WEGG

WEGG
City Rose Hill, North Carolina
Broadcast area Duplin County
Goldsboro
Jacksonville
Kinston
New Bern
Wilmington
Branding Surge Radio
Slogan "The Most Music"
Frequency 710 kHz
Repeater(s) 100.5 (W263BE) Rose Hill
First air date August 7, 1975
Format Dance Hits
Power 2,500 watts (day only)
Class D
Facility ID 17745
Transmitter coordinates 34°51′48″N 78°02′16″W / 34.86333°N 78.03778°W / 34.86333; -78.03778
Callsign meaning Rose Hill is the home of The World's Largest Frying Pan. You fry an EGG in a frying pan.
Affiliations AccuWeather
North Carolina News Network
Southern Farm Network
Owner Conner Media Corporation
Sister stations WZUP
Webcast Listen Live
Website surgeradio.org

WEGG (710 AM, "Surge Radio") is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Rose Hill, North Carolina. The station broadcasts a Dance Hits format.

Programming

Personalities include Heather B. (Middays); Robert Osborne (Afternoon Drive); and Lisa G (Evenings). Regular daily segments include twice hourly weather reports from AccuWeather; news segments from North Carolina News Network at the top of the hour throughout the morning and late afternoon hours; daily agricultural information segments and commodity reports from Southern Farm Network; and local obituary readings from Rose Hill Funeral Home in Rose Hill. [1]

On Sundays, WEGG devotes this time to playing Southern gospel, Traditional black gospel, Urban contemporary gospel, and Inspirational house music as well as public affairs programming and sermon programs from local and national ministries, including The Lutheran Hour. WEGG's public affairs programs include syndicated programs Radio Health Journal and Viewpoints, as well as The Hope & Wellness Show which is produced in-house.

On Sunday evenings, WEGG features The Listening Room (8pm-9pm) with Mikeo (Michael Oaks), which plays the newest potential Dance Hits, and gives listeners the opportunity to vote on which tracks they like. The listener feedback provided through this program influences which new songs are added to WEGG's playlist.

WEGG also features a number of mix shows on weekends, primarily focusing on House music and current Dance Hits.

Coverage

WEGG rebroadcasts on FM translator W263BE 100.5 FM. WEGG is owned by Conner Media Corporation, and W263BE is owned by Surge Media, LLC which is operating WEGG via local marketing agreement.

WEGG's main signal on 710 AM reaches all of Duplin County as well as the cities of Benson, Burgaw, Clinton, Elizabethtown, Goldsboro, Greenville, Kinston, Jacksonville, New Bern, Smithfield, and Wilmington. Depending on weather conditions, WEGG can be heard as far away as Durham, Fayetteville, Florence (South Carolina), and Raleigh.

WEGG's 250-watt translator, W263BE, covers most of Duplin County, extending as far north as Warsaw, North Carolina and as far south as Burgaw, North Carolina in Pender County. While 710 AM is only available during daylight hours, 100.5 FM is available 24 hours a day.

History

The original construction permit for 710 AM in Rose Hill, North Carolina, was applied for on August 13, 1966, by Duplin County Broadcasters, founded by Jeff Barnes Wilson, and was granted on June 9, 1970. The WEGG call letters were assigned on December 28, 1970. The call letters were intended to reflect the poultry industry which was next door to the radio station, as well as the local landmark, The World's Largest Frying Pan. WEGG first began broadcasting in August 1975 with 250 watts daytime-only.

WEGG started out as a country music station, eventually becoming full service, and began incorporating Southern Gospel music as well. WEGG was originally branded as The Wonderful Egg.[2] The station carried programming from ABC News, The North Carolina News Network, and Southern Farm Network. James Kenan High School football and Wake Forest sports were part of the programming as well. Since much of the sporting events, especially the High School Football, occurred after the nightly sign-off. WEGG would broadcast the play-by-play of the game, the next day.

WEGG operates on 710 AM, which is designated a clear channel, in which WOR in New York City has priority over the frequency in the night hours. One of the liners on WEGG was "Clear Channel Radio 71", even though WEGG, itself, is not classified as a clear channel station.

In 1981, WEGG began airing Gospel music and Bible Teaching programs seven days a week in addition to country music.[3] Charlie Robinson hosted a daily afternoon program called All Gospel For All People, which featured traditional black gospel and coined the call letters as standing for "Where Everyone Glorifies God". Thru The Bible Radio with Dr. J. Vernon McGee was part of the programming throughout Wilson's ownership of the station. Jerry Falwell's program was also apart of the lineup. Many local churches aired their ministries on the station as well.

In 1993, Duplin County Broadcasters added FM sister station WBSY 104.7 FM, which allowed WEGG's programming to broadcast 24 hours a day.

In 1995, Jeff Barnes Wilson died, and Duplin County Broadcasters sold WEGG and sister station WBSY to Conner Media Corporation on June 7, 1996. WEGG & WBSY, shortly afterward, became Country Bear, simulcasting WZBR 97.7 in Goldsboro.

In 1999, WEGG and WBSY broke away from the simulcast. WEGG flipped to traditional black gospel, and one of WEGG's notable personalities during this time was Patricia "Ann" Pratt. WBSY became a part of the Go Mix! Network, before becoming regional Mexican with the call letters WZUP, and relocating to Kinston, North Carolina. Though WBSY was no longer simulcasting WEGG, WEGG continued to use invoice forms, in which the letterhead read, "WEGG 710 AM / WBSY 104.7 FM" until 2014.

In mid-2005, WEGG began preparing for a format change to regional Mexican. The format change resulted in a backlash against the station, and a local minister organized a committee to bring gospel music back to the radio station. WEGG also received threats of the NAACP potentially getting involved.

Around December 2005, WEGG dropped the regional Mexican format, and became a part of the Fundamental Broadcast Network, an Independent Fundamental Baptist radio network. During this time, WEGG was granted a construction permit for a power increase to 2,500 watts.

In mid-2006, Conner Media Corporation intended to close WEGG. However, Suzanne Wilson, in an attempt to save the radio station, brought back the traditional black gospel music format, along with the former on-air personality, Ann Faison. WEGG also began carrying IRN/USA Radio Network news. Ultimately, Conner Media Corporation decided to complete the power upgrade, and replaced the original Collins 300G transmitter with a Broadcast Electronics AM2.5E transmitter. As soon as the upgrade was completed, WEGG was put up for sale, and remained on the market until 2014.

In October 2007, Media East built WSTK 104.5 FM and acquired WLGT 98.3 FM. These two stations, along with WEGG, became known as The Light, with a Contemporary Christian Music format under LMA, broadcasting from the Pepsi Store in New Bern, North Carolina. This new format was dropped on WEGG after approximately one month, due to persistent complaints, but the format continued on WSTK and WLGT. WEGG was reverted to traditional black gospel, with Ann Faison at the helm.

In March 2008, The Light brand was dropped from WSTK and WLGT. WSTK, WLGT, and WEGG were rebranded as Glory Radio, with all three stations operating separately. WLGT 98.3 FM and WEGG 710 AM offered a Traditional Black Gospel format, while WSTK 104.5 FM offered a Southern Gospel format.

In June 2008, WEGG and WSTK were rebranded Joy 710 & 104.5 with a traditional black gospel music format, operating the same syndicated format as 1490 WWIL (AM), under LMA by the same person who operates 1490. Meanwhile, WLGT 98.3 became "The Promise 98.3".

In October 2008, WSTK went silent due to financial difficulties, and WEGG reverted to branding as "Glory Radio" with a traditional black gospel music format, now broadcasting from the WEGG studio in Rose Hill, North Carolina.

In May 2009, WSTK resumed broadcasting, simulcasting WEGG. WEGG added new FM translator W240BN 95.9 FM. W240BN was located on the 710 AM tower, and broadcast with 250 watts of power. The station was rebranded as The Gospel Superstation.

On June 1, 2009, 104.5 FM WSTK broke away from the simulcast and went silent again until July 1, 2010, when it returned to simulcasting WEGG. In September 2010, WSTK became a separate station, known as "Hometown Gospel Station".

In January 2011, WEGG was branded Your Christian Radio 710 & 95.9 with a traditional black gospel music format. 104.5 FM WSTK also used the same branding for a time, though it was not a simulcast, nor was the programming similar.

Sermons from local ministers were broadcast daily. Local ministers also participated in the "Noon Day Prayer" each day at noon, during which time a local minister would offer a 15 to 20-minute prayer, and afterward listeners could call in and request prayer from the minister or share a testimony. The station also featured church announcements and local obituaries read throughout the morning.

From March 2011 to December 2011, WEGG rebroadcast the audio from "The Great Awakening" revival services at The River Church in Tampa, Florida, with an immediate repeat overnight.

In early 2013, W240BN was relocated, changed frequencies, sold, and eventually became WHQR's Classical HQR 96.7. A new translator, W263BE 100.5 FM, was launched and the station brand was adjusted to Your Christian Radio 710 & 100.5 accordingly. W263BE is located just outside Wallace, and broadcasts from a 400-foot-tall tower with 250 watts, which provides greater FM reception all across Duplin County, as well as into Pender County, than the previous translator did.

In August 2014, Ken Santarelli, former co-owner of "The Surge of SoCal", a Dance Hits formatted internet radio station based in Los Angeles, California, began talks with Conner Media Corporation about possibly purchasing the radio station. On October 22, 2014, Surge Media, LLC was organized and an agreement was proposed that Surge Media, LLC would purchase FM translator W263BE, and operate WEGG via local marketing agreement for a time, and then Surge Media, LLC would purchase WEGG as well. The station would use the Surge Radio brand. Ken Santarelli and Christian Mergliano have the Surge Radio brand trademarked with the United States Patents and Trademarks Office, and have been using the brand since April 2005.[4]

On November 1, 2014, Conner Media Corporation entered into an LMA with Surge Media, LLC. On November 4, 2014, an application was filed with the FCC to transfer ownership of translator W263BE from Conner Media Corporation to Surge Media, LLC.[5] On November 15, 2014, Surge Media, LLC flipped the format rhythmic hot adult contemporary as Surge 100, under guidance by Michael Oaks, owner of internet radio station Energy 98, former Program Director at KNRJ-Energy 92.7 & 101.1 in Phoenix, Arizona and former Music Director at KVBE-Vibe 94.5 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Your Christian Radio 710 and 100.5 signed off with "You Can Search" by the Angelic Gospel Singers, and Surge 100 signed on at 2 pm with "Hello" by Martin Solveig & Dragonette. WEGG also began streaming online for the first time in its history.

Surge 100 immediately began offering mix shows from some of former DJs who were apart of the line up on The Surge of SoCal. These included DJ Mirage and DJ Beatz from the Los Angeles area, Garage Sound System from Moscow (formerly on the Europa Plus network in Russia), and Rohit Bangera of Mumbai (currently living in College Park, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.).

After the format change, the radio station received many calls from former listeners hoping to get the gospel format back on the air. However, Ken Santarelli, owner and manager of Surge Media, refused, stating that the new format was for the purpose of reaching a larger group of people, better serving the needs of the community, and building a stronger income to help keep the radio station alive.[6] WEGG continues to offer Gospel music and Christian talk programming from local ministries on Sundays.

As of January 2015, Garage Sound System from Moscow on Saturday nights was replaced by DJ Perry from Phoenix, Arizona, and House of Grooves Radio with Miss Kay Dee and Audio Jacker. Both of these programs were originally on The Surge of SoCal. Surge also added a mix show from Justin Dohman. The Listening Room with Mikeo (Michael Oaks), which also runs on Mike's other stations Energy 98 and KXJM-HD2-Too Wild 107.5-HD2, was added Sunday nights. The Listening Room plays tomorrow's potential Dance Hits and gives listeners the opportunity to rate the music. Gospel Tunes with Robert Osborne was added to the Sunday lineup. Osborne also hosted another program on Saturdays, titled The Fantastic Voyage, which blends the regular playlist with more of an Urban Contemporary flavor.

After January 2, 2015, DJ Beatz, who was a resident DJ at The Surge of SoCal since 2012, was replaced by Seduction Mixshow with Mickey Bono of The Beat Thrillerz, another program which was formerly broadcast on The Surge of SoCal.

On January 7, 2015, the FCC approved the sale of FM translator W263BE to Surge Media, LLC. On January 13, 2015, Conner Media Corporation closed on the sale of FM translator W263BE 100.5 FM to Surge Media, LLC. Starting the week of January 27, 2015, Surge 100 began adding dance currents during the daytime.

In late February 2015, WEGG, once again, began airing content from Southern Farm Network, after 20 years. At the beginning of April 2015, WEGG ended its affiliation with IRN/USA Radio Network, and had no news service for the rest of the month. WEGG began carrying North Carolina News Network once again, on May 11, 2015.

In Fall 2015, WEGG began broadcasting high school football, which had been absent from the station since 1996. WEGG covered selected games at Wallace-Rose Hill High School, James Kenan High School, East Duplin High School, Clinton High School, and Harrells Christian Academy. On December 4, 2015; WEGG broadcast the Wallace-Rose Hill High School vs. James Kenan High School playoff championship game, nicknamed the "Duplin County Super Bowl," where Wallace-Rose Hill High School won the championship.

In October 2015, WEGG closed the original studio and office on Highway 117 just north of Rose Hill, and opened a new office on Main Street in Downtown Wallace. Shortly after, Robert Osborne discontinued his Saturday afternoon program, and took over weekday afternoons. Amber Rose became the midday personality, and Turtle took evenings.

On March 1, 2016 WSTK began once again simulcasting WEGG. WSTK had, for approximately 3 years, been operating a Traditional Black Gospel format as "The Vine Connection" under LMA, but the format failed to sustain the station and was dropped. Surge Media, LLC then entered into an LMA with Media East, LLC to operate WSTK. The branding was planned to be completely adjusted from "Surge 100" to Surge Radio within the first week, but due to the passing of Ken Santarelli's mother on March 3,[7] necessitating an extended trip out of town, the adjustment of on air imaging was delayed.

In late April 2016, Amber Rose quit and was replaced by Heather B. of CHOM 97.7 FM, who handles middays on WEGG via voice-tracking. Turtle, shortly after, left the evening shift and was replaced by Lisa G, who is also an on air personality with internet radio station Energy 98.

On August 10, 2016, Surge Media, LLC announced that it would be ending its LMA with Media East, LLC and would cease broadcasting on WSTK as of August 31, 2016 at 11:59pm. Surge Media, LLC was unable to generate any revenue from that station, and determined that it was not a viable option to continue operating the signal.

On August 31, 2016, after playing This Is How It Goes by Haley, WEGG and WSTK went to dead air. After a few minutes, WEGG ran an EAS test, and resumed operation. WSTK continued broadcasting dead air until the transmitter was shut off sometime later.

On September 1, 2016 WEGG relaunched with a Dance Hits format, with music programmed by Ken Santarelli, owner of Surge Media.

On October 30, 2016 WEGG began simulcasting its programming in the overnight hours on KCXL 102.9 FM & 1140 AM in Kansas City, Missouri.

References

  1. ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  2. ↑ http://www.surge100.com/#!about-us/cfvg
  3. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19811004&id=3uBOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HBQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2649,1042089&hl=en
  4. ↑ http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4802:wah2dr.3.1
  5. ↑ "FCC Application". Federal Communications Commission.
  6. ↑ http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ken-santarelli/a/a26/a12/
  7. ↑ http://www.obitsforlife.com/obituary/1287774/Santarelli-Astrid.php
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