WQYK (AM)
Encyclopedia
WQYK" is a radio station
in the Tampa, Florida
area, owned by CBS Radio
. The station broadcasts at 50,000 watts during the day and 5,000 watts at night, directional towards the east and west to protect Jacksonville
's WJXL
by day, and New York City
's WINS
, Toronto
's CFRB
, and Calgary, Alberta's CBR
at night. The station was assigned the WQYK call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
on January 1, 2006
.
WQYK broadcasts a sports talk radio format. The station is part of the Tampa/St. Petersburg radio market, according to Arbitron
ratings.
's WINZ
. In its early days, WINQ was a Mutual
affiliate and carried a middle-of-the-road music format. In 1967, WINQ beacme the first station in Tampa Bay to offer a news-talk
format, with network news and other programming from CBS Radio (who would later own this station). The station switched to a country music
format in 1971, after the station was losing money on the talk programming.
By the mid-1970s, WINQ had changed to a Christian
program station, featuring pre-recorded religious programing, with Southern Gospel music
filling the breaks. In 1975, after an influx of call-in requests, station manager Phil Scott and program director Bill Brown orchestrated a slow change of format, eventually taking WINQ to a full, live, top forty style format with announcers, and launching what became the first commercially licensed Christian Rock
radio station in the country. WINQ would soon set the stage for all Contemporary Christian music
stations that have come since.
In late 1978, following Rand's death in a helicopter crash, the station was sold to different owners, who switched the format back to traditional religious programming, as WCBF ("We’re Christians By Faith"), dropping the CCM
format and again featuring programs produced by area churches.
In 1987, the owners of WQYK-FM
acquired WCBF, and relaunched it a year later as WQYK with a country format, largely as a simulcast of its FM sister. While it was largely a simulcast of the FM station, this was a return of WQYK to the AM dial, being on 1110 (now WTIS
) prior to 1974.
The station has undergone many format changes since then, alternating between country and talk and sports. In 2005, the station switched to a hot talk format, as WBZZ, 1010 The Buzz, after acquiring the rights to Howard Stern
's morning program. However, soon after Howard left for satellite radio in January 2006, the station switched from a hot talk format to a classic country format, and then changed back to all-sports on August 10, 2007.
The station currently carries NCAA football and NFL games via the Westwood One
radio network, which is affiliated with station owner CBS Radio
. It also carries coverage of the MLB's New York Yankees
when the games do not conflict with Tampa Bay Rays
games. Up until the 2008 NASCAR season, WQYK aired NASCAR races in the Nationwide Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Nanci "The Fabulous Sports Babe
" Donnellan is one of WQYK's most notable alumni. The station served as Donnellan's flagship during her show's run on the now-defunct Sports Fan Radio Network
, from 1997 to 2001. However, since her 2007 return to fill-in work around the Tampa area, she has yet to guest host on WQYK even though she has guest hosted on rivals WHBO
and WDAE.
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...
in the Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
area, owned by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
. The station broadcasts at 50,000 watts during the day and 5,000 watts at night, directional towards the east and west to protect Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
's WJXL
WJXL
WJXL 1010 AM, known on-air as 1010 XL, is a sports radio station licensed to Jacksonville Beach, Florida, owned and operated by Seven Bridges Radio, under its president Steve Griffin. Griffin also serves as General Manager of the station....
by day, and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's WINS
WINS (AM)
WINS , known on-air as "Ten-Ten Wins", is a radio station in New York City, owned by CBS Radio. WINS's studios are in the combined CBS Radio facility at 345 Hudson Street in the TriBeCa section of Manhattan, and transmitting towers in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.WINS is one of the nation's oldest...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's CFRB
CFRB (AM)
CFRB, Newstalk 1010, is an AM radio clear-channel station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, broadcasting on 1010 kHz, with a shortwave radio simulcast by CFRX-SW on 6.070 MHz. The station broadcasts a mix of talk and news throughout the day from its transmitter located in the community of...
, and Calgary, Alberta's CBR
CBR (AM)
CBR is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 1010 AM in Calgary, Alberta. It broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network.-History:...
at night. The station was assigned the WQYK call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on January 1, 2006
2006 in radio
The year 2006 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*January 3 - The BJ Shea Morning Experience switches to KISW in Seattle, Washington, from the former FM Talk station KKWF....
.
WQYK broadcasts a sports talk radio format. The station is part of the Tampa/St. Petersburg radio market, according to Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings.
Station history
The station signed on sometime in the early-1960s as WINQ, founded by Rex Rand, the owner of MiamiMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
's 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...
. In its early days, WINQ was a Mutual
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
affiliate and carried a middle-of-the-road music format. In 1967, WINQ beacme the first station in Tampa Bay to offer a news-talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format, with network news and other programming from CBS Radio (who would later own this station). The station switched to a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format in 1971, after the station was losing money on the talk programming.
By the mid-1970s, WINQ had changed to a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
program station, featuring pre-recorded religious programing, with Southern Gospel music
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
filling the breaks. In 1975, after an influx of call-in requests, station manager Phil Scott and program director Bill Brown orchestrated a slow change of format, eventually taking WINQ to a full, live, top forty style format with announcers, and launching what became the first commercially licensed Christian Rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
radio station in the country. WINQ would soon set the stage for all Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
stations that have come since.
In late 1978, following Rand's death in a helicopter crash, the station was sold to different owners, who switched the format back to traditional religious programming, as WCBF ("We’re Christians By Faith"), dropping the CCM
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
format and again featuring programs produced by area churches.
In 1987, the owners of WQYK-FM
WQYK-FM
WQYK-FM is a commercial country music radio station in Tampa, Florida. It is currently under ownership of CBS Radio.-External links:*...
acquired WCBF, and relaunched it a year later as WQYK with a country format, largely as a simulcast of its FM sister. While it was largely a simulcast of the FM station, this was a return of WQYK to the AM dial, being on 1110 (now WTIS
WTIS
WTIS is a radio station broadcasting a Religious format. Licensed to Tampa, Florida, USA, it serves the Tampa Bay area. The station is currently owned by WTIS-AM, Inc....
) prior to 1974.
The station has undergone many format changes since then, alternating between country and talk and sports. In 2005, the station switched to a hot talk format, as WBZZ, 1010 The Buzz, after acquiring the rights to Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
's morning program. However, soon after Howard left for satellite radio in January 2006, the station switched from a hot talk format to a classic country format, and then changed back to all-sports on August 10, 2007.
The station currently carries NCAA football and NFL games via the 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...
radio network, which is affiliated with station owner CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
. It also carries coverage of the MLB's New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
when the games do not conflict with Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
games. Up until the 2008 NASCAR season, WQYK aired NASCAR races in the Nationwide Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Nanci "The Fabulous Sports Babe
The Fabulous Sports Babe
Nanci Donnellan, best known by her title of "The Fabulous Sports Babe," is an American sports radio broadcaster, currently broadcasting on WHBO in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. She is best known nationally for being syndicated across the United States on both ESPN Radio and ESPN2, from 1994 until 2001...
" Donnellan is one of WQYK's most notable alumni. The station served as Donnellan's flagship during her show's run on the now-defunct Sports Fan Radio Network
Sports Fan Radio Network
The Sports Fan Radio Network was a sports talk radio network that existed from 1996 through 2001, when it abruptly folded.-Launch:SportsFan Radio Network officially debuted in 1993 with 80 hours of programming per month. Based in Las Vegas, the network broadcast its flagship show "SportsFan...
, from 1997 to 2001. However, since her 2007 return to fill-in work around the Tampa area, she has yet to guest host on WQYK even though she has guest hosted on rivals WHBO
WHBO
WMGG is a talk radio station in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. WHBO is licensed to serve the community of Dunedin, Florida, USA, and is owned by Genesis Communications....
and WDAE.