WICU-FM
{{short description|Radio station in Lawrence Park–Erie, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WICU-FM
| logo = WEHP HAPPI927 logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_alt =
| caption =
| city = Lawrence Park, Pennsylvania
| area = Erie, Pennsylvania
| branding = HAPPI 927
| frequency = {{Frequency|92.7|MHz}} {{HD Radio}}
| translator =
| repeater = {{Radio Relay|1310|WICU|Warren}}
| airdate = {{Start date and age|2012|11|9}}
| last_airdate =
| format = Contemporary hit radio
| language = English
| power =
| erp = 6,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|3|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = A
| facility_id = 189528
| coordinates = {{coord|42|07|25|N|80|07|02|W|type:landmark_region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = derived from sister station WICU-TV
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WEHP (2012–2019)|WICU (2019–2020)}}
| former_frequencies =
| network =
| affiliations = United Stations Radio Networks
| operator = Lilly Broadcasting
| owner = SJL Broadcasting
| licensee = SJL of Pennsylvania, Inc.
| sister_stations = WICU-TV, WSEE-TV
| webcast = [http://www.happi927.com/listen-live Listen Live]
| website = {{URL|http://www.happi927.com/}}
| licensing_authority= FCC
}}
WICU-FM (92.7 MHz) is a contemporary hit radio-formatted radio station in Erie, Pennsylvania, licensed to Lawrence Park, Pennsylvania, under the ownership of SJL Broadcasting (a sister company to Lilly Broadcasting). It uses the moniker "Happi 927". WICU-FM is simulcast in Warren on Lilly-owned WICU (1310 AM and 96.7 FM).
History
The station, using the call sign WEHP, signed on the air November 9, 2012, stunting with songs including the word "Happy"; at 12{{nbsp}}p.m. on November 16, 2012, it formally launched its contemporary hit radio format under the branding of "Happi 92.7".{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Happi 92.7 Erie Debuts |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/79626/erie-is-getting-happi-with-92-7/ |accessdate=March 8, 2020 |work=RadioInsight |date=November 16, 2012}} The station was originally owned by Rick Rambaldo'a Erie Radio Company; the construction permit had been acquired, under the name First Channel Communications, for $2,068,000 in a May 2011 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction, outbidding an entity affiliated with Connoisseur Media.{{cite news |last1=Fybush |first1=Scott |title=Rambaldo Lands Erie FM CP |url=https://www.fybush.com/NERW/2011/110509/nerw.html |accessdate=March 8, 2020 |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |date=May 9, 2011}} Rambaldo had previously a group of Erie radio stations that was sold to NextMedia in 1999, and subsequently acquired by Connoisseur Media and then iHeartMedia.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Lilly Broadcasting Acquires Happi 92.7 Erie |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/180415/lilly-broadcasting-acquires-happi-92-7-erie/ |accessdate=March 8, 2020 |work=RadioInsight |date=September 11, 2019}} The WEHP call sign was assigned on May 16, 2012.{{cite web |title=Call Sign History (WICU-FM) |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=189528&Callsign=WICU-FM |website=CDBS Public Access |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |accessdate=March 8, 2020}}
In September 2019, Erie Radio Company announced the sale of the station to SJL of Pennsylvania, owner of WICU-TV, for $1.33 million; SJL is a sister company to Lilly Broadcasting, whose holdings in the area include WSEE-TV and three Warren radio stations.{{cite news |title=Lilly Adds An FM In Erie |url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/189493/lilly-adds-an-fm-in-erie |accessdate=March 8, 2020 |work=All Access |date=September 11, 2019 |language=en}} Under the terms of the agreement, Erie Radio Company retained the rights to the "Happi" brand, but granted SJL/Lilly a perpetual royalty-free license to use the name. The sale was completed on December 31, 2019,{{cite web |last1=Rambaldo |first1=Rick |title=Consummation Notice |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1814287&Service=FM&Form_id=905&Facility_id=189528 |website=CDBS Public Access |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |accessdate=March 8, 2020 |date=December 31, 2019}} at which point the call sign was changed to WICU (the "-FM" suffix was added on February 13, 2020). On April 1, 2020, WICU-FM began simulcasting in Warren on WICU (1310 AM and 96.7 FM).{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Happi 92.7 Expands To Warren PA |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/185769/happi-92-7-expands-to-warren-pa/ |accessdate=April 2, 2020 |work=RadioInsight |date=April 1, 2020}}
In September 2021, WICU-FM relocated its studios to the facilities of WICU-TV and WSEE-TV, up State Street from its original studios.{{Cite web|title=HAPPI 927 Studio Moving to Erie News Now|url=https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/44757642/happi-927-studio-moving-to-erie-news-now|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=www.erienewsnow.com|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{FM station data|189528|WICU-FM}}
{{Erie Radio}}
{{CHR-T40 Pennsylvania}}
{{Lilly Broadcasting}}
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 2012
Category:2012 establishments in Pennsylvania
{{Pennsylvania-radio-station-stub}}