WVKO (AM)

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WVKO
Broadcast area	Columbus, Ohio
Branding	The New 1580 WVKO
Frequency	1580 (KHz)
Format	Gospel
Power	1,000 watts daytime 250 watts nighttime
Callsign meaning	Voice of K(C)olumbus Ohio
Owner	Bernard Ohio LLC
Website	None

WVKO is an American AM radio station licensed to broadcast in Columbus, Ohio.

[edit] Status

WVKO went off the air on May 5, 2006 due to the upcoming expiration of its transmitter land lease, and major financial issues. The station is scheduled to move to another potential Columbus transmitter site later in 2007, at which point it is expected to return to the air. [1]

The Station license was transferred on January 22, 2007 to Bernard Ohio LLC following a period under the supervision of a bankruptcy trustee, despite some formal objections filed with the FCC.[2]

On March 15, 2007, the FCC granted the station's new owners Special Temporary Authority permission to resume broadcasting from its new location at reduced power, in order to prevent the loss of the station license due to the station being off the air for a period of one year - which automatically results in forfeiture of a station's FCC license.

[edit] Programming

While still on the air, WVKO broadcast gospel music programming, and local talk and information programs aimed at the African-American community. It was also the broadcast outlet for the Columbus Clippers minor league baseball team. Prior to that is was Columbus' R&B/Soul music station in the 1960s and 70s with an FM sister WSPO which picked up WVKO programing into the evening hours when WVKO-AM was a daytime-only staion at that time.