Radio station in Columbus, Ohio
WNCI
(97.9
FM
) is a
commercial
radio station
licensed to
Columbus, Ohio
, featuring a
top 40 (CHR)
format known as "WNCI 97.9". Owned by
iHeartMedia, Inc.
, the station serves the
Columbus metropolitan area
and is the local affiliate for
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
. WNCI's studios are on West Fifth Avenue on Columbus' west side, while the transmitter is atop
One Nationwide Plaza
in the city's
downtown
. In addition to a standard
analog transmission
, WNCI broadcasts using
HD Radio
technology and streams online via
iHeartRadio
.
[2]
The station has an
effective radiated power
(ERP) of 175,000
watts
, while the current maximum for Ohio radio stations is 50,000 watts. It is
grandfathered
at this power from before the date when the
FCC
set limits for FM stations. There are only six FM stations in the United States that operate with more power.
[3]
History
[
edit
]
The station signed on the air as WRFD-FM in July 1961.
[4]
It had a
classical music
format, sharing studios with co-owned
WRFD
, east of
Powell, Ohio
. In early 1967, management changed the
call sign
to WNCI-FM to match its corporate ownership,
Nationwide Communications, Inc.
The call letter switch also marked a change in programming from primarily classical music.
In mid 1968, WNCI began programming "The Young Sound" format, supplied by
CBS Radio
, mostly vocal-oriented
easy listening
. In 1972, WNCI moved to the sixth floor of the new Scot's Inn, later the Carousel Inn, at 4900 Sinclair Road. Since that time, the studios of WNCI have been relocated to various places in the Columbus area, including the Nationwide Building, The Continent,
Broadcast Lake
(a former quarry overlooked by several Clear Channel radio studios and the television studios of
WSYX
), and the current location at 2323 West Fifth Avenue.
WNCI began its
Top 40
programming in 1970, although the station also broadcast an evening "
progressive rock
" album-based program beginning in the fall of 1969. From 1979 to 1982, the station attempted a
full service
,
adult contemporary music
format to compete with
WTVN
, adding a five-person news staff. Its slogan at the time was "The Best Is At The Center," playing on its location on the FM dial. The full-service format was abandoned in 1982 and the station returned to playing Top 40 hits.
In June 1993, WNCI again morphed into a
Hot AC
-leaning station to compete with
adult contemporary
rival
WSNY
. This lasted for nearly a year before WNCI reverted to a
CHR/Pop
formatted-direction.
[5]
In 1997,
Jacor Communications
acquired the assets of Nationwide Communications, including WNCI, for $620 million. WNCI was once the
flagship station
for the 17-station Nationwide Communications, a division of the
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
(where its call letters derive). Jacor was acquired in 1998 by
Clear Channel Communications
, which today is iHeartMedia, Inc.
WNCI tends to be a mainstream, conservative contemporary hit station, at times leaning towards
Adult Top 40
.
[6]
WNCI formerly syndicated their “Dave & Jimmy” morning show to nearby stations through United Stations Radio Networks. As of October 2, 2023, the hosts decided to end syndication of the show, rendering the morning show exclusive to WNCI, although the show is streamed nationally on the iHeartRadio app.
[7]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
- Akron
- Ashland
- Canton
- Cleveland
- Cincinnati
- Columbus
- Dayton
- Ironton/Huntington WV
- Lima
- Marietta/Parkersburg WV
- Middleton/Mount Pleasant WV
- Milford
- Piketon
- Shadyside/Wheeling WV
- Toledo
- Youngstown
- Zanesville
|
|
|
---|
Corporate officers
| |
---|
Board of directors
| |
---|
AM radio stations
| |
---|
FM radio stations
| |
---|
Radio networks
| |
---|
Miscellaneous
| |
---|