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WCCN

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WCCN
The Central Wisconsin Broadcasting radio facility in the Wisconsin Pavilion in Neillsville
Frequency1370 kHz
BrandingMemories 1370 AM/98.5 FM
Programming
FormatSoft adult contemporary
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
OwnerCentral Wisconsin Broadcasting, Inc.
WCCN-FM, WDLB, WOSQ, WPKG
History
First air date
September 23, 1957 (1957-09-23)
Call sign meaning
Wisconsin, Clark County, Neillsville[1]
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID10027
ClassD
Power
  • 5,000 watts day
  • 42 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
44°34′18.7″N 90°35′8.5″W / 44.571861°N 90.585694°W / 44.571861; -90.585694
Translator(s)98.5 W253CN (Neillsville)
Links
Public license information
Websitecwbradio.com/stations/memories-1370-985/
WCCN-FM
Frequency107.5 MHz
Branding107.5 The Rock
Programming
FormatActive rock
AffiliationsPackers Radio Network[3]
Ownership
OwnerCentral Wisconsin Broadcasting, Inc.
History
First air date
July 11, 1964 (1964-07-11)
Former call signs
WZZN (4/1/1991-4/2/1991)
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID10029
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT176 meters
Transmitter coordinates
44°35′30.4″N 90°37′9.9″W / 44.591778°N 90.619417°W / 44.591778; -90.619417 (WCCN-FM)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitecwbradio.com/stations/1075-the-rock/

WCCN (1370 AM) and WCCN-FM (107.5 FM) are radio stations in Neillsville, Wisconsin, United States. The stations are owned by Central Wisconsin Broadcasting, Inc., and broadcast soft adult contemporary and active rock formats, respectively, from studios in the Wisconsin Pavilion and transmitter sites north of the city. WCCN-AM's signal is additionally relayed full-time over low-power translator W253CN (98.5 FM), also licensed to Neillsville.

WCCN went on the air in 1957 as the first local radio station for Clark County, followed by the FM counterpart in 1964. Central Wisconsin Broadcasting purchased the Wisconsin Pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair, which had already been disassembled and moved to Wisconsin, and reassembled it as the studios for the WCCN stations in 1967. The Grap family, the current owners, bought the stations in 1976. The stations operated as one program service airing country music until 1992, when the FM flipped to a rock format and the AM to adult standards.

History

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Early years

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On December 15, 1956, Central Wisconsin Broadcasting, Inc., filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a new radio station in Neillsville. Initially proposing a 1,000-watt daytime-only operation on 1260 kHz, the application was amended to 1370 kHz in April 1957, and the FCC granted the construction permit on June 27.[5] WCCN debuted September 23, 1957, as the first local radio station for Clark County; 2,000 people toured the station at a dedication ceremony days later.[6] Seeking to increase the population served by more than 42,000, WCCN filed to increase power to 5,000 watts in July 1958;[7] the FCC approved the application a year later, and the increase was carried out on July 20, 1959.[8]

Four years later, Central Wisconsin Broadcasting applied for an FM station on 105.5 MHz. WCCN-FM received a construction permit on March 20, 1964,[9] and began broadcasting on July 11. It allowed WCCN to extend broadcasting into the evening hours, beyond the AM station's sunset sign-off.[10] A year later, the station was approved to move to 107.5 MHz, where its effective radiated power was raised from 3 to 100 kW.[9] The stations, having tried several formats, settled on a simulcast full-service country music format incorporating local news and community programming.[1]

Wisconsin Pavilion

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Main article: Wisconsin Pavilion

In November 1965, Central Wisconsin Broadcasting acquired the dismantled Wisconsin Pavilion, previously erected at the 1964 New York World's Fair, for $41,000. It had been acquired by a Boscobel man, Ivan Wilcox; with no local interest in funding its reconstruction, Wilcox put it up for sale again with the stipulation that it remain in the state.[11] Central Wisconsin Broadcasting planned to locate the WCCN stations inside the pavilion and add a basement as part of reassembly.[12] Architect John Steinmann provided assistance in the reassembly of the structure.[11] When the building was rededicated in July 1967, it housed the radio station, other companies, and a gift shop.[13]

Over the years, other roadside attractions were added. In 1966, a 16-foot (4.9 m)-tall replica of a Holstein cow, named "Chatty Belle", was erected by Central Wisconsin Broadcasting for the Clark County Fair and then moved near the pavilion.[14] Also added was the semi-truck that carried a world-record wheel of cheese to the World's Fair, as well as a replica of the cheese itself.[11]

Grap family ownership

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Howard Sturtz Jr. sold his remaining interest in the WCCN stations and Central Wisconsin Broadcasting to J. Wayne Grap in 1976; the sale allowed Stultz to focus on his orchestra.[15] Wayne's son, Keith Grap, bought the company—as well as the Pavilion and the gift shop inside—from his father a decade later.[a] During this time, WCCN struggled as country music stations in larger city markets took away listenership. With a high debt load from overpaying for the business, Grap split the stations into separate program services in 1992. WCCN AM became an adult standards–formatted station known as Memories and continued to broadcast all of the local service programming, while WCCN-FM became The Rock with a classic rock format.[1]

AM former logo

Central Wisconsin Broadcasting has since expanded its cluster beyond the WCCN stations. In 2004, WPKG (92.7 FM) debuted with an adult contemporary format.[17] Into the 2010s, WCCN kept its standards format with weekend polka music.[18] The firm acquired two more radio stations—WOSQ, licensed to Spencer, and Marshfield-licensed WDLB—from Seehafer Broadcasting in 2021. By this time, WCCN AM was airing a soft adult contemporary format.[19]

Notes

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  1. ^ They owned 49 percent by 1991, when they acquired the remainder from Wayne Grap.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Gerretsen, Thom (August 15, 1999). "On the Air: Having found their format niches, locally owned WCCN radio stations continue to ride the". Stevens Point Journal. Stevens Point, Wisconsin. p. D-2. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCCN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Packers Radio Network". Green Bay Packers. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCCN-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ "History Cards for WCCN(AM)". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "Dedication of Radio Station Draws 2,000". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. September 30, 1957. p. 11. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Radio Station WCCN Asks Power Increase". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. July 10, 1958. p. 10. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Clark County: Power Boost Approved for Radio Station". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. July 18, 1959. p. 8. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "History Cards for WCCN-FM". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  10. ^ "WCCN Radio Given FM Service Permit". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. July 13, 1964. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c "Pavilion, trailer now housed at Neillsville". The Country Today. Eau Claire, Wisconsin. February 1, 1984. p. 17. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "World Fair Building to House Neillsville Firm". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. November 16, 1965. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Clark County: Pavilion Draws 5,000 Visitors". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. July 17, 1967. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Giant 'Holstein' To Greet Neillsville Fair Visitors". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. July 27, 1966. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Radio station sale approved at Neillsville". Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire, Wisconsin. January 28, 1976. p. 6B. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Transactions". Radio & Records. February 8, 1991. p. 12. ProQuest 1017243690.
  17. ^ Conn, Matt (February 26, 2004). "'The Rock' owners launch new FM radio station". The Daily Tribune. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. p. 3A. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Adams, Barry (September 14, 2014). "Fair's spirit alive in Neillsville". Wisconsin State Journal. p. B1. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Venta, Lance (October 29, 2021). "Station Sales Week Of 10/29". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
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