WEPM explained

WEPM
City:Martinsburg, West Virginia
Area:Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
Branding:The Panhandle News Network
Format:Newstalksports
Power:1,000 Watts day and night
Class:C
Licensing Authority:FCC
Facility Id:53484
Coordinates:39.4633°N -77.9864°W
Callsign Meaning:Eastern Panhandle Mountaineer
Owner:WVRC Media
Licensee:West Virginia Radio Corporation of the Alleghenies
Sister Stations:WICL,WLTF, WXDC, WCST
Webcast:WEPM Webstream

WEPM is a newstalksports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Martinsburg, West Virginia, serving the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.[1] WEPM is owned and operated by John and David Raese, through licensee West Virginia Radio Corporation of the Alleghenies.[2]

History

Owner C. Leslie Golliday, a prominent Martinsburg businessman, envisioned a group of stations in the state, and his early announcers used the tag line, "This is the Mountaineer station for the Eastern Panhandle," thus the call sign there of WEPM.[3] Another suggested meaning for EPM is "Eastern Panhandle, Martinsburg."

Golliday also owned WCLG in Morgantown, WV which carried a similar tag line, "This is the Mountaineer station for northern West Virginia."

Golliday died in late June, 2007 at the age of 92.

Sale

On October 31, 2014, Prettyman Broadcasting announced the sale of WEPM to West Virginia Radio Corporation (WVRC) for an unknown sum.[4] Included in the same are sister stations WICL and WLTF.[4] WVRC assumed control of the stations, through a Local marketing agreement, on November 1.[4] The purchase was consummated on February 13, 2015, at a price of $3 million.

Translator

In addition to the main station, WEPM is relayed by an FM translator to widen its broadcast area.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arbitron Station Information Profiles. November 1, 2014. Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings.
  2. Web site: WEPM Facility Record. November 1, 2014. Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. News: The Journal. Martinsburg, West Virginia. Ogden Newspapers. Station going strong after 65 years. October 26, 2011. November 17, 2013. McVey. John. https://web.archive.org/web/20160414101142/http://journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/569716/Station-going-strong-after-65-years.html?nav=5006. April 14, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  4. Web site: West Virginia Radio Corporation Expands Into Martinsburg/Hagerstown/. October 30, 2014. October 30, 2014. Venta. Lance. Radio Insight.
  5. Web site: W229CM Facility Record. July 26, 2016. Federal Communications Commission, audio division.