NC Radio Broadcasting History

WHKY Hickory

Radio Station WHKY entered the AM broadcasting world in 1939 and was started by Edmund S. Long.  The station was originally located in Hotel Hickory with a transmitting antenna on top of the multi-story hotel.  WHKY was the first radio station located between Asheville and Charlotte and is still owned and operated by the Long family today.  Mr. Long remained active in the station's management well into his 80's.  I was privileged to be hired by Mr. Long in 1977 and worked for WHKY for several years. An FM operation was added in 1948, a whopping 210 thousand watt transmitter that reached seven states.  Unfortunately there were not a large number of people who owned FM receivers so the FM operation went off the air in 1951; it was resumed in 1959, but on a smaller scale. In 1968 WHKY-TV began operations on UHF channel 14.  That service was upgraded in 2002 with a new digital transmitter and antenna.  In December 2004 the AM operation was upgraded with a new 50,000 watt transmitter and new antennas, greatly increasing their broadcast coverage.  Today the station airs a talk radio format, including both local and syndicated programs. WHKY studios are located near downtown Hickory. The radio transmitter site is on Tate Blvd in Hickory.

That's Me (Phil Hamilton) On The Air At WHKY In 1977 Working My 6pm-12 Shift

Announcer Duane Cozzen At Work At WHKY In The Early 70's (photo courtesy of Duane Cozzen)

WHKY's Original Studios In Hotel Hickory

WHKY Coverage Map From 1977 With 5,000 Watts Today's Coverage With 50,000 Watts Is Much Greater

WHKY Related Links

Article From TVTechnology.com

Duane Cozzen's Radio World

Fybush.Com Tower Site Of The Week

For More Information On WHKY And Other NC Stations Read Live Radio By Duane Cozzen. A Great Book For Anyone Interested In NC Broadcasting.  Click Here For Ordering Information.

From Duanes humble beginnings to working with legendary Wolfman Jack , Cozzen speaks from the heart about highlights of his life, friends, relations and his pure love of working on small market radio from the 1960's to the 1990's.....Claremont City News "Live Radio" a must have....Ric "Kahuna" Paterson, OM K-Fox 105 and LA 103.5, Alexandria Louisiana He writes about the people, offers an armchair tour of the stations and tells experiences of both fun and hardships when radio was what Cozzen's calls "both creative and fun" ...Robert Eades, President of The Catawba County Historical Association

Click Here For A larger Image Of The Cover

Return To Home Page

WHKY History Page Two