Share-times (was Fw: WTHT)

[Scott D Fybush <fybush@world.std.com>]

It's true that there are just two share-time AM situations left in
the US: WIBW Topeka and KKSU Manhattan KS on 580, and WCEV and 
WVON Cicero IL on 1450.

It's also true that the 1450 arrangement in Chicago dates back,
remarkably, only to 1978!  The whole situation escapes me, but
my recollection is that it involved the owners of the previous
1450 full-timer buying the much superior 1390 facility (ex-WGES,
WNUS, etc.) and moving the WVON ("Voice of the Negro") calls and
format down there.

The resulting gap on 1450 in those pre-duopoly days was filled
temporarily by an interim license issued to WFMT (98.7), which
simulcast its FM signal on AM 1450 for a year or so.  When the
permanent 1450 license was granted, two competing groups were
each given half-time on the signal...and eventually, one of the
groups re-acquired the WVON calls for its half when 1390 became
WGCI(AM).

That other Chicago split, the three-way 1240 situation, was
resolved a few years back when Diamond Broadcasting (WSBC) bought
out first WEDC, then WCRW, consolidating the frequency under the
WSBC calls.

A few other stray remnants of old share-times:

WSAJ Grove City PA: This college station still operates on 
Sundays only, with just 100 watts into (IIRC) a long-wire antenna
on 1340 (they also have a full-time FM).  It's because of them
that WOYL 1340 in nearby Oil City is one of the few graveyarders
with a directional antenna.

1230/1240 Los Angeles: Who even knows what the current calls
are...but for years, 1230 was KGFJ, serving the Black community, while
1240 was KPPC, operating one night a week and all day Sunday from the
Pasadena Presbyterian Church.  KGFJ was supposed to cut power from
250 watts to 100 watts when KPPC was on the air.  Eventually (circa
1995), 1230 bought out the Pasadena license and returned it to the FCC,
and the successor to KGFJ on 1230 is now full-time with 1kw.  (I think
the 1240 in San Bernardino may also have had to reduce power when
KPPC was operating).  KPPC's sister FM station evolved into today's
KROQ 106.7.

The Jaker et al. book referenced in the earlier post tells the story
of the many NYC frequencies that were once share-timers...ancestors
to today's WBBR, WADO, WWRV, WNSW, WZRC, and WWRL were all share-time
stations way back when.

I will leave it to Dan Strassberg to recount the tale of WHAZ...

-s