WSHH
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2007) |
Adult contemporary | |
Affiliations | |
---|---|
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | March 8, 1948 |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | disambiguation of the word "Wish" |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 55709 |
Class | B |
ERP | 17,000 watts |
HAAT | 260 meters (850 ft) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | wishpittsburgh |
WSHH (99.7
WSHH has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 17,000 watts; its power is lower than some of its rivals because it broadcasts from a taller antenna, at 260 meters (853 ft) in height above average terrain (HAAT).
The station's transmitter is co-located with NBC network affiliate WPXI on Rising Main Avenue in Pittsburgh near Interstate 279.[2] Its tower is located in the Fineview neighborhood on Pittsburgh's North Side, with studios and offices located on Parish Street.[3]
Programming
WSHH's current weekday on-air staff consists of Melanie Heinkel, Jordan Kline, Ron Antil, and the
History
WJAS-FM
On March 8, 1948, the station first
, owned by the Pittsburgh Radio Supply House.The two stations
On November 1, 1957, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) gained control of WJAS and WJAS-FM, adding them to their roster of network owned-and-operated stations.[6] Later that month the call letters were changed to WAMP and WFMP, which was derived from "AM and FM Pittsburgh".[7] Three years later, both stations changed back to their original call letters.[8]
Beautiful music WSHH
In the late 1960s, WJAS-FM ended its simulcast and began playing beautiful music, which continued into the 1970s and 1980s. In 1973, WJAS-AM-FM were sold to Heftel Broadcasting.[9] Heftel made some significant changes: WJAS switched to a talk format with the call sign WKTQ, while WJAS-FM became WSHH, using the moniker "Wish 100."
During the 1970s, beautiful music was well represented on Pittsburgh radio: WKJF, which later became WJOI, was the leader for many years, and KDKA-FM aired automated beautiful music during the day and classical music at night. (It became WPNT in 1979 with beautiful music (no more classical) and live announcers.) Despite the competition, by the late 1970s, WSHH was Pittsburgh's number two station behind KDKA. WSHH's ratings were helped by a full staff of live announcers, to add some personality and information, in addition to the instrumental music sweeps.
Nationwide acquisition
Nationwide Communications, a division of
During Wish's halcyon years, the station had only two announcers for the 24-hour broadcast day - program director and morning announcer Joe Fenn and afternoon announcer Tom Malloy. Both men would work a live four-hour on-air shift, but their pre-recorded voices would be heard for another eight hours each day.
Renda ownership
Wish was sold in October 1983 to its current owner,
While the ratings for WSHH remained high, its audience was aging, while advertisers usually prefer younger listeners. The groundwork for a format change began in 1988, when Renda lured legendary Pittsburgh
Switch to adult contemporary
In 1989, Renda Broadcasting decided to challenge former easy listening
In 1997, WSHH moved from its longtime home on Crane Avenue in Green Tree to Parrish Street, just off Greentree Road and approximately a mile from the Crane Avenue building. This new building houses WSHH's studios and offices, as well as the corporate offices for Renda Broadcasting.
In 2009, WSHH saw its AC rival WLTJ move to a younger direction as a
Christmas music
During the Christmas season, WSHH plays holiday-themed music.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSHH". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WSHH-FM 99.7 MHz - Pittsburgh, PA". radio-locator.com.
- ^ WSHH.com/contact
- ^ "On-Air". WISH 99.7 | Todays WISH 99.7 | Pittsburgh, PA. December 30, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 262
- ^ "NBC buys WJAS Pittsburgh", Broadcasting - Telecasting, August 12, 1957, pg. 9.
- ^ "NBC Changes Pittsburgh Calls", Broadcasting, November 18, 1957, page 9.
- ^ "For the Record: Existing FM stations: Call Letters Assigned", Broadcasting, November 28, 1960, page 89.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1975 page C-164
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1981 page C-202
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1984 page B-221
- ^ Information from Radio & Records January 19, 1990
External links
- WSHH in the FCC FM station database
- WSHH in Nielsen Audio's FM station database