WKFB

WKFB
City Jeannette, Pennsylvania
Broadcast area Pittsburgh metropolitan area
Branding 770 KFB
Frequency 770 kHz
Translator(s) 97.5 W248AR (Monroeville)
First air date January 28, 1974
Format Oldies, Talk
Power 750 watts (Daytime)
Class D
Facility ID 10026
Owner Broadcast Communications, Inc.

WKFB is an AM radio station licensed to Jeannette, Pennsylvania that serves the greater Pittsburgh area. Known as 770 KFB, the station operates with 750 watts, and airs a mix of health talk and paid programming, with oldies music throughout the day and on weekends. The radio station is home to several Pittsburgh oldies personalities, including Frankie Day, Big Ray Edwards, Glenn Raymer, Dr. Doo-Wop and Ms. Shoo-Bop.

WKFB is co-owned with WKHB (620), also near Pittsburgh. Because WKFB shares the same frequency as "clear channel" station WABC-AM in New York City; it broadcasts only during daytime hours. However, WKFB also is simulcast on FM translator station W248AR Monroeville (97.5) and automated oldies are heard on that frequency during the nighttime hours when WKFB is off the air.

WKFB's studios are located in Greensburg, while its transmitter is located near Wendel, just south of Irwin.

History

For many years this station was WBCW (1530), and for a brief period, WKTW. The station originally operated at 1530 kHz with a daytime-only power of 1,000 watts, with 250 watts during critical hours, barely reaching the fringes of Westmoreland County. WBCW was founded by broadcast engineer Albert Calisti, who first put it on the air back in 1974, having completed an eight-year stint as general manager of competitor WTRA.

Very much a family business, Calisti did the engineering and hosted a provocative and often amusing local talk show, his wife Verna kept the books and sold airtime, and their daughter Jacqueline Rae served as program director. The station only had one employee outside of the Calisti family: Clair Thomas, who served as the station's news and music director.

The Calistis maintained ownership of the station with a primary local and syndicated talk format until 1998, when they sold it to Broadcast Communications, Inc. which had just acquired then-Greensburg-based 620 WHJB (now WKHB) . Al Calisti died of cancer seven years later.

Under the new ownership, the station moved from its original location at 111 South Fourth Street in Jeannette to WHJB's building at 245 Brown Street in Greensburg. A frequency change to 770 was made in early 2004, giving the station much better coverage of the Pittsburgh market and the ability to do so at a lower power, allowing the station to reach as far north as eastern Armstrong County. The call letters WKFB were selected to be similar to sister station WKHB.

On-air hosts and programs

"The Frankie Day Oldies Show" is heard weekdays from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. with Frankie Day, followed by "The Big Ray Show" with Big Ray Edwards. Both shows, as well as weekend oldies shows feature music from the 50's and 60's. Dr. James Winer's "Health Breakthroughs" show airs weekdays from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Weekends are full of ethnic and ministry programs, as well as oldies all day Saturdays. Saturday oldies shows feature Glenn Raymer, Dr. Doo-Wop and Ms. Shoo-Bop, and Frankie Day.

References

    Coordinates: 40°17′20″N 79°42′04″W / 40.28889°N 79.70111°W / 40.28889; -79.70111

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