WCSL

Infobox Radio station
name = WCSL


city = Cherryville, North Carolina
area =
branding =
slogan = Hometown Radio Network
airdate =
frequency = 1590 kHz
format = Southern Gospel
power = 1000 Watts day, 42 watts night
erp =
haat =
class = D
facility_id =
coordinates = coord|35|22|28|N|81|24|23|W
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = HRN Broadcasting
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast = [http://216.249.100.82:8080/wcsl Listen Live]
website = [http://www.hrnb.com/wcsl_index.html hrnb.com]
affiliations =

WCSL (1590 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Cherryville, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Hrn Broadcasting, Inc. and features programing from Jones Radio Network.The station has obtained a construction permit from the FCC for a power increase to 10,000 watts day. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WCSL |title=WCSL Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ] [cite web|url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SU08&band=fm&callLetter=WCSL|title=WCSL Station Information Profile|publisher=Arbitron]

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

History

Don Curtis started WCSL in 1967. In 1983, Calvin Hastings bought WCSL and doubled its power from 500 to 1000 watts. Six years later, he bought WGNC in Gastonia and started KTC Broadcasting. In 1992 he bought WOHS in Shelby and began calling the three stations Piedmont Superstations ["Radio Station WCSL Celebrates 25 Years," "The Charlotte Observer", September 27, 1992.] .

WCSL, WGNC and WOHS began airing Atlanta Braves baseball in 1993 [John Glennon, "Radio Stations to Broadcast Braves Baseball Next Season," "The Charlotte Observer", December 19, 1992.] .

On April 1, 1993, KTC took over WLON in Lincolnton in a lease agreement. WLON's Tim Biggerstaff would remain as morning DJ, and his show would be heard on all four KTC stations. News for the entire area would be expanded. The four stations aired UNC football and basketball, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins NFL football, and CBS coverage of such events as The World Series and The Super Bowl [Joe Marusak, "New Owner Will Cut Positions at WLON," "The Charlotte Observer", March 24, 1993.] .

The four stations added the NFL Carolina Panthers when the team began playing in 1995. They also aired games of the NBA Charlotte Hornets [David Poole, "Sports Finds Many Homes on Dial," "The Charlotte Observer", October 4, 1995.] In 2000, the stations began airing the Redskins again instead of the Panthers (WGNC aired the Panthers if there was no conflict) [David Scott, "Sports Business," "The Charlotte Observer", November 20, 2000.] .

Late in 1999, the four stations changed from country music to "super oldies." Biggerstaff, the program director, said country had moved away from its tradional sound. Lillie White remained as midday host, and Andy Foster was afternoon host. Local and sports remained important, and the stations aired the One-on-One sports radio network at night [Sharon E. White, "Up-Tempo Oldies Push Country Aside at 4 Stations in Regional AM Network," "The Charlotte Observer", December 5, 1999.] .

In 2004, Biggerstaff was still hosting his show on WCSL and WLON despite diabetes-related health problems [Joe DePriest, "New Friend Offers Gift for Ailing DJ," "The Charlotte Observer", April 14, 2004.] . Later he moved to Lincolnton-based Hometown Radio's Shelby operation. On WADA he played classic country music, and he hosted a "Swap Shop" show on WGNC and WOHS. By this time he had experienced a kidney transplant and two pancreas transplants [Joe DePriest, "DJ's Listeners Friends in Need and in Deed," "The Charlotte Observer", June 7, 2007.] .

References

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