WUST
| |
Broadcast area | Washington metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1120 kHz |
| Branding | DMV's BIN 1120 |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | All-news radio |
| Network | Black Information Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | February 9, 1947 |
Former call signs | WBCC (1947–1951)[1] |
Call sign meaning | previous studio location in the U Street district |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| 48686 | |
| Class | D |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 38°52′9.4″N 76°53′45.9″W / 38.869278°N 76.896083°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (via iHeartRadio) |
| Website | dmv |
WUST (1120 AM) is a commercial all-news radio station licensed to serve Washington, D.C. The station is owned by iHeartMedia.[3] The station services the Washington metropolitan area as the market affiliate of the Black Information Network.[4]
The WUST studios are located on Rockville Pike in the district suburb of Rockville, Maryland, while the station transmitter resides in Capitol Heights. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WUST programming is available online via iHeartRadio. While WUST operates at 50,000 watts during the day, the station is required to reduce power during critical hours — and go off the air during nighttime hours — to protect the signal of KMOX in St. Louis, the dominant Class A station on 1120 AM.
History
[edit]WUST first signed on on February 9, 1947, as WBCC, licensed to the Washington, DC, suburb of Bethesda, Maryland, with 250 watts of power, broadcasting in the daytime only.[5] It had been a rhythm and blues station. Its call sign came from its studio location at 1120 U Street, NW, later moving to 815 V Street NW, site of today's 9:30 Club.
During the 1950s, DJs Lord Fauntleroy Bandy and "Terrible" Thomas popularized R&B music with high school students, weaning them from Top 40. Part of the appeal of WUST was its location in the red light district of the time.[citation needed]
During late August 1963, the ballroom of the WUST studio served as the operations headquarters for the August 28 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.[6]
On April 6, 2017, WUST filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission for a construction permit to remain on the air at night with 50 watts. The application was accepted for filing on April 12, 2017.[7]
New World Radio sold WUST to Herndon, Virginia-based Potomac Radio Group for $750,000 on September 18, 2018.[8] On August 31, 2020, WUST switched from ethnic programming to an all news radio format using programming from iHeartMedia's Black Information Network; several programs from the previous ethnic format were moved online.[9][10][11] iHeartMedia subsequently purchased WUST for $1.2 million.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "FCC History Cards for WUST".
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WUST". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "BIN: Black Information Network Extends Across Four New Stations In Baltimore, Montgomery, Philadelphia And Washington, D.C." www.iheartmedia.com. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ "Black Information Network Expands To Washington, Baltimore, Philly and Montgomery". Insideradio.com. August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1948, page 140[dead link]
- ^ Euchner, Charles, "Nobody Turn Me Around: A People's History of the 1963 March on Washington", 2010.
- ^ "Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ^ "CDBS File No. BAL-20180918ABA". FCC CDBS.
- ^ InsideRadio.com "BIN Expands to Washington-Baltimore-Philly"
- ^ "iHeartMedia Begins LMAs In Philadelphia, Washington DC & Baltimore For Black Information Network". RadioInsight. August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ "wust1120.com". wust1120.com. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ "CDBS File No. BAL-20200901AAF". Federal Communications Commission. September 1, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 48686 (WUST) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WUST in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- 1959 Broadcasting Yearbook, pages B-127 (ad), B-165 (listing)[dead link] Example of station listing and industry ad for station
- Historical 1969 photo of building exterior from John in Montana
- Historical 1986 photos of building exterior from Kinorama on Flickr
- "History Cards for WUST". Federal Communications Commission. (Guide to reading History Cards)
