Radio History PT3

[David Sharp]

Okay...I've got a few questions...

1- When did 1300 WTYM "The Time Machine" flip to Spanish? And did it flip as WQBN?

2- When did 91.7 WFTI go from a community format, to Family Radio? I'm not sure the format stayed long after the initial test-phase.

3- The University of Tampa used to have an FM on 88.9 (now occupied by WYFE in Tarpon Springs). Anyone remember the calls (may have been WUOT) and when it went silent?

4- When did WXCR switch from 92.1 to 92.5 and when did it flip to WYUU, U-92?

5- And wasn't it in the early 80's when 1380 WNSI became a simulcast of Q-105? (I remember the morning Mason Dixon "pushed the button" to make the switch but forget exactly when this happened.) WNSI (News, Sports and Information) did a pretty good job for its day. Was it the first "rolling news format" on Bay Area radio?

 

[thebeach33445]

Hey David:

Very good questions!! I could help with some of the questions:

1. I have in my notes that WTYM went spanish in 1983 still as WTYM. The WQBN calls came in on 2-23-1987.

2. The switch from 92.1 to 92.5 I am trying to find that out myself. WXCR went to oldies U-92 in late 1989 calls were granted 10-20-89.

3. WNSI went to a simulcast of Q-105 in 1983, around the first of the year.

T.J.

P.S Thanks again for all of your help!!

 

[David Sharp]

Thanks for your info! Am hoping someone has the story behind the old Univ. of Tampa station. Thanks again.

 

[carson]

WUOT has been assigned to Knoxville, Tennessee's public station for years and years so I'm certain those calls were not used here. I wish I could help more! Carson

 

[David Sharp]

Hi, you're right about WUOT, my error. Trying to find the correct calls for Univ of Tampa station. Thanks.

 

[Mike_Serio]

David,

UT's Radio station was actually WTUN...

http://www.radioyears.com/other/details.cfm?lid=13&id=958

Jim Malloy has built a terrific site !!!

 

[David Sharp]

Hi Mike, I literally just found that site prior to making this post. Interesting info on WTUN. A couple of facts are in dispute but I think Jim has a pretty accurate accounting of the station's history. Also, there's at least one "vintage" photo of me from the WPLA days if you look hard on Jim's site. Hope you are well, Mike. Good to hear from you.

 

[RMarino]

4- When did WXCR switch from 92.1 to 92.5 and when did it flip to WYUU, U-92?

WXCR became oldies on September 28, 1989. I remember this because it was 3 days after "The Power Pig" debuted. Originally it was just "Oldies 92.5" with the WXCR calls, but within a matter of weeks They became WYUU as U92.

As for the Q105 - 1380 simulcast, that did begin in '83. The first song I heard on the simulcast that day was James Ingram & Patti Austin "Baby Come To Me" which was #1 (or at least top 5) at that time. I remember being very happy about the simulcast because the FM signal was hard to get sometimes where I lived, but 1380 boomed in.

 

[sbe1]

I listened to the actual flip. Scott Robbins gave the legal ID and then said Are you ready for this? Then played Chuck Berry's Roll over Beethoven and then the Toys, lovers concerto. Considering the classical format that just got dumped I found that hilarious

 

[dwtpa97]

Re WTUN, I was in high school when WTUN was on the air in the late 1950s. They were assigned a small suite in the main University of Tampa building. They had a terribly weak signal. I lived near the intersection of Henderson Blvd. and Dale Mabry in South Tampa (perhaps 3 miles from the station), and the station was barely receivable. At that distance, there was a lot of hiss and distortion. Of course, the old receivers also suffered from drift as well.