WERC-AM: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:WERC-AM.gif|right]]
[[Image:WERC-AM.gif|right]]
'''WERC''' is an AM radio station licensed to [[Birmingham]] at a frequency of 960 kHz.  Its daytime and nighttime power are both 5,000 watts.  In [[1982]], it became the first radio station in Birmingham to convert to a news/talk format. WERC is the home in Birmingham for the syndicated radio shows of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.  WERC is owned by Clear Channel.  Other stations in the Birmingham market owned by Clear Channel include [[WMJJ-FM]] (96.5), [[WDXB-FM]] (102.5), [[WQEN-FM]] (103.7), and [[WENN-FM]] (105.5).  
'''WERC-AM''' 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]].


== History ==
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]].
The forerunner of WERC, '''WBRC-AM''', signed on in May [[1925]], broadcasting with 50 watts power at [[AM 1210]].  Throughout the 1920’s the station increased its broadcast power several times as well as its broadcast frequency.  By [[1935]], the station was affiliated with the NBC network.


In [[1946]], WBRC introduced the [[WBRC-FM|first FM station]] in Birmingham.  Due to the lack of FM radios in Birmingham, WBRC-FM was not very successful, and was taken off the air two years later.  In [[1949]], the owners of WBRC-AM launched the second television station in Birmingham, as [[WBRC 6|WBRC-TV]] made its debut on Channel 4. The local owners of WBRC-AM and TV sold the stations to [[Storer Broadcasting]] in [[1953]], and four years later, the stations were sold to [[Taft Broadcasting]].
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 advent of television in the 1950’s caused network radio programming to decline.  By the early 1960’s, WBRC was one of two “middle of the road” music stations in Birmingham.  It continued in that format until [[1972]], when Taft Broadcasting sold WBRC-AM and FM to Mooney Broadcasting.  The new owners of the radio stations changed the call letters to WERC-AM and FM.  WERC-AM was christened “96-ERC”, and launched an all-out assault on the market’s leading Top 40 station, WSGN (now [[WAGG-FM]]).
 
For much of the 1970’s WERC and WSGN were two of the 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 at the time WBRC-FM ([[FM 106.9|106.9]]) was re-launched as Top 40 WKXX-Kicks 106 (now [[WBPT-FM]]). By [[1980]], WERC modified its format to adult contemporary music and was known as News Plus 960, WERC.  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 as an adult contemporary station, WERC dropped music in 1982 and adopted its present news-talk format, which it continues with today.
 
On February 26, [[2007]], "The [[Ultimate Sports Show]]", featuring [[Kenny Stabler]] and [[Chris Stewart]] began airing in the 2-to-6 PM timeslot left vacant when [[Paul Finebaum]]'s call-in sports show moved to [[WJOX-FM]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 20:32, 28 March 2007

WERC-AM.gif

WERC-AM 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.

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 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.

References

External links

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