WNOP (AM)

WNOP is a radio station located in Newport, Kentucky that can be heard in/around the Cincinnati area. It now broadcasts for Cincinnati's Catholic community and archdiocesan base and is an affiliate of EWTN radio for most (if not all) of its programming.

WNOP
CityCincinnati, Ohio
Broadcast areaGreater Cincinnati, Covington
Frequency740 kHz
BrandingSacred Heart Radio
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatCatholic talk/services
AffiliationsEWTN Global Catholic Radio Network
Ownership
OwnerSacred Heart Radio Inc.
(Sacred Heart Radio Inc.)
WPFB 910 AM in Middletown
WHSS 89.5 FM in Hamilton
History
First air date
1948 (As WNOP)
Call sign meaning
NOP for Newport, the city of license
Technical information
Facility ID15881
ClassD
Power2,500 watts day
30 watts night
Links
Webcastsacredheartradio.com/live
Websitesacredheartradio.com
Leo Underhill

WNOP was a jazz station for 38 years, except for a brief run as a CNN Headline News affiliate from 1992 to 1994.[1] WNOP's current religious talk format started on December 31, 2000,

History

Startup

The station was first on the air with a combined Country Music and pre-recorded radio shows, receiving its Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license on May 29, 1947. The first broadcasts were on August 21, 1948. Jimmie Skinner hosted a radio program, which featured singer Connie Hall.

Jazz era (1962–2000)

Despite its relatively weak signal (not to mention almost bumping right into AM powerhouse WLW), WNOP had a core audience of loyal listeners during the years when its musical programming was mostly jazz. Its studios were on Monmouth St., in Newport KY and before the Jazz Ark, Ty Williams bravely played music during a studio fire. From there they moved to the floating studios on the Ohio river. It wasn't all jazz, however—sometimes, breaks between songs were filled with recordings of stand-up comedians. For the favorite comedy cuts the punch lines would be saved to a Gates ST-101 Spot Tape machine. They could be played as the DJ felt appropriate anytime between music tracks, or commercial VO.

From Monmouth St. the station moved to studios that were a tiny floating facility on the Ohio River, called "the jazz ark." [1]

Likewise, it had an on-air irreverence that could jolt you without warning. For instance, it sometimes identified itself as being "just a little to the right of WLW," while at other times, it claimed to be "Radio Free Newport." On winter days when Cincinnati was hit with large amounts of snow and most stations announced school and workplace closings, morning on-air personality Leo Underhill instead would inform listeners which bars were closed due to bad weather.[2]

Sacred Heart Radio (2000–present)

Sacred Heart Radio assumed ownership of the station on January 1, 2001. The program format was changed from Jazz to religious talk radio....much of it coming from EWTN Global Catholic Radio. The last song played before the switch was "The Vatican Rag" by Tom Lehrer.

The Son Rise Morning Show which airs weekday mornings on EWTN Radio originates from WNOP's studios which are now located at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center (the former St. Gregory's Seminary) at 5440 Moeller Avenue in Norwood.

On August 24, 2010 WHSS, 89.5 MHz in Hamilton, was sold by the Hamilton City Schools to Sacred Heart Radio. It is now an FM repeater of WNOP reaching the northern Cincinnati region of Hamilton, Middletown, Mason and the surrounding area.

In April 2016 Sacred Heart Radio Inc. purchased WPFB, 910 AM in Middletown from Northern Kentucky University to serve Middletown and the Dayton area. On June 3, 2016 WPFB commenced Sacred Heart Radio's programming.

Talent prior to 1962 (country music era)

On-air staff (1962–2000)
  • Marc T. Bolin
  • "Downtown" Scott Brown
  • The Darksoldier (Phil Tucker)
  • Jim Edwards
  • Robyn Carey (Allgeyer)
  • Angelo Catanzaro
  • Jack Clements
  • Val Coleman
  • Dee Felice
  • Kristi Heitzman
  • Gary Keegan
  • Wilbert Longmire
  • Dennis "The Ironman" Michaels
  • Bob NaveDa
  • Geoff Nimmo
  • Dick Pike
  • Jim Planky
  • Mike Roberts
  • Brian Schwab
  • Ray Scott
  • Jean Shepherd
  • Mark Stevens (Mark Schlachter)
  • Bunky Tadwell (Walt Harrell)
  • Oscar Treadwell
  • Leo (Old Undies) Underhill
  • Chris Wagner
  • Max Warner
  • Christopher Geisen
  • Stew Williams
  • Ty Williams
  • Dave Worford
  • Carmen "Catman" Catanzaro
  • Candy McGinnis

• Scott McKay (Scott Marinoff)

On-air talent (after 2001)
  • Brian Patrick
  • Bill Levitt
  • Anna Mitchell
  • Matt Swaim
  • Paul Lachmann
  • Rev. Rob Jack

References
  1. Cincinnati.com July 28, 2008 - "WNOP has seen it all" http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20080728/NEWS0103/111110002/WNOP-has-seen-it-all accessed March 26, 2010
  2. "Dick Pike jazzed up radio's small, but legendary, WNOP"
  3. Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 9.

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