News/Talk
97.3 KBSG Begins Simulcasting 710 KIRO
Previous Format: Classic Hits “B97.3” KBSG New Format: News/Talk “97.3 KIRO” KIRO-FM Date & Time Of Change: August 12, 2008 at 4:23am More Info: Wikipedia Aircheck Contributed by Bob Cavanaugh
93.9 WWFT Indianapolis Becomes “Warm 93.9”
On November 17, 2007 93.9 WWFT Fishers/Indianapolis dropped its 11-month old News/Talk format in favor of Christmas Music as “The Christmas Channel”. This move, in retaliation for Emmis’ announced move of 1070 WIBC to 93.1 FM on December 26, gave Indianapolis its 2nd all-Christmas format. On December 26, WWFT stunt changed to an announcement of a new format launching on January 2, 2008 at 9:39am. The new format, “Warm 93.9” which debuted with The Police “Every Breathe You Take”, was clearly designed to take shares away from Emmis’ WYXB “B105.7”. Cumulus’ has similar “Warm” branded AC’s that it acquired from Susquehanna along with WWFT in Cincinnati and York, PA.
106.3 WGVC becomes “Charlie-FM”
In late November 2006, a computerized “countdown” was broadcast on 106.3. The countdown lasted about a week. It’s purpose was to countdown until a new station would emerge. During the countdown, some various phrases/quotes from many sources (like movies, music) were played every 30 seconds for the duration. The new format was GreenStone Media’s female-oriented talk, known only as “106.3 WGVC.” On August 6th, 2007, it was confirmed that GreenStone media, the main provider for WGVC’s programming, would cease operations on August 17th, 2007. On August 18, the station started playing a satellite feed of various genres music, including rock from the 1970s and 1980s (“106.3 The Big Hair”), boy band music (“Backstreet 106.3”), a mi...
Power 92 KKFR Becomes KTAR-FM
Previous Format: Rhythmic CHR “Power 92” KKFR New Format: News/Talk KTAR-FM Date & Time Of Change: September 18, 2006 More Info: Wikipedia Related Changes: KZGL Becomes Power 98.3
860 WGUL changes from Standards to Talk
At 5 PM on August 12, 2005, 860 WGUL in the Tampa Bay market flipped from its longtime “Music of Your Life” format to a temporary Presidential Speech format under new owners Salem Communication. Aircheck and Summary courtesy of Lou Pickney.
1050 WEVD Gives Way To ESPN
Previous Format: News/Talk WEVD New Format: Sports “1050 ESPN Radio” (Station would become WEPN in April 2003) Date & Time Of Change: September 1, 2001 at 12:00am More Info: Wikipedia
96.5 WWDB flips from News/Talk to All 80’s “The Point”
One day before Election Day, a huge day for a Talk station, WWDB-FM America’s first Talk station on FM abandoned the format. Sinking ratings caused by the loss of the syndicated Dr. Laura and Rush Limbaugh to upstart 1210 WPHT as well as the many reimaging and refocusing WWDB went through in its final years helped lead to its demise. Around 9:00am the station began stunting with an automated voice counting down to 1. When the station debuted at 5:00, they did so by airing all of the station’s sweepers prior to the first song “Don’t You Forget About Me” from Simple Minds.
550 KGME Becomes NewsRadio 550 KFYI
Previous Format: Sports “SportsRadio 550” KGME New Format: News/Talk “NewsRadio 550” KFYI Date & Time Of Change: September 25, 2000 More Info: Wikipedia As part of the historic merger between Clear Channel and AMFM, Clear Channel elected to keep both KGME 550 (Sports) and KFYI 910 (News/Talk) as part of its AM portfolio in Phoenix. On September 25, 2000, KFYI moved from its longtime home at 910 to Arizona’s best AM signal, 550. KGME, which had moved from 1360 to 550 only about 16 months earlier, found itself at 910. KFYI changed its moniker from “Talk Radio 910, KFYI” to “News Radio 550, KFYI” — a name that sounded very much like its longtime competitor and now neighbor: Emmis-owned News/Talk/Sports-formatted “News Radi...
