WHEB (AM)

WHEB was a limited-time AM radio station in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which existed from 1932 until 1991, last owned by Knight Broadcasting.

WHEB was originally licensed for only daytime operation, and generally required to go off the air at local sunset, in order to avoid nighttime interference to a clear channel station in Atlanta, 50,000-watt WSB.

[4] During the first 60 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, WHEB was permitted to operate with 250 watts power at night, unlimited time, because it was the only station located near one of the most important navy yards in the United States.

These hearings included testimony by Bert Georges, Vice President and General Manager of WHEB, who stated: "I have asked for appearance at this hearing to give a specific case of how duplication of clear channels could improve the service to both rural and urban populations in my section of the country".

Portsmouth is located almost 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Atlanta, so Georges complained that the current standards protected clear channel stations far beyond where their listeners were actually located, and that requiring WHEB to sign off at night meant "In this case it happens to be preponderantly a rural audience which could be served in Maine and New Hampshire, at night, service which they are not now getting."

1944 advertisement for WHEB, reflecting that Portsmouth was a major shipbuilding center. [ 2 ]