WFJO and WPOI

[ksradiogeek]

When did "Jo 101.5" begin and when did "101-5 The Point" begin?

 

[RMarino]

Around November or December 2001 is when Jo became The Point. I remember it was on a Saturday at noon.

 

[badjef]

1997 was when WKES turned into WILV "Love 101.5" with Randy and Wanda in the morning. In 1998 WILV gave way to WFJO.

WKES moved down the dial to 91.1

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[gamefreak]

I belive it was on Saturday Decembe, 15 2001 at Noon. I didn't live in Tampa at the time. Heck I didn't even know of the format flip until Late 2003 when my parents planned to move back down to Florida. Was making a holiday dinner for a family member, fliped through the radio stations on the boombox and found that The Point has taken even Jo 101. Found it funny Jo 101-5 was playing R.E.M.

However I googled WFJO and found out the domain for 1015thepoint.com wasn't even registered until the day before the flip. December 14, 2001. Much in the same vain of Hot 101-5 launch. Cox regsiters a domain. The topic gets brought up and here and 2 days later Hot 101-5 is lauched. Didn't even give people who recorded the transition between formats much of a headsup.

However I do have to ask why did Cox dump the Jammin' Oldies. I liked it, all the people I know who listened to WFJO liked it.

 

[badjef]

1997 was when WKES turned into WILV "Love 101.5" with Randy and Wanda in the morning. In 1998 WILV gave way to WFJO.

WKES moved down the dial to 91.1

A bit backwards, but this is from the FCC site:

Call Sign Begin Date
WPOI 01/14/2002
WFJO 09/18/1998
WILV-FM 07/17/1997
WKES

How they will get "Hot" from "WPOI", only their hairdresser will figure out...
...unless they are from Philadelphia.

By the way, CCU bought them from Moody before Cox. Maybe that will clear up confusion.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[danikayser84]

Where'd Cox park the WHTQ calls? They'd fit perfectly for "Hot"

 

[necrat123]

Where'd Cox park the WHTQ calls? They'd fit perfectly for "Hot"

Nowhere. WHTQ is an unassigned call sign.

 

[jefflaurence]

Didn't Bud Paxson work that deal for 101.5? Mr P was heavy into Christian doings and I think made some kind of "too sweet to turn down" move for Keswick radio and the Moody Bible Institute to move to a good stick and into the non-comm band..of course much of the Paxson empire went to CCU..

 

[badjef]

Where'd Cox park the WHTQ calls? They'd fit perfectly for "Hot"

Nowhere. WHTQ is an unassigned call sign.

It doesn't show up, not only Am/FM, there is no WHTQ for TV, either.

Pounce on 'em.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[billalm]

Paxson bought 91.1, then gave it to Moody along with a ton of cash for 101.5. Promised to keep the frequency "safe" and not offensive. Love 101.5 was a failure from the start. NO WAY were they gonna dethrone Warm 94.9 or WDUV on 103 at the time. Jammin' Oldies was the hot new format at the time and eventually popped up on 101.5. I can't remember when 94.1 was purchased by Paxson and upgraded to Smooth Jazz. May have been around that time as well. Eventually, Clear Channel bought the Paxson and Jacor stations and had to divest all the extras to CBS and Cox to the local clusters we see today.

 

[badjef]

Paxson bought 91.1, then gave it to Moody along with a ton of cash for 101.5. Promised to keep the frequency "safe" and not offensive. Love 101.5 was a failure from the start. NO WAY were they gonna dethrone Warm 94.9 or WDUV on 103 at the time. Jammin' Oldies was the hot new format at the time and eventually popped up on 101.5. I can't remember when 94.1 was purchased by Paxson and upgraded to Smooth Jazz. May have been around that time as well. Eventually, Clear Channel bought the Paxson and Jacor stations and had to divest all the extras to CBS and Cox to the local clusters we see today.

July 95 for 94.1

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[jmtillery]

By the way, CCU bought them from Moody before Cox. Maybe that will clear up confusion.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Actually it was Paxson Communications that acquired WKES 101.5 from Moody Bible Institute in 1997. The total acquisition price was $40-million cash comprising of $5-million cash for WCIE-FM 91.1 Lakeland which Paxson acquired from the Carpenters Home Church. Paxson then traded 91.1 with an additional $35-million cash to Moody in exchange for the 101.5 frequency. Clear Channel acquired 101.5 in November 1997 when CCU acquired the entire Paxson Communications radio division for $693-million which comprised of 44- Paxson owned radio properties in Florida and four in Cookville, Tennessee. CCU sold 101.5 to Cox when Clear Channel acquired the former Jacor Communications resulting in CCU owning 10-Tampa Bay FM properties. Five FM stations were spun off between Cox Radio and CBS Radio.

 

[badjef]

By the way, CCU bought them from Moody before Cox. Maybe that will clear up confusion.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Actually it was Paxson Communications that acquired WKES 101.5 from Moody Bible Institute in 1997. The total acquisition price was $40-million cash comprising of $5-million cash for WCIE-FM 91.1 Lakeland which Paxson acquired from the Carpenters Home Church. Paxson then traded 91.1 with an additional $35-million cash to Moody in exchange for the 101.5 frequency. Clear Channel acquired 101.5 in November 1997 when CCU acquired the entire Paxson Communications radio
division for $693-million which comprised of 44- Paxson owned radio properties in Florida and four in Cookville, Tennessee. CCU sold 101.5 to Cox when Clear Channel acquired the former Jacor Communications resulting in CCU owning 10-Tampa Bay FM properties. Five FM stations were spun off between Cox Radio and CBS Radio.

Was 102.5 a CCU?

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[jmtillery]

By the way, CCU bought them from Moody before Cox. Maybe that will clear up confusion.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Actually it was Paxson Communications that acquired WKES 101.5 from Moody Bible Institute in 1997. The total acquisition price was $40-million cash comprising of $5-million cash for WCIE-FM 91.1 Lakeland which Paxson acquired from the Carpenters Home Church. Paxson then traded 91.1 with an additional $35-million cash to Moody in exchange for the 101.5 frequency. Clear Channel acquired 101.5 in November 1997 when CCU acquired the entire Paxson Communications radio
division for $693-million which comprised of 44- Paxson owned radio properties in Florida and four in Cookville, Tennessee. CCU sold 101.5 to Cox when Clear Channel acquired the former Jacor Communications resulting in CCU owning 10-Tampa Bay FM properties. Five FM stations were spun off between Cox Radio and CBS Radio.

Was 102.5 a CCU?

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

YES, after acquiring WHPT from Paxson as part of the Paxson radio division acquisition. It was later sold to Cox as part of the required "spin-off" when CCU acquired Jacor...

 

[badjef]

By the way, CCU bought them from Moody before Cox. Maybe that will clear up confusion.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Actually it was Paxson Communications that acquired WKES 101.5 from Moody Bible Institute in 1997. The total acquisition price was $40-million cash comprising of $5-million cash for WCIE-FM 91.1 Lakeland which Paxson acquired from the Carpenters Home Church. Paxson then traded 91.1
with an additional $35-million cash to Moody in exchange for the 101.5 frequency. Clear Channel acquired 101.5 in November 1997 when CCU acquired the entire Paxson Communications radio
division for $693-million which comprised of 44- Paxson owned radio properties in Florida and four in Cookville, Tennessee. CCU sold 101.5 to Cox when Clear Channel acquired the former Jacor Communications resulting in CCU owning 10-Tampa Bay FM properties. Five FM stations were spun
off between Cox Radio and CBS Radio.

Was 102.5 a CCU?

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

YES, after acquiring WHPT from Paxson as part of the Paxson radio division acquisition. It was later sold to Cox as part of the required "spin-off" when CCU acquired Jacor...

Prior to the spin-off, wasn't CCU was 94.1, 95.7, 101.5, 102.5, 570, 820, 104.7? Am I leaving anybody out?

Jacor was 970, 93.3, 103.3/5, 97.9, 100.7, 1250.

1990:
570 and 102.5 Susquahanna.
970 and 93.3 Jacor.
1250 and 100.7 Gannett.
1010 and 99.5 Infinity
95.7 Metromedia
1380 and 104.7 Edens
103.3 was in Bradenton
94.1 was in Lakeland
620 and 94.9 CBS
97.1, 98.7, 105.9, not on air, yet
92.5?
860 and 105.5 wgul
I think I have this right.
I know you will correct me if I'm wrong, please keep doing it!

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[jmtillery]

Beginning with the Paxson entry into the market and prior to its merger with Clear Channel, the following chart represents which entity owned each respective station:

Pre-Clear Channel / Paxson / Jacor Merger

Paxson

WHPT-FM 102.5 / WTKN-AM 570
WEZY-FM 94.1
WILV-FM 101.5

Clear Channel

WRBQ-FM 104.7 / WRBQ-AM 1380
WMTX-FM 95.7 / WMTX-AM 1040

Jacor Communications

WFLZ-FM 93.3 / WFLA-AM 970
WAKS-FM 100.7 / WDAE-AM 1250
WXTB-FM 97.9
WDUV-FM 103.5
WTBT-FM 105.5

Cox Radio

WWRM-FM 94.9
WCOF-FM 107.3
WSUN-AM 620

Infinity / CBS

WQYK-FM 99.5

Entercom

WYUU-FM 92.5
WISP-FM 98.7

After CCU Acquired Paxson Radio

WRBQ-FM 104.7/ WRBQ-AM 1380
WMTX-FM 95.7/ WMTX-AM 1040
WHPT-FM 102.5 / WHNZ-AM 570
WSJT-FM 94.1
WILV-FM 101.5

After CCU Acquired Jacor

WRBQ-FM 104.7/ WRBQ-AM 1380 (WRBQ-FM sold to CBS / WRBQ-AM sold to Radio Disney)
WMTX-FM 95.7/ WMTX-AM 1040 (WMTX-AM sold to Genesis Communications. WMTX-FM becomes WSSR)
WHPT-FM 102.5 / WHNZ-AM 570 (WHPT-FM Sold to Cox Radio / WHNZ-AM sold to Salem Communications)
WSJT-FM 94.1 (sold to CBS)
WILV-FM 101.5 (Sold to Cox Radio)
WFLZ-FM 93.3 / WFLA-AM 970
WAKS-FM 100.7 / WDAE-AM 1250 (WDAE became WHNZ. WDAE moves to AM 620. WAKS becomes WMTX)
WXTB-FM 97.9
WDUV-FM 103.5 (WDUV moves to 105.5 with 103.5 becoming WTBT)
WTBT-FM 105.5 (Becomes WDUV and is sold to Cox Radio)

 

[badjef]

Beginning with the Paxson entry into the market and prior to its merger with Clear Channel, the following chart represents which entity owned each respective station:

Pre-Clear Channel / Paxson / Jacor Merger

Paxson

WHPT-FM 102.5 / WTKN-AM 570
WEZY-FM 94.1
WILV-FM 101.5

Clear Channel

WRBQ-FM 104.7 / WRBQ-AM 1380
WMTX-FM 95.7 / WMTX-AM 1040

Jacor Communications

WFLZ-FM 93.3 / WFLA-AM 970
WAKS-FM 100.7 / WDAE-AM 1250
WXTB-FM 97.9
WDUV-FM 103.5
WTBT-FM 105.5

Cox Radio

WWRM-FM 94.9
WCOF-FM 107.3
WSUN-AM 620

Infinity / CBS

WQYK-FM 99.5

Entercom

WYUU-FM 92.5
WISP-FM 98.7

After CCU Acquired Paxson Radio

WRBQ-FM 104.7/ WRBQ-AM 1380
WMTX-FM 95.7/ WMTX-AM 1040
WHPT-FM 102.5 / WHNZ-AM 570
WSJT-FM 94.1
WILV-FM 101.5

After CCU Acquired Jacor

WRBQ-FM 104.7/ WRBQ-AM 1380 (WRBQ-FM sold to CBS / WRBQ-AM sold to Radio Disney)
WMTX-FM 95.7/ WMTX-AM 1040 (WMTX-AM sold to Genesis Communications. WMTX-FM becomes WSSR)
WHPT-FM 102.5 / WHNZ-AM 570 (WHPT-FM Sold to Cox Radio / WHNZ-AM sold to Salem Communications)
WSJT-FM 94.1 (sold to CBS)
WILV-FM 101.5 (Sold to Cox Radio)
WFLZ-FM 93.3 / WFLA-AM 970
WAKS-FM 100.7 / WDAE-AM 1250 (WDAE became WHNZ. WDAE moves to AM 620. WAKS becomes WMTX)
WXTB-FM 97.9
WDUV-FM 103.5 (WDUV moves to 105.5 with 103.5 becoming WTBT)
WTBT-FM 105.5 (Becomes WDUV and is sold to Cox Radio)

Yup, to add to that:
98.7 came on the air with working calls WAYP in 1991, and sold right away to the guys from WAVV in Naples as Alpine with 98.7 operating with the dba of Alpalm. They changed the calls to WISP as a soft rock station with studios in the BofA building in downtown Sa-ra-so-ta! and transmitter on Cortez Rd. (the heliax is still on the tower). When Entercom bought 98.7, they de-signalled co-owned 98.5 WKTK in order to move the transmitter to Pinellas County. It is why the City of License is Holmes Beach in Manatee County.

The transmitter of 105.5 and the intellectual property of WDUV was sold to Cox while CCU kept 103.5 (which had been moved from 103.3 in Palmetto to 103.5 in Riverview in 1996) and the intellectual property of WTBT and Ron Diaz. For awhile there was two "Dove" stations, because the Sa-ra-so-ta! cluster was moved as well.

92.1 took on the calls of WDDV moving WCTQ to 106.5, moving WSRZ calls to 107.9, moving the WYNF calls from 107.9 to upstart 105.9, not making the fans of WYNF very happy since it was an inferior signal to the 107.9.
WYNF calls had been abandoned 6 years earlier from 94.9 when Cox bought 620 and 94.9 from CBS and resurrected when 107.9 came on the air two years later in 1995.

All this happened in the 90's because the FCC increased the ownership rules from the long time 7-7-7 to 12-12-12 to "unlimited".

There were talks involving moving WFLA from 970 to 860 during that time. That didn't happen but it was a scenario being tossed around. Since 860 and 930, here, are pretty much a simulcast, it appears we got something similar since 1450 was retransmitting 970 while the upgrade to 970 was being accomplished.

Me thinks it's time for some more moves...

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!