WGAU
Encyclopedia
WGAU is a radio station
licensed to serve Athens, Georgia
, United States, that broadcasts a News
/Talk
format. The transmitter is located at the studios (with WNGC)in the Five Points area of Downtown Athens.
WGAU began broadcasting on May 1, 1938. It was purchased in 1956 by Clarke Broadcasting Company, owned by H. Randolph Holder and Tom Lloyd, two broadcasters who also owned WLAQ in Rome, Georgia, and WGRI in Griffin, Georgia. Holder was a popular Athens newsman whose morning and midday news commentaries had a wide following.
The station has played many different musical formats before switching to the current format of news and talk in the early 1990s. Over the years, it served as a launching pad for a number of successful broadcasters who worked at WGAU during their student days at the Henry Grady College of Journalism at the nearby University of Georgia. These included Harry Chapman, later with WTVF in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bruce Bartley, the lead newscaster of Atlanta's WSB Radio.
Country legend Bill Anderson was a DJ on WGAU in the 1950s when he was 19, and was fired for playing country music. In an interview with Tim Bryant http://1340wgau.mypodcast.com/2008/03/Newsmakers_with_Tim_Bryant_March_05_2008-87919.html, Bill said H. Randolph Holder, owner of WGAU, offered him a job under the condition he would not play country music. One evening, Bill was running an Atlanta Crackers baseball game which became rained out. Instructions in the studio said if the game gets rained out, to switch to the CBS Radio Network. When Bill switched to the network, The "Louisiana Hay Ride" was on, and Johnny Horton's "Honky Tonk Man
" was playing. Before the song was finished, Holder had called Bill to get the program off the air. Holder fired Bill that following Monday, but got him a job at a new radio station in Commerce.
July 26, 1985, WGAU began broadcasting in AM STEREO.
WGAU, along with sister WNGC, was sold to Southern Broadcasting in 1999. In January 2008, it was announced that WGAU and WNGC were sold (along with sister stations WGMG
, WPUP
, WRFC
) to Cox Radio in Atlanta. WGAU was the home to many University of Georgia
sports, which air now on sister "Sports Radio 960 WRFC"
Current notable local programming includes "Athens Morning News" with Matt Caesar and Tim Bryant, "Liz Talk" with Liz Dalton, and "Newsmakers" with Tim Bryant. Notable syndicated programming includes talk shows by right-wing conservatives Neal Boortz
, Rush Limbaugh
, and Sean Hannity
, as well as consumer advocate Clark Howard
and the paranormal Coast to Coast AM
radio show.
The station is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball
.
The call letters, of course, refer to the University of Georgia.
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...
licensed to serve Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, United States, that broadcasts a News
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
/Talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format. The transmitter is located at the studios (with WNGC)in the Five Points area of Downtown Athens.
WGAU began broadcasting on May 1, 1938. It was purchased in 1956 by Clarke Broadcasting Company, owned by H. Randolph Holder and Tom Lloyd, two broadcasters who also owned WLAQ in Rome, Georgia, and WGRI in Griffin, Georgia. Holder was a popular Athens newsman whose morning and midday news commentaries had a wide following.
The station has played many different musical formats before switching to the current format of news and talk in the early 1990s. Over the years, it served as a launching pad for a number of successful broadcasters who worked at WGAU during their student days at the Henry Grady College of Journalism at the nearby University of Georgia. These included Harry Chapman, later with WTVF in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bruce Bartley, the lead newscaster of Atlanta's WSB Radio.
Country legend Bill Anderson was a DJ on WGAU in the 1950s when he was 19, and was fired for playing country music. In an interview with Tim Bryant http://1340wgau.mypodcast.com/2008/03/Newsmakers_with_Tim_Bryant_March_05_2008-87919.html, Bill said H. Randolph Holder, owner of WGAU, offered him a job under the condition he would not play country music. One evening, Bill was running an Atlanta Crackers baseball game which became rained out. Instructions in the studio said if the game gets rained out, to switch to the CBS Radio Network. When Bill switched to the network, The "Louisiana Hay Ride" was on, and Johnny Horton's "Honky Tonk Man
Honky Tonk Man (song)
"Honky Tonk Man" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Johnny Horton. It was released in March 1956 as his debut single, reaching #9 on the U.S. country singles charts...
" was playing. Before the song was finished, Holder had called Bill to get the program off the air. Holder fired Bill that following Monday, but got him a job at a new radio station in Commerce.
July 26, 1985, WGAU began broadcasting in AM STEREO.
WGAU, along with sister WNGC, was sold to Southern Broadcasting in 1999. In January 2008, it was announced that WGAU and WNGC were sold (along with sister stations WGMG
WGMG
WGMG is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Crawford, Georgia, USA with studios in Athens, Georgia. The station is owned by Cox Radio, Inc....
, WPUP
WPUP
WXKT is a radio station broadcasting a news talk format. Licensed to the town of Maysville, Georgia, it serves the Gainesville, Georgia metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1989 under the call sign WBIC. The station is currently owned by Cox Radio.-History:WXKT was first assigned...
, WRFC
WRFC (AM)
WRFC is a sports radio station licensed to Athens, Georgia, USA. The format was easy listening until the late 1960s, when it changed to a light rock format. The station was previously owned by Southern Broadcasting of Athens, Inc. until June 2008, when it was purchased, along with its sister...
) to Cox Radio in Atlanta. WGAU was the home to many University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
sports, which air now on sister "Sports Radio 960 WRFC"
Current notable local programming includes "Athens Morning News" with Matt Caesar and Tim Bryant, "Liz Talk" with Liz Dalton, and "Newsmakers" with Tim Bryant. Notable syndicated programming includes talk shows by right-wing conservatives Neal Boortz
Neal Boortz
Neal A. Boortz, Jr. is an American Libertarian radio host, author, and political commentator. His nationally syndicated talk show, The Neal Boortz Show, airs throughout the United States on Dial Global . It is ranked seventh in overall listeners, with 4.25+ million per week...
, Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, and Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
, as well as consumer advocate Clark Howard
Clark Howard
Clark Howard , is a popular U.S. talk radio host of the nationally syndicated consumer advocate program The Clark Howard Show. The show covers consumer and financial news, with advice on how to spend less, save more and avoid rip-offs...
and the paranormal Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
radio show.
The station is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
WGAU Schedule
| Time Slot | Radio Program |
|---|---|
| Midnight-6 AM | Coast to Coast AM Coast to Coast AM Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently... |
| 6-8:45 | Athens' Morning News* |
| 8:45-9 AM | Barbara Dooley Dooley Dooley is an Irish surname, and may refer to:* Bill Dooley, American football coach* Billy Dooley, Irish hurling player* Brian Dooley, British television writer* Cal Dooley, American politician* Charlie Dooley, American politician... * |
| 9-10 AM | Newsmakerswith Tim Bryant* |
| 10AM-Noon | Neal Boortz Neal Boortz Neal A. Boortz, Jr. is an American Libertarian radio host, author, and political commentator. His nationally syndicated talk show, The Neal Boortz Show, airs throughout the United States on Dial Global . It is ranked seventh in overall listeners, with 4.25+ million per week... |
| Noon-3PM | The Rush Limbaugh Show The Rush Limbaugh Show The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks... |
| 3-6PM | The Sean Hannity Show The Sean Hannity Show The Sean Hannity Show is a talk radio show hosted by Sean Hannity on Citadel Media and Premiere Radio Networks. The program is broadcast live every weekday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m... |
| 6-9PM | Clark Howard Clark Howard Clark Howard , is a popular U.S. talk radio host of the nationally syndicated consumer advocate program The Clark Howard Show. The show covers consumer and financial news, with advice on how to spend less, save more and avoid rip-offs... |
| 9PM-Midnight | Laura Ingrahm |
- = a local show
The call letters, of course, refer to the University of Georgia.