WZGV

WZGV-AM "ESPN 730" is a Sports talk radio station, affiliated with ESPN Radio. Licensed to Cramerton, North Carolina and owned by HRN Broadcasting, the station broadcasts to the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

History of WOHS

Robert Wallace formed Western Carolina Radio Corporation in 1945 with the intent to sign on a station in Western North Carolina. He was granted a license for 730 AM with the call letters WOHS, with the transmitter located in Shelby just off Hwy 74 East. The station signed on the air August 21, 1946. Wallace signed the station on and then turned over the programming to Hugh Dover. Dover was known as the 'Happy Birthday Man' for his daily renditions to whoever was celebrating that particular day. A mainstay of homes in the community, Dover's popular "Carolina in the Morning" show would run 38 years until Dover's semi-retirement in 1984. One popular guest on the show was Cleveland County native and bluegrass legend, Earl Scruggs. Scruggs and Dover had been childhood friends, growing up in the Flint Hill Community of Cleveland County^{[citation needed]}.

When Don Gibson hosted "Sons of the Soil" in the early 1950s, he told Jonas Bridges, an announcer on the show, that he would write a song that would make him rich. Bridges didn't believe him, but he ended up playing "Oh Lonesome Me" on WKMT in 1957.^[1]

Doug Limerick, now an ABC News anchor, worked at WOHS at night while in high school, playing Top 40.^[2]

In 1992, Calvin Hastings, who bought WCSL in Cherryville in 1983 and WGNC in Gastonia six years later, bought WOHS and began calling the three stations Piedmont Superstations.^[3]

WCSL, WGNC and WOHS began airing Atlanta Braves baseball in 1993.^[4]

On April 1, 1993, Hastings' KTC Broadcasting took over WLON in Lincolnton in a lease agreement. WLON's Tim Biggerstaff would remain as morning DJ, and his show would be heard on all four KTC stations. News for the entire area would be expanded. The four stations aired UNC-Chapel Hill football and basketball, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins NFL football, and CBS coverage of such events as The World Series and The Super Bowl.^[5]

The four stations added the NFL Carolina Panthers when the team began playing in 1995. They also aired games of the NBA Charlotte Hornets.^[6] In 2000, the stations began airing the Redskins again instead of the Panthers (WGNC aired the Panthers if there was no conflict).^[7]

Late in 1999, the four stations changed from country music to "super oldies." Biggerstaff, the program director, said country had moved away from its traditional sound. Lillie White remained as midday host, and Andy Foster was afternoon host. Local and sports remained important, and the stations aired the One-on-One sports radio network at night.^[8]

In 2004, Biggerstaff was still hosting his show on WCSL and WLON despite diabetes-related health problems.^[9] Later he moved to Lincolnton-based Hometown Radio's Shelby operation. On WADA he played classic country music and hosted a "Swap Shop" show on WGNC and WOHS. By this time he had experienced a kidney transplant and two pancreas transplants. On Memorial Day 2007, while on the air, Biggerstaff had a seizure and asked for help on the air, and a listener called 911. He ended up being interviewed by BBC London, Today and People Magazine.^[10]

The station was an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball.^[11]

History of WZGV

In April 2009, the station was listed as "licensed and silent" on the FCC database. HRN bought the dormant license, moved it to Cramerton in Gaston County, and changed its call letters to WZGV in 2009. Another Shelby radio station took the WOHS letters.^[12][13] WZGV planned to return to the air playing classic hits/oldies as "Groove 730" in February 2010. WOLS morning host Ken Conrad would do mornings, Liz Luke of Magic 96.1 was to be midday host, and Glenn Trent, formerly a radio personality in Asheville, North Carolina, would have the afternoon slot.^[14] General manager Lanny Ford said late in February that weather-related "construction delays" were delaying the station's debut to March.^[15]

On March 15, 2010, WZGV made its long-awaited debut with its classic hits/oldies format (though the name was Z-730).^[16] It boosted its power to 10,000 watts, allowing it to easily cover most of the Charlotte area during the day. However, at night it must power down to 195 watts to protect a cluster of clear-channel stations, including CKAC in Montreal.

In August 2010, WZGV became an affiliate of Fox sports. The oldies format had difficulty attracting advertising because it was on AM, and FM stations had similar music.^[17] WZGV moved into the former Magic 96.1 studios, and local shows began September 20. "Bottom Line" was hosted by Lanny Ford with Bill Rosinski of ESPN, Darin Gantt of The Herald and Mike Solarte of News 14 Carolina. "Sports Yapp" with Bryce Johnson moved from WAVO/WTIX.^[18] Early in 2011, Richard Walker of The Gaston Gazette began hosting the "Bottom Line" morning show on Tuesdays, Dave Mobley's "The Golf Mob" moved from WFNZ, and Ford announced WZGV would be an Atlanta Braves affiliate.^[19]

In its first week a straw poll of listeners conducted by an independent agency found the format of WZGV to be far superior to that of WFNZ. The listeners cited professionalism and signal strength as reasons for their decision.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2011, WZGV agreed to air Charlotte 49ers basketball and football.

On August 8, 2011 WZGV switched affiliations to ESPN Radio Network and rebranded itself as "ESPN 730". The change meant Mike and Mike would air in Charlotte for the first time, while Jim Rome and Dan Patrick would disappear. "The Bottom Line" moved from mornings to afternoons with Rosinski three days, Ford one day, and guest hosts on Fridays. The Herd with Colin Cowherd and The Scott Van Pelt Show would also be part of the schedule.^[20]

In 2012, WZGV announced that it would be a Braves affiliate once again, but that some games would not air if NASCAR had an event at the same time.^[21]

On February 5th 2012, The Sports Sound Off with JT and Kuveikis debuted on WZGV.

In 2012, WZGV's "America’s Garage Radio Show", hosted by Chuck "Crank" Sperry, Chris "Stick" Romeis and "The Car Chick" began national syndication, with affiliates in Greensboro, North Carolina; Arizona and Colorado.^[22]

On August 20, 2012, WZGV added David Glenn's Raleigh, North Carolina-based show at noon, and The Sports Pulse, hosted by Mike Pacheco and Rosinski, moved to afternoons. During football season, College Football Preview Show with Ford and Charles Arbuckle airs on Saturday mornings.^[23]

On September 9, 2012, WZGV added Carolina Countdown, a 2-Hour NFL pregame show that runs Sunday's beginning at 11am. The show is hosted by Jon Cupo and Travis Wilson sits in as a kick. The show has shown steady growth in the Charlotte market since its inception. It relishes on Charlotte's many different NFL fan bases.^{[citation needed]}

Starting in 2012, WZGV aired Charlotte Checkers hockey.^[24]

Starting in 2014, WZGV will air Charlotte Knights baseball; the station will also air the 2014 Triple-A All-Star Game and the 2014 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game.^[25]

References

External links

• Station Website
• Query the FCC's AM station database for WZGV
• Radio-Locator Information on WZGV
• Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for WZGV

Coordinates: 35°17′30″N 81°34′00″W / 35.29167°N 81.56667°W / 35.29167; -81.56667