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{{More citations needed|date=January 2024}}
{{Short description|Clear-channel AM radio station in Rochester, New York}}
{{Short description|Clear-channel AM radio station in Rochester, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WHAM
| name = WHAM
| logo = Wham1180.png
| logo = Wham1180.png
| city = [[Rochester, New York]]
| city = [[Rochester, New York]]
| area = [[Western New York]]
| area = {{ubl|[[Rochester metropolitan area, New York|Rochester metropolitan area]]|[[Western New York]]|[[Southern Ontario]]}}
| branding = NewsRadio WHAM 1180
| branding = NewsRadio WHAM 1180
| slogan = Rochester's News, Weather, and Traffic Station
| airdate = {{start date and age|1922|7|11}}
| airdate = [[1922 in radio|1922]]
| frequency = 1180 [[kHz]]
| translator = {{Radio Relay|96.1|W241DG|Rochester}}
| frequency = 1180 [[Hertz|kHz]] {{HD Radio}}
| format = [[Talk radio|News/Talk]]
| repeater = {{Radio Relay|95.1|[[WAIO|WAIO-HD2]]|[[Honeoye Falls]]}}
| power = 50,000 [[watt]]s unlimited
| format = [[News/talk]]
| power = 50,000 watts unlimited
| facility_id = 37545
| facility_id = 37545
| affiliations = [[Premiere Networks]], [[Fox News Radio]], [[Westwood One (current)|Westwood One]]
| affiliations = {{ubl|[[CBS News Radio]]|[[Fox News Radio]]|[[NBC News Radio]]|[[Compass Media Networks]]|[[Premiere Networks]]|[[Radio America (United States)|Radio America]]|[[Westwood One]]}}
| class = A
| class = A
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
⚫
| coordinates = {{coord|43|4|55|N|77|43|30|W|type:landmark}}<br>{{nowrap|{{coord|43|5|51|N|77|35|1|W}}}} (backup)
| callsign_meaning =
| former_frequencies = {{ubl|1080 kHz (1922–1928)|1150 kHz (1928–1941)}}
⚫
| coordinates = {{ubl|{{coord|43|4|55|N|77|43|30|W|type:landmark}}|{{coord|43|5|51|N|77|35|1|W}} (backup)}}
| owner = [[iHeartMedia]]
| owner = [[iHeartMedia]]
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| sister_stations = [[WAIO]], [[WDVI]], [[WHTK (AM)|WHTK]], [[WKGS]], [[WNBL (FM)|WNBL]], [[WVOR]]
| sister_stations = [[WAIO]], [[WDVI]], [[WHTK (AM)|WHTK]], [[WKGS]], [[WNBL (FM)|WNBL]], [[WVOR]]
| webcast = [https://www.iheart.com/live/news-radio-wham-1180-1505/ Listen Live]
| webcast = {{iHeartRadio|news-radio-wham-1180-1505}}
| website = [https://wham1180.iheart.com/ https://wham1180.iheart.com/]
| website = [https://wham1180.iheart.com/ wham1180.iheart.com]
}}
}}


'''WHAM''' (1180 [[AM broadcasting|AM]]) is a [[Clear-channel station|clear channel]] station in [[Rochester, New York]]. It is owned by [[iHeartMedia]] and airs a [[Talk radio|News/Talk]] format. Its studios are located at [[Five Star Bank Plaza]] in downtown Rochester. WHAM is an [[Network affiliate|affiliate]] of the [[Fox News Radio]] Network.
'''WHAM''' (1180 [[kHz]]) is a commercial [[Clear-channel station|clear channel]] [[AM broadcasting|AM]] radio station in [[Rochester, New York]], United States. It is owned by [[iHeartMedia]] and airs a [[news/talk]] [[radio format]]. The studios and offices are at [[Five Star Bank Plaza]] in downtown Rochester.


Its 50,000-[[watt]] non-directional [[transmitter]], located in [[Chili, New York]], operates the maximum power for commercial AM stations in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. During the day, it provides at least secondary coverage to all of [[Western New York]], including [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]]. It can also be heard in much of [[Southern Ontario]], Canada, including [[Toronto]], [[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]], and [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]. At night, it can be heard across much of the eastern half of [[North America]] with a good radio. It is the [[Emergency Alert System]]'s primary entry point station for Western New York.
Its 50,000-watt [[omnidirectional antenna|non-directional]] [[transmitter]], located in [[Chili, New York]], operates the maximum power for commercial AM stations in the United States and Canada. During the day, it provides at least secondary coverage to all of [[Western New York]], including [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]]. It can also be heard in much of [[Southern Ontario]], including [[Toronto]], [[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]], and [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]. At night, WHAM can be received across much of the Eastern United States and Eastern Canada with a good radio. It is the [[Emergency Alert System]]'s primary entry point station for Western New York.


==Programming==
==Programming==
As with most iHeartMedia News/Talk stations, WHAM carries a mix of local shows and nationally [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] programs from [[Premiere Networks]], a [[subsidiary]] of iHeartMedia. Local weekday programs include The WHAM Morning News (5 to 8 am) and The WHAM 5 O'Clock Hour News (5 to 6 pm), Bob Lonsberry (8 am to noon), Talking Back with Shannon Joy (9 to 10 pm) and Sports Talk with Bob Matthews (6 to 8 pm). Matthews is a former ''[[Democrat and Chronicle]]'' columnist. Matthews is usually joined every Wednesday by former [[National Football League|NFL]] player [[Fred Smerlas]]. A partial re-airing of the ''Kimberly and Beck'' afternoon show from [[sister station]] [[WAIO]] airs during the 8 to 9 pm hour.
WHAM carries two local news blocks on weekdays: ''The WHAM Morning News'' and ''The WHAM 5 O'Clock Hour News''. Local talk shows are [[Bob Lonsberry]] and ''Talking Back with Shannon Joy''. The rest of the schedule is [[nationally syndicated]] talk shows, mostly from co-owned [[Premiere Networks]]: ''[[The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show]]'', [[Sean Hannity]] and ''[[Coast to Coast AM]]'' with [[George Noory]]. In addition, WHAM carries [[Mark Levin]] from [[Westwood One]] and [[Joe Pags]], who is based at co-owned [[WOAI (AM)|WOAI]] in [[San Antonio]].


The Premiere Networks syndicated weekday lineup features [[Rush Limbaugh]] (noon to 3 pm), [[Sean Hannity]] (3 to 5 pm), Clyde Lewis (midnight to 1 am) and ''[[Coast to Coast AM]]'' with [[George Noory]] (1 to 5 am). [[Michael Savage]] from the [[Westwood One]] Network is heard weeknights from 9 am to midnight. Weekend programming includes shows on money, health, home repair, law, [[Bill Cunningham (talk show host)|Bill Cunningham]], computer expert [[Leo Laporte]] "The Tech Guy", and some [[brokered programming]].
Weekend programming includes shows on money, health, home repair, cars, technology and law. Weekend hosts include [[Bill Cunningham (talk show host)|Bill Cunningham]] and some [[brokered programming]].

Some listeners in [[Southern Ontario]], who do not get popular American syndicated conservative talk shows such as Limbaugh and Hannity on their local Canadian radio stations, can often pick up WHAM's 50,000 watt [[effective radiated power|ERP]] signal.


==History==
==History==
===University of Rochester===
The station first went on the air on July 11, 1922.<ref>{{cite news|title=Widespread Circle Help To Mark WHAM Birthday|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-07-14-BC.pdf|access-date=3 October 2014|agency=Broadcasting4|date=July 14, 1947}}</ref> While not the first station to be licensed to the Rochester market (that distinction belongs to the defunct WHQ), it is the oldest surviving station in the area. The selection of the "WHAM" call letters came from a suggestion from industrialist [[George Eastman]] (founder of the [[Kodak|Eastman Kodak Co]]., based in Rochester). He helped the University of Rochester launch the station and thought the "WHAM" name would prove to be a clever marketing tool.
The station first [[Sign-on and sign-off|signed on]] the air on July 11, 1922.<ref>{{cite news|title=Widespread Circle Help To Mark WHAM Birthday|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-07-14-BC.pdf|access-date=October 3, 2014|agency=Broadcasting|date=July 14, 1947}}</ref> While not the first station to be licensed to the Rochester market (that distinction belongs to the defunct WHQ), it is the oldest surviving station in the area.


Industrialist [[George Eastman]], the founder of the Rochester-based [[Eastman Kodak Company]], helped the [[University of Rochester]] launch the station and thought the "WHAM" name would prove to be a clever marketing tool. Jim Barney helped the university get the station on the air.
⚫
In 1927, WHAM was acquired by [[Stromberg-Carlson]].<ref name=facility>{{cite news|title=(photo caption)|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-02-16-BC.pdf|access-date=7 November 2014|agency=Broadcasting|date=February 16, 1948}}</ref>


===Stromberg-Carlson===
⚫
WHAM increased its power to 25,000 [[Watt|watts]] March 4, 1933. A ceremony marking the event included a three-hour broadcast from the Eastman Theatre with "a galaxy of stars" participating.<ref>{{cite news|title=WHAM ad|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1933/1933-04-01-BC.pdf|access-date=9 October 2014|agency=Broadcasting|date=April 1, 1933}}</ref>
⚫
In 1927, WHAM was acquired by [[Stromberg-Carlson]],<ref name=facility>{{cite news|title=(photo caption)|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-02-16-BC.pdf|access-date=November 7, 2014|agency=Broadcasting|date=February 16, 1948}}</ref> a maker of radio and telecommunications equipment then based in Rochester. The company expanded the station's operations and boosted its signal to 5,000 watts shortly after the acquisition.


⚫
It was relocated from 1080 to 1150&nbsp;[[kHz]] in the overall national reorganization of the AM radio band by the [[Federal Radio Commission]] in 1928. In 1933, WHAM was allowed to increase power to 25,000 watts. A ceremony marking the event included a three-hour broadcast from the [[Eastman Theatre]] with "a galaxy of stars" participating.<ref>{{cite news|title=WHAM ad|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1933/1933-04-01-BC.pdf|access-date=October 9, 2014|agency=Broadcasting|date=April 1, 1933}}</ref> It later got a boost to its current 50,000 watt level.
⚫
In February 1948, WHAM and its [[sister station]], WHFM, moved into a new facility, Rochester Radio City. The building included 24 offices and six studios, the largest of which could accommodate 400 people in the audience.<ref name=facility/>


In the [[North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement]] (NARBA), the AM band was shuffled in March 1941. WHAM changed frequency once more to its current 1180 kHz.
⚫
WHAM has ties to two of the city's television stations. It spawned the city's first station, WHAM-TV, in 1949; that station is now [[WROC-TV]], the area's [[CBS]] [[Network affiliate|affiliate]]. In 2005, the area's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate, WOKR, changed its calls to [[WHAM-TV]]; Clear Channel Communications (now known as [[iHeartMedia]]) bought the station in 2002 and sold its entire television group to [[Newport Television]] (controlled by Providence Equity Partners) in 2007; the two stations still have a news partnership.


===Rochester Radio City===
Founded by Jordan Barney while he was working on behalf of the [[University of Rochester]] in 1922, WHAM grew to become the dominant [[AM broadcasting|AM]] station serving Rochester and the [[Genesee Valley Park|Genesee Valley]]. The station was sold in the mid-1920s to [[Stromberg-Carlson]], a maker of radio and telecommunications equipment then based in Rochester. Stromberg-Carlson expanded the station's operations and boosted its signal to 5,000 watts in 1927. It was relocated from 1080 to 1150 [[Hertz|kHz]] in the overall national reorganization of the AM radio band by the Federal Radio Commission in 1928. Later, in 1933, WHAM was allowed to increase power first to 25,000 watts, then to its current 50,000 [[watt]] level. In the [[North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement]] shuffling of the AM band in March 1941, WHAM changed frequency once more to its current 1180 kHz.
⚫
In February 1948, WHAM and its FM [[sister station]], WHFM (now [[WBZA]]), moved into a new facility, Rochester Radio City. The building included 24 offices and six studios, the largest of which could accommodate 400 people in the audience.<ref name=facility/>

⚫
WHAM has ties to two of the city's television stations. It put the city's first station on the air, WHAM-TV, in 1949. That station is now [[WROC-TV]], the area's [[CBS]] [[Network affiliate|affiliate]]. In 2005, the area's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate, WOKR, changed its [[call sign]] to [[WHAM-TV]]. Clear Channel Communications (now known as [[iHeartMedia]]), already the owner of WHAM radio, owned WOKR/WHAM-TV from 2002 until the sale of its entire television group to [[Newport Television]] (controlled by Providence Equity Partners) in 2007; the two stations still have a news partnership.


=== Controversy ===
=== Controversy ===
WHAM radio host [[Bob Lonsberry]] has been a continual source of controversy for the radio station due to racist remarks,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/22/1453272/-It-s-way-past-time-for-Bob-Lonsberry-to-go|title=It's (way past) time for Bob Lonsberry to go|website=Daily Kos|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> and was fired from the show in 2003. He was later brought back due to boycotts by aggrieved fans. Recently, news articles were circulated about him comparing a derogatory racial reference to the term "Boomers" - a colloquial reference for people born during the [[Baby boomers|Baby Boom]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2019/11/radio-host-bob-lonsberry-says-boomer-is-like-n-word-gets-ridiculed-online.html|title=Radio host Bob Lonsberry says ‘boomer’ is like N-word, gets ridiculed online|last=Herbert|first=Geoff|date=2019-11-04|website=syracuse|language=en|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref>
WHAM radio host [[Bob Lonsberry]] has often been the source of controversy, due to his on-air remarks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/22/1453272/-It-s-way-past-time-for-Bob-Lonsberry-to-go|title=It's (way past) time for Bob Lonsberry to go|website=Daily Kos|access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref> He was fired from his show in 2003, but was later brought back due to boycotts by aggrieved fans.
News articles were circulated about him comparing a derogatory racial reference to the term "Boomers" - a colloquial reference for people born during the [[Baby boomers|Baby Boom]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2019/11/radio-host-bob-lonsberry-says-boomer-is-like-n-word-gets-ridiculed-online.html|title=Radio host Bob Lonsberry says 'boomer' is like N-word, gets ridiculed online|last=Herbert|first=Geoff|date=November 4, 2019|website=syracuse|language=en|access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref>

Lonsberry also hosts a show later in the day on co-owned [[WSYR (AM)|WSYR]] (570 AM and [[WSYR-FM|106.9 FM]]) in [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]] and co-hosts a show on WHAM sister station [[WAIO]].


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[https://archive.org/stream/radi00mac#page/n253/mode/2up]
{article regarding new facilities in Radio Mirror March 1948, page 16}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://wham1180.iheart.com/ WHAM 1180 Home Page]
* {{Official website|https://wham1180.iheart.com/}}
{{AM station data|WHAM}}
{{AM station data|37545|WHAM}}
*[http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/HistoryCards/37545.pdf FCC History Cards for WHAM]
* [https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=59379&.pdf FCC History Cards for WHAM]
'''FM translator'''
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|202122|W241DG}}
* {{FXL|W241DG}}



{{Rochester AM}}
{{Rochester AM}}
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[[Category:HD Radio stations]]
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[[Category:Radio stations in Rochester, New York|HAM]]
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[[Category:Radio stations established in 1922]]
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[[Category:IHeartMedia radio stations]]
[[Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Clear-channel radio stations]]
[[Category:Clear-channel radio stations]]
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[[Category:IHeartMedia radio stations]]
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[[Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States]]
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[[Category:Radio stations established in 1922]]
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[[Category:Radio stations in Rochester, New York|HAM]]

Revision as of 01:28, 10 June 2024

WHAM
Broadcast area
Frequency1180 kHz
BrandingNewsRadio WHAM 1180
Programmierung
FormatNews/talk
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WAIO, WDVI, WHTK, WKGS, WNBL, WVOR
History
First air date
July 11, 1922; 102 years ago (1922-07-11)
Former frequencies
  • 1080 kHz (1922–1928)
  • 1150 kHz (1928–1941)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID37545
ClassA
Power50,000 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
Translator(s)96.1 W241DG (Rochester)
Repeater(s)95.1 WAIO-HD2 (Honeoye Falls)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via iHeartRadio)
Websitewham1180.iheart.com

WHAM (1180 kHz) is a commercial clear channel AM radio station in Rochester, New York, United States. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a news/talk radio format. The studios and offices are at Five Star Bank Plaza in downtown Rochester.

Its 50,000-watt non-directional transmitter, located in Chili, New York, operates the maximum power for commercial AM stations in the United States and Canada. During the day, it provides at least secondary coverage to all of Western New York, including Buffalo. It can also be heard in much of Southern Ontario, including Toronto, Peterborough, and Kingston. At night, WHAM can be received across much of the Eastern United States and Eastern Canada with a good radio. It is the Emergency Alert System's primary entry point station for Western New York.

Programmierung

WHAM carries two local news blocks on weekdays: The WHAM Morning News and The WHAM 5 O'Clock Hour News. Local talk shows are Bob Lonsberry and Talking Back with Shannon Joy. The rest of the schedule is nationally syndicated talk shows, mostly from co-owned Premiere Networks: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Sean Hannity and Coast to Coast AM with George Noory. In addition, WHAM carries Mark Levin from Westwood One and Joe Pags, who is based at co-owned WOAI in San Antonio.

Weekend programming includes shows on money, health, home repair, cars, technology and law. Weekend hosts include Bill Cunningham and some brokered programming.

History

University of Rochester

The station first signed on the air on July 11, 1922.[2] While not the first station to be licensed to the Rochester market (that distinction belongs to the defunct WHQ), it is the oldest surviving station in the area.

Industrialist George Eastman, the founder of the Rochester-based Eastman Kodak Company, helped the University of Rochester launch the station and thought the "WHAM" name would prove to be a clever marketing tool. Jim Barney helped the university get the station on the air.

Stromberg-Carlson

In 1927, WHAM was acquired by Stromberg-Carlson,[3] a maker of radio and telecommunications equipment then based in Rochester. The company expanded the station's operations and boosted its signal to 5,000 watts shortly after the acquisition.

It was relocated from 1080 to 1150 kHz in the overall national reorganization of the AM radio band by the Federal Radio Commission in 1928. In 1933, WHAM was allowed to increase power to 25,000 watts. A ceremony marking the event included a three-hour broadcast from the Eastman Theatre with "a galaxy of stars" participating.[4] It later got a boost to its current 50,000 watt level.

In the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA), the AM band was shuffled in March 1941. WHAM changed frequency once more to its current 1180 kHz.

Rochester Radio City

In February 1948, WHAM and its FM sister station, WHFM (now WBZA), moved into a new facility, Rochester Radio City. The building included 24 offices and six studios, the largest of which could accommodate 400 people in the audience.[3]

WHAM has ties to two of the city's television stations. It put the city's first station on the air, WHAM-TV, in 1949. That station is now WROC-TV, the area's CBS affiliate. In 2005, the area's ABC affiliate, WOKR, changed its call sign to WHAM-TV. Clear Channel Communications (now known as iHeartMedia), already the owner of WHAM radio, owned WOKR/WHAM-TV from 2002 until the sale of its entire television group to Newport Television (controlled by Providence Equity Partners) in 2007; the two stations still have a news partnership.

Controversy

WHAM radio host Bob Lonsberry has often been the source of controversy, due to his on-air remarks.[5] He was fired from his show in 2003, but was later brought back due to boycotts by aggrieved fans.

News articles were circulated about him comparing a derogatory racial reference to the term "Boomers" - a colloquial reference for people born during the Baby Boom.[6]

Lonsberry also hosts a show later in the day on co-owned WSYR (570 AM and 106.9 FM) in Syracuse and co-hosts a show on WHAM sister station WAIO.

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WHAM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Widespread Circle Help To Mark WHAM Birthday" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 14, 1947. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "(photo caption)" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 16, 1948. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  4. ^ "WHAM ad" (PDF). Broadcasting. April 1, 1933. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  5. ^ "It's (way past) time for Bob Lonsberry to go". Daily Kos. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  6. ^ Herbert, Geoff (November 4, 2019). "Radio host Bob Lonsberry says 'boomer' is like N-word, gets ridiculed online". syracuse. Retrieved November 5, 2019.

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