WHIM
Encyclopedia
WLKW is a radio station
licensed to West Warwick, Rhode Island
, USA. The station is the ESPN Radio
affiliate for Rhode Island and is owned by Hall Communications. WLKW was an affiliate of the Pawsox Radio Network
until 2009.
Owner Ernie Tannen installed Jim Hooker, later to become a successful radio sales trainer, as the general manager. He hired Bill Hennes, then programming WNHC in New Haven, Ct., as a consultant in hopes of competing for Providence ad dollars. He put in place a Drake-like format using Johnny Mann jingles, however the station had to be oldies based since there were already two established hit-music stations in greater Providence along with several other stations that bled in from outside the market. The station failed to make a dent in WPRO's dominance, but since they sounded big they attracted listeners. Their 1,000-watt daytime signal made them listenable in Providence, but in those days they had to cut power to 250 watts at night which limited them to just Kent County after dark.
The station was one of the great launching pads for air talent in the northeast. During its brief lifespan an all-star team went through there. Among the many were Buzz Brindle, Jack Casey, G. Michael McKay, Dusty Brooks, Paul Payton, Bill Donovan, Jim Edwards & Charlie Stone.
. The calls stood for "50 kilowatts", as L is the Roman numeral for 50 & KW is the abbreviation for kilowatt(s). The W signifies that the call is east of the Mississippi River. WLKW began broadcasting April 12, 1961 & was primarily known as an easy listening station. In the 1960s, WLKW-FM/101.5 (now WWBB
) was added to the fold & primarily became the main station with the A.M. becoming an afterthought.
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 West Warwick, Rhode Island
West Warwick, Rhode Island
West Warwick is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 29,191 at the 2010 census.West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state. Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the western bank of the Pawtuxet River, was the population and...
, USA. The station is the ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
affiliate for Rhode Island and is owned by Hall Communications. WLKW was an affiliate of the Pawsox Radio Network
Pawsox Radio Network
The Pawsox Radio Network is the radio network of the Pawtucket Red Sox, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. There are 9 stations in the network, including the flagship & part-time stations.-Massachusetts :...
until 2009.
History of 1450
The AM 1450 frequency was a longtime home to WWRI & WKRI, both community stations serving the West Warwick area. WWRI began broadcasting August 15, 1956. Around 1970, the station was bought by MediAmerica Broadcasting, the company that owned WYRE (a daytimer on 810 kHz) that put a listenable signal into both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. with just 500 watts. They changed the calls to WSVP.Owner Ernie Tannen installed Jim Hooker, later to become a successful radio sales trainer, as the general manager. He hired Bill Hennes, then programming WNHC in New Haven, Ct., as a consultant in hopes of competing for Providence ad dollars. He put in place a Drake-like format using Johnny Mann jingles, however the station had to be oldies based since there were already two established hit-music stations in greater Providence along with several other stations that bled in from outside the market. The station failed to make a dent in WPRO's dominance, but since they sounded big they attracted listeners. Their 1,000-watt daytime signal made them listenable in Providence, but in those days they had to cut power to 250 watts at night which limited them to just Kent County after dark.
The station was one of the great launching pads for air talent in the northeast. During its brief lifespan an all-star team went through there. Among the many were Buzz Brindle, Jack Casey, G. Michael McKay, Dusty Brooks, Paul Payton, Bill Donovan, Jim Edwards & Charlie Stone.
History of callsign
WLKW was first assigned in the Providence market to A.M. 990, now WALEWALE
WALE is a radio station licensed to the community of Greenville, Rhode Island, and serving the Providence, Rhode Island, area. The station is owned by Cumbre Communications Corp. The station is currently silent.-WLKW:...
. The calls stood for "50 kilowatts", as L is the Roman numeral for 50 & KW is the abbreviation for kilowatt(s). The W signifies that the call is east of the Mississippi River. WLKW began broadcasting April 12, 1961 & was primarily known as an easy listening station. In the 1960s, WLKW-FM/101.5 (now WWBB
WWBB
WWBB is a radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. The station mainly plays classic hits and oldies from the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s. The station is also carried as background music on several Public-access television cable TV in southeastern Massachusetts...
) was added to the fold & primarily became the main station with the A.M. becoming an afterthought.