imported>Wcquidditch: in what was probably inevitable based on the completely unchanged (even still promoting the defunct 1230) logo, WHOS will change its call sign to WBHP on March 31

2025-03-06T20:45:51Z

in what was probably inevitable based on the completely unchanged (even still promoting the defunct 1230) logo, WHOS will change its call sign to WBHP on March 31

New page

{{about|the radio station in Alabama|the singular of WHOs|who (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WHOS
| logo =
| city = [[Decatur, Alabama]]
| country = US
| area = [[Huntsville metropolitan area]]
| branding = The Big Talker 800
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1948|10}}
| frequency = 800 [[kilohertz|kHz]]
| repeater = {{Radio Relay|102.1|[[WDRM|WDRM-HD2]]|[[Decatur, Alabama|Decatur]]}}
| format = [[Talk radio]]
| power = {{ubl|1,000 watts day|215 watts night}}
| class = D
| facility_id = 44023
| coordinates = {{coord|34|35|55.3|N|87|0|24|W|type:landmark_region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns =
| owner = [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| sister_stations = {{hlist|[[WDRM]]|[[WQRV]]|[[WTAK-FM]]}}
| webcast = {{iHeartRadio|800-wbhp-9}}
| website = {{URL|https://wbhpam.iheart.com/}}
| affiliations = [[Premiere Networks]]
| network = [[Fox News Radio]]
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
}}

'''WHOS''' (800 [[Hertz|kHz]]) is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[AM radio|AM]] radio station [[city of license|licensed]] to [[Decatur, Alabama]], with studios in [[Madison, Alabama]]. WHOS is part of the group of stations in the [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]] [[media market|radio market]] owned by [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]<ref>{{cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |title=Critics blast Clear Channel; Superpower of radio, music dominates markets |first=Chris |last=Welch |page=3G |date=August 29, 2004}}</ref> The station is [[simulcast]] on an [[FM translator]] at 106.5 [[Hertz|MHz]] in Huntsville, and on the second [[HD Radio]] channel of [[WDRM]] (102.1 FM).

WHOS broadcasts a [[talk radio|talk]] [[radio format]] and serves northwest [[Alabama]] and south-central [[Tennessee]].<ref name="arb1">{{cite web |title=Station Information Profile |work=Arbitron |url=http://www.arbitron.com/}}</ref> By day, the station is powered at 1,000 watts. As [[800 AM]] is a Mexican [[clear channel station|clear channel frequency]], WHOS it reduces power at night to 215 watts to prevent interference. The [[transmitter]] is off 2nd Street SW at 14th Avenue SW in Decatur.<ref>[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=whos&x=0&y=0&sr=Y&s=C Radio-Locator.com/WHOS]</ref>

==Programming==
Weekdays on WHOS begin with ''Alabama's Morning News with JT'', based at co-owned [[WERC-FM]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]. The rest of the weekday schedule is made up of [[radio syndication|nationally syndicated]] talk shows, mostly from co-owned [[Premiere Networks]]: ''[[The Glenn Beck Radio Program]], [[The Sean Hannity Show]], [[Michael Berry (radio host)|The Michael Berry Show]], [[The Jesse Kelly Show]], [[Lee Habeeb|Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb]]'' and ''[[Coast to Coast AM]] with [[George Noory]]''.

Weekends feature shows on money, health, technology, travel and religion. Weekend syndicated programs include ''[[Rudy Maxa|Rudy Maxa World Travel]], [[Michael D. Brown|The Weekend with Michael Brown]], [[Armstrong & Getty]], [[The Tech Guy|Rich DeMuro on Tech]], [[Ben Ferguson|The Ben Ferguson Show]]'' and ''[[Bill Cunningham (talk show host)|Sunday Night with Bill Cunningham]]''. Most hours begin with an update from [[Fox News Radio]].

In addition to its regularly scheduled talk programming, the station is an [[network affiliate|affiliate]] of the [[Auburn Tigers football]] radio network.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=The Auburn University Official Athletic Site |title=Football Affiliates |url=http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sponsorship/aub-footbl-affiliates.html |access-date=December 4, 2008}}</ref> It also carries [[Auburn Tigers men's basketball]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=The Auburn University Official Athletic Site |title=Basketball Affiliates |url=http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sponsorship/aub-baskbl-affiliates.html |access-date=December 4, 2008}}</ref>

==History==
===Early years===
The station [[sign-on|signed on]] the air in October 1948 as a 1,000-watt [[daytimer|daytime-only]] station broadcasting at 800 kHz.<ref>{{cite book |title=Broadcasting Yearbook |year=1952 |publisher=Broadcasting Publications}}</ref> Originally owned by North Alabama Broadcasting, the station was randomly assigned the WHOS [[call letters]] by the [[Federal Communications Commission]]; they do not stand for anything in particular.<ref name="fcc1">{{cite web |title=Call Sign History |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=44023&Callsign=WHOS |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database}}</ref>

As a daytime-only station, WHOS could not broadcast at night. [[XEROK-AM|XEROK]] in [[Ciudad Juarez]] is the [[list of broadcast station classes#AM|Class A]] station on the frequency and WHOS had to go off the air to avoid interference. WHOS ran a [[country music]] format for most of its first 40 years.

===Financial problems===
In February 1987, the broadcast license for WHOS was transferred from Dixie Broadcasting, Inc., to Dixie Broadcasting, Inc. as Debtor-In-Possession. The transfer was approved by the FCC on February 26, 1987.<ref>{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19870217GF) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=97834 |date=February 26, 1987}}</ref> Dixie Broadcasting had filed bankruptcy in an effort to stave off an adverse civil lawsuit outcome regarding the contracted sale of [[WDRM]] to W.H. Pollard, Jr., the then-owner of [[WBHP]] (1230 AM) in [[Huntsville, Alabama]].<ref>{{cite web |work=United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit |title=871 F.2d 1023 In re Dixie Broadcasting Inc. |url=http://www.altlaw.org/v1/cases/429820 |date=April 28, 1989}}</ref>

In October 1988, the station, which had been airing a [[Southern Gospel music]] format, flipped to an all-[[Elvis Presley]] format. It used the advertising tagline "WHOS alive?".<ref>{{cite news |work=Los Angeles Times |first=John |last=Voland |title=Radio |date=1988-10-05 |quote=Straight from the gospel to the Pelvis . . . such is the overnight odyssey of radio station WHOS in Decatur, Ala., which switched formats overnight from gospel music and religious programming to an all-Elvis format Monday morning... }}</ref> This novel format garnered the station national media attention, but failed to gain a local audience and lasted just six months, in effect a lengthy [[stunting (broadcasting)|stunt]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Images of Elvis Presley in American Culture, 1977-1997: The Mystery Terrain |first=George |last=Plasketes |page=[https://archive.org/details/imagesofelvispre00plas/page/22 22] |quote=WHOS in Decatur, Alabama underwent a similar short-lived experiment, converting from gospel to an all-Elvis format, which for six months generated more media attention than listenership. |publisher=Haworth Press |year=1997 |isbn=1-56024-910-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/imagesofelvispre00plas|url-access=registration }}</ref> After the Elvis format ended, WHOS switched to a simulcast of WDRM and its country music format, which was by this time very successful and among North Alabama's top-rated stations.

In January 1992, a deal was reached for the broadcast license for WHOS to be transferred from Dixie Broadcasting, Inc. as Debtor-In-Possession back to Dixie Broadcasting, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on March 26, 1992, and the transaction was consummated on September 15, 1992.<ref>{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19920129HE) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=169173 |date=September 15, 1992}}</ref>

===Mountain Lakes Broadcasting===
In December 1991, Dixie Broadcasting, Inc., reached an agreement to merge ownership of this station with the ownership of WBHP to a new company named Mountain Lakes Broadcasting, Inc., pending the resolution of Dixie's legal difficulties.<ref>{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BTC-19911204HS) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=167657 |date=November 11, 1993}}</ref> In October 1993, with Dixie Broadcasting back in good financial standing and the legal issues settled by the appeals courts, the merger moved forward.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |title=Area radio stations merge |page=A2 |date=November 20, 1993}}</ref> The deal was approved by the FCC on November 3, 1993, and the transaction was consummated on November 11, 1993.<ref>{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19931008GE) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=190736 |date=November 11, 1993}}</ref>

In November 1996, J. Mack Bramlett, W.H. Pollard Jr., and Trust B Under The Will Of W.H. Pollard Sr. reached an agreement to transfer control of Mountain Lakes Broadcasting, licensee of this station as well as WDRM and WBHP, to Osborn Communications Corporation.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |title=WDRM gets new owner; format to stay country |first=Mike |last=Kaylor |page=B1 |date=November 21, 1996}}</ref> The deal was approved by the FCC on January 29, 1997.<ref>{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BTC-19961205GJ) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=237248 |date=January 29, 1997}}</ref> By May 1997, the three stations were part of the Capstar group, which was also in the process of acquiring [[WVNN-FM|WWXQ]], [[WHRP|WXQW]], and [[WTAK-FM]].<ref name="mst-whoscapstar">{{cite news |title=Elsewhere |work=The M Street Journal |date=May 28, 1997 |page=7}}</ref> In November 1997, WHOS and WBHP dropped their shared country music format for an [[all-news]] format featuring [[CNN Radio]] 24 hours a day.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |title=AM stations switch to all news format |first=Dean |last=Smallwood |page=G6}}</ref>

Capstar and Chancellor Media announced in August 1998 that they would merge ([[HM Capital Partners|Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst]] was a major shareholder in both companies);<ref>{{cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |title=Five area stations involved in radio merger |date=August 27, 1998 |page=B6}}</ref><ref name="v-capstarchancellormerger">{{cite news |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |title=Chancellor, Capstar ink merger |url=https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/chancellor-capstar-ink-merger-1117479917/ |access-date=April 9, 2023 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=August 28, 1998}}</ref> upon the merger's completion in July 1999, the combined company was named AMFM Inc.<ref name="abj-capstartoamfm">{{cite news |title=Chancellor/Capstar merger creates AMFM Inc. |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/1999/07/12/daily6.html |access-date=April 9, 2023 |work=[[Austin Business Journal]] |date=July 13, 1999}}</ref> In September 1998, Mountain Lakes Broadcasting, LLC, filed to transfer the WHOS license to Ameron Broadcasting Corporation. The transfer was approved by the FCC on October 2, 1998, and the transaction was consummated on November 5, 1998.<ref>{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19980928GE) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/comment.pl?Application_id=274446&File_number=BAL-19980928GE |date=November 5, 1998}}</ref> In February 1999, Ameron filed to transfer the station to Capstar Royalty II Corporation. This was approved by the FCC on March 2, 1999, and the transaction was consummated on March 5, 1999.<ref>{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19990203GK) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=281331 |date=March 5, 1999}}</ref>

===Clear Channel ownership===
AMFM was acquired by Clear Channel Communications (forerunner to iHeartMedia) in a deal announced on October 4, 1999,<ref name="cnnfn-amfmccu">{{cite news |title=Clear Channel, AMFM deal |url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/10/04/deals/clear/ |access-date=April 9, 2023 |work=[[CNN Money]] |date=October 4, 1999}}</ref> and completed in August 2000.<ref name="v-amfmccucompletion">{{cite news |author=Variety Staff |title=Clear Channel brings AMFM into focus |url=https://variety.com/2000/more/news/clear-channel-brings-amfm-into-focus-1117785751/ |access-date=April 9, 2023 |work=Variety |date=August 30, 2000}}</ref> The five Huntsville stations affected in the merger were a small part of the larger $16.6 billion transaction.<ref name="amd2">{{cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |title=Clear Channel buys AMFM for $16.6B |page=B6 |date=October 5, 1999}}</ref>

WHOS's simulcast with WBHP ended in 2024, after that station's tower collapsed; WBHP's programming would continue on WHOS, WDRM-HD2, and [[FM translator]] W273CX (102.5 FM). The WBHP license was surrendered in February 2025;<ref name="ri-wbhpclosure">{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=FCC Report 2/16: KILT Proposes Signal Upgrade |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/294857/fcc-report-2-16-kilt-proposes-signal-upgrade/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |work=RadioInsight |date=February 16, 2025}}</ref> on March 4, iHeartMedia filed to change WHOS's call sign to WBHP effective March 31.<ref name="fcc-whostowbhp">{{cite web |last1=Langham |first1=Troy G |title=Form 380 - Change Request |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff39549b18301954d9d919f023b&id=25076ff39549b18301954d9d919f023b&goBack=N |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |access-date=March 6, 2025 |date=March 4, 2025}}</ref>

===Former on-air staff===
Notable former WHOS on-air staff included George Rose, who, along with his alter-ego "Cousin Josh" character, hosted "The Cousin Josh Jam-O-Ree" on several North Alabama radio stations in a career that began in 1948 and ended with his death in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=George Rose, famous as radio's 'Cousin Josh,' dies at 78; funeral today. |work=[[The Decatur Daily]] |date=2006-12-09 |last=Bishop |first=Kristen }}</ref>

===Former programming===
WHOS and sister station WBHP were the broadcast flagships for the 1999-2000 final season of the [[Huntsville Channel Cats]] and for the short-lived [[Huntsville Tornado]] for the 2000-2001 [[ice hockey|hockey]] season.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Huntsville Times |title=City's 'new' CHL club hits ice for exhibition |first=Darrell |last=Ponder |page=C3 |date=October 5, 2000}}</ref> Both teams played their home games at the [[Von Braun Center]] and competed in the [[Central Hockey League]].

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://wbhpam.iheart.com/ WHOS official website]
{{AM station data|44023|WHOS}}

{{Huntsville radio}}
{{IHeartMedia}}

[[Category:Radio stations in Huntsville, Alabama|HOS]]
[[Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1948]]
[[Category:Morgan County, Alabama]]
[[Category:IHeartMedia radio stations]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in Alabama]]

WHOS - Revision history

imported>Wcquidditch: in what was probably inevitable based on the completely unchanged (even still promoting the defunct 1230) logo, WHOS will change its call sign to WBHP on March 31