WGGY

Last updated

WGGY
Broadcast area Wilkes-Barre - Scranton - Northeastern Pennsylvania
Frequency 101.3 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingFroggy 101
Programming
Format Country
Subchannels HD2: Spanish hits ("La Mega 95")
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
1948;76 years ago (1948)
Former call signs
WGBI-FM (1948–1993)
Call sign meaning
"Froggy"
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 36202
Class B
ERP
  • 7,000  watts (analog)
  • 280 watts (digital) [2]
HAAT 365 meters (1,198 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 41°25′38.2″N75°44′51.6″W / 41.427278°N 75.747667°W / 41.427278; -75.747667 (WGGY)
Repeater(s) See § Simulcasts and repeaters
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live (via  Audacy)
Website www.audacy.com/froggy101

WGGY (101.3 MHz, "Froggy 101") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Scranton, Pennsylvania, and serves the Wilkes-Barre--Scranton radio market. It broadcasts a country radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. The studios are on Pennsylvania Route 315 in Pittston.

Contents

WGGY is a Class B station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 7,000 watts. The transmitter tower is on Beacon Drive in Clark's Summit, off Interstate 476. [3] WGGY broadcasts using HD Radio technology. It airs a Spanish hits format on its HD2 subchannel. To improve its signal, WGGY is heard on three booster stations at 101.3 MHz around Northeast Pennsylvania.

History

WGBI-FM

WGGY was one of the earliest FM stations in Northeast Pennsylvania. It signed on the air on Christmas, December 25, 1948;75 years ago. Its original call sign was WGBI-FM, the sister station to WGBI 910 AM (now WAAF). [4] At first, they mostly simulcast their programming and were owned by Scranton Broadcasters, Inc. The two stations were network affiliates of CBS Radio, airing the CBS line-up of dramas, comedies, news, sports, game shows, soap operas and big band broadcasts during the "Golden Age of Radio." As network programming moved from radio to television in the 1950s, WGBI-AM-FM aired a middle of the road format of popular adult music, news and sports, still as CBS affiliates.

By the 1970s, WGBI-FM began airing separate programming. It subscribed to the syndicated "Hit Parade" adult top 40 service. The station was mostly automated with a pre-recorded announcer giving the artists and names of the songs played, with weather and other info. Eventually live DJs were added. Around 1990, the station changed course, flipping to a country music format and calling itself "Froggy 101."

WGGY

In 1993, the station switched its call letters. To reflect its moniker, Froggy 101, it changed its call sign to WGGY, with the final three letters as part of the word "Froggy."

Froggy 101 received national attention through the NBC sitcom, The Office . A Froggy 101 bumper sticker was displayed on a filing cabinet beside Dwight Schrute's desk and at the reception desk. [5] [6]

In the early 2000s, programming on WGGY 101.3 was simulcast on WGGI 95.9 to give a better signal to listeners in the Columbia County area of Northeast Pennsylvania. On September 26, 2017, Entercom (forerunner of Audacy) announced a divestment of three stations (WGGI, KSOQ-FM and KSWD) to the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) as part of Entercom's merger with CBS Radio. It needed to comply with FCC ownership rules in the Wilkes Barre--Scranton market, as well as San Diego and Los Angeles. The FCC approved the sale of all three stations on November 2. [7] The announcement stated that upon the closing of the acquisition, EMF would flip WGGI to its K-Love network which airs contemporary Christian music. Parent station WGGY 101.3 would remain unchanged. [8] EMF changed WGGI's call sign to WKBP on November 16. [9]

The Doc Show

For years, North East Pennsylvania was ruled in radio by one radio station, 98.5 WKRZ. Deciding to compete with their sister station, Froggy101 saw the opportunity to do just that. Doc Medek, former PD and midday host or WKRZ, was up for a contract extension. General Manager Gerald Getz decided to move Doc from his spot on KRZ, where he had been doing mornings for a year, to the morning spot on Froggy.

In 1999 Froggy launched a new morning duo, Doc & Polly. Lasting only a few months, they replaced Polly with Julie. Again, not long after the show started Julie left to go to DC. Program Director Mike Krinik and Doc decided to take a Top 40 approach to mornings. Doc pitched the idea of doing a show like WPLJ's Rocky Allen Showgram. Thus, the Doc Show was born!

In, 2000 the first version of the Doc Show was launched with Doc's co-host Kelly Green. The two would constantly let members of the radio station, promotional staff, sales staff, even receptionists join the show to get their take on topics. This created a morning zoo type atmosphere around the station garnering some buzz. Not long after the show started gaining traction in the ratings, competing against sister station (and Doc's old radio station) 98.5 WKRZ with their long standing morning show Rocky & Sue. Bringing in a cast of characters onto the show, McFly, Rusty Fender, T-Bone, and Joe Thomas the Doc Show moved their way up to second place in the ratings behind WKRZ's Rocky & Sue.

By the time 2004 came around the Doc Show was firing on all cylinders, and Kelly Green left and was replaced with Selena Robinson (then Janko). The listeners welcomed her with open arms as ratings continued to soar. Soon after in 2005, Program Director Mike Krinik left, and Doc was named Program Director. [10] This allowed Doc to have more free reign and control over the show.

The next setback happened in 2006 when longtime producer/third mic Tommy McFly left his position of 5 years to head to D.C. Without a producer and third mic the Doc Show was on the hunt for someone that seemed irreplaceable. A few months after McFly left, Jake Navarro joined the show picking up exactly where McFly left off, producing sound bites, doing impersonations, stunts on the street, and anything the show needed.

The show flourished at this point, even beating 98.5KRZ's Rocky & Sue in the ratings for the number one spot. The Doc Show was unstoppable but then in 2010 everything would change when Doc would leave North East PA heading to Philadelphia to join Andie Summers on 92.5 WXTU and create their own version of the Doc Show. [11] Doc would go on to win a CMA award for Major Market Personality of the year in 2013 [12] and continued a successful morning show until 2016.

April 1st 2016, The Doc Show with Jessie debuted on Froggy101 both on air and on a Facebook Live Video. [13] Many listeners thought this was a prank because of it being April Fool's Day and the abrupt departure of the former morning show "The Wake Up Call with Eric and Selena". Fans were torn missing their old morning show but loved that Doc was back.

In 2019, “The Doc Show with Jessie”, was a finalist for the 53rd Annual Country Music Association Awards. [14] It competed in the "Medium Market" category. In 2022 Jessie left The Doc Show leaving three months of Doc doing his show solo.

On August 22, 2022 Froggy 101 birthed a new dynamic show that is truly unique. The show is now hosted by Doc (Ken Medek) and "Chewy" (Sean Medek), America's only father-son country radio morning team. [15] In 2023 & 2024 Doc & Chewy took home Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Awards for Outstanding Local Radio Team. [16] In 2024 the duo and the radio station each took home Academy of Country Music Awards. The morning show for Personalities of the Year in a Medium Market and Radio Station of the Year in a Medium Market. [17] This marked the first ACM Award win for the radio station and the morning team. Also in 2024 the duo was also nominated for a Marconi Award in the Medium Market Personality of the Year category. [18] Since the duo started they have vowed to bring radio back to how it was in 80s and 90s. A fun, must listen, type of radio is what they strive to do. They are constantly in the community and giving back to the community as well. They do events every year like the St. Jude Country Cares Radiothon [19] NEPA's Smallest St. Patrick's Day Parade [20] and their Thanks for Giving Food Drive [21] where in November of 2023 they raised enough food for a Veteran's Food Bank in two days to be fed until the end of June of 2024.

Booster stations

WGGY's programming is simulcast on booster stations WGGY-FM1, [22] WGGY-FM2 [23] and WGGY-FM3. [24] Until November 16, 2017, the programming was also simulcast on full-power WGGI (95.9 FM).

Broadcast translators for WGGY
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinatesFCC info
WGGY-FM1101.3 FM Honesdale, Pennsylvania 91317507  m (23  ft)D 41°34′45.3″N75°15′7.6″W / 41.579250°N 75.252111°W / 41.579250; -75.252111 (WGGY-FM1) LMS
WGGY-FM2101.3 FM East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 1907772254 m (833 ft)D 41°02′39.6″N75°22′37.7″W / 41.044333°N 75.377139°W / 41.044333; -75.377139 (WGGY-FM2) LMS
WGGY-FM3101.3 FM Hazleton, Pennsylvania 203403250177 m (581 ft)D 41°58′9.3″N75°57′26.7″W / 41.969250°N 75.957417°W / 41.969250; -75.957417 (WGGY-FM3) LMS
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Related Research Articles

K-Love is an American Christian radio network. Owned by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF), a non-profit Christian ministry, it primarily broadcasts contemporary Christian music.

Audacy, Inc. is an American broadcasting company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1968 as Entercom Communications Corp., it is the second largest radio company in the United States, owning over 220 radio stations across 47 media markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZLX</span> Classic rock radio station in Boston

WZLX is a classic rock radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. This station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. WZLX was one of America's first classic rock FM stations. Its studios are in Medford, and its transmitter is atop the Prudential Tower.

KCMO is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Kansas City, Missouri. Owned by Cumulus Media, the station airs a talk radio format. The studios and offices are on Indian Creek Parkway in Overland Park, Kansas. KCMO is also heard on KCHZ in Ottawa, Kansas and on the second HD Radio channel of co-owned KCFX (101.1) in Harrisonville, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPKV</span> K-Love radio station in Duquesne–Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

WPKV is a non-commercial radio station that is licensed to serve Duquesne, Pennsylvania and is located in the Pittsburgh media market. The station is owned and operated by Educational Media Foundation and is an affiliate of K-LOVE, EMF's contemporary Christian music network.

WFGE is a country music formatted broadcast radio station licensed to State College, Pennsylvania, serving the State College/Bellefonte area. WFGE is owned and operated by Seven Mountains Media, through licensee Southern Belle Media Family, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKRZ</span> Radio station in Freeland, Pennsylvania

WKRZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Freeland, Pennsylvania, and serving the Wilkes-Barre - Scranton - Northeastern Pennsylvania radio market. It has aired a Top 40/CHR radio format since 1980. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., through licensee Audacy License, LLC.

WEJL is a radio station broadcasting in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The station, known on-air as "Sports Radio WEJL", carries sports radio programming from Fox Sports Radio. WEJL is owned by Times-Shamrock Communications, former publishers of Scranton's daily newspaper, The Times-Tribune.

WFUZ is an AM radio station in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It simulcasts the classic rock radio format of WEZX in Scranton, filling in the gaps in WEZX's signal outside Lackawanna County. It is owned by Times-Shamrock Communications of Scranton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBHT</span> Radio station in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania

WBHT and WBHD are co-owned commercial radio stations serving the Wilkes-Barre - Scranton - Hazleton area of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The two stations simulcast a top 40 (CHR) radio format and are owned by Cumulus Media. They use the moniker "Hot 97.1 and 95.7." The stations carry the syndicated wake up program, "The Bert Show," from co-owned WWWQ in Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMGS</span> Radio station in Pennsylvania, United States

WMGS is a commercial radio station in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Cumulus Media, through licensee Radio License Holding CBC, LLC. It broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for part of November and December. The studios and offices are on Baltimore Drive in Wilkes-Barre.

WLGD is an FM radio station, licensed to Dallas, Pennsylvania, and serving the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre area of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It simulcasts the classic rock format of sister station WEZX in Scranton. WLGD and WEZX are owned and operated by Times-Shamrock Communications. The studios and offices are on Baltimore Drive in Wilkes-Barre.

WARM is an AM radio station licensed to the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and serving the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton radio market. The station is owned by Seven Mountains Media, through licensee Southern Belle, LLC. The station is silent; it most recently simulcast classic country with former sister station WLGD. The studios and offices are on Baltimore Drive in Wilkes-Barre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAAF (AM)</span> Radio station in Scranton, Pennsylvania

WAAF is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Owned by Audacy, Inc., WAAF airs a news/talk format. It is powered at 900 watts by day and 440 watts at night, using a non-directional antenna at all times. The transmitter is at the corner of Penn Avenue and Spruce Street, on the Scranton Times Building. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WAAF's programming is available online via Audacy.

WAZL is an AM radio station licensed to the city of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and serves the Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Hazleton radio markets with a tropical music format, switching from adult standards and Tropical and Spanish language adult contemporary and classic hits formats in October 2023.

WGMF is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Olyphant, Pennsylvania, and serving the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton radio market. Known as "Gem 99 and 100", it airs a classic hits format and is owned by Kevin Fitzgerald and Benjamin Smith, through licensee Geos Communications, LLC. WGMF is simulcast with co-owned 1460 WGMM in Tunkhannock, 1490 WGMA in Hazleton and 103.9 WGMF-FM in Dushore.

WLMZ is a commercial AM broadcasting radio station licensed to West Hazleton, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs a Spanish tropical format in a simulcast with WLMZ-FM from Pittston. WLMZ has a power of 5,000 watts daytime with a directional antenna signal pattern focused towards the north, then switches to a power of 500 watts at night with another directional signal pattern focused towards the northeast. WLMZ is considered a Class B station according to the Federal Communications Commission.

WAKC is an American licensed radio station in Concord, New Hampshire. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) and is part of its K-Love network of contemporary Christian music outlets. EMF also owns WLKC in Campton, serving the White Mountains and Lakes Region.

WLMZ-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Pittston, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., through licensee Audacy License, LLC, and airs a Spanish tropical format branded as "La Mega 102.3". Its broadcast tower is located near Dupont, Pennsylvania, at. Its programming is also simulcast on WLMZ in West Hazleton.

WGGY-HD2 was a radio station subchannel in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The subchannel previously carried a Spanish CHR format and before that, an adult album alternative format. The station's website stated "Independent Radio" as part of its mission. Station IDs often included the phrase "It's different here." On August 5, 2013 The Mountain moved from its original frequency at 102.3 MHz under the call letters of WDMT to the HD2 sub-channel of 98.5 WKRZ and assumed the call letters WKRZ-HD2. WGGY and 98.5 KRZ are owned and operated by Audacy including radio stations WKRZ, WGGY, WILK-FM, WILK and most recently WHBS, taking The Mountain's frequency at 102.3 MHz under a new format. On April 26, 2019 The Mountain moved to WGGY's HD2 signal. In 2023, WGGY-HD3’s format moved to HD2. Eventually, the HD2 subchannel was also shut off.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WGGY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "FCC 335-FM Digital Notification [WGGY]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. July 20, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WGGY
  4. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 263. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  5. ↑ Marchese, John (October 21, 2007). "Scranton Embraces the 'Office' Infamy". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  6. ↑ Lussier, Germain (September 21, 2007). "'The Office' Fanatic's Guide to Scranton". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Entercom Announces Agreement To Divest Stations In Los Angeles, San Diego & Wilkes-Barre To Educational Media Foundation | FMQB". fmqb.name. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  8. ↑ Trakin, Roy (September 26, 2017). "Entercom Sells Three Stations as CBS Radio Merger Nears Completion". Variety. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Media Bureau Call Sign Actions" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  10. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/R&R-Hotfax/2005/R&R-Hotfax-2005-08-02.pdf
  11. ↑ "Doc In Station: Entercom's WGGY/Wilkes Barre PD/morning host..." www.countryaircheck.com. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ https://www.countryaircheck.com/news/10-10-2013/134433/
  13. ↑ "Media Confidential: S/WB Radio: Official! Doc Medek To Mornings On WGGY". Media Confidential. April 8, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ "KILT, KPLX, WIL, WKLB, WYCD Battle For CMA Major Market Station". Insideradio.com. August 28, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ InsideRadio.com "Sean Chewy Medek" Aug. 22, 2022. Retrieved Dec. 18, 2023.
  16. ↑ https://www.countryinsider.com/news/pennsylvania-association-of-broadcasters-honors-father-son-team/article_5dd3e3b4-b40b-11ed-a755-d339f94d5816.html
  17. ↑ "Ties, First-Timers Define This Year's ACM Radio Award Winners". Insideradio.com. April 22, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  18. ↑ Broadcasters, National Association of. "2024 NAB Marconi Radio Award Finalists Announced". National Association of Broadcasters. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  19. ↑ https://www.pahomepage.com/news/froggy-101-holds-country-cares-radiothon-for-st-jude-kids/
  20. ↑ https://www.pahomepage.com/news/froggy-101-hosts-nepas-smallest-st-patricks-parade/
  21. ↑ https://www.pahomepage.com/news/radio-station-teams-up-with-organizations-to-give-back/
  22. ↑ "FM Query Results for WGGY-FM1". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  23. ↑ "FM Query Results for WGGY-FM2". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  24. ↑ "FM Query Results for WGGY-FM3". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved January 25, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.