WCFB

Last updated

WCFB
Star 94.5.png
Broadcast area Central Florida–Greater Orlando
Frequency 94.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingStar 94.5
Programming
Format Urban AC
Subchannels HD2: Power Orlando (Top 40 (CHR))
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
March 1947;77 years ago (1947-03)
Former call signs
  • WNDB-FM (1947–1973)
  • WDNJ (1973–1978)
  • WWLV (1978–1992)
Call sign meaning
Central Florida's B 94.5 (former branding)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 10343
Class C
ERP 100,000 watts
HAAT 451 meters (1480 ft)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Website star945.com
powerorlando.com (HD2)

WCFB (94.5 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Daytona Beach, Florida, serving the Greater Orlando area. The station is owned by Cox Media Group, and airs an urban adult contemporary radio format. Its studios and offices are located on North John Young Parkway in Orlando. [2] On weekdays, WCFB carries the syndicated Rickey Smiley Morning Show, as well as an hour of urban contemporary gospel music at 5 a.m., and a Quiet Storm program at night.

Contents

The station has a powerful 100,000 watt Class C signal, heard from St. Augustine to Ocala to Kissimmee. [3] (The horizontal polarization in 97,500 watts, but increases to the maximum 100,000 with beam tilt.) The transmitter tower is off Redlands Drive in DeLand. [4]

History

Former Star 94.5 logo WCFB former logo.png
Former Star 94.5 logo

The station first signed on March 31, 1947, as WNDB-FM, the first standalone FM station in the state of Florida; [5] the next year, the newspaper launched an AM outlet, WNDB (1150 AM). [6] It was owned by the News-Journal Corporation, the publisher of the Daytona Beach News Journal. For most of its first two decades, it largely simulcast its AM counterpart. In 1973, it changed its call sign to WDNJ, airing a beautiful music format with some classical music as well.

In 1978, the station switched to soft adult contemporary as WWLV, Love 94.5. On September 25, 1992, after being purchased by New City Communications, WWLV flipped to country as WCFB, using the identifier Young Country B94.5. [7] [8] [9] Some of B94.5 on air personalities included "Big" Steve Kelly, Ellis B Feaster (now at WPOZ in Orlando), & Buzz Jackson. On May 11, 1995, WCFB changed formats to Rhythmic AC, which later evolved to Urban Adult Contemporary as Star 94.5. [10] [11] [12] This makes WCFB the first urban radio station in years in Orlando to challenge longtime WJHM, which switched formats from rhythmic contemporary to urban contemporary by that time. When WJHM returned to Rhythmic Top 40 in 2011, WCFB once again became the de facto Urban outlet in Central Florida, even though it has always stayed in its own lane with its audience rather than try to compete fiercely for listeners.

WCFB was acquired by Cox Media Group in 1997.

Logo as Urban AC, 2010-2014; the new logo is the same, but with the new slogan. WCFB logo.png
Logo as Urban AC, 2010–2014; the new logo is the same, but with the new slogan.

A tornado on February 2, 2007, knocked WCFB's signal off the air for a brief period, as it destroyed the transmitter site and a nearby building, near Pine Lakes. The station returned to the air broadcasting from a temporary transmitter located at another Cox owned tower in Christmas for a short period of time before the station's temporary transmitter site moved to high power facilities at a tower in Orange City off of Miller Rd. The replacement tower in Paisley was finished in mid-November 2007. As of October 24, 2008, WCFB has moved back to the Pine Lakes site.

On November 26, 2014, WCFB flipped from Urban AC to classic hip hop. At that time, WCFB dropped the syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show", and replaced it with The Steve Harvey Morning Show . [13] However, due to negative audience feedback, in December 2014, WCFB flipped back to Urban AC, with the classic hip hop format moving to their HD3 sub-channel. [13]

Digital subchannels

HD2 and W297BB

WCFB-HD2 broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format. In 2014, the HD2 channel began simulcasting on an FM translator at 107.3 MHz with the call sign W297BB. That translator was originally home to Christian AC-formatted WREH and was simulcast on iHeartMedia's WRUM-HD2 before Cox bought the translator in August 2013. [14]

On June 16, 2014, WCFB-HD2 (which dropped an urban gospel format) and W297BB began stunting with a "Wheel of Formats", which consisted of a Christian Contemporary music format known as Rejoice 107.3, and a soft adult contemporary format, 107.3 The Dove. [15] [16] This was followed by a 40-hour loop of The Beatles' "Revolution". On June 19 at noon, WCFB-HD2/W297BB officially flipped to alternative rock, branded as "X107.3". "X" launched with "Pompeii" by Bastille. [17] [18] The translator/HD2 signal also aired Jacksonville Jaguars programming when sister station WDBO was occupied by Miami Dolphins programming. (WDBO owns the affiliate rights in Orlando for both teams.)

On February 22, 2016, at Midnight, after playing "Ways to Go" by Grouplove, W297BB/WCFB-HD2 began stunting with a loop of Newcleus' "Jam On It." At noon, the frequencies flipped to Spanish Hot AC, branded as 107.3 Solo Éxitos. [19]

After the "Exitos" format was tweaked to contemporary hits and moved to WOEX on June 29, 2020, WCFB-HD2 flipped to ESPN Radio's national feed and was later deactivated. The HD2 signal was reactivated in March 2022, carrying a simulcast of former sister station WPYO, pending that station’s sale to Spanish Broadcasting System and eventual format flip. On April 1, 2022, at midnight, WPYO's former CHR format without on-air staff ended up moving to WCFB-HD2 entirely under the "Power Orlando" branding. The first song on "Power Orlando" was "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals. On September 28, 2022, at 7:06 pm, after playing “Astronaut in the Ocean” by Masked Wolf, WCFB-HD2 and all other Cox radio stations in the area went on to simulcast WDBO to provide updates for Hurricane Ian. By September 30, the other local radio stations went back to mostly normal operations, but WCFB-HD2 continued to simulcast WDBO post-Hurricane Ian, showing signs of “Power Orlando” possibly winding down operations. “Power Orlando” did not return to normal operations until Monday, October 10, 2022, at 1:30 pm, in which “I Ain't Worried” by OneRepublic was played. “Power Orlando” ended up lasting longer than the remnants of “96 Rock” that continued on the HD2 sub channel of WDBO-FM (now WOEX), which only lasted a few months.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQQL</span> Radio station in Anoka–Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota

KQQL is a commercial radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul radio market and is licensed to suburban Anoka. It plays classic hits and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Utica Avenue South in St. Louis Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBFB</span> Radio station in Dallas, Texas

KBFB is a commercial radio station with an urban-leaning rhythmic contemporary radio format, known as "97.9 The Beat." It is licensed to Dallas, Texas and serves the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. KBFB is owned by Urban One. The studios and offices, along with sister station KZMJ, are in the Galleria Area in North Dallas.

KTLK-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Columbia, Illinois, and serving Greater St. Louis. Owned and operated by iHeartMedia, the station airs a conservative talk radio format known as "104.9 The Patriot". Studios and offices are on Highlands Plaza Drive in St. Louis just south of Forest Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQBT</span> Urban contemporary radio station in Houston

KQBT is an urban contemporary radio station in Houston, Texas. It is owned by iHeartMedia. The station's studios are located along the West Loop Freeway in the city's Uptown district, and the transmitter site is near Missouri City, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSUN (FM)</span> Radio station in Holiday, Florida

WSUN is a commercial FM radio station, licensed to Holiday, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay Area. The station is owned by Spanish Broadcasting System, and airs a Spanish contemporary hits format branded as "El Zol 97.1". The transmitter site is off Dartmouth Drive in Holiday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTKX</span> Radio station in Terrell Hills, Texas

KTKX is a commercial radio station, licensed to Terrell Hills, Texas, and serving the San Antonio metropolitan area. KTKX is owned by Cox Radio, positioned between two other Cox stations. KTKX has a pop-leaning classic rock radio format, while sister stations KISS-FM airs an active rock format with some harder-edged classic rock titles, and KONO-FM plays classic hits, including some classic rock songs that also scored on the Top 40 charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOEX</span> Spanish contemporary radio station in Orlando, Florida

WOEX is a commercial radio station in Orlando, Florida. It is owned by Cox Media Group through Cox Radio, LLC and airs a Spanish-language Contemporary Hits radio format. WOEX's studios and offices are located in Orlando on North John Young Parkway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRUM</span> Tropical music radio station in Orlando, Florida

WRUM is a commercial radio station in Orlando, Florida, known as "Rumba 100.3". It airs a Spanish-language radio format featuring Latin pop, reggaeton and tropical music, and is owned by iHeartMedia. The studios and offices are on Maitland Center Parkway in Maitland.

WENN is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama. It simulcasts the urban contemporary gospel radio format heard on co-owned WAGG. It is owned by SummitMedia, which also owns six other Birmingham stations, and all share studios and offices in the Cahaba neighborhood in southeast Birmingham, but is not related to the fictional radio WENN in the American Movie Classics sitcom Remember WENN, which ran from 1996 to 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMTX</span> Radio station in Tampa, Florida

WMTX is a commercial radio station in Tampa, Florida, known as "Mix 100.7". It has an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with its studios and offices on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. WMTX serves as the primary Emergency Alert System station for the Tampa Bay area.

WTLY is a radio station in Tallahassee, Florida, licensed to and serving the Tallahassee area. The station is currently owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Its studios are in the north side of Tallahassee, while the transmitter is located west of downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDBO (AM)</span> Radio station in Orlando, Florida

WDBO is a commercial radio station broadcasting a news/talk radio format. Licensed to Orlando, Florida, the station is owned by Cox Media Group. The studios and offices are located on North John Young Parkway in Orlando.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXBG</span> Radio station in Cheyenne, Wyoming

KXBG is a radio station licensed to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Owned by iHeartMedia, it broadcasts a country format targeting the Fort Collins-Greeley, Colorado, area. Its studios are located in Loveland, Colorado.

KTFM is a commercial radio station licensed to Floresville, Texas, and serving Greater San Antonio. It broadcasts a sports radio format and is owned by Alpha Media. On weekdays it has local personalities hosting sports shows, with ESPN Radio heard nights and weekends. The studios are on Eisenhauer Road in San Antonio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWBT (FM)</span> Radio station in Waco, Texas

KWBT is an FM radio station broadcasting an urban adult contemporary radio format. KWBT HD2 broadcasts a national Sports Talk format from CBS Sports Radio, branded as "CBS Sports 94.5 HD2."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K265CA</span> Radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico

K265CA is a commercial FM translator radio station located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, broadcasting to the Albuquerque metropolitan area, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.. Its studios are located in Northeast Albuquerque and the transmitter tower is located atop Sandia Crest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMOV-FM</span> Radio station in Norfolk, Virginia

WMOV-FM is a commercial radio station in Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. It carries a rhythmic adult contemporary radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.. The studios and offices are on Norfolk Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHJX</span> Urban Adult Contemporary radio station in Ponte Vedra Beach–Jacksonville, Florida

WHJX is an FM radio station owned by Cox Media Group. It is licensed to Jacksonville, Florida, and serves the Jacksonville metropolitan area with an urban adult contemporary format. It brands as "Hot 106.5" and was previously heard on WOKV-HD2 and translator W258CN as "Hot 99.5".

W273CA is a non-commercial FM radio station translator in Orlando, Florida. It is owned by the Central Florida Educational Foundation, airing a Christian Spanish format branded as "La Z 102.5". From 2011 until February 2014, the translator aired a smooth jazz format as "102.5 WLOQ," when it was leased by iHeartMedia.

K296GB is a radio station located in North Highlands, California. The station's license is held by the Educational Media Foundation; its programming is provided by iHeartMedia. The station broadcasts a country music format branded as 107.1 The Bull. The station's programming can also be heard on KYRV's HD2 HD Radio subchannel and the iHeartRadio apps.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WCFB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "STAR 94.5". STAR 94.5. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  3. ↑ FCC.gov/WCFB
  4. ↑ "WCFB-FM Radio Station Coverage Map". radio-locator.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  5. ↑ "FM Station To Open At Daytona Beach". The Miami News. Associated Press. March 31, 1947. p. 1-B. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Broadcasting Yearbook 1968 page B-35" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Ratings" (PDF). www.americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Vox Jox". Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 20. May 20, 1995. p. 100.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ "Ratings" (PDF). www.americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Star 94.5 Orlando Retreats From All Classic Hip-Hop". December 9, 2014. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Cox Acquires Orlando Area Translator". August 14, 2013. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  15. ↑ "W297BB Rejoice 107 3 Orlando – Cox Radio Orlando Format stunting – June 16 2014". Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2016– via www.youtube.com.
  16. ↑ "W297BB The Dove-Rejoice 107.3 Orlando – Cox Radio Orlando Format stunting – June 17 2014 5-6PM". Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2016– via www.youtube.com.
  17. ↑ "Cox Launches X107.3 Orlando". June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  18. ↑ "X107.3 Debuts". June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  19. ↑ "X107.3 Orlando Flips to Spanish Hot AC". February 22, 2016. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.

28°58′48″N81°27′18″W / 28.980°N 81.455°W / 28.980; -81.455

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.