WVCY (AM)

WVCY
Frequency690 kHz
BrandingVCY America
Programming
FormatChristian
Ownership
OwnerVCY America
WVFL, WVCY-FM
History
First air date
July 1, 1969; 55 years ago (July 1, 1969)
Former call signs
WAGO (1969[1]-1983)[2]
WCKK (1983[2]-1987)[3]
WLKE (1987–1992)[3]
WXOL (1992–1995)[3]
Call sign meaning
Wisconsin Voice of Christian Youth
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID69836
ClassD
Power250 watts days
77 watts nights
Transmitter coordinates
44°04′51″N 88°33′53″W / 44.0809°N 88.5646°W / 44.0809; -88.5646
Translator(s)99.9 MHz W260DL (Oshkosh)
W286DS (105.1 MHz, Appleton)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.vcyamerica.org

WVCY (690 kHz) is a listener-supported AM radio station licensed to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is owned by VCY America based in Milwaukee and it broadcasts a Christian radio format. Nearly all of WVCY's schedule is from the national network.

By day, WVCY is powered at 250 watts. But 690 AM is a Canadian and Mexican clear channel frequency. So to avoid interference, at night WVCY reduces power to 77 watts. It uses a directional antenna with a three-tower array.[5] Programming is also heard on two FM translators: in Oshkosh at 99.9 MHz and in Appleton at 105.1 MHz.

Programming

WVCY has a format of mostly Christian Talk and Teaching programs including Grace to You with John MacArthur, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley, Love Worth Finding with Adrian Rogers, Revive Our Hearts with Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, The Alternative with Tony Evans, Liberty Counsel's Faith and Freedom Report, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Joni and Friends with Joni Eareckson Tada, Unshackled! and Moody Radio's Stories of Great Christians.[6]

WVCY also airs a variety of vocal and instrumental traditional Christian music, as well as children's programming such as Ranger Bill.[6]

History

The station began broadcasting on July 1, 1969; 55 years ago (July 1, 1969).[7] Its original call sign was WAGO.[1] The station featured a Middle of the Road (MOR) music format.[7] Old Time Radio dramas such as The Shadow, and news from the American Entertainment Radio Network were also on the schedule.

By 1976, the station had begun airing a Top 40 format.[8] In 1983, the station's call sign was changed to WCKK,[2] and it aired the Music of Your Life pop standards format, as "Cake Radio".[9][10] From 1987 to 1992, the station held the call letters WLKE,[3] initially simulcasting 1170 WLKD as "The Lake", playing music from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.[11] The call letters were changed to WXOL under the ownership of area disc jockey Steve Rose from 1992 to 1995,[3] and the station was branded as "Excellent Oldies" during this period, airing an oldies format.[12]

In 1995, the station was sold to VCY America for $190,000. Its call sign was changed to WVCY.[13][14][15] The new owners switched it to a Christian format.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b History Cards for WVCY, fcc.gov. Accessed August 23, 2015
  2. ^ a b c "Call letters", Broadcasting, January 31, 1983. p. 78. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e Call Sign History fcc.gov. Accessed September 28, 2012
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WVCY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WVCY
  6. ^ a b "WVCY Program Schedule" VCY America. September 1, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  7. ^ a b 1972 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1972. p. B-235. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  8. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1976, Broadcasting, 1976. p. C-222. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  9. ^ "WCKK", The Post-Crescent, March 20, 1983. p. D-9.
  10. ^ Television/Radio Age, Vol. 32. 1985. Television Editorial Corporation. p. 190.
  11. ^ WLKE September 1, 2010. Accessed October 24, 2012
  12. ^ History of Wisconsin AM stations QSL.net. Accessed September 28, 2012
  13. ^ "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. September 12, 1994. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  14. ^ Application Search Details – BAL-19940812EA, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  15. ^ Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 30, 2020.