WAIZ
Encyclopedia
WAIZ is a radio station
broadcasting an oldies
format to the Hickory, North Carolina
, USA area. The station is currently owned by Newton-Conover Communications, Inc.
The format recreates a format resembling a 1960s Top 40 station by using the jingles and other airchecks from WAYS (which was the original "Big Ways"), a legendary Charlotte Top 40 station from the 1960s. Since the callsign and frequency of the original "Big Ways" was different, the jingles and airchecks used are those that feature the words "Big Ways" rather than the actual callsign or frequency.
WAIZ's music is drawn largely from the late 1950s and early 1960s, an era largely ignored by many oldies stations in their efforts to appeal to Baby Boomers. It often refers to its music as "Real Oldies".
The morning drive time is the only time that the station features live on-air announcers, when it simulcasts with its corporate sibling WNNC
from nearby Newton, North Carolina
. During this time, the music shifts to oldies from the 60's and 70's, which form the basis of WNNC's playlist. This portion of the broadcast day also features a filler segment called "Something You Should Know" at 8:30 AM. During the rest of the broadcast day, the station utilizes an automated format, with no live on-air personalities. Songs are played back-to-back, separated by various forms of the station's jingle, pre-recorded weather forecasts, or a filler segment from The History Channel
called "This Week in History."
On Saturdays and Sundays at noon the station broadcasts The Elvis Only Hour, an hour of music exclusively from "The King."
WAIZ airs headline news segments from ABC Radio on the hour and half hour. At the start of the hour, WAIZ does not broadcast the full newscast, but rather, simply the first 2 minutes, similar to the brief newscasts that Top 40 stations of the 1960s often broadcast in their efforts to play as much music as possible. At 30 minutes past the hour, WAIZ airs the full newscast. On weekends and evenings, WAIZ airs sports headlines from ABC Radio at 20 minutes past the hour.
The station broadcasts the audio portion of the local newscast of Charlotte's WSOC-TV
from 6:00 to 6:30 PM Monday through Friday.
WAIZ began carrying broadcasts of the Charlotte Bobcats
games during the 2010-2011 season.
WAIZ features a relatively low number of commercials, with most commercial messages airing during the live morning drive time segment. Often, instead of airing commercials, WAIZ starts and ends a broadcast hour with messages stating the name of the sponsor for that hour of "Real Oldies", similar to underwriting credits read on noncommercial stations.
.
In 1977 the station was sold to new owners, along with sister station WXRC
.
From 1980, probably earlier, until sometime after 1982, the station broadcast a Country Music
format using the Drake-Chenault
Great American Country programming service.
As late as 1982, the transmitter site remained at the original location. Sometime after 1982, the owners of WIRC bought out another Hickory AM radio station. They moved the WIRC studios into those of the other station and began transmitting on 630 from the other station's transmitter site, still using the WIRC call letters.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format to the Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
, USA area. The station is currently owned by Newton-Conover Communications, Inc.
The format recreates a format resembling a 1960s Top 40 station by using the jingles and other airchecks from WAYS (which was the original "Big Ways"), a legendary Charlotte Top 40 station from the 1960s. Since the callsign and frequency of the original "Big Ways" was different, the jingles and airchecks used are those that feature the words "Big Ways" rather than the actual callsign or frequency.
WAIZ's music is drawn largely from the late 1950s and early 1960s, an era largely ignored by many oldies stations in their efforts to appeal to Baby Boomers. It often refers to its music as "Real Oldies".
The morning drive time is the only time that the station features live on-air announcers, when it simulcasts with its corporate sibling WNNC
WNNC
WNNC is a radio station broadcasting an oldies music format and licensed to serve the community of Newton, North Carolina. The station is currently owned by Newton-Conover Communications....
from nearby Newton, North Carolina
Newton, North Carolina
Newton is a city located in Catawba County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 12,560. It is the county seat of Catawba County.Newton is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. During this time, the music shifts to oldies from the 60's and 70's, which form the basis of WNNC's playlist. This portion of the broadcast day also features a filler segment called "Something You Should Know" at 8:30 AM. During the rest of the broadcast day, the station utilizes an automated format, with no live on-air personalities. Songs are played back-to-back, separated by various forms of the station's jingle, pre-recorded weather forecasts, or a filler segment from The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
called "This Week in History."
On Saturdays and Sundays at noon the station broadcasts The Elvis Only Hour, an hour of music exclusively from "The King."
WAIZ airs headline news segments from ABC Radio on the hour and half hour. At the start of the hour, WAIZ does not broadcast the full newscast, but rather, simply the first 2 minutes, similar to the brief newscasts that Top 40 stations of the 1960s often broadcast in their efforts to play as much music as possible. At 30 minutes past the hour, WAIZ airs the full newscast. On weekends and evenings, WAIZ airs sports headlines from ABC Radio at 20 minutes past the hour.
The station broadcasts the audio portion of the local newscast of Charlotte's WSOC-TV
WSOC-TV
WSOC-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. The station's studio is located at North Tryon and 23rd Streets, just north of Uptown Charlotte, and is shared with sister station WAXN-TV . The transmitter is located just outside...
from 6:00 to 6:30 PM Monday through Friday.
WAIZ began carrying broadcasts of the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
games during the 2010-2011 season.
WAIZ features a relatively low number of commercials, with most commercial messages airing during the live morning drive time segment. Often, instead of airing commercials, WAIZ starts and ends a broadcast hour with messages stating the name of the sponsor for that hour of "Real Oldies", similar to underwriting credits read on noncommercial stations.
History
WAIZ signed on in 1948 as WIRC from a transmitter site in southeast Hickory, North CarolinaHickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
.
In 1977 the station was sold to new owners, along with sister station WXRC
WXRC
WXRC is a 70s rock-based Classic Hits radio station located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The station is licensed to Hickory, North Carolina and broadcasts with an ERP of 100 kW.-History:...
.
From 1980, probably earlier, until sometime after 1982, the station broadcast a Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format using the Drake-Chenault
Drake-Chenault
Drake-Chenault Enterprises was a radio syndication company that specialized in automation on FM radio stations. The company was founded in the late-1960s by radio programmer and deejay Bill Drake , and his business partner, Lester Eugene Chenault...
Great American Country programming service.
As late as 1982, the transmitter site remained at the original location. Sometime after 1982, the owners of WIRC bought out another Hickory AM radio station. They moved the WIRC studios into those of the other station and began transmitting on 630 from the other station's transmitter site, still using the WIRC call letters.