WKOO (710 AM, "100.5 Kix FM") is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Rose Hill, North Carolina. The station broadcasts classic country music.
Coverage
WKOO's main signal on 710 AM reaches all of Duplin County as well as the cities of Benson, Burgaw, Clinton, Elizabethtown, Goldsboro, Greenville, Kinston, Jacksonville, New Bern, Smithfield, and Wilmington. Depending on weather conditions, WKOO can be heard as far away as Durham, Fayetteville, Raleigh, and even Florence (South Carolina).
Similar to radio stations such as WOR in New York City and KIRO in Seattle, 710 AM is Class A clear-channel station.
History
The original construction permit for 710 AM in Rose Hill, North Carolina, was applied for on August 13, 1966, by Duplin County Broadcasters, founded by Jeff Barnes Wilson, and was granted on June 9, 1970. The WEGG call letters were assigned on December 28, 1970. The call letters were intended to reflect the poultry industry, which was next door to the radio station, as well as the local landmark, The World's Largest Frying Pan. WEGG first began broadcasting in August 1975 with 250 watts daytime-only.
The Wonderful Egg 710
WEGG started as a country music station, eventually becoming full service, and began incorporating Southern Gospel music as well. WEGG was originally branded as The Wonderful Egg. The station carried programming from ABC News, The North Carolina News Network, and Southern Farm Network. James Kenan High School football and Wake Forest sports were part of the programming as well. Since much of the sporting events, especially the High School Football, occurred after the nightly sign-off. WEGG would broadcast the play-by-play of the game, the next day.
The station operates at 710 AM, which is designated a clear channel, in which WOR in New York City has priority over the frequency in the night hours. One of the liners on WEGG was "Clear Channel Radio 71", even though the station itself is not classified as a clear channel station.
In 1981, WEGG began airing Gospel music and Bible Teaching programs seven days a week in addition to country music. Charlie Robinson hosted a daily afternoon program called All Gospel For All People, which featured traditional black gospel and coined the call letters as standing for " Where Everyone Glorifies God". Thru The Bible Radio with Dr. J. Vernon McGee was part of the programming throughout Wilson's ownership of the station. Jerry Falwell's program was also a part of the lineup. Many local churches aired their ministries on the station as well.
In 1993, Duplin County Broadcasters added FM sister station WBSY 104.7 FM, which allowed WEGG's programming to broadcast 24 hours a day.
Country Bear
In 1995, Jeff Barnes Wilson died, and Duplin County Broadcasters sold WEGG and sister station WBSY to Conner Media Corporation on June 7, 1996. WEGG & WBSY, shortly afterward, became Country Bear, simulcasting WZBR 97.7 in Goldsboro.
All Gospel Radio and La Caliente
In 1999, WEGG and WBSY broke away from the simulcast. WEGG flipped to traditional black gospel, and one of WEGG's notable personalities during this time was Patricia "Ann" Pratt. WBSY became a part of the Go Mix! Network, before becoming regional Mexican with the call letters WZUP, and relocating to Kinston, North Carolina. Though WBSY was no longer simulcasting WEGG, WEGG continued to use invoice forms, in which the letterhead read, "WEGG 710 AM / WBSY 104.7 FM" until 2014.
In June 2005, WEGG flipped to a regional Mexican format. The format change resulted in a backlash against the station, and a local minister organized a committee to bring gospel music back to the radio station, which failed. WEGG also received threats of the NAACP potentially getting involved.
Christian formats
In December 2005, WEGG dropped the regional Mexican format, and became a part of the Fundamental Broadcasting Network, an Independent Fundamental Baptist radio network based in Newport, North Carolina. During this time, WEGG was granted a construction permit for a power increase to 2,500 watts.