Frequency 740(kHz) Format Catholic talk/services | Branding Sacred Heart Radio 740 First air date 1948 (As WNOP) | |
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Slogan "Sacred Heart Radio 740" | ||
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.
Contents
- Startup
- Jazz era 19622000
- Sacred Heart Radio 2000present
- Talent prior to 1962 country music era
- On air staff 19622000
- On air talent after 2001
- References
WNOP was a jazz station for 38 years, except for a brief run as a CNN Headline News affiliate from 1992 to 1994. WNOP's current religious talk format started on December 31, 2000,
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. The station's studios were a tiny floating facility on the Ohio River, called "the jazz ark."
It wasn't all jazz, however—sometimes, breaks between songs were filled with recordings of stand-up comedians. 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.
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 with Brian Patrick 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)
• Scott McKay (Scott Marinoff)