WONN-FM

WONN-FM (92.7 FM, "ESPN Radio 92.7") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Starview, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Hall Communications and broadcasts a sports radio format as an affiliate of ESPN Radio.

WONN-FM
CityStarview, Pennsylvania
Broadcast areaHarrisburg and York, Pennsylvania
Frequency92.7 MHz
BrandingESPN Radio 92.5/92.7
SloganThe Sports Station
Programming
FormatSports
AffiliationsESPN Radio
Ownership
OwnerHall Communications
WLPA, WROZ
History
First air date
November 22, 1971[1] (as WRHY)
Former call signs
WRHY (1971-1983)
WHTF (1983–1996)
WEGK (1996–2001)
WHBO (2001–2004)
WSJW (2004–2011)
WKZF (2011-2014)
WLPA-FM (2014-2015)
Technical information
Facility ID62368
ClassA
ERP700 watts
HAAT291 meters (955 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°04′32.3″N 76°48′1.9″W
Repeater(s)See § Simulcast
Links
Websiteespnradio927.com

WONN's studios and offices are located at 1996 Auction Road, Manheim, Pennsylvania.[2] Its broadcast tower is located near Copenhaffer Road in the Starview York County at (40°4′32.0″N 76°48′2.0″W).[3] The station's service contour covers the cities of York and Harrisburg.[4]

WONN-FM programming is simulcast on sister station AM 1490 WLPA in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. WLPA programming is simulcast on FM translator W223CH. This brings WONN-FM's ESPN Radio programming to the FM dial in Lancaster on 92.5 FM.[5]

History

On June 23, 1971, the Federal Communications Commission granted Capital Media, Inc., a construction permit for a new station on 92.7 MHz.[6] The station was assigned the WRHY call sign on September 7, 1971, and signed on for the first time on November 22, 1971.[7] WRHY was granted its first license by the FCC on January 20, 1972.[6]

By 1974, the station was airing a progressive rock format.[8] On May 13, 1976, the FCC granted a voluntary assignment of the station's license from Capital Media, Inc., to Harrea Broadcasters, Inc.[6]

By 1980, the station's format had shifted to AOR.[9] In 1982, the format changed to "contemporary".[10]

The station's license was voluntarily transferred from Harrea Broadcasters, Inc., to Starview Media, Inc., on July 27, 1983.[11] On August 12, 1983, the station switched call signs to WHTF.[12] Its format changed to Contemporary Hit Radio/Top 40 branded as 92 Rock. The format evolved toward classic rock over the next two years, and by the summer of 1985, the station's branding changed to Starview 92, then Starview 92.7.

In the early 1990s, the station switched to an Active rock format and re-branded as Solid Rock 92.7. On November 13, 1995, Hall Communications, Inc., announced the purchase of station. The sale consummated on January 16, 1996.[13]

On February 23, 1996, the station returned to the classic rock format, changing the call sign to WEGK and re-branding as 92.7 The Eagle.[14]

On June 6, 2001, the station switched its call sign to WHBO and its format to Oldies, followed by another call sign change on March 1, 2004 to WSJW and a format change to Smooth Jazz.[14]

On July 29, 2011, the station abruptly dropped its Smooth Jazz format and began stunting, mainly with cover versions of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven. The following message was displayed on the station's website:

The decision to end Smooth Jazz 92.7 was not an easy one to make. Many factors contributed to the change, including the fact that listenership never reached predicted levels and revenues coming in were not enough to support the station and keep it on the air. We thank you for being a loyal listener and for your support of the station. A new format will begin shortly.[15]

On August 1, 2011, the station changed its call sign to WKZF, returning to classic rock, and re-branding as 92.7KZF.[14] Rick Everett, former Hall Communications operations manager of Cat Country 98.1 WCTK in Providence, Rhode Island, was hired as a consultant for the transition. The syndicated The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show aired weekday mornings.[16]

On September 1, 2014, WKZF changed its call sign to WLPA-FM, in anticipation of its format change to ESPN Sports, which took place at midnight on September 3, 2014.[12][17]

On December 2, 2015, the WLPA-FM call sign was changed to WONN-FM.[12]

Simulcast

One AM station simulcasts the programming of WONN-FM:

Call sign Frequency City of license Facility ID Power
W
Class Transmitter coordinates
WLPA1490 AMLancaster, Pennsylvania25870600C40°03′38.0″N 76°18′59.0″W (NAD27)

References

  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-386. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  2. "Address List (Hall Communications)". hallradio.com. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  3. "FM Query Results for WONN-FM, Federal Communications Commission". Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  4. "60 dBu Service Contour for WONN-FM, Starview, PA, 92.7 MHz BLH-20040322AFY". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  5. Venta, Lance. "WLPA Returns To ESPN Radio 92.7 Simulcast". RadioInsight.com. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  6. "History Cards for WONN-FM". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  7. "Stations by State NE to USVI" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. p. B-322. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  8. "Radio Stations NE to Territories" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. p. B-184. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  9. "C2 Radio by State N-Terr" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. p. C-199. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  10. "Stations by State NE to USVI" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. p. C-207. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  11. "Application Search Details [WONN-FM]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  12. "Call Sign History, WONN-FM". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  13. "Application Search Details [WONN-FM]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  14. "At 92.7, everything old is new again". LancasterOnline.com. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  15. Venta, Lance. "Smooth Jazz 92.7 Harrisburg, PA Now Classic Rock WKZF". RadioInsight.com. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  16. "The Classic Rock Station (WKZF Homepage)". Archived from the original on 2014-07-20. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  17. Venta, Lance. "ESPN Returning to FM in Central PA". RadioInsight.com. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
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