WPOC

WPOC (93.1 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Baltimore, Maryland. It airs a country music radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are at The Rotunda Shopping Center, on West 40th Street, in Baltimore.

WPOC
CityBaltimore, Maryland
Broadcast areaBaltimore metropolitan area
Frequency93.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding93.1 WPOC
SloganBaltimore's #1 For New Country
Programming
FormatFM/HD1: Country
HD2: New Country Releases
HD3: Soft AC "The Breeze"
Ownership
OwneriHeartMedia, Inc.
(Citicasters Licenses, Inc.)
Sister stationsWCAO, WQSR, WZFT
History
First air dateFebruary 4, 1960
Call sign meaningW Pride Of the Chesaspeake
Technical information
Facility ID47747
ClassB
ERP16,000 watts (Analog)
400 watts (Digital)
HAAT264 meters (886 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteWPOC.iHeart.com

The transmitter is located off North Rolling Road in Catonsville, Maryland.[1] WPOC has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 16,000 watts. The tower has a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 264 meters (886 feet). That provides WPOC with a wide coverage area ranging from Washington, D.C. to the Maryland-Pennsylvania state line, and from Annapolis to Frederick.

WPOC broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format. Its HD2 subchannel runs new country music releases. On HD3, "The Breeze," a soft adult contemporary service from iHeartRadio is heard.

History

On February 4, 1960, the station signed on as WFMM-FM.[2] It was owned by the Commercial Radio Institute with studios on West Biddle Street. It was a rare stand-alone FM station, not associated with an AM station or a newspaper.

In 1974, the station was acquired by Nationwide Communications, a division of Nationwide Insurance.[3] Nationwide decided to put a country music format on 93.1. The call sign was switched from WFMM-FM to WPOC, standing for Pride Of the Chesapeake, because the station covers much of Chesapeake Bay. The station affiliated with the ABC Directions Network for national news.

In 1999, the station was acquired by Clear Channel Communications, which maintained the country music format.[4] Clear Channel later became iHeartMedia, the current owner.

former logo

Airstaff and Honors

WPOC has been voted "Baltimore's Best Country Station" several times, along with other industry awards. The station is home to "The Laurie DeYoung Morning Show." She is joined by Claire Scattergood, newscaster and producer Jeff St. Pierre, and traffic reporter Mark Williams. DeYoung was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2010.

Midday is hosted by Bob Delmont, while Michael J. hosts the afternoon drive time. Premiere Networks' syndicated "The Bobby Bones Show" is carried in the evening and Cody Allen's syndicated show is heard overnight. Saturday evenings feature the "Country House Party."

Past Personalities
  • Marty Bass
  • Bill Rehkof (Later at KDKA Pittsburgh)
  • Bill Vanko (Later at WBAL)
  • Jen Pheniox
  • Justin Cole

References
  1. Radio-Locator.com/WPOC
  2. Broadcasting Yearbook 1961-62 page B-78
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1975 page C-85
  4. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 page D-205

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