| Currentlysilent | |
|---|---|
| |
| Broadcast area | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton |
| Frequency | 590kHz |
| Programming | |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | 1940; 85 years ago (1940) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 70504 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 41°28′43″N75°52′35″W / 41.478554°N 75.876442°W /41.478554; -75.876442 |
| Translator(s) | 101.7 W269CF (Scranton) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
WARM (590kHz) is anAM radio stationlicensed to the city ofScranton, Pennsylvania, and serving theScranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazletonradio market. The station is owned by Seven Mountains Media, through licensee Southern Belle, LLC. The station issilent; it most recently simulcastclassic country with formersister stationWLGD (107.7 FM). The studios and offices are on Baltimore Drive in Wilkes-Barre.
WARM is aClass B station. It is powered at 1,800 watts during the daytime and 430 watts at night. It has two differentdirectional antenna signal patterns, primarily aimed towards the southeast with some signal aimed towards the northwest. Itstransmitter is on Hugo Lane, 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Scranton inWest Falls, Pennsylvania.[2] WARM uses a three-tower array. Eachtower is 495 feet (151 meters) high. Programming is also heard onFM translator 101.7W269CF in Scranton.
WARM has a long and distinguished history inNortheastern Pennsylvania broadcasting. It has held its originalcall letters since itsigned on the air in 1940.[3] It began broadcasting on 1370 kHz, powered at 250 watts. A year later, with the enactment of theNorth American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA), it switched to 1400 kHz.[4]
WARM was originally anetwork affiliate of theMutual Broadcasting System. It was owned by the Union Broadcasting Company and had its studios in the Select Building in Scranton.[5]
In the 1960s and 1970s, WARM was the predominantTop 40 station in the area, playing the hits for a generation of young listeners. It was known as "The Mighty 590".[6] The station became an affiliate of theABC Contemporary Radio Network.
In the 1980s, the station transitioned to a more adult sound as younger listeners were tuning to FM stations for their music. It spent time as anoldies station and also triedcountry music. In the early 2000s, it was owned byCitadel Broadcasting.
After Citadel bought theABC Radio Networks in 2007, WARM became an ABC Radioowned-and-operated station. Citadel merged withCumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[7] Part of the station's broadcast day came fromScott Shannon's "The True Oldies Channel."[8]
For a time in April 2009, WARM wentdark due to transmitter problems. Some of its equipment dated back 70 years. The station announced that, due to the high cost of replacing its transmitter, it had no plans to return.[9] The host of WARM's weeklypolka music show told a reporter, "Unless there's a miracle, they ain't coming back."[10] However, on April 23, with an effort by its engineers to get it working again, WARM returned to the air. It was still airing its oldies format and weekly polka program.[11]
On September 15, 2014, WARM went silent again, due to a transmitter failure.[12] On November 24, 2014, an application was filed with theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) to lower power from 5,000 watts during day and night to 1,800 watts daytime and 430 watts nights. It would use only three of its five towers.[13] The station resumed broadcasting in December 2014. At this point, it switched to asports radio format, as an affiliate ofCBS Sports Radio. Cumulus Media has a financial interest in that network.
Cumulus sold WARM to Major Keystone on September 24, 2021.[14] On January 19, 2022, after completing the purchase, Major Keystone resold WARM to Seven Mountains Media. Seven Mountains replaced the sports programming with a simulcast of co-ownedclassic country stationWLGD (107.7 FM). The stations were branded as "Bigfoot Legends".[15]
In 2024, ten of WARM's early radio personalities were inducted into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame under the collective moniker "Legends of WARMland".[16] That May, Seven Mountains Media sold WLGD toTimes-Shamrock Communications, while retaining WARM.[17] While WLGD began simulcasting Times-Shamrock-ownedclassic rock stationWEZX,[18] WARM was taken silent while seeking a new programming source.[19]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W269CF | 101.7 FM | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 157680 | 57 | 224.5 m (737 ft) | D | 41°25′36″N75°44′51″W / 41.42667°N 75.74750°W /41.42667; -75.74750 (W269CF) | LMS |