Pittsburgh Radio & Television
PRESENTS
Shenango Valley Radio and TV
Welcome to PBRTV's Youngstown/Mercer Page. Stations included are in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties in Ohio, and Mercer, Lawrence and Venango Counties in Pennsylvania. This page is under construction! We need your assistance. If you know any information on these stations and would like to share, please send some email to laveryman@hotmail.com.
S(henango)V(alley)RTV Hotline - 12/14/05
Tom's move to Cochranton - (12/14) Well readers, the move has finally occured for Yours Truly. I have left Erie County for the Cochranton area in Crawford County. Sure, I will still be driving further to work at WQLN, but things for my wife & I will work out a lot better than where we were. Of course, the Mrs. is back in her neck of the woods while I'll be learning the backroads for quite a while. As for what I can cover now, I am almost between the Erie & Youngstown markets. It was one reason why I told the editor guru at the PBRTV World Headquarters Eric O' Brien that I could also keep tabs on what's going on in the Shenango Valley. It's also a great way to compare the two markets in TV & Radio, thus getting the best of both worlds. Well that & beyond with signals from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Wheeling, Johnstown, State College, Steubenville and even Canada on occasion. On the TV front, I can get the locals from Erie, Youngstown & some Pittsburgh channels on both analog & HD. I decided to keep the Erie locals on Dish Network but keeping the regular antenna aimed towards Pittsburgh & Youngstown. Definitely a benefit when WSEE has to carry the Bills games. I can watch the Steelers most weeks on WKBN 27 or KDKA HD at 2.1 (25) with very few dropouts. It's surprising that KDKA is the only CBS affiliate in the region broadcasting in HD. WSEE & WKBN have construction permits for their future HD channels. From Erie, I can get WFXP & WQLN in HD while WICU & WJET are not up to full power to cover much beyond Erie. As for radio, there are a lot of choices including Oil City's WKQW 1120 with their Classic Country format. While it's a daytime station, at least they are playing Country music often not looked at by the FM Country giants. It's definitely a choice for me. Another stop for me is Youngstown's Classic Rock Powerhouse, Y103. They can dig deep for some classics that you do not often hear on the local airwaves. Then there's Mix 98.9, a station that has a lot of '80's on their playlist. The weekends are all '80's from Friday - Sunday. The only problem with that station is that they carry Deliliah, which really brings the tempo of the station to sleepy. I'll keep you posted on more developments as time goes on. Until then, this is Tom Lavery unpacking boxes.
Deck the Halls with Christmas Music - (11/28) If you're looking for area stations playing those Holiday favorites, here's a list that you can check twice. In Youngstown, you can tune into WBBG 106.1 & WNIO 1390. While over in Mercer, WLLF 96.7 has the Holiday Hits for you.
45/49 Update - (10/25) Apparently the story I
reported was not 100% accurate. Yes Channels 45/49 in Youngstown / Akron has pulled the PBS HD service but only temporarily. News on ohio media reports that they are working on technical issues in order to add more channels on 45.1 & 49.1. The HD Service will return on November 5th along with the upconverted analog feed of 45/49. In addition they will be feeding educational access programs on their 3rd channel & a feed of the Ohio State Legislature on the 4th channel. (It should be on 45.1 - 45.4 & 49.1 - 49.4.) Currently, the only other HD channel broadcasting multiple channels in Youngstown is WFMJ 21.1 with their NBC programming and WBCB 21.2 with WB programming which is otherwise only available on cable in the area.
PBS HD service dropped by WEAO / WNEO - (10/25) News from ohiomedia.blogspot.com reports that the Youngstown (Salem) / Akron PBS combo affiliates WEAO 45 & WNEO 49 has dropped the PBS HD service. It was carried on HD channels 45.1 &
49.1 on the two outlets while their analog channels were carried on their SD channels. The PBS HD listings are still available on their website for the time being. This comes after WQLN 54 in Erie dropped the service due to rising costs to carry the service.
WGRP returns to the airwaves - (8/4) According to www.radio-info.com (on the Pittsburgh page.) WGRP 940 has returned to the airwaves in Greenville. The Arch Communications station has joined their other AM stations in the area with the "Wexy 107" oldies format. Why are those stations still using the "Wexy 107" moniker when Wexy has flipped to Christian rock / rap recently.
Joe Vilkie clears up the WGRP mystery - I had a chance to speak with the owner of Oldies Radio "Cool 101.7" (WMVL in Meadville) Joe Vilkie yesterday (7/27). He cleared up the mystery of what didn't happen with WGRP 940 in Greenville. He basically couldn't seal the deal with Arch communications & it fell through, not due to his efforts I might add. Joe has added Greenville to the Cool 101.7 station ID in hopes that he can gain listeners from Greenville who lost oldies on WEXY 107 (WEXC 107.1) when they flipped to Christian rock & rap. You can check out the new ratings for his station in the Meadville - Franklin market on www.radioandrecords.com or www.Arbitron.com. They are gaining on the Forever bunch and should see more growth in the next ratings period with the first full book with their much improved signal into Meadville.
Stop 26 Riverbend files for Chapter 11 - (7/19) OhioMediaBlogspot.com & www.TheDeal.com reports that Stop 26-Riverbend has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for their radio properties in Youngstown & Columbus. Stop 26 owns Youngstown stations Urban Contemporary WRBP 101.9, Gospel WGFT 1330 & News WASN 1500. This comes a week after Urban / Hip Hop rival WRTK 1540 was purchased by Beacon Broadcasting.
Hip Hop R & B WRTK 1540 sold to Becon - (7/15) News from www.ohiomediablogspot.com reports that WRTK in Niles is in the process of being sold to Harold Glunt. Yes, the very same Harold Glunt of Beacon Broadcasting who owns WEXC 107.1, WGRP 940 & WLOA 1470. WRTK is currently a daytime only station that plays a
mix of R&B and Hip Hop. The station has stiff R&B competition from crosstown rival WRBP 101.9. With Beacon's recent changes, expect WRTK to change in the near future.
Christian comes to the former WEXY 107 - (7/8) I was finally within earshot of WEXC 107.1 in Greenville & boy did they ever flip. WEXC is now Christian formatted "Freak 107" which features Christian rap & metal. Definitely a far cry from AC style Christian stations like WCTL in Erie. Meanwhile, WEXY 107 lives on for now at WLOA 1470 in Farrell, Pa. Complete with the WEXY 107 ID. It will probably be short lived before a change occurs. Meanwhile, WGRP 940
is still off the air. Will oldies launch on that station now that Vilkie shut it off due to losing it to Arch? Stay tuned.
WEXC has flipped to Christian - (7/6) After months of speculation, readers of radio-info.com reports that WEXC 107.1 has dropped it's oldies format for a Christian rap & hard rock format with the name "Freak 107." More to come later.
WKBN Anchor passes away (6/13) - Sad news for Youngstown as Legendary WKBN / WYFX News Anchor Tom Holden passed away over the weekend after a short illness. He helped lead WKBN over rivals WFMJ & WYTV for many years. More can be read at wkbn.com. Tom was 67.
Will WEXC Greenville flip? - (5/24) There are reports in www.fybush.com that WEXC 107.1 Greenville will be flipping from Oldies back to Contemporary Christian. Michael Arch has apparently bought out the previous owners, Beacon Broadcasting. The lack of Oldies in Greenville could possibly be filled by Vilkie Communications station WGRP 940, which is Adult Contemporary. WGRP is sister station to WMVL Cool 101.7 in Meadville.
FM
88.1 WTGP GREENVILLE, PA college
Naturally, this college radio station is licensed to Thiel College Board of Trustees (and Greenville, PA!). The station not only appeals to college students, but to the Mercer County community to which it is licensed.
88.5 WYSU YOUNGSTOWN, OH classical
Much like Pittsburgh's WDUQ is to Duquesne University, WYSU is a part of Youngstown State University. The format here is Classical and has affiliation with NPR.
88.9 WWNW NEW WILMINGTON, PA
WWNW is Westminster College's radio station. Westminster is a well known school for radio broadcasting having given the area many great broadcasters.
89.5 WAWN FRANKLIN, PA religious
90.1 WVMN NEW CASTLE, PA religious
90.7 WKTL STRUTHERS, OH multi-cultural
91.1 WRMU ALLIANCE, OH
The station is owned and operated by Mount Union College and for the most part is a "teaching station". The station does serve the community nonetheless.
91.1 WSAJ GROVE CITY, PA classical/college
Located on both the AM and FM dial, WSAJ comes from Grove City College. Most of the format is dedicated to the fine arts. Grove City College also has a "teaching station" but WGCC is located at 530 AM. WSAJ is open to students wanting to know MORE about the true broadcast.
91.7 WYTN YOUNGSTOWN, OH family/Christian
92.1 WJST ELLWOOD CITY, PA ac
Star 92.1 is owned by Clear Channel and operates an AC format. The station being located at 92.1 presents a slight problem for the Univeristy of Pittsburgh which also uses 92.1 for WPTS. Thusly, WPTS' signal is limited North of the City of Pittsburgh. WJST was WKST originally, but WKST was moved to 96.1 FM in Pittsburgh to go along with Clear Channel's "Kiss" format.
92.5 WZKL ALLIANCE, OH top 40/CHR
WZKL was recently known as "Oldies 92.5" with a very similar sound to Pittsburgh's WWSW. In 2000, the Oldies format was dropped for a CHR format and the name "Z 92.5". The station is now "Q92" and has added more Hip Hop and Rap.
93.3 WNCD YOUNGSTOWN, OH rock
Before August 30, 2000, WNCD was located at 106.1 and licensed to Niles, OH. Traded signals with WBBG, sister station under the Clear Channel Umbrella.
95.1 WICT GROVE CITY, PA country
WICT was at one time rock station "95K-Rock". It has since gone into a country format as "Cat Country". Although licensed to Grove City, PA, The offices are in Boardman, OH with the rest of the Clear Channel sisters.
95.9 WTNX SHARPSVILLE, PA top 40/rhythmic
WTNX took over K-Rock when WICT switched to country, then took on a Smooth Jazz format. For a while the station was known as The Beat, but became Kiss in 2001. The station emulates its sister WKST-FM in Pittsburgh at 96.1. Clear Channel owns this Top-40 station.
96.7 WLLF MERCER, PA oldies
Before going Oldies, WLLF was a Smooth Jazz Station. The studios are now located in Hermitage and owned by Cumulus.
98.9 WMXY YOUNGSTOWN, OH hot ac
For many years WKBN-FM provided the Shenango Valley area with beautiful music filling the gap where WSHH could not reach. In early 1989, "Stereo 99" became a Soft AC station as did most beautiful music stations. In the late 90's, the format was pushed to a hotter sound and the callsign became WMXY. Mix 98.9 is a Clear Channel Station.
99.3 WFRA FRANKLIN, PA
101.1 WHOT YOUNGSTOWN, OH top-40
Hot 101 is owned and operated by Cumulus Broadcasting.
101.9 WBTJ HUBBARD, OH top 40
102.9 WYFM SHARON, PA classic rock
Sharon's only FM station is sister to WPIC and once known as WPIC-FM. The station provided an AC outlet for a long while until Classic Rock became the format of choice.
103.9 WWIZ MERCER, PA rock
This rock station is owned by Cumulus and was located in Hermitage, PA (right next door to Sharon). The station is licensed to and located in Youngstown/Warren,
105.1 WQXK SALEM, OH country
K-105 is another Cumulus Broadcasting station. The station serves 20 counties around the area and has dual market broadcast to Youngstown/Warren and Alliance/Canton. The station blasts out a mere 88,000 watts...so it's no wonder it is the area's #1 Country radio station!
106.1 WBBG NILES, OH oldies
Formerly known as CD 106 The Wolf, WBBG traded places with WNCD on August 30, 2000. Clear Channel owns this oldies station.
107.1 WEXC GREENVILLE, PA
AM
570 WKBN YOUNGSTOWN, PA
600 WSOM SALEM, PA
790 WPIC SHARON, PA news/talk
Became a news/talk station in 2003. WPXI-TV announcer and WJAS Radio Annoncer Bill Cardille had his start here at WPIC in his hometown of Sharon.
830 WKTX CORTLAND, OH
940 WGRP GREENVILLE, PA
1200 WKST NEW CASTLE, PA
1240 WBBW YOUNGSTOWN, OH
1280 WBZY NEW CASTLE, PA
1310 WDPN ALLIANCE, OH
1330 WASN CAMPBELL, OH
1340 WSAJ GROVE CITY, PA
1390 WNIO YOUNGSTOWN, OH
1440 WRBP WARREN, OH
1450 WFRA FRANKLIN, PA
1470 WPAO FARRELL, PA
1500 WGFT YOUNGSTOWN, OH
1540 WRTK NILES, OH
1570 WANR YOUNGSTOWN, OH
TV
21 WFMJ NBC YOUNGSTOWN, OH
27 WKBN CBS YOUNGSTOWN, OH
31 WFXI FOX MASURY, OH
WFXI is a simulcast of WYFX out of Youngstown. Thusly they are known as Fox 31/62.
33 WYTV ABC YOUNGSTOWN, OH
45 WNEO PBS ALLIANCE/CANTON, OH
Another low power simulcast station. WEAO 49 out of Akron, OH. is copied here.
50 W50BF IND HERMITAGE, PA
This LPTV station simulcasts Greensburg's WPCB 40 and the Cornerstone Programming.
62 WYFX FOX YOUNGSTOWN, OH
WYFX's signal is low-power and therefore uses WFXI licensed to Masury for a simulcast outlet.
Jump back to the main PBRTV Index page.
All original material on this website is copyright 1998-2004 by PBRTV.