Branding Big "O" Country Website Big O Country Website City of license Cherryville Owner Calvin Hastings Slogan Hometown Radio Network | Facility ID 35656 Frequency 1590 kHz Format Classic country Area Cherryville First air date 1967 | |
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Power 10,000 watts day
30 watts night | ||
WCSL (1590 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format. Licensed to Cherryville, North Carolina, USA, the station is currently owned by Calvin Hastings, through licensee KTC Broadcasting, Inc., and features programing from Jones Radio Network.
The station is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball.
History
Don Curtis started WCSL in 1967. In 1983, Calvin Hastings bought WCSL and doubled its power from 500 to 1000 watts. Six years later, he bought WGNC in Gastonia and started KTC Broadcasting. In 1992 he bought WOHS (730 AM) in Shelby and began calling the three stations Piedmont Superstations.
WCSL, WGNC and WOHS began airing Atlanta Braves baseball in 1993.
On April 1, 1993, KTC took over WLON in Lincolnton in a lease agreement. WLON's Tim Biggerstaff would remain as morning DJ, and his show would be heard on all four KTC stations. News for the entire area would be expanded. The four stations aired UNC football and basketball, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins NFL football, and CBS coverage of such events as The World Series and The Super Bowl.
The four stations added the NFL Carolina Panthers when the team began playing in 1995. They also aired games of the NBA Charlotte Hornets In 2000, the stations began airing the Redskins again instead of the Panthers (WGNC aired the Panthers if there was no conflict).
Late in 1999, the four stations changed from country music to "super oldies." Biggerstaff, the program director, said country had moved away from its traditional sound. Lillie White remained as midday host, and Andy Foster was afternoon host. Local and sports remained important, and the stations aired the One-on-One sports radio network at night.
In 2004, Biggerstaff was still hosting his show on WCSL and WLON despite diabetes-related health problems. Later he moved to Lincolnton-based Hometown Radio's Shelby operation. On WADA he played classic country music, and he hosted a "Swap Shop" show on WGNC and WOHS. By this time he had experienced a kidney transplant and two pancreas transplants.
WCSL played Southern gospel but now airs a classic country format.
Effective December 1, 2014, Calvin Hastings repurchased WCSL and WLON from HRN Broadcasting for $240,000, through his licensee KTC Broadcasting, Inc.