WCOJ

Infobox Radio Station


name = WCOJ
airdate =
frequency = 1420 (kHz)
city = Coatesville, Pennsylvania
area = Chester County, Pennsylvania
format = silent (to be religious/Catholic radio)
owner = WS2K Radio LLC (to be Holy Spirit Radio Foundation)
power = 5,000 watts
erp =
branding =
slogan =
class = B
facility_id = 63593
website = [http://www.wcoj.com wcoj.com]
callsign_meaning =

WCOJ is a 5,000 watt AM radio station licensed to Coatesville, Pennsylvania consisting of a 4 tower array broadcasting on 1420 kHz.

WCOJ airs religious radio programming under the control of Philadelphia-based Holy Spirit Radio Foundation. The Holy Spirit Radio Foundation also owns WISP in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. [http://www.allaroundphilly.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20144941&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=635398&rfi=6]

Coverage Area

WCOJ's transmitter is located just North of Coatesville in East Brandywine Township, Pennsylvania.

The coverage area includes almost all of Chester County, Pennsylvania excluding only the extreme Northeast portion of the county known as The Main Line and the extreme Southeast part of the county along the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. The station also reaches parts of Eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In addition to Coatesville and West Chester, communities served include Phoenixville, and Kennett Square.

Programming

WCOJ airs programming provided by The Holy Spirit Radio Foundation and mirrors the programming it provides on WISP, including satellite-fed audio programming from the Catholic-themed Eternal Word Television Network's radio feed, locally produced programs and specials, and local announcements on the hour. Holy Spirit Radio began simulcasting on WISP and WCOJ on October 7, 2008 with a live Mass broadcast from the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul marking the 5th Anniversary of Cardinal Justin Rigali's installation as Archbishop of Philadelphia.

History

WCOJ began operating on November 29, 1949. It originally broadcast as a daytime only station at 1,000 watts. The radio station was a day-time only facility transmitting with 1,000 watts. The station increased its power to the 5,000 watts and began full-time operation in 1952.

Originally WCOJ's studios were located in a theater in downtown Coatesville. Over the years the station has also had studios at the transmitter site in West Brandywine Township, at 3721 East Lincoln Highway, Thorndale and at 17 West Gay Street, West Chester.

WCOJ was perhaps best known for much of the time it has been in operation for the morning program hosted for over 40 years by station personality Art Douglas. By his retirement in 1995 , Douglas had become a widely recognized figure in Chester County.

By the 1980s, WCOJ (which had been co-owned with Coatesville's local cable television system) became part of Lensfest Communications, which operated cable systems throughout the region before itself becoming acquired by Comcast in 1997. At that time, WCOJ was "spun off" and sold to former WPHI station manager Lloyd B. Roach. In 2003, Roach and venture capital firm acquired a group of radio stations in central and Northeast Pennsylvania and Southern New York state to form Route 81 Radio. WCOJ was absorbed into the Route 81 station group.

Bought by Philadelphia-based Holy Spirit Radio Foundation 2 October 2008 they began broadcasting on October 7, 2008 with a live Mass broadcast from the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul marking the 5th Anniversary of Cardinal Justin Rigali's installation as Archbishop of Philadelphia.

WCOJ alumni include:

* Ralph Penza (d 2007) - TV news anchor, WNBC, New York
* Kathy Gandolfo - Reporter, WPVI, Philadelphia
* Chris Carl - News Director, WDEL, Wilmington, Delaware
* Bob Kelly - Traffic Reporter, KYW-TV, Philadelphia
* Joe Thomas - Program Director/Mornings, WCHV and WKAV Charlottesville, VA
* Kevin Jaibur - Sales Manager, NewsTalk 990AM WNTP Philadelphia
* Robert Simcox - Creator of The Paranormal Cafe

External links

* [http://www.wcoj.com Official Site of WCOJ] Dead link|date=October 2008|date=October 2008
*AMQ|WCOJ
*AML|WCOJ
*AMARB|WCOJ