WGH-FM
{{short description|Country music radio station in Newport News, Virginia}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WGH-FM
| logo = WGH-FM.png
| logo_size =
| city = Newport News, Virginia
| country = US
| area = Hampton Roads
| branding = 97.3 The Eagle
| frequency = {{Frequency|97.3|MHz}} {{HD Radio}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1948|11|p=y|br=y}}
| format = Country
| subchannels = HD2: Business talk "MoneyTalk Radio"
| erp = 74,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|120|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = B
| facility_id = 72102
| licensing_authority = FCC
| coordinates = {{coord|36|57|47.5|N|76|24|40.8|W|region:US-VA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = "World's Greatest Harbor"
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WGH-FM (1948–1983)|WNSY (1983–1985)|WRSR (1985–1986)}}
| former_frequencies = 96.5 MHz (1948–1955){{cite web |title=FCC History Cards for WGH-FM |url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=81020}}
| owner = Max Media
| licensee = MHR License, LLC
| sister_stations = WGH, WTWV-FM, WVBW-FM, WVSP-FM
| webcast = {{listenlive|https://player.listenlive.co/34061}}
| website = {{URL|https://973eagle.com}}
}}
WGH-FM (97.3 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Newport News, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WGH-FM is owned and operated by Max Media and airs a country music radio format. It uses the branding "97.3 The Eagle".
Studios and offices are on Greenwich Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia.{{Cite web |title=5589 Greenwich Rd · 5589 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/5589+Greenwich+Rd,+Virginia+Beach,+VA+23462/@36.8441949,-76.182162,17.58z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89ba9609946c7bb1:0x40382729fb5bfc12!8m2!3d36.8426693!4d-76.1801071 |website=google.com}} The transmitter is on Newport News Point, near Interstate 664.{{Cite web |title=WGH-FM Radio Station Coverage Map |url=http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=WGH-FM |website=radio-locator.com}}
Station history
WGH-FM first signed on the air in November 1948, one of the first FM stations in Virginia.Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 pg. C-220 It broadcasts at 74,000 watts in an area of the country where today the maximum power for FM radio stations should be 50,000 watts. But, because the station dates back to 1948, before the Federal Communications Commission set rules for FM power levels, it is grandfathered at the higher power.
The call letters for WGH-FM and its sister station WGH (1310 AM) stand for "World's Greatest Harbor", a slogan for the Hampton Roads or Tidewater area of Virginia, where there is a large shipbuilding industry and both commercial and military ports.History of Newport News, Virginia WGH and WGH-FM are the only stations in Virginia to operate with three-letter call signs.{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Thomas |title=Three-Letter Roll Call |url=https://earlyradiohistory.us/3roll.htm |website=earlyradiohistory.us}}
For many years in its early days, WGH-FM was a classical music station.{{Cite web |title=20All-4 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1982/C%20Radio%20NE%20to%20Terr%20BC%20YB%201982%20All-4.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}} On September 1, 1983, after Commcor bought the station, the classical format was abruptly dropped and flipped to soft rock as WNSY-FM, "Sunny 97".{{Cite web |title=RR-1983-09-09 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1983/RR-1983-09-09.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}} A year later, it flipped to top 40 as "Y-97".{{Cite web |title=Radio-All-BC-YB-1985 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/B-Radio-NE-to-Ter-B-Radio-All-BC-YB-1985.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}}{{dead link|date=November 2023}} The next year, after Susquehanna Broadcasting took over, the station changed call letters to WRSR and rebranded as "97 Star" during the week of September 10, 1985, while keeping the current format.{{Cite web |title=Radio-All-BC-YB-1986 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1986/B-Radio-NE-to-Ter-B-Radio-All-BC-YB-1986.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}}{{dead link|date=November 2023}} The WGH-FM calls would return on December 15, 1986.
On August 29, 1990, the top 40 format was dropped and the station began stunting with all-Elvis Presley. On September 3, at noon, it flipped to its current country format as "Eagle 97.3".{{Cite magazine |title=WGH-FM Adopts Country Format |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1990/RR-1990-09-07.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}}{{Cite web |title=Radio NE MT 1991 B&W.pdf |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1991/B-Radio-NE-MT-1991-B&W.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}}
References
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
{{cite web|url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SP15&band=fm&callLetter=WGH|title=Arbitron Station Information Profiles|access-date=July 18, 2015|work=Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings}}
{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=72102&Callsign=WGH|title=Call Sign History|access-date=July 18, 2015|work=Federal Communications Commission, audio division}}
{{cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WGH|title=WGH Facility Record|access-date=July 18, 2015|work=Federal Communications Commission, audio division}}
}}
External links
- [https://www.973eagle.com/ New Country 97-3 The Eagle Online]{{FM station data|72102|WGH-FM}}
{{Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News Radio}}
{{Country Radio Stations in Virginia}}
{{Max Media}}
Category:1948 establishments in Virginia
Category:Country radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1948