WICU-FM
Radio station in Lawrence Park–Erie, Pennsylvania
42°07′25″N 80°07′02″W / 42.12361°N 80.11722°W / 42.12361; -80.11722WICU-FM (92.7 MHz) is a contemporary hit radio-formatted radio station in Erie, Pennsylvania, licensed to Lawrence Park, Pennsylvania, under the ownership of SJL Broadcasting (a sister company to Lilly Broadcasting). It uses the moniker "Happi 927". WICU-FM is simulcast in Warren on Lilly-owned WICU (1310 AM and 96.7 FM).
History
The station, using the call sign WEHP, signed on the air November 9, 2012, stunting with songs including the word "Happy"; at 12 p.m. on November 16, 2012, it formally launched its contemporary hit radio format under the branding of "Happi 92.7".[1] The station was originally owned by Rick Rambaldo'a Erie Radio Company;[1] the construction permit had been acquired, under the name First Channel Communications, for $2,068,000 in a May 2011 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction, outbidding an entity affiliated with Connoisseur Media.[2] Rambaldo had previously a group of Erie radio stations that was sold to NextMedia in 1999, and subsequently acquired by Connoisseur Media and then iHeartMedia.[3] The WEHP call sign was assigned on May 16, 2012.[4]
In September 2019, Erie Radio Company announced the sale of the station to SJL of Pennsylvania, owner of WICU-TV, for $1.33 million; SJL is a sister company to Lilly Broadcasting, whose holdings in the area include WSEE-TV and three Warren radio stations.[5] Under the terms of the agreement, Erie Radio Company retained the rights to the "Happi" brand, but granted SJL/Lilly a perpetual royalty-free license to use the name.[3] The sale was completed on December 31, 2019,[6] at which point the call sign was changed to WICU (the "-FM" suffix was added on February 13, 2020).[4] On April 1, 2020, WICU-FM began simulcasting in Warren on WICU (1310 AM and 96.7 FM).[7]
In September 2021, WICU-FM relocated its studios to the facilities of WICU-TV and WSEE-TV, up State Street from its original studios.[8]
References
- ^ a b Venta, Lance (November 16, 2012). "Happi 92.7 Erie Debuts". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (May 9, 2011). "Rambaldo Lands Erie FM CP". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Venta, Lance (September 11, 2019). "Lilly Broadcasting Acquires Happi 92.7 Erie". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "Call Sign History (WICU-FM)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "Lilly Adds An FM In Erie". All Access. September 11, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ Rambaldo, Rick (December 31, 2019). "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ Venta, Lance (April 1, 2020). "Happi 92.7 Expands To Warren PA". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ "HAPPI 927 Studio Moving to Erie News Now". www.erienewsnow.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
External links
- WICU in the FCC FM station database
- WICU in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
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- Nearby regions
- Ashtabula
- Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia/Warren
- Meadville-Franklin
- Youngstown
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