WHLD

Infobox Radio Station
name = WHLD
airdate = 1941
frequency = 1270 (kHz)
area = Buffalo
format = Gospel
owner = Citadel Communications
power = 5,000 watts (day)
1,000 watts (night)
branding = " Totally Gospel"
slogan = "Totally Gospel"
class = B
website = [http://www.totallygospel.com www.totallygospel.com]
callsign_meaning = W HiLDa Hull

WHLD is an AM radio station licensed to Niagara Falls, New York. The station resides at 1270 kHz on the dial and is owned by Citadel Communications

History and programming

WHLD signed on in 1941 under the ownership of Earl C. Hull, who named the station after his wife Hilda L. Duell. The Butler Communications Corporation, which bought radio stations WHLD-AM and WZIR-FM on suburban Grand Island in May 1980 owned the stations until August 1999 when it was purchased by Citadel Communications. During the Butler Communications days that station was programmed Big Band / Nostalgia and featured various locally produced ethnic programs. The station was billed as "The Station of the Nations, and owner Paul Butler's daughter Mary Ann Butler gave the station its tag line, "The Sound of the Falls."

In 2006 Niagara Independent Media operated the station via an LMA and branded it "News Talk 1270: The Voice of Reason." Niagara added programming from Air America Radio, most notably Al Franken and Randi Rhodes live in their entirety. That programming was dropped in December 2006 because of financial problems and some nonprofit programs were moved to sister station WBBF.

The station flipped to an Urban Inspirational (Black Gospel) format From the Totally Gospel Radio Network (http://www.totallygospel.com). in December 2006. Today, the station "Totally Gospel - AM 1270" is an expansion project that has been in the works for over 15 years and is actually returning home to the place where the whole journey began. "Totally Gospel" began as a 4 1/2 hour brokered radio program of the Fellowship Christian Center on October 13, 1991 broadcasting at 148 watts on WHLD-AM. In September of 1996 the program moved to the former WHTT-AM 1120 and in May of 1997 launched the first full time "black gospel" formatted radio station in Western New York. The transition represents the first and only 24 hour gospel station in Western New York.

The company, is headquartered in the Fellowship Christian Center (the former Churchhill Tabernacle where Clinton Churchhill founder of WKBW-AM held services and former home to WKBW-TV).

"We are excited for this great opportunity afforded us by Citadel Broadcasting." says John H. Young, Sr., president of Excel Radio Networks and Senior Pastor of the Fellowship Christian Center. "We are also excited for the Urban Christian community that has invested in us over the past 15 years. Because of their commitment to us, we now able to commit this station to them."

External links

* [http://www.totallygospel.com/ Totally Gospel Radio Network]
* [http://www.excelradionetworks.com/ Excel Radio Networks]