WBBQ-FM
WBBQ-FM (104.3 FM) is a radio station licensed to Augusta, Georgia, United States, the station is currently owned by iHeartMedia, Inc..[1] Its studios are located at the Augusta Corporate Center near the I-20/I-520 interchange in Augusta, and the transmitter tower is in Beech Island, South Carolina.
 | |
| City | Augusta, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Augusta, Georgia |
| Frequency | 104.3 MHz |
| Branding | 104.3 WBBQ |
| Slogan | Augusta's Most Music, Best Variety (General) Augusta's Continuous Christmas Station (Nov. to Dec.) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult Contemporary Christmas music (Nov. to Dec.) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | iHeartMedia, Inc. (Capstar TX LLC) |
| Sister stations | WLUB, WPRW-FM, WKSP, WYNF |
| History | |
| First air date | 1958 |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 59249 |
| Class | C0 |
| ERP | 78,000 watts |
| HAAT | 436 meters |
| Transmitter coordinates | 33°25′16.60″N 81°50′18.60″W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | https://wbbq.iheart.com/ |
Station history
WBBQ-FM signed on in 1958 as the sister to WBBQ AM 1340. The FM simulcasted the AM's programming for much of its existence. Both stations switched to Top 40 under the guidance of Edward H. Dunbar beginning in the early 1960s. WBBQ was very popular with this format and was the #1 station in the Augusta market for over 35 years. In addition, the station had a top-notch news department. Both WBBQ AM and WBBQ FM were owned by George Weiss (under his company, Savannah Valley Broadcasting), who would play an active role in the station's growth.
In August 1994, the new station manager Birnie Florie (a former news reporter and salesman) ordered that WBBQ swap formats with newly acquired sister FM WZNY while Weiss was out of the country. WBBQ switched to adult contemporary and WZNY switched to CHR.
That move, along with a few other unfavorable decisions, caused Weiss (in 1997) to donate WBBQ and WZNY to the Medical College of Georgia shortly before his passing from cancer. MCG, in turn, sold the stations to Cumulus Broadcasting for $14 million. The money was used to establish the Weiss Endowment for Research for cancer research.[2]
Cumulus sold WBBQ in 2000 to Clear Channel Communications (now known as iHeartMedia, Inc.).
After spending more than 20 years as an Adult Contemporary-formatted station, WBBQ in recent years has started leaning more Hot AC and Adult CHR in music format. Instituted under previous program director and music director Cliff Bennett, the station started dropping slower songs more commonly found on AC stations and focused more on upbeat, uptempo music with a hard lean towards 2000s and 2010s hit music. The station still avoids hip-hop and most electronic music more commonly found now on Top 40/CHR stations but has positioned itself against variety-formatted, now 80s-formatted WDRR and Top 40/CHR WHHD.
Current station lineup
- 12am-5am: John Tesh
- 5am-9am: Murphy, Sam and Jodi
- 9am-2pm: Jana Sutter
- 2pm-7pm: Jeff Stevens
- 7pm-12m: Delilah (Sunday thru Friday)
See also
References
- "WBBQ-FM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- "George Weiss". Augusta Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
External links
- WBBQ in the FCC's FM station database
- WBBQ on Radio-Locator
- WBBQ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database