WPIC
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| City | Sharon, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Youngstown |
| Branding | Newstalk 790 |
| Frequency | 790 kHz |
| Format | News Talk Information |
| Power | 1,300 watts day 58 watts night |
| Class | D |
| Facility ID | 60005 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 41°13′10.00″N 80°28′25.00″W / 41.2194444°N 80.4736111°W |
| Affiliations | ABC Radio , Jones Radio Network, Westwood One |
| Owner |
Cumulus Media (CUMULUS LICENSING LLC) |
| Webcast | Yes |
| Website | 790wpic.com |
WPIC (790 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. It is licensed to Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States, and serves Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Its signal covers much of the Youngstown radio market from its facility at 1965 Shenango Valley Freeway, Hermitage. WPIC Signed on the air October 25, 1938. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and features programming from ABC Radio, Jones Radio Network and Westwood One.
Station History:
At the Heiges Radio Electric store, (91 E State.) sometime around 1932 the idea to build a radio station in Sharon PA was birthed. In 1935 John Fahnline Jr. and George and Al Heiges entered into a contract together, eventually the Sharon Herald represented by A.W. McDowel, became involved in the project. Even though the name of the new corporation was The Sharon Herald Broadcasting Company, the station was not technically owned by the Herald. John Fahnline Jr. and the Herald would own forty percent each with the Heiges Brothers in for a twenty percent stake. John Fahnline Jr. was installed as the president and GM of the station. The first order of business were the ‘call letters’, after much discussion someone from The Herald suggested WPIC which stands for Western Pennsylvania Industrial Center.
On October 1938 the date of October 25th was tabbed for opening ceremonies at 11:30 am. These were the first words heard on Sharon's new radio station:
“Good morning, friends---you are now listening to radio station WPIC, the new broadcasting station of the Sharon Herald Broadcasting Company, at Sharon, Pennsylvania operating on a frequency of 780 kilocycles.” (Yes it was 780, not 790 yet!)
From the start WPIC would be different, most stations, were heavily laden with soap operas during the day (named for the sponsors who were mostly soap companies). WPIC decided to concentrate on music and news. The recorded music would be mostly classical, very high brow. It was decided that there would be news every hour. It had never really been done, anywhere. Even the United Press guys, warned Fahnline, “You’ll never pull it off.” but he did. Despite objections a booth was set up at The Herald so reporters turned announcers like Johnny Pepe could do news live on the air.
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