VOCM (AM)

Infobox Radio station
name = VOCM


area = St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
branding = 590 VOCM
slogan = Depend On It
airdate = October 19, 1936
frequency = 590 kHz (AM)
format = Full service (News/Talk/Country music)
erp =
class =
owner = Newcap Broadcasting
website = [http://www.vocm.com/ VOCM]
callsign_meaning = Voice of the Common Man

VOCM (Voice of the Common Man) is an AM radio station in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, broadcasting at 590 kHz. Owned by Newcap Broadcasting, VOCM first went on the air in 1936. Through the "VOCM/CFCB All-Newfoundland and Labrador Radio Network" of AM stations owned by Newcap, VOCM programming is carried throughout the province.

History

VOCM was started by Walter B. Williams and his father in the family home at 80 Circular Road in St. John's. Williams was very interested in radio, and had attended training at the Radio Corporation of America and the Radio Training Schools in the United States.

On December 22, 1933, Williams (through his company, Atlantic Broadcasting Co.) was issued a licence by the Newfoundland Post and Telegraph Department to operate a station from the second floor of the aforementioned family home. With the transmitter and other equipment built by Walter, VOCM began operations as an experimental father-son station operating only a few hours a day. The station's antenna was built in the backyard and the technical equipment was placed in a backroom on the main floor. VOCM for some time had truly been a family affair, with Walter Williams Jr. later to join him in working long hours at the radio station for many years.

Later in 1937, Joseph Butler joined Williams as a partner in VOCM radio, through Colonial Broadcasting System Ltd. In 1954, Joseph Butler died in a plane accident, and in 1958 Joseph Butler Jr. acquired control of the company. Williams continued to work with the company until two years before his death in 1974.

In 1982, Colonial Broadcasting System changed its name to VOCM Radio Newfoundland Ltd. By this time the company had established a network of stations throughout eastern and central Newfoundland, as well as a sister FM station, VOCM-FM.

In May 2000, the assets of VOCM Radio were acquired by Harry Steele's company Newfoundland Capital Corporation, which now operates the stations as part of the Steele Communications division of Newcap Radio.

Programming

VOCM is perhaps best known for its talk shows, including "Open Line" with Randy Simms, "Backtalk" with Bill Rowe, and "Night Line" with Linda Swain. where Newfoundland and Labrador-related issues are discussed with callers and emails sent to the station are read and discussed. The shows are popular among Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Although Simms is currently the mayor of the St. John's suburb of Mount Pearl, and Rowe was a former leader of the provincial Liberal party, these shows are generally considered to be non-partisan and are not driven by the hosts' personalities, unlike the majority of contemporary North American talk radio programs. That said, accusations of partisan activity by specific callers, such as political staffers calling in the guise of "regular joes", have been made from time to time.

"Open Line" airs Monday to Friday 9:00am to 11:30am [cite web|url=http://www.vocm.com/Vocmpage.asp?id=2|title=VOCM Open Line|accessdate=2008-08-20] , "Back Talk" airs Monday to Friday 2:00pm to 4:00pm [cite web|url=http://www.vocm.com/Vocmpage.asp?id=11|title=VOCM Back Talk|accessdate=2008-08-20] and "Night Line" airs Sunday through Thursday from 8:00pm to midnight. [cite web|url=http://www.vocm.com/Vocmpage.asp?id=3|title=VOCM Night Line|accessdate=2008-08-20] All are carried by the full VOCM, CFCB, and Radio Labrador group of stations.

Newscasts generally air every hour on the hour, as well as at 5:30 a.m, 6:30 a.m., 7:25 a.m., 7:45 a.m. (there is no 8:00 a.m. newscast), 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m, and 5:30 p.m. The 7:45 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. newscasts are considered to be the station's "major" newscasts and are carried by all VOCM network stations; the latter two are also carried by the CFCB stations.

Outside of its talk programming, VOCM generally uses a country music format. Other specific programs include: the "VOCM Morning Show" (5:30am to 9:00am), which carries a variety of information features (such as school information) in addition to some country music; the "Saturday Night Cabin Party", which is devoted to classic country music from the 1950s to the 1980s; and the "Irish Newfoundland Show", playing Newfoundland music. [cite web|url=http://www.vocm.com/Vocmpage.asp?id=1|title=VOCM Morning Show|accessdate=2008-08-20] The station also airs quickie features (such as "Would You Believe?") throughout the day.

Miscellaneous

VOCM and its sister station VOCM-FM are among just four radio stations in Canada whose call letters do not begin with "C". The other two, VOAR and VOWR, also broadcast in St. John's. The three AM stations first aired before Newfoundland joined Canadian Confederation in 1949; VOCM-FM adopted the callsign in 1982 because of its corporate association with VOCM. The ITU prefix VO was originally assigned to Newfoundland and remains in use by radio amateurs.

Newcap also owns a number of other AM stations in Newfoundland and Labrador that use VOCM as their main or secondary brand. These stations all have "C" callsigns.

References

External links

* [http://www.vocm.com/ VOCM Radio Network]
*RecnetCanada|VOCM