WGOL explained

WGOL
City:Russellville, Alabama
Branding:Real Country 920
Frequency:920 AM (kHz)
Airdate:May 29, 1949
Format:Classic Country
Power:1,000 watts (day)
40 watts (night)
Class:D
Facility Id:60506
Coordinates:34.5139°N -87.7153°W
Former Callsigns:WWWR (1949–1987)
WJRD (1987–1998)
Owner:Pilati Investments Corp.
Sister Stations:WKAX
Webcast:Listen Live
Website:wgolam.com
Licensing Authority:FCC

WGOL (920 AM, "Real Country 920") is a radio station licensed to serve Russellville, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by Pilati Investments Corporation.

Programming

WGOL broadcasts a Classic Country music format in C-QUAM AM Stereo.[1]

In addition to its usual music programming, WGOL carries significant sports programming as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide Sports Network. This includes Alabama Crimson Tide football,[2] men's basketball,[3] women's basketball,[4] baseball,[5] and the Hey Coach call-in show with Crimson Tide head coaches.[6]

History

This station first signed on in 1949 as WWWR.[7] [8]

WWWR made national headlines in early 1950 when a three-foot rattlesnake forced the radio station off the air for "more than an hour."[9] Engineers discovered the snake had "crawled into the tuning unit, shorting the circuit."[9]

In March 1986, SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc. reached an agreement to purchase WWWR from Franklin Broadcasting, Inc.[10] The deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on June 4, 1986, and the transaction was consummated on October 28, 1986.[10] The station's new owners had the FCC assign new call letters WJRD on August 17, 1987.[8]

On November 15, 1997, William A. Grant Jr., the owner of WJRD license holder SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc., died.[11] In March 1998, control of the company passed involuntarily to William A. Grant III and Walter B. Grant.[12] The Federal Communications Commission approved this transfer on May 21, 1998, and it was formally consummated on the same day.[12] The station was immediately put up for sale.

In June 1998, McCurry Broadcasting Company, Inc. reached an agreement to purchase WJRD from SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc.[13] The deal was approved by the FCC on July 29, 1998, and the transaction was consummated on August 12, 1998.[13] The new owners applied for and received new call letters WGOL from the FCC on August 17, 1998.[8]

In December 1999, Wanda Patricia Underwood reached an agreement to purchase WGOL from McCurry Broadcasting Company, Inc.[14] The deal was approved by the FCC on January 20, 2000, and the transaction was consummated on January 24, 2000.[14]

In April 2005, Pilati Investments Corporation (Karl H. Pilati, president) reached an agreement to purchase WGOL from Wanda Patricia Underwood.[15] The station sold for a reported $171,500.[16] The FCC approved the deal on August 25, 2005, and the transaction was consummated on August 31, 2005.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arbitron . Station Information Profile.
  2. Web site: RollTide.com - The official website of the University of Alabama Athletics . Football Radio Network . 2008-11-04 .
  3. Web site: RollTide.com . Men's Basketball Radio Network . 2008-11-04 .
  4. Web site: RollTide.com . Women's Basketball Radio Network . 2008-11-04 .
  5. Web site: RollTide.com . Baseball Radio Network . 2008-11-04 .
  6. Web site: RollTide.com . Hey Coach . 2008-11-04 .
  7. Web site: WGOL . About WGOL .
  8. Web site: FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database . Call Sign History.
  9. News: The New York Times Magazine . Beasts vs. Man . March 5, 1950 . 172.
  10. Web site: Application Search Details (BAL-19860304EH) . FCC Media Bureau . 1986-10-28 .
  11. Web site: Search Results . Social Security Death Index . 2008-11-03.
  12. Web site: Application Search Details (BTC-19980306GO) . FCC Media Bureau . 1998-05-21.
  13. Web site: Application Search Details (BAL-19980615EF) . FCC Media Bureau . 1998-08-12 .
  14. Web site: Application Search Details (BAL-19991025AEV) . FCC Media Bureau . 2000-01-24 .
  15. Web site: Application Search Details (BAL-20050405AAG) . FCC Media Bureau . 2005-08-31 .
  16. News: 2005-04-18 . Deals - 4/18/2005. Broadcasting & Cable .