WCCL
Encyclopedia
WCCL is an American radio station
physically located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
located at 101.7 FM, but licensed to the community of Central City, Pennsylvania
. The oldies
formatted station is the radio home for Motown, Soul and Rock and Roll. The station is owned by the Results Radio Company.
, whose calls are used today by an AM station north of Somerset County in Homer City
.
Coincidentally, the construction permit for WCCS in Homer City was once owned by the former Ridge Communications, this station's competitor, known then as WVSC-AM (today as WNTW
) and WVSC-FM (today as WLKJ
). Ridge Communications had sold the license for the Homer City Station in 1982 after failing to raise enough capital to put it on the air.
The WCCS letters were given up in January 1981 for WWZE, and then WYSN upon its acquisition in May 1988 by a new owner.
WYSN was purchased in 1988 by Nor-Lin Broadcasters, Inc., then the licensee of AM 1330 WADJ
in Somerset, put on the air back in 1981 by Nor-Lin Broadcasters. Nor-Lin was a company headed by Johnstown radio and television legend Ron Lorence and his wife Norma. Ron Lorence was a regular presence on WJAC-TV
's locally-produced shows such as "Seniors Today" and "Scholastic Quiz", and is still heard as the voice of Pennsylvania's Allied Milk Producers' radio commercials.
Under Nor-Lin ownership, WYSN operated with a format of adult standards music provided by WestWood One's "Adult Standards" format, a rather unusual move for an FM station. The station moved to a more current adult contemporary sound in the mid 90's following a format change of crosstown competitor WVSC-FM from adult contemporary to contemporary country. Ron Lorence managed the station, his wife Norma kept the books, and son Brad served as the station's operations manager, continuing in that role until long after the stations were sold.
of Johnstown, which voted the duo as "Simply the Best Morning Radio Team" in a reader's survey, was bombarded with calls when listeners were suddenly informed that Lorence and Taylor were gone. Two months later, the manager who activated the decision to fire the duo, Chuck Jewell, was also terminated. Dame officials insisted the firing had nothing to do with Lorence and Taylor, that it was a cost-cutting measure. Jessica Taylor by this time had gone on to country-formatted competitor Froggy 95.
The following year, Dame Media decided to sell its radio interests in Johnstown to Results Radio Group, which included WLKJ
97.7 (formerly WVSC-FM), WCCL, and ESPN Radio 1330 in Somerset, also simulcast on 1490 in Johnstown. Results Radio, recognizing the past success of Lorence and Taylor, brought Jessica Taylor back to the WCCL morning show, which she continues to do today, but without Brad Lorence, who went on to pursue other interests.
, WBVH
, and WLKH to Forever Broadcasting Inc. (Carol Logan, president) for a reported combined sale price of $3 million. 2510 Licenses LLC (Nicholas Galli, managing member) still owns all four stations, pending FCC approval of the sale.
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...
physically located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
located at 101.7 FM, but licensed to the community of Central City, Pennsylvania
Central City, Pennsylvania
Central City is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,258 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. The 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....
formatted station is the radio home for Motown, Soul and Rock and Roll. The station is owned by the Results Radio Company.
History: Beginnings as WCCS
For many years, this station was known as WYSN, "Sunny 101". Licensed to Central City in Somerset County, the station first went on the air in 1972 as WCCSWCCS
WCCS is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Homer City, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, and 25 miles northwest of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. WCCS operates at the federally assigned frequency of 1160 kHz with a maximum daytime power output of 10,000 watts, and...
, whose calls are used today by an AM station north of Somerset County in Homer City
Homer City, Pennsylvania
Homer City is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,844 at the 2000 census. The Homer City Generating Station is located outside of Homer City but it takes its name from the borough. Homer City is located in the Indiana metro area...
.
Coincidentally, the construction permit for WCCS in Homer City was once owned by the former Ridge Communications, this station's competitor, known then as WVSC-AM (today as WNTW
WNTW (AM)
WNTW is an American radio station, licensed to serve Somerset, Pennsylvania; the seat of government for Somerset County. The station broadcasts on a frequency of 990 kHz and a maximum output power of 10,000 watts, using a two-tower directional antenna system...
) and WVSC-FM (today as WLKJ
WLKJ
WLKJ is a radio station in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, located at 105.7 MHz. WLKJ broadcasts the K-LOVE Network, and is owned by EMF Broadcasting.-History:...
). Ridge Communications had sold the license for the Homer City Station in 1982 after failing to raise enough capital to put it on the air.
The WCCS letters were given up in January 1981 for WWZE, and then WYSN upon its acquisition in May 1988 by a new owner.
WYSN was purchased in 1988 by Nor-Lin Broadcasters, Inc., then the licensee of AM 1330 WADJ
WBHV (AM)
WBHV is an American radio station, licensed to the community of Somerset, Pennsylvania. The station is licensed to operate at 1330 kHz, with a daytime power of 5,000 watts, and a nighttime power of 35 watts...
in Somerset, put on the air back in 1981 by Nor-Lin Broadcasters. Nor-Lin was a company headed by Johnstown radio and television legend Ron Lorence and his wife Norma. Ron Lorence was a regular presence on WJAC-TV
WJAC-TV
WJAC-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Allegheny area of Pennsylvania that is licensed to Johnstown. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter northwest of the city in Laurel Ridge State Park along the Cambria and Westmoreland County line....
's locally-produced shows such as "Seniors Today" and "Scholastic Quiz", and is still heard as the voice of Pennsylvania's Allied Milk Producers' radio commercials.
Under Nor-Lin ownership, WYSN operated with a format of adult standards music provided by WestWood One's "Adult Standards" format, a rather unusual move for an FM station. The station moved to a more current adult contemporary sound in the mid 90's following a format change of crosstown competitor WVSC-FM from adult contemporary to contemporary country. Ron Lorence managed the station, his wife Norma kept the books, and son Brad served as the station's operations manager, continuing in that role until long after the stations were sold.
Sale to Dame Media
Wanting to retire, Nor-Lin sold WADJ and WYSN in December 2000 to Dame Media, which had at the time owned WNTJ-AM and WMTZ-FM in Johnstown. At Dame's request, Ron Lorence stayed on as general manager for about a year, primarily to assist Dame with the transfer of ownership. Brad Lorence was promoted to station manager after his father decided it was time to retire for good, yet Brad Lorence still continued to do his live morning show over WYSN, which by this time has become WCCL, and had switched its format to oldies.Lorence and Taylor fired: Station sold
Without warning, Brad Lorence and morning show sidekick Jessica Taylor, who had been part of Somerset County morning radio for many years, were suddenly terminated in January 2004. The Tribune-DemocratThe Tribune-Democrat
The Tribune-Democrat is a seven-day morning daily newspaper published in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc....
of Johnstown, which voted the duo as "Simply the Best Morning Radio Team" in a reader's survey, was bombarded with calls when listeners were suddenly informed that Lorence and Taylor were gone. Two months later, the manager who activated the decision to fire the duo, Chuck Jewell, was also terminated. Dame officials insisted the firing had nothing to do with Lorence and Taylor, that it was a cost-cutting measure. Jessica Taylor by this time had gone on to country-formatted competitor Froggy 95.
The following year, Dame Media decided to sell its radio interests in Johnstown to Results Radio Group, which included WLKJ
WLKJ
WLKJ is a radio station in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, located at 105.7 MHz. WLKJ broadcasts the K-LOVE Network, and is owned by EMF Broadcasting.-History:...
97.7 (formerly WVSC-FM), WCCL, and ESPN Radio 1330 in Somerset, also simulcast on 1490 in Johnstown. Results Radio, recognizing the past success of Lorence and Taylor, brought Jessica Taylor back to the WCCL morning show, which she continues to do today, but without Brad Lorence, who went on to pursue other interests.
WCCL Today
Though WCCL is licensed to Somerset County, its studios and offices have been physically located in Johnstown since Dame Media purchased the station from the Lorence family. The studios and offices remain there today, but the station still focuses on the Johnstown and Somerset County area, with highly local appeal.Ownership
In November 2007, a deal was reached to sell WCCL plus co-owned stations WPRRWNTJ
WKGE is an American AM radio station licensed to broadcast on 850 kHz at 10 kW day and night, serving the community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania...
, WBVH
WBHV (AM)
WBHV is an American radio station, licensed to the community of Somerset, Pennsylvania. The station is licensed to operate at 1330 kHz, with a daytime power of 5,000 watts, and a nighttime power of 35 watts...
, and WLKH to Forever Broadcasting Inc. (Carol Logan, president) for a reported combined sale price of $3 million. 2510 Licenses LLC (Nicholas Galli, managing member) still owns all four stations, pending FCC approval of the sale.
Sources
- Fans Angrily Protest Somerset, Pa., Radio Station's Firing of Popular Hosts.
- Cost-Cutting Measures Continue at Johnstown, Pa.-Area Radio Station.