WBYR
Encyclopedia
WBYR, branded as 98.9 The Bear, is a radio station
licensed to Woodburn, Indiana
with studios in Fort Wayne, Indiana
. The station broadcasts an active rock
format at 98.9 on the FM dial. WBYR is owned by Federated Media.
-FM and WKSD
in Van Wert, Ohio
, owned by Ray Livesay. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, WERT-FM sinulcast its sister AM station
. When the FCC gave the ultimatum for Class B FM stations to increase power to maximum levels or be downgraded, WERT-FM increased power to 50,000 watts and introduced a Beautiful Music format. Once the station was sold to Atlantic Resources, the call letters were changed to WKSD "Kiss 99" with a satellite delivered Adult Contemporary format.
On July 4th 1989, comedy clips, construction sound effects and a vague but brief announcement was heard over and over again for about a week, "9890 songs in a row on Fort Wayne's new 98.9 FM". A Classic Hits format debuted shortly after. Meanwhile, the WKSD
calls resurfaced at 99.7 FM licensed to Paulding, Ohio
; WKSD 99.7 FM now features oldies
and sports talk as a sister station to WERT-AM 1220
.
The first Program Director of The Bear was John Robertson, formerly of WGTZ
, Dayton, Ohio
. The lineup included Les St. James and Roxanne McVey in mornings, Robertson in Middays, the late "Tuna" Jon Rose (Earl Rolling)- Production Director in afternoon drive, Hal Brandt evenings, Don Buettner APD/MD overnighhts.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Woodburn, Indiana
Woodburn, Indiana
Woodburn is a city in Maumee Township, Allen County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,520 at the 2010 census, making it the smallest incorporated city in the state.-Geography:Woodburn is located at ....
with studios in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
. The station broadcasts an active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
format at 98.9 on the FM dial. WBYR is owned by Federated Media.
History
WBYR was the former WERTWERT
WERT is a radio station broadcasting an Oldies/Adult Standards featuring soft oldies chiefly from the 1940s through today. Licensed to Van Wert, Ohio, USA, the station serves Van Wert primarily but is considered part of the Lima market...
-FM and WKSD
WKSD
WKSD is a radio station broadcasting a locally produced Classic Hits format. Licensed to Paulding, Ohio, USA. The station is currently owned by First Family Broadcasting and features news programing from...
in Van Wert, Ohio
Van Wert, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,690 people, 4,556 households, and 2,947 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,803.8 people per square mile . There were 4,927 housing units at an average density of 831.4 per square mile...
, owned by Ray Livesay. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, WERT-FM sinulcast its sister AM station
WERT
WERT is a radio station broadcasting an Oldies/Adult Standards featuring soft oldies chiefly from the 1940s through today. Licensed to Van Wert, Ohio, USA, the station serves Van Wert primarily but is considered part of the Lima market...
. When the FCC gave the ultimatum for Class B FM stations to increase power to maximum levels or be downgraded, WERT-FM increased power to 50,000 watts and introduced a Beautiful Music format. Once the station was sold to Atlantic Resources, the call letters were changed to WKSD "Kiss 99" with a satellite delivered Adult Contemporary format.
On July 4th 1989, comedy clips, construction sound effects and a vague but brief announcement was heard over and over again for about a week, "9890 songs in a row on Fort Wayne's new 98.9 FM". A Classic Hits format debuted shortly after. Meanwhile, the WKSD
WKSD
WKSD is a radio station broadcasting a locally produced Classic Hits format. Licensed to Paulding, Ohio, USA. The station is currently owned by First Family Broadcasting and features news programing from...
calls resurfaced at 99.7 FM licensed to Paulding, Ohio
Paulding, Ohio
Paulding is a village in and the county seat of Paulding County, Ohio, United States. It is located predominantly in Paulding Township. The population was 3,595 at the 2000 census.-History:...
; WKSD 99.7 FM now features oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
and sports talk as a sister station to WERT-AM 1220
WERT
WERT is a radio station broadcasting an Oldies/Adult Standards featuring soft oldies chiefly from the 1940s through today. Licensed to Van Wert, Ohio, USA, the station serves Van Wert primarily but is considered part of the Lima market...
.
The first Program Director of The Bear was John Robertson, formerly of WGTZ
WGTZ
WGTZ "Fly 92.9" is a commercial FM station licensed in Eaton, Ohio at 92.9 MHz serving the Dayton and Springfield market area with an Adult Hits format. The previous CHR/Pop format commenced Sunday, March 15, 1984 at Noon when Dayton-based Great Trails Broadcasting owned the station at the time...
, Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. The lineup included Les St. James and Roxanne McVey in mornings, Robertson in Middays, the late "Tuna" Jon Rose (Earl Rolling)- Production Director in afternoon drive, Hal Brandt evenings, Don Buettner APD/MD overnighhts.