WCHL (AM)
kHz | |
Branding | "97.9 The Hill WCHL" |
---|---|
Programming | |
Format | News/Talk - Sports - Adult album alternative |
Network | CBS News Radio |
Affiliations | North Carolina Tar Heels Westwood One |
Ownership | |
Owner | Chapel Hill Media Group, LLC |
History | |
First air date | January 25, 1953 |
Call sign meaning | W Chapel HilL |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 70191 |
Class | B |
Power | 5,000 watts day 1,000 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°56′18.00″N 79°1′36.00″W / 35.9383333°N 79.0266667°W |
Translator(s) | 97.9 W250BP (Chapel Hill) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | chapelboro.com |
97.9 THE HILL WCHL (1360
Programming is also heard on 250-watt
Current Programming[4]
This Morning with Aaron Keck (Monday to Friday 6am-9am)
Ron Stutts retired on December 18, 2020, after 43 years as morning host. His show was replaced in 2021 by "This Morning with Aaron Keck" from 6am-9am weekday mornings. Focusing on local culture, Aaron explores trends, artists, news and trivia.
Aaron is the recipient of the 2021 and 2022 North Carolina Association of Broadcasters "Radio Personality of the Year" award.
The Morning Grind (Monday to Friday 9am-11am)
Hosted by Victor Lewis since 2022 from 9am-11am Monday through Friday, The Morning Grind is inspired by coffee shop style music primarily consisting of acoustic musicians.
The Record Shop (Monday to Friday 11am-2pm)
Victor Lewis blends alternative rock with the expansive local music scene for a two hour midday show.
Indie with Andy (Monday to Friday 2pm-3pm)
An hour long program by Andrew Stuckey where he plays the new and classic indie music. Each show has a theme that Andrew explores through a myriad of musical selections.
News on the Hill (Monday to Friday 3pm-6pm)
Andrew Stuckey discusses the daily Chapel Hill area news with local guests about any subject relevant to the listening area.
Live and Local with Aaron Keck (Monday to Friday 6pm-7pm)
The best in local musicians every weekday evening, hosted by the radio station's morning host, Aaron Keck. He conducts in-studio interviews as well as performances by the guests.
After Hours with AJ (Weeknights, exact start and end times vary)
WCHL's edgiest musical offering, AJ Johnson plays classic alternative rock.
The Sound Check Hour (Fridays at 7pm)
Previews artists performing at upcoming concerts in the greater Chapel Hill/Durham area.
History
Chapel Hill's oldest continuous broadcaster
Over the years, the station developed a loyal following for being highly community-oriented. The WCHL news department brought home many
In 1997, The Village Companies (now Vilcom) sold WCHL to the Raleigh-based Curtis Media Group for $400,000. Curtis moved WCHL's operations to the WDNC studios at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. It ended the highly acclaimed local news and community-driven talk for an automated adult standards and oldies format, limited news and a simulcast morning show with co-located WDNC. However, in 2002, Vilcom regained control of its former property's sales and programming under a local marketing agreement (LMA). Vilcom moved the station back to Chapel Hill and returned the station's format to local news and talk on November 25, 2002, just two months before the station celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003. In June 2004, Vilcom bought the station back from Curtis Media Group for $775,000.
Vilcom's longtime owner, Jim Heavner, sold a minority stake in WCHL to Barry Leffler, former president of
On January 21, 2010, WCHL's network Air America filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased live programming the same night. Reruns of Air America's programming continued to air until Monday, January 25 at 9 p.m.[citation needed]
In August 2015, WCHL was purchased by Leslie Rudd who brought in several local investors, Chris Ehrenfeld, Jim Kitchen and Mark Vitali to form Chapel Hill Media Group, LLC. Soon after, the station switched formats to incorporate music along with its lineup of live shows each weekday morning and afternoon. It plays adult album alternative music, giving WCHL a more diverse playlist than most formats.
At the end of 2016 WCHL moved to University Place and re-branded as "97.9 The Hill WCHL." It is currently known for continuing the tradition of community programming by providing local news, neighborhood events and high school sports, along with its music programming. Its website is Chapelboro.com, a daily local news source for Chapel Hill and the surrounding area.
In November 2023 WCHL moved from University Place to East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, close to the original studios and AM radio transmitter.
Sports programming
WCHL is the flagship station of North Carolina Tar Heels.
Inside Carolina broadcasts a two hour pregame show before the Tar Heel Sports Network begins its coverage of UNC Football games on Learfield Communications.
Woody Durham hosted UNC centric radio shows with coaches throughout his lengthy career as a play-by-play broadcaster for North Carolina Basketball and Football games.
Sportswriter Art Chansky contributes a daily radio segment and online column on chapelboro.com about current UNC athletic affairs.
Transmission
WCHL's 5,000-watt non-directional daytime signal cuts back to 1,000 watts directional toward the southeast at sunset. The station has continuously broadcast from its two-tower array on Franklin Street, noticeable for being emblazoned with metal call letters on one tower and its frequency on the other.
In 2012, WCHL expanded to the FM band by acquiring a
WCHL can be digitally streamed on TuneIn, Radio Garden and on smart speakers by saying "Play WCHL".
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCHL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/W250BP
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WCHL
- ^ "97.9 The Hill WCHL". Chapelboro.com. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
- ^ Wolf, Alan (October 3, 2009). "NBC-17's Leffler to run WCHL". News & Observer. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
- ^ "WCHL expanding to FM band". News & Observer. September 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Chapel Hill, NC's WCHL-AM (1360) buys an FM translator for $100,000". RadioInfo.com. September 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ Jones Hoyle, Amanda (September 23, 2011). "Chapel Hill to get new FM station". Triangle Business Journal. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
External links
- WCHL in the FCC AM station database
- WCHL in Nielsen Audio's AM station database