WAXY
Encyclopedia
WAXY is a radio station
licensed in South Miami, Florida
broadcasting on 790 kHz with a sports talk format. The station is owned by Lincoln Financial Media
, which was previously known as Jefferson-Pilot Communications. Its studios are located near Sun Life Stadium in northern Dade County
.
The callsign was formerly used on FM at 105.9 until Jefferson-Pilot acquired the callsign due to their competing station WMXJ
Majic 102.7 having the same format, Oldies. 105.9 FM is now WBGG-FM
and owned by Clear Channel with a Classic Rock format.
call letters, now on 1490 kHz. In the early 1960s, the station migrated down to 790, and went full-time as WFUN. The 790 dial position was a moderately directional signal, as there was already a 790 in Havana, Cuba, and another in central Florida (Leesburg
-Eustis
). Despite coverage limitations, especially to the southwest (in the Florida Keys
, toward Havana), WFUN competed vigorously with WQAM throughout the '60s, and even won some of the ratings sweeps. During the early '70s, pop music showed up first on FM at WMYQ
, and then on Y-100
, and the field of top 40 stations (including WQAM and even WINZ
for a brief time) became crowded; ultimately many listeners moved to FM for music, and consequently, in 1976, WFUN abandoned their top 40 format for an Adult Standards/MOR format. WFUN was used by one of its disc jockeys to create the revolutionary and hybrid Boss Radio
broadcasting sound of Swinging Radio England
from the coast of southern England
during 1966. For a short time in 1965 Morton 'Doc' Downey
was a DJ on this Miami legend station.
WFUN was the home of several D.J.s who became famous on both sides of the Atlantic
in 1966. They included Ron O'Quinn
and Larry Dean
. The format of WFUN in Miami was used in part by Ron O'Quinn as the foundation for the hybrid mix of sounds that were heard over the 50,000 watts offshore pirate radio
station Swinging Radio England
between May and November 1966.
In 1978, the station became WNWS-AM with a news/talk format. Popular talk show host Tom Leykis was heard in the early 1980's. It changed back to music and became WMRZ-AM ("790 Memories") on November 28, 1990, running "AM Only", a Satellite-based Adult Standards
format from the Unistar radio network (now America's Best Music
from Dial Global
).
WMRZ switched to a schedule of brokered programming
in late 1993, and became WAXY-AM on October 12, 1994 after the original WAXY on FM abandoned those call letters airing an eclectic mix of shows from investments, sports, radio theater, religion as well as a mixed bag of music shows including hip hop, Cajun/zydeco, oldies and gospel.
790", but then stopped carrying ESPN Radio programs in favor of Fox Sports Radio
, then carried the Sporting News Radio
shows of Todd Wright
and David Stein
, and is now affiliated with ESPN Radio again, since WQAM took the Sporting News Radio
affiliation.
The weekday lineup is mainly local, with hosts Jorge Sedano
(mornings), The Herd with Colin Cowherd
and The Sports Brothers (middays), Miami Herald sportswriter Dan LeBatard (afternoons). Miami Marlins baseball and Jonathan Zaslow
in the evenings, and Phil Hendrie
(late night). Zaslow, Brandon Guzio, Craig Mish, Josh Friedman, and Alex Donno are permanent fixtures on the weekends.
It also broadcast Super Bowl XLI
from Westwood One
. It was formerly the flagship station of the Miami Dolphins
along with Majic 102.7
in 2005 and Big 105.9
in 2006.
The station is now the flagship station for the Miami Marlins after they were not renewed by WQAM-AM at the request of the Miami Dolphins
WMCU 1080
currently is serving in this role for FIU Golden Panthers
football and basketball conflicts with the Marlins.
During the 2010-11 season, WAXY took over as the Miami Heat
's flagship station due to a dispute with previous station WINZ.
WAXY also airs most of the national play-by-play schedule of ESPN Radio.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed in South Miami, Florida
South Miami, Florida
South Miami is a Miami suburban city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,741 at the 2000 census and as of 2007, according to the U.S...
broadcasting on 790 kHz with a sports talk format. The station is owned by Lincoln Financial Media
Lincoln Financial Media
Lincoln Financial Media is a subsidiary of Lincoln National Corporation that owns radio stations in the United States.-History:In April 2006, Lincoln Financial acquired Jefferson-Pilot's television and radio operations, which were renamed Lincoln Financial Media. The group owns 14 radio stations in...
, which was previously known as Jefferson-Pilot Communications. Its studios are located near Sun Life Stadium in northern Dade County
Dade County
Dade County can refer to the following places:*Miami-Dade County, Florida, in the southeastern part of the state*Dade County, Georgia, the state's northwestern-most, bordering Alabama and Tennessee*Dade County, Missouri, in the southwestern part of the state...
.
The callsign was formerly used on FM at 105.9 until Jefferson-Pilot acquired the callsign due to their competing station WMXJ
WMXJ
WMXJ is an oldies/classic hits music formatted radio station that broadcasts from Miami Gardens, Florida. The station is owned by Lincoln Financial Media, which was previously known as Jefferson-Pilot Communications.-History:...
Majic 102.7 having the same format, Oldies. 105.9 FM is now WBGG-FM
WBGG-FM
WBGG-FM, branded as Big 105.9, is a classic rock radio station licensed to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and serving the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station is licensed for HD Radio and carries WIOD 610 AM on HD2....
and owned by Clear Channel with a Classic Rock format.
History
This station was once WFUN-AM, a legendary Top 40 station that competed with WQAM. Originally, the station was located at 800 on the AM dial, and was a daytime-only operation. While on 800, it was licensed to Miami Beach and was the first station in the area to hold the WMBMWMBM
WMBM is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel format. Licensed to Miami Beach, Florida, USA, the station serves the Miami area. The station is currently owned by New Birth Broadcasting Corp. Inc. and features programing from Westwood One.-History:...
call letters, now on 1490 kHz. In the early 1960s, the station migrated down to 790, and went full-time as WFUN. The 790 dial position was a moderately directional signal, as there was already a 790 in Havana, Cuba, and another in central Florida (Leesburg
Leesburg, Florida
Leesburg is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,956 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 19,086.. Leesburg is located in central Florida, between Lake Harris and Lake Griffin, at the head of the Oklawaha River system....
-Eustis
Eustis, Florida
Eustis is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,106 at the 2000 census. The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2008 to be 19,129. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
). Despite coverage limitations, especially to the southwest (in the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
, toward Havana), WFUN competed vigorously with WQAM throughout the '60s, and even won some of the ratings sweeps. During the early '70s, pop music showed up first on FM at WMYQ
WMYQ
WMYQ — branded as My Q101 — is a hot adult contemporary radio station broadcasting from South Whitley, Indiana.- Details :WMYQ was previously assigned the call sign WLZQ; the domain name wlzq.com still hosts the websites of WMYQ and its sister station WBZQ...
, and then on Y-100
WHYI
WHYI-FM, better known as Y-100, is a heritage FM Top 40 contemporary hit radio station that broadcasts at 100.7 MHz. Its city of license is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Y-100 broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 98,000 watts from its 1,005 foot transmitter, which is located on the...
, and the field of top 40 stations (including WQAM and even WINZ
WINZ (AM)
WINZ, AM 940 The Sports Animal is a sports talk radio station that serves Miami-Fort Lauderdale. The stations airs primarily syndicated programming. It daytime signal reaches as far north as Ft. Pierce and as far west as Ft. Myers and Naples and as far south as The Bahamas. The station has managed...
for a brief time) became crowded; ultimately many listeners moved to FM for music, and consequently, in 1976, WFUN abandoned their top 40 format for an Adult Standards/MOR format. WFUN was used by one of its disc jockeys to create the revolutionary and hybrid Boss Radio
Boss Radio
Boss Radio was the name of two radio programming formats, both launched in the early 1960s: One in the United States, and one in the United Kingdom. Although the names were the same, the formats were quite different.-Boss Radio in the United States:...
broadcasting sound of Swinging Radio England
Swinging Radio England
Swinging Radio England was a top 40 offshore commercial station billed as the "World's Most Powerful" that operated from 3 May 1966 to 13 November 1966 from a ship in the North Sea, three and a half miles off Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England...
from the coast of southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during 1966. For a short time in 1965 Morton 'Doc' Downey
Morton Downey, Jr.
Morton Downey, Jr. was an American singer, songwriter and later a television talk show host of the 1980s who pioneered the "trash TV" format on his program The Morton Downey Jr. Show....
was a DJ on this Miami legend station.
WFUN was the home of several D.J.s who became famous on both sides of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in 1966. They included Ron O'Quinn
Ron O'Quinn
Ron O'Quinn is an American radio disc jockey born March 4, 1943 in McRae, Georgia.At the age of 16, O'Quinn began his radio career at WMGA, a station in his hometown of Moultrie, Georgia, where he worked at the time of his graduation from Moultrie High School in 1961. Shortly thereafter, O'Quinn...
and Larry Dean
Larry Dean
Larry Dean is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Valdosta State....
. The format of WFUN in Miami was used in part by Ron O'Quinn as the foundation for the hybrid mix of sounds that were heard over the 50,000 watts offshore pirate radio
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
station Swinging Radio England
Swinging Radio England
Swinging Radio England was a top 40 offshore commercial station billed as the "World's Most Powerful" that operated from 3 May 1966 to 13 November 1966 from a ship in the North Sea, three and a half miles off Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England...
between May and November 1966.
In 1978, the station became WNWS-AM with a news/talk format. Popular talk show host Tom Leykis was heard in the early 1980's. It changed back to music and became WMRZ-AM ("790 Memories") on November 28, 1990, running "AM Only", a Satellite-based Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
format from the Unistar radio network (now America's Best Music
America's Best Music
America's Best Music is the on-air branding of an adult standards 24-hour radio network, known internally as Adult Standards and formerly known as AM Only, currently owned by Dial Global. It was one of the original Westwood One's Transtar networks...
from Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
).
WMRZ switched to a schedule of brokered programming
Brokered programming
Brokered programming is a form of broadcast content in which the show's producer pays a radio or television station for air time, rather than exchanging programming for pay or the opportunity to play spot commercials...
in late 1993, and became WAXY-AM on October 12, 1994 after the original WAXY on FM abandoned those call letters airing an eclectic mix of shows from investments, sports, radio theater, religion as well as a mixed bag of music shows including hip hop, Cajun/zydeco, oldies and gospel.
Current format
Since 2004, WAXY has been an all-sports station. At one point, the station was branded as "ESPN RadioESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
790", but then stopped carrying ESPN Radio programs in favor of Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
, then carried the Sporting News Radio
Sporting News Radio
Yahoo! Sports Radio, formerly Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On August 1, 2011, it was announced the network would change its name to Yahoo! Sports Radio, effective...
shows of Todd Wright
Todd Wright
Todd Wright is an American sports radio personality. He is currently the host of Todd Wright Tonight on Yahoo Sports Radio, which debuted on Monday, June 12, 2006 and airs Monday to Friday from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. ....
and David Stein
David Stein
David Stein may refer to:* David Stein * David Stein...
, and is now affiliated with ESPN Radio again, since WQAM took the Sporting News Radio
Sporting News Radio
Yahoo! Sports Radio, formerly Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On August 1, 2011, it was announced the network would change its name to Yahoo! Sports Radio, effective...
affiliation.
The weekday lineup is mainly local, with hosts Jorge Sedano
Jorge Sedano
American Sports Broadcaster and Talk Show Host Jorge Sedano is the host of The Jorge Sedano Show on 790 The Ticket which airs from 6am-10am ET.. He's also currently a sports anchor at CBS4 WFOR-TV in Miami. He's also a contributor for the Miami Herald online Sports section...
(mornings), The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a sports talk radio show hosted by Colin Cowherd and broadcast on ESPN Radio from Bristol, Connecticut. The show is heard Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. ET until 1 p.m. ET on most ESPN Radio stations and is simulcasted on ESPNews...
and The Sports Brothers (middays), Miami Herald sportswriter Dan LeBatard (afternoons). Miami Marlins baseball and Jonathan Zaslow
Jonathan Zaslow
Jonathan Bradley Zaslow is an American sports radio show host in South Florida. "Zaz" currently hosts the "Zaslow Show" on 790 The Ticket. Zaz was raised in North Miami Beach, Florida where he attended Sabal Palm Elementary School and was a classmate of James Jones of the Miami Heat and 2011 NBA...
in the evenings, and Phil Hendrie
Phil Hendrie
Philip Stephen Hendrie is an American radio personality. He is best known as the host of The Phil Hendrie Show, a comedy talk radio program that is syndicated throughout North America on Talk Radio Network...
(late night). Zaslow, Brandon Guzio, Craig Mish, Josh Friedman, and Alex Donno are permanent fixtures on the weekends.
It also broadcast Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
from Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
. It was formerly the flagship station of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
along with Majic 102.7
WMXJ
WMXJ is an oldies/classic hits music formatted radio station that broadcasts from Miami Gardens, Florida. The station is owned by Lincoln Financial Media, which was previously known as Jefferson-Pilot Communications.-History:...
in 2005 and Big 105.9
WBGG-FM
WBGG-FM, branded as Big 105.9, is a classic rock radio station licensed to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and serving the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station is licensed for HD Radio and carries WIOD 610 AM on HD2....
in 2006.
The station is now the flagship station for the Miami Marlins after they were not renewed by WQAM-AM at the request of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
WMCU 1080
WMCU
The callsign WMCU was previously used for these stations:*WKCP 89.7 MHz, a radio station in Miami, Florida, United States that held the WMCU call sign up through 2007...
currently is serving in this role for FIU Golden Panthers
FIU Golden Panthers
The FIU Panthers are the athletic teams of Florida International University , a public university located in Miami, Florida. The Panthers compete in NCAA Division I athletics, and are currently members of the Sun Belt Conference...
football and basketball conflicts with the Marlins.
During the 2010-11 season, WAXY took over as the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
's flagship station due to a dispute with previous station WINZ.
WAXY also airs most of the national play-by-play schedule of ESPN Radio.