WEJS

WEJS (1600 AM) was a talk radio station in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States branded as NewsTalk 104.1 & 1600. WEJS' first air date was August 1, 1979. The station went silent on May 16, 2020.

WEJS
CityJersey Shore, Pennsylvania
Broadcast areaJersey Shore
Frequency1600 kHz
First air dateAugust 1, 1979 (as WJSA)
Power1,000 watts (day)
20 watts (night)
ClassD
Facility ID14223
Former call signsWJSA (1979-2014)
OwnerTerry Ginn, Receiver
(Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport, LLC)
Sister stationsWLYC

WEJS programmed a mix of general-interest and conservative talk radio from Salem Radio Network and Westwood One, alongside sports talk from Fox Sports Radio. The station also carried high school sports, Pennsylvania College of Technology athletics, and national sports from Sports USA Radio Network.

FM Translator

WEJS programming was relayed to an FM translator in order to widen the coverage area, especially at night when WEJS reduces power to only 20 watts. The translator also gave listeners the ability to listen on FM with high fidelity stereophonic sound. The translator went silent on May 16, 2020.

Broadcast translators of WEJS
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseFacility
ID		ERP
(W)		ClassFCC info
W281AR104.1Williamsport, Pennsylvania14144099DFCC

History

The then-WJSA was originally an AM only radio station authorized to operate during the daytime at 1600 on the dial. Though not a Christian format, the station did air some daily devotional programs. In the fall of 1980 the station's owner, Williamsport businessman Ken Breon, sought the help of John Hogg as broadcast engineer and programming consultant, then within the year as General Manager. Under Mr. Hogg's management and with Mr. Breon's agreement and involvement, the station changed format to full-time Christian programming. The AM station also extended its hours of operation and improved coverage.

The birth of WJSA-FM

24 years ago, Mr. Hogg identified an available FM frequency which would provide extended coverage and allow 24 hours a day service. Two years later the FCC granted the application and Light for Life... WJSA-FM began broadcasting on November 1, 1984 with a power of 3,000 Watts at 93.5 FM. A new company to operate the facilities was formed, Covenant Broadcast Company, a partnership between Ken Breon and John Hogg.

Expanding the FM coverage

Almost immediately Mr. Hogg identified the opportunity for several stations in the area to upgrade their signal strength by changing frequencies. This required cooperation of those stations and FCC approval took the next 12 years! In the early spring of 1997 this power upgrade was realized and Light for Life...WJSA's frequency was changed to 96.3 FM with a power equivalent of 25,000 Watts.

2014 changes

Effective January 17, 2014, Covenant Broadcast Company sold WJSA to Todd Bartley's Pioneer Sports Productions, LLC at a purchase price of $50,000.

On January 21, 2014, the station's call sign was changed to the current WEJS. The station dropped the Christian radio simulcast with former sister station WJSA-FM (96.3 FM) and FM translator W263AG (100.5 FM), and started broadcasting a sports radio format as 1600 AM ESPN.

2015 changes

Bartley transferred WEJS' license to his wholly owned Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport, LLC on August 17, 2015.

2016 changes

On May 18, 2016 the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County issued an Order granting a motion by First Citizens Community Bank that a Receiver be appointed to take control of the radio stations and assets of Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport, LLC and to facilitate the sale of the stations and pay the proceeds to the bank.[1]

2017 changes

On March 1, 2017 WEJS switched affiliations from ESPN Radio to Fox Sports Radio.

In July, 2017 WEJS ended its simulcast with sister-station WLYC and rebranded itself to "NewsTalk 104.1 & 1600", airing a mix of conservative talk, news, and sports.

2020 changes

On April 8, 2020 Terry Ginn, Receiver, filed an application on FCC form 316 for the involuntary assignment of license of the stations pursuant to the Court of Common Pleas’ Order of January 15, 2019 due to the current owner's refusal to sign any Asset Purchase Agreement for the stations or otherwise cooperate in the sale of the station to the prospective purchaser.[2]

On May 16, 2020 WEJS was taken silent by Terry Ginn, the court appointed receiver of the previous licensee while the receiver and the prospective buyer negotiates an asset purchase agreement and files for the assignment of the station. The station is to return to operation after the consummation of the assignment of the station by the prospective new licensee.[3]

On May 29, 2020 an asset purchase agreement for WEJS, sister-station WLYC, and associated translators between Terry Ginn, Receiver and Seven Mountains Media, LLC & Southern Belle, LLC was filed with the FCC with a closing date within 15 business days after the final order has occurred.[4]

Previous logos

References
  1. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101817679&qnum=5000&copynum=1&exhcnum=1
  2. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101817679&qnum=5000&copynum=1&exhcnum=1
  3. https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/service/am/application/1817996.html
  4. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101817999&qnum=5040&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

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