WBHP (AM)

Infobox Radio station
name = WBHP


city = Huntsville, Alabama
area = Madison County, Alabama
branding = "The Big Talker 800/1230"
slogan = "The Valley's Big Talker"
frequency = 1230 (kHz)
airdate = April 22, 1931 (as WBHS)
format = News/Talk
power = 1000 watts (unlimited)
class = C
facility_id = 44025
coordinates = coord|34|43|09|N|86|35|42|W
callsign_meaning = Wilton "Buster" H. Pollard (former owner)
former_callsigns = WBHS
affiliations = FOX Sports Radio, FOX News
owner = Clear Channel Communications
licensee = Capstar TX
sister_stations = WHOS
webcast = [http://www.wbhpam.com/cc-common/streaming_new/index.html Listen Live]
website = http://www.wbhpam.com

WBHP (1230 AM, "The Big Talker") is a news/talk formatted radio station licensed to Huntsville, Alabama. [cite web |url=http://www.arbitron.com/ |title=Station Information Profile |work=Arbitron] The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and serves all of Madison County, Alabama. WBHP programming is simulcast on WHOS (800 AM).

Programming

The 1230 AM frequency serves the greater Huntsville area, while the 800 AM frequency serves nearby Decatur. The Decatur station was formerly known as WHOS and programmed, like WBHP, a country format for many years before becoming a repeater station of its sister FM station (then owned by Mack Bramlett) WDRM, also a country-formatted station. WBHP currently airs a news and talk format with a mix of local and syndicated programs.

Notable local programming includes a weekday morning show hosted by long-time local broadcasters Gary Dobbs and Toni Lowery. [cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |url=http://www.al.com%2Fhuntsvilletimes%2Fstories%2Findex.ssf%3F%2Fbase%2Fnews%2F1179566216134730.xml%26coll%3D1
title=Dobbs, Lowery now on WBHP |date=2007-05-19 |page=2B] Notable syndicated hosts include conservative talk host Glenn Beck, financial advisor Dave Ramsey, sports expert Paul Finebaum, Cincinnati-based talk host Mike McConnell, "Coast to Coast AM" with George Noory, plus "The Ultimate Sports Show" with "The Snake" Ken Stabler and Chris Stewart.

Weekend programming includes "NASCAR Live", FOX Sports Radio, religious programming, several local talk programs, "Coast to Coast", and several highlight shows from selected weekday programs.

The station is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves radio network. [cite web |title=Affiliate Radio Stations |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/atl/schedule/affiliates.jsp |work=The Official Site of the Atlanta Braves]

History

The station was Huntsville's first AM radio station. The station went on the air as WBHS on April 22, 1931 as a service of The Hutchens Company. The station became WBHP in 1937. Oddly, the Federal Communications Commission also briefly assigned the WBHP callsign to a low-power South Carolina station in 2000-2001.

WBHP had been through several owners until its acquisition by Clear Channel Communications, its current licensee. The current call letters stem from longtime previous owner Wilton "Buster" Harvey Pollard.cite web |url=http://nelson.oldradio.com/origins.call-list.html |title=Call Letter Origins |work=The Broadcast Archive |last=Nelson |first=Bob |date=2008-02-02]

At least until the 1990s the station broadcast a country music format. [cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |title=Area radio stations make changes |first=Chris |last=Welch |date=2006-04-16 |page=4G] [cite web |url=http://www.opry.com/MeetTheOpry/Members.aspx?id=58 |title=Member Facts - Ernie Ashworth |work=Grand Ole Opry official website |accessdate=2007-12-27]

References

External links

* [http://www.wbhpam.com/ WBHP official website]
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