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|---|---|
| Frequency | 1420kHz |
| Branding | Connect FM 96.7 & 99.7 |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | News/talk andsports radio |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Priority Communications |
| WDSN | |
| History | |
First air date | February 1941; 85 years ago (1941-02) |
Call sign meaning | "Continental Eastern Divide" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 67703 |
| Class | D |
| Power |
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| Translators |
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| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WCED (1420AM, "Connect FM 96.7 & 99.7") is a commercial radio station, licensed to the city ofDuBois, Pennsylvania. WCED broadcasts with a power output of 4,200 watts during the day and 5 watts at night using a non-directional antenna system. WCED and its FM sister stationWDSN are owned and operated by Priority Communications ofPittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
For much of its existence, WCED was the sister station of FM stationWOWQ, also licensed to DuBois, which had a country music format and was known by the moniker Q102. The stations were owned by Derrick Publishing, ofOil City, Pennsylvania, which did business as Tri-County Broadcasting and also published the Oil City Derrick newspaper.
WCED became known for its full-service approach to local programming for both DuBois and the tri-county area, which includesClearfield,Jefferson, andElk counties. It also became the local radio outlet for ABC News, airingPaul Harvey and other full-service network program offerings. The station also offered music formats such as CHR, oldies, nostalgia, and some talk, but the station would go to a news and talk format after its sale to Priority Communications.
WCED and WOWQ were among the first stations in the country to use computer-based hard-disk audio storage technology in the early 1990s.[citation needed]
In 1999, both stations were sold to Vox Media. Vox sold WOWQ to First Media and then WCED in 2003 to Priority Communications, which had been operating competitorWDSN since its first air date on February 14, 1990. First Media had been operating WCED under anLMA, but had no interest in owning it.[citation needed]
WCED moved to a new, nearby building and vacated the former DuBois Lumber Company office building after the sale to Priority. The purchase price for WCED was $150,000, according to FCC records.[citation needed] In 2003, WCED moved from 80 North Park Place to 51 West Long Avenue in DuBois, where it shared space with WDSN temporarily until a new facility conducive to a news/talk formatted radio station could be found. Priority Communications negotiated a deal for an old bank building at 12 West Long Avenue, down the street from its original location. Both stations were moved into the new, state-of-the-art facility by the end of 2004.
Although WCED is licensed to DuBois, the transmitter is located in the Falls Creek/Washington Twp area of Jefferson County. The station uses translators on 96.7 in Rockton (as W244CH) and 107.9 FM in DuBois (as W300BR) to extend the coverage.
The station operates a two tower array, but for years before, operated with three towers. One tower collapsed due to high winds in a March 2005 storm and was not replaced. The phasors and feed system were modified, and the nighttime power level was significantly reduced from the original 500 watts. It now radiates a cardioid pattern into theDuBois local area only at night, while continuing to operate daytime-non-directional at the rated 5,000 watts.[2]
Originally billed as News Talk Radio WCED, the station airs local and syndicated talk programming during the daytime hours andInfinity Sports Network during the evening hours. While the program offerings are relatively the same, the station now acknowledges its FM translators at 96.7, 99.7, and 107.9, and puts them at the forefront of all marketing efforts, hence the new moniker "Connect FM".
A local morning newscast airs Monday through Friday for two hours. The current weekday lineup of syndicated talk shows includesThis Morning with Gordon Deal, Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla,The Sean Hannity Show,The Jim Bohannon Show andRed Eye Radio. Weekend syndicated shows includeThe Money Pit,The Kim Komando Show, andSunday Nights with Bill Cunningham.[3]
The station also serves as the local affiliate of thePittsburgh Pirates Radio Network and broadcasts all team games.
41°08′31″N78°48′07″W / 41.14194°N 78.80194°W /41.14194; -78.80194