WCNN

Infobox Radio station
name = WCNN


city = North Atlanta, Georgia
area = Atlanta metropolitan area
branding = "680 The Fan"
slogan = "Atlanta's Sports Station"
airdate = 1967
frequency = 680 kHz
format = Sports/Talk
power = 50,000 Watts daytime,
10,000 Watts nightime
erp =
coordinates = coord|33.961551|N|84.262776|W|type:landmark
class = B
facility_id = 56389
callsign_meaning = W
Cable
News
Network
(CNN Headline News, the former news radio format carried by the station)
former_callsigns = WRNG, WGTW
owner = Dickey Broadcasting Company
webcast = [http://www.streamaudio.com/stations/asx/WCNN_AM.asx Listen Live]
website = [http://www.680thefan.com/ 680thefan.com]
affiliations = ESPN Radio

WCNN is an AM station broadcasting on a frequency of 680 kHz and serving the Atlanta radio market with a sports radio format. The station is commonly known by the on air branding as "680 The Fan". The last three letters of its callsign represents the Cable News Network. The station formerly broadcast the audio portion of the CNN Headline News channel along with some local news and commercials, a news radio format that the station pioneered in the 1980s and re-appeared on the station during the station's history [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] . WCNN broadcasts with a power of 50,000 Watts during the daytime, and 10,000 Watts during nighttime and is actually licensed to North Atlanta with transmitter and towers located near Norcross, Georgia (in the northern Atlanta suburbs).

History

"680" began as WRNG, Atlanta's first talk radio station [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] . The last three letters of the callsign represented the station's branding as "Ring Radio". It was the first broadcast home of talk radio personality Neal Boortz, now on WSB and syndicated nationally [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] . Other, now well known talk radio personalities were also heard on the station, including KGO's Ronn Owens, San Francisco, Southern Humorist Ludlow Porch, and KFYI's Barry Young, Phoenix.

In 1982, the station began an experiment by broadcasting the audio feed of CNN Headline News [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] . The call letters were changed to WCNN [ [http://www.jeffreyleachman.com/AtlantaAM.html Jeffrey Leachman - Atlanta, Georgia AM Radio Directory ] ] . While no longer on WCNN, the CNN Headline News audio feed continues today on many radio stations in the United States as a satellite-delivered service of Westwood One.

In February 1987, the station temporarily switched to a Adult standards radio format and changed its call letters to WGTW [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] [ [http://www.jeffreyleachman.com/AtlantaAM.html Jeffrey Leachman - Atlanta, Georgia AM Radio Directory ] ] . The last three letters of the WGTW representing the movie "Gone with the Wind". The station went by the branding "Stardust 680" during that time [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] [ [http://www.jeffreyleachman.com/AtlantaAM.html Jeffrey Leachman - Atlanta, Georgia AM Radio Directory ] ] . The radio format failed to gain ratings in the market. In late 1988, The station became WCNN All News 680, with a 24 hour local news format. The CNN Headline News audio and returned in June 1990 when the local all news format failed to generate sufficient ratings. [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] [ [http://www.jeffreyleachman.com/AtlantaAM.html Jeffrey Leachman - Atlanta, Georgia AM Radio Directory ] ] . In 1995, WCNN was leased to Cox Radio for a 5 year term. The radio format was switched to Sports Talk as "680 The Fan" [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] [ [http://www.jeffreyleachman.com/AtlantaAM.html Jeffrey Leachman - Atlanta, Georgia AM Radio Directory ] ] . In 1998, the format switched to news/talk to compliment WSB's programming [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] . In 2000, when the LMA expired, control of WCNN returned to Dickey Broadcasting [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] . "680 The Fan" branding and the sports radio format returned to WCNN [ [http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/radio/am.html Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations ] ] [ [http://www.jeffreyleachman.com/AtlantaAM.html Jeffrey Leachman - Atlanta, Georgia AM Radio Directory ] ] .

WCNN carries the Atlanta Thrashers (NHL hockey) and the Auburn Tigers (college football) radio networks. WCNN is also an affiliate of ESPN Radio.

References

External links

* [http://www.680thefan.com/ 680 The Fan - Official Site]
*AMQ|WCNN
*AML|WCNN
** [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WCNN&service=AM&status=L&hours=D WCNN's Daytime Signal Covergae Map according to Radio-Locator.com]
** [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WCNN&service=AM&status=L&hours=N WCNN's Nighttime Signal Covergae Map according to Radio-Locator.com]
*AMARB|WCNN