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WGST (AM)

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For the radio station in Atlanta that used this call sign from 1989 to 2020, see WBIN (AM). For other radio stations that previously used this call sign, see WGST.
WGST
Broadcast areaLaGrange - Newnan - West Central Georgia
Frequency720 kHz
Branding720 The Voice
Programming
FormatTalk
AffiliationsFox News Radio
Premiere Networks
Salem Radio Network
Ownership
Owner
WBIN, WBZW, WBZY, WRZX, WMGP, WRDG, WUBL, WWPW
History
First air date
August 12, 1985; 39 years ago (1985-08-12)
Former call signs
WMXY (1984–1999)
WGSE (1999–2003)
WVCC (2003–2020)
Call sign meaning
"Georgia School of Technology", now Georgia Tech; founders of WGST (920 AM), now WGKA
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID39620
ClassD
Power7,970 watts day
Transmitter coordinates
33°3′54.00″N 84°57′23.00″W / 33.0650000°N 84.9563889°W / 33.0650000; -84.9563889
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Website720thevoice.iheart.com

WGST (720 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Hogansville, Georgia, and serving West Central Georgia, including LaGrange and Newnan. It airs a talk radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Most programming on WGST is syndicated. It carries Premiere Networks shows from Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and "Clay Travis & Buck Sexton." From the Salem Radio Network it carries Hugh Hewitt and Larry Elder. On weekends, sports programming from the Fox Sports Radio Network is heard. On weekdays, most hours begin with Fox News Radio.

WGST transmits with power of 7,970 watts, using a non-directional antenna, but because it shares AM 720, the same frequency as Class A clear-channel station WGN in Chicago, WGST is a daytimer, required to be off the air at night when AM radio waves travel farther.

History

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The station was assigned the WMXY call sign on September 18, 1984;[2] it signed on August 12, 1985,[3] owned by Tharpe Communications and programming an urban contemporary format.[4] Tharpe sold the station to T. Wood and Associates for $5,000 in 1991; L.A. Wood was a principal of both companies.[5] Two years later, WMXY and its FM sister station, WEIZ, were sold to Magnolia Broadcasting for $200,000.[6] Magnolia sold the stations to First Georgia Broadcasting, owner of WKZJ in Greenville, for $145,000 in 1995;[7] the following year, First Georgia sold WVCC and what had become WZLG to Janz Broadcasting for $510,000.[8]

Janz Broadcasting sold WMXY and WZLG to Radio LaGrange for $975,000 in 1997, with a local marketing agreement commencing on December 1; Radio LaGrange's principals owned WCOH in Newnan and WMKJ in Peachtree City.[9] Jacor Communications announced a $4.4 million purchase of all four stations in January 1999;[10] Jacor was itself acquired by Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) a few months later.[3][11] WMXY changed its call sign to WGSE on July 12, 1999,[2] accompanied by a switch to a news/talk format;[12] the previous call sign was moved to WKBN-FM in Youngstown, Ohio.[13] The call sign was changed to WVCC on December 22, 2003, and to WGST on July 13, 2020.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ a b c "WGST Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ a b Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-164
  4. ^ Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook 1986 (PDF). 1986. p. B-75. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  5. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 12, 1991. p. 56. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Broadcasting Partners Gets Motown Duopoly With $40 Million For WMTG & WNIC" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 26, 1993. pp. 6–10. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "EZ Communications Creates Kansas City Duopoly For $35 Million" (PDF). Radio & Records. January 13, 1995. pp. 6–8. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Clear Channel Claims Heftel In $275 Million Stock Sale" (PDF). Radio & Records. June 7, 1996. pp. 6–8. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Elsewhere" (PDF). The M Street Journal. p. 9. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "Jacor expands into Georgia with four new stations". Cincinnati Business Courier. January 5, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  11. ^ "Closings Galore" (PDF). The M Street Journal. May 5, 1999. p. 1. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  12. ^ "Format Changes & Updates" (PDF). The M Street Journal. August 11, 1999. p. 1. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "Call Letter Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. July 28, 1999. p. 4. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
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