WHEP

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WHEP

| logo = WHEP-AM logo.png

| logo_size = 235px

| city = Foley, Alabama

| area = Baldwin County, Alabama

| branding = Radio Baldwin

| airdate = May 31, 1953

| frequency = 1310 kHz

| format = Full service/oldies

| language = English

| power = 2,500 watts (day)
43 watts (night)

| class = D

| facility_id = 63429

| coordinates = {{coord|30|26|38|N|87|40|52|W|type:landmark_region:US-AL|display=inline}}

| callsign_meaning = Howard E. Pill (original owner)

| former_callsigns =

| former_frequencies =

| owner = Stewart Broadcasting Company, Inc.

| licensee =

| sister_stations =

| webcast = [http://www.warpradio.com/Tuner.asp?id=115 Listen Live]

| website = [http://www.whep1310.com/ whep1310.com]

| affiliations = Dial Global

| licensing_authority= FCC

}}

WHEP (1310 AM, "Radio Baldwin") is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Baldwin County. The station was established in 1953 and is owned by Stewart Broadcasting Company, Inc.

Programming

WHEP broadcasts oldies music and news to Baldwin County, Alabama. In addition to its usual news and Rock’n Roll programming, WHEP airs a twice-daily radio program called Baldwin County Trading Post six days a week.

Weekday programming includes Breakfast in Baldwin with Kenny Graves, featuring news, sports, and weather, plus a daily church program from Berean Baptist Church. Mid-days feature Jack Bell playing all era of Rock’n Roll. The Paul Finebaum Sports Show airs weekday afternoons. Syndicated evening programming includes America's Radio News Network, a conservative talk show hosted by Jerry Doyle, and Advice Line from Dial Global's Talk Radio Network. Weekend programming typically includes music, news, and Auburn Tigers football or Atlanta Braves baseball in season, plus local church programs on Sunday mornings.

History

This station launched on May 31, 1953, as a 1,000 watt daytime-only station under the ownership of Howard E. Pill's Alabama Gulf Radio, Inc. The station has been assigned the "WHEP" call sign by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) since it was initially licensed.

The station was acquired by James E. Stewart, Sr.'s Stewart Broadcasting Company on May 1, 1961. In June 1980, station ownership applied to the FCC to transfer the broadcast license from the unincorporated Stewart Broadcasting Company to Stewart Broadcasting Company, Inc. The FCC approved the move on July 21, 1980.

In January 2003, James E. Stewart, Sr., transferred his 52% ownership stake in Stewart Broadcasting Company, Inc., to his son, Clark J. Stewart. After the transfer, the younger Stewart held 98% of the voting stock with his siblings Elizabeth Stewart Purvis and James E. Stewart, Jr., each holding 1%. The FCC approved this transfer of control on February 27, 2003. The transfer took place on March 6, 2003. This move made Clark J. Stewart the president of the company with his father stepping back to be vice-president.

From its launch in 1953, WHEP had been licensed to operate as a daytimer, restricted to broadcasting only during daylight hours to protect WDOD in Chattanooga, Tennessee from skywave interference. In July 2005, the station applied to the FCC for a construction permit to add nighttime service with a signal restricted to just 48 watts of power. The commission granted this permit on November 15, 2005, and after construction and testing were completed in September 2007, the station began licensed nighttime operation on December 6, 2007.

Translators

WHEP programming is also carried on a broadcast translator station to extend or improve the coverage area of the station.

{{RadioTranslators

| callsign =

| call1 = W223AX

| freq1 = 92.5 FM

| watts1 = 250

| class1 = D

| city1 = Foley, Alabama

| fid1= 143804

}}

References

{{reflist|2|refs=

{{cite web |publisher=WHEP 1310 |title=About Us |url=http://www.whep1310.com/index.php/aboutus |access-date=January 11, 2012}}

{{cite web |publisher=Arbitron |title=Station Information Profile |url=http://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/station_information.htm |access-date=January 10, 2012}}

{{cite book |title=1955 Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook |chapter=Directory of AM and FM Stations and Market Data for the United States |publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc |location=Washington, DC |year=1955 |page=70}}

{{cite book |title=1963 Broadcasting Yearbook |chapter=Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S. |publisher=Broadcasting Publications, Inc |location=Washington, DC |year=1963 |page=B-5}}

{{cite web |publisher=U.S. Federal Communications Commission Media Bureau |work=CDBS Public Access Database |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=63429&Callsign=WHEP |title=Call Sign History |access-date=January 10, 2012}}

{{cite web |publisher=Federal Communications Commission, Audio Division |title=AM Station Classes: Clear, Regional, and Local Channels |url=http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/audio/amclasses.html |access-date=January 11, 2012}}

{{cite web |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19800630HD) |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=21449 |date=July 21, 1980 |access-date=January 11, 2012}}

{{cite web |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BTC-20030110ADG) |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=628560 |date=March 6, 2003 |access-date=January 11, 2012}}

{{cite web |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BP-20050728AQL) |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1093556 |date=November 15, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012}}

{{cite web |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BL-20070926ARL) |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1211223 |date=December 6, 2007 |access-date=January 11, 2012}}

}}