WHPT
Hot talk | |
Subchannels | HD2: Sports radio |
---|---|
Affiliations | |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | November 15, 1960 | (as WYAK)
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "The Point" (former branding) |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 51986 |
Class | C |
ERP | 100,000 watts |
HAAT | 503 meters (1,650 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 27°24′31″N 82°14′59″W / 27.40861°N 82.24972°W |
Repeater(s) | 107.3 WXGL-HD2 (St. Petersburg) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live Listen live (via Audacy) |
Website | www |
WHPT (102.5
WHPT is a
History
WYAK - WSAF-FM
The station
was WYAK. It was a rare stand-alone FM station in an era where most were co-owned with AM or TV stations. It was owned by the Multitone Music Corporation with studios at 1375 Fifth Street. It was powered at 2,750 watts, a fraction of its current output. .In 1967, the station was acquired by Stewart Broadcasting, the owners of WSAF 1220 AM (now WSRQ).[4] The call letters were changed to WSAF-FM and the two stations began simulcasting most of their programming.
WQSR
In 1973, the Sarasota Radio Company purchased WSAF-FM and changed its format to beautiful music. It played quarter-hour sweeps of soft instrumentals with Broadway and Hollywood show tunes. The call sign was switched to WQSR. Those call letters reflected company president, Edward Rogers', philosophy: QSR: Quality Stereo Radio.
For several years, WQSR playing beautiful music from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and
Hot talk
Over time, the DJs were given more freedom to add comedy and other comments to their radio shows. Management noted that was becoming more popular than the music the station played. In April 2012, WHPT fully transitioned to hot talk, while keeping "The Bone" moniker.[6]
In September 2022, Cox Radio announced that WHPT would be the new flagship station of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. The station also began using its HD2 subchannel for 24/7 Lightning-focused programming, which included original live programming, game replays, podcasts, and more.[7] In 2022, WHPT also became the flagship station of University of South Florida sports, including Bulls football, men's basketball, and women's basketball.[8]
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WHPT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WHPT
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1963 page B-42. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1969 page B-39. Retrieved Dec. 5, 2023.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Venta, Lance (April 19, 2012). "102.5 The Bone Tampa To Go Hot Talk". Radio Insight. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ "102.5 The Bone made the official flagship station of the Bolts". NHL.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
- ^ "USF Athletics Begins Three-Year Radio Partnership with Cox Media Group". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- 440: Satisfaction
- WHVE - A History
- WQSR - A History
- Susquehanna Radio
- Tampa-St. Petersburg Radio Call Letter History
- Radio Evangelist
External links
- Official website
- WHPT in the FCC FM station database
- WHPT in Nielsen Audio's FM station database