career at ERC. The station also invested in news gathering, with its ERC helicopter frequently buzzing around the skyline.  


A year later the studio moved again, to the [[Bankhead Hotel]], and then soon later to a building at [[19th Street North|19th Street]] and [[2nd Avenue North]]. Smith died in [[1937]] and his widow, [[Eloise Hanna|Eloise Haney Smith]] took control of the station. She bought out Marshall and, when Bell died in [[1940]], purchased the remaining shares to take full ownership. The station moved one block to a newly-built air-conditioned studio at [[18th Street North|18th Street]] and [[2nd Avenue North]] in [[1942]].
For much of the 1970’s WERC and WSGN were the two most listened-to stations in Birmingham.  The beginning of WERC’s demise as a Top 40 powerhouse came in [[1977]], when its FM sister station was re-launched as Top 40 [[WKXX-FM|WKXX]] ("Kicks 106").


After [[World War II], Eloise, now remarried to a Dr Hanna, switched the station over to the FM dial with a 500,000-watt transmitter, making WBRC-FM the most powerful station in the world. The new format was, however, unprofitable, and was switched over to television only in [[1948]]. Hanna borrowed $150,000 to build a new studio building and transmitter for the TV station atop [[Red Mountain]].
By [[1980]], WERC-AM modified its format to adult contemporary music and was known as '''News Plus 960'''. "[[Calling All Sports]]", an afternoon drive sports call-in show hosted by future [[University of Alabama]] football announcer [[Eli Gold]] was launched in [[1981]].


The station's long-time pop music format debuted in [[Birmingham]] in [[1972]] when Mooney Broadcasting bought [[WBRC-AM]] and the inactive [[WBRC-FM]] station from [[Taft Broadcasting]]. At the time, WBRC-AM was playing a "middle of the road" music format. The new owners of the radio stations changed the call letters, re-christening the AM station as '''96-ERC''', and launching an all-out assault on the market’s leading Top 40 station, [[WSGN-AM]].
Competing unsuccessfully against WSGN and [[WAPI-AM]] in the adult contemporary segment, WERC dropped music altogether in [[1982]] to focus on news, sports and talk. The departure of Gold left [[Paul Finebaum]]'s sports call in show as the station's bell cow, until early [[2007]] when Finebaum signed a contract with [[WJOX-FM]]. From [[2001]] to [[2003]] the station also aired a weekly [[HealthSouth]]-sponsored program co-hosted by [[Richard Scrushy|Richard "Cowboy" Scrushy]] and [[Jason Hervey|Jason "Gator" Hervey]].


For much of the 1970’s WERC and WSGN were the two most listened-to stations in Birmingham.  The beginning of WERC’s demise as a Top 40 powerhouse came in [[1977]], when its FM sister station was re-launched as Top 40 [[WKXX-FM|WKXX]] ("Kicks 106"). By [[1980]], WERC-AM modified its format to adult contemporary music and was known as '''News Plus 960'''. "[[Calling All Sports]]", an afternoon drive sports call-in show hosted by future [[University of Alabama]] football announcer [[Eli Gold]] was launched in [[1981]].
On [[February 26]], 2007, [[Kenny Stabler]] and [[Chris Stewart]] launched their "[[Ultimate Sports Show]]" on WERC.  The sports slot changed again in February [[2008]] with the hiring of [[Herb Winches]] who - after a short stint with the station - resigned after three months, on [[April 28]], [[2008]].


Competing unsuccessfully against WSGN and [[WAPI-AM]] in the adult contemporary segment, WERC dropped music altogether in [[1982]] and adopted its present news-talk format. The departure of Gold left [[Paul Finebaum]]'s sports call in show as the station's bell cow, until early [[2007]] when Finebaum signed a contract with [[WJOX-FM]]. On [[February 26]] of that year [[Kenny Stabler]] and [[Chris Stewart]] launched their "[[Ultimate Sports Show]]" on WERC.  The sports slot changed again in February [[2008]] with the hiring of [[Herb Winches]] who - after a short stint with the station - resigned after three months, on [[April 28]], [[2008]].
WERC was used to simulcast the modern rock format of [[WQEN-FM]] ([[FM 103.1]]). From [[February 15]] to [[June 14]], [[2011]] WERC's call letters were changed to '''WVVB-AM'''. On [[June 23]] of that year, the station resumed simulcasting [[WERC-FM]]'s news-talk format.
 
{{start box}}
{{succession box |
  before= [[WBRC-AM]] |
  title=[[AM 960]] |
  years=[[1972]]–[[2011]] |
  after=[[WVVB-AM]]
}}
{{succession box |
  before= [[WVVB-AM]]|
  title=[[AM 960]] |
  years=[[2011]]–present |
  after=-
}}
{{end box}}


==Schedule==
==Schedule==
* 5AM to 6AM - Birmingham's AM News with [[Neal Vickers]].
* 5AM–6AM - [[Good Day Alabama]]
* 6AM to 11AM - [[Scott Fitzgerald]]
* 6AM–9AM - Birmingham's Morning News with [[Scott Fitzgerald]]
* 11AM to 2PM - Rush Limbaugh (syndicated political talk)
* 9AM–11AM - The Glenn Beck Show (syndicated political talk)
* 2PM to 6PM - The Glenn Beck Program (syndicated political talk)
* 11AM–2PM - The Rush Limbaugh Show (syndicated political talk)
* 6PM to 9PM - The Clark Howard Show (syndicated consumer issues show)
* 2PM–5PM - The Schnitt Show (syndicated news/talk)
* 9PM to 12AM - Coast to Coast with George Noory (paranormal talk, repeat)
* 5PM–6PM - 5 O'Clock Rush Hour (syndicated political talk)
* 12AM to 4AM - Coast to Coast with George Noory (live)
* 6PM–9PM - The Michael Savage Show (syndicated news/commentary)
* 4AM to 5AM - The Wall Street Journal This Morning.
* 9PM–10PM - America Now with Andy Dean (syndicated political talk)
* 10PM–10:30PM - [[Fox 6 News]]
* 10:30PM-12AM - America Now with Andy Dean (syndicated political talk)
* 12AM–4AM - Coast to Coast with George Noory (syndicated news/talk)


==References==
==References==
* Jordan, Turner (January 1942) "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/WBRC-2%20(01-42).jpg WBRC Is On Parade in Impressive New Downtown Studios]". ''Birmingham News'' - via [[Birmingham Rewound]]
* Reeves, Garland (March 1976) "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/Radio-2%2803-76%29.jpg WSGN vs. WERC: Rock radio stations battle tooth and nail for No. 1 rank.]" {{BN}} - via [[Birmingham Rewound]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WERC&oldid=102341562 WERC]. (January 22, 2007). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:01, February 27, 2007.
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WERC WERC]" (January 22, 2007) Wikipedia - accessed February 27, 2007
*[http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/02/stabler_takes_over_finebaums_o.html Stabler takes over Finebaum's old slot on WERC], 2/27/07, ''The Birmingham News''
*[http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/02/stabler_takes_over_finebaums_o.html Stabler takes over Finebaum's old slot on WERC], 2/27/07, ''The Birmingham News''


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.960werc.com Official Website of WERC]
* [http://www.960werc.com Official Website of WERC-AM] website


[[Category:Radio stations]]
[[Category:Radio stations]]
[[Category:1925 establishments]]
[[Category:1972 establishments]]

Latest revision as of 16:19, 8 March 2016

WERC-AM.gif

WERC-AM AM 960 is a Clear Channel-owned news/talk format radion station licensed in Birmingham and broadcasting at 5,000 watts.

The station was a re-launch of the earlier WBRC-AM, founded in the 1920s by physician J. C. Bell. It was purchased in 1972 by Mooney Broadcasting, who changed the format from "middle of the road" popular music to Top 40 under the "96-ERC" name, and competing directly with market leader WSGN-AM.

The change was overseen by program director Frank Lewis. He brought in new deejays for a "personality radio" format that focused on letting listeners know about the real humans spinning the music by sending them out to make appearances all over town. Doug Layton and Dickie James handled morning duties, Super Fox was the mid-day deejay, and Coyote J. Calhoun attracted an enormous teen audience for the station, eager to hear themselves on the air during frequent "Boogie Checks". Lee Masters began his Birmingham radio career at ERC. The station also invested in news gathering, with its ERC helicopter frequently buzzing around the skyline.

For much of the 1970’s WERC and WSGN were the two most listened-to stations in Birmingham. The beginning of WERC’s demise as a Top 40 powerhouse came in 1977, when its FM sister station was re-launched as Top 40 WKXX ("Kicks 106").

By 1980, WERC-AM modified its format to adult contemporary music and was known as News Plus 960. "Calling All Sports", an afternoon drive sports call-in show hosted by future University of Alabama football announcer Eli Gold was launched in 1981.

Competing unsuccessfully against WSGN and WAPI-AM in the adult contemporary segment, WERC dropped music altogether in 1982 to focus on news, sports and talk. The departure of Gold left Paul Finebaum's sports call in show as the station's bell cow, until early 2007 when Finebaum signed a contract with WJOX-FM. From 2001 to 2003 the station also aired a weekly HealthSouth-sponsored program co-hosted by Richard "Cowboy" Scrushy and Jason "Gator" Hervey.

On February 26, 2007, Kenny Stabler and Chris Stewart launched their "Ultimate Sports Show" on WERC. The sports slot changed again in February 2008 with the hiring of Herb Winches who - after a short stint with the station - resigned after three months, on April 28, 2008.

WERC was used to simulcast the modern rock format of WQEN-FM (FM 103.1). From February 15 to June 14, 2011 WERC's call letters were changed to WVVB-AM. On June 23 of that year, the station resumed simulcasting WERC-FM's news-talk format.

Preceded by:
WBRC-AM 		AM 960
1972–2011 		Succeeded by:
WVVB-AM
Preceded by:
WVVB-AM 		AM 960
2011–present 		Succeeded by:
-

Schedule

  • 5AM–6AM - Good Day Alabama
  • 6AM–9AM - Birmingham's Morning News with Scott Fitzgerald
  • 9AM–11AM - The Glenn Beck Show (syndicated political talk)
  • 11AM–2PM - The Rush Limbaugh Show (syndicated political talk)
  • 2PM–5PM - The Schnitt Show (syndicated news/talk)
  • 5PM–6PM - 5 O'Clock Rush Hour (syndicated political talk)
  • 6PM–9PM - The Michael Savage Show (syndicated news/commentary)
  • 9PM–10PM - America Now with Andy Dean (syndicated political talk)
  • 10PM–10:30PM - Fox 6 News
  • 10:30PM-12AM - America Now with Andy Dean (syndicated political talk)
  • 12AM–4AM - Coast to Coast with George Noory (syndicated news/talk)

References

External links

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