WFOY
Encyclopedia
WFOY is the oldest station in the United States
's oldest city—St. Augustine, Florida
. It signed on at 15:45 on the afternoon of Thursday, February 11, 1937
on 1210 kilocycles at a power of 100 watt
s, despite claims that the station started July 7, 1936
(more likely the 1936 date is when the construction permit was issued).
(although the park and radio station parted owners). With the NARBA
shift of 1941, WFOY shifted from 1210 to 1240 kHz. (the new home of all stations formerly on 1210). Over the years WFOY gained power increases to 250 watts (first in the daytime only, then continuously) and then 1 kW (again, daytime only at first, then continuously). When WFOY vacated its property to move to the WAOC building, it had to reduce power to 580 watts to avoid interfering with WIYD
/1260 in Palatka, Florida
and other stations on or around 1240.
In August 1965, WFOY added FM service on 97.7 MHz (Channel 249), which was primarily a simulcast of WFOY. With Shull Broadcasting taking possession of WFOY-AM-FM in April 1984, the FM became WUVU "View 97.7 FM" with a rock format. WUVU was sold in 1992 when it increased power to 50 kW and shifted frequency to 97.9 MHz (Channel 250). Today, this station is WNWW
"97.9 RadioNOW" and is owned by Clear Channel
. FM service returned to the site in 1993 when Flagler College
's WFCF
/88.5 began broadcasting.
Shull Broadcasting bought competing AM station WAOC
in 2002 and sold off WFOY's property at 1 Radio Road, St. Augustine, Florida to developers. WFOY moved its studios and transmitter to the WAOC building at 567 Lewis Point Road Extension from where WAOC, WAYL and WSJF transmit. WFCF moved to its own property where it was able to increase power to 10 kW (Class C3) up from the previously authorized 6 kW (full Class A).
from 1940 to 2006. Today it broadcasts the news/talk format including Rush Limbaugh
, Fox News, Bill O'Reilly
, Michael Savage
and other talk programming. Local programming is on for only a few hours each day.
On July 1, 2006, the station began streaming on the Internet at www.1240news.com.
Also in 2006, an article appeared in the St. Augustine Record
about Shull Broadcasting's sale of the station (along with WAOC 1420) to Florida
-based Phillips Broadcasting, a minority-owned broadcasting company owned by Kristine Phillips.
commissioner in North Carolina
. Phillips must serve 4 years in federal prison in Jesup, Georgia
as well as pay a $25,000 fine. http://staugustine.com/stories/050807/state_4582555.shtml In 2010 the conviction was overturned and he was exonerated when it was determined the rules of law were not applied properly to his case.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's oldest city—St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
. It signed on at 15:45 on the afternoon of Thursday, February 11, 1937
1937 in radio
The year 1937 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*9 March: Fireside chat: On the Reorganization of the Judiciary....
on 1210 kilocycles at a power of 100 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s, despite claims that the station started July 7, 1936
1936 in radio
The year 1936 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*2 January: Bing Crosby becomes full-time host of the Kraft Music Hall, following Paul Whiteman, after having been a guest host on December 5, 1935....
(more likely the 1936 date is when the construction permit was issued).
History
WFOY was originally owned by the operators of the Fountain of Youth park, where the station remained until March 12, 20032003 in radio
The year 2003 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:* October 10 - Facing an investigation surrounding allegations of illegal drug use, American right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh publicly admits that he is addicted to prescription pain killers, and will seek treatment.-Debuts:*March...
(although the park and radio station parted owners). With the NARBA
North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, usually referred to as NARBA, is a treaty that took effect in March 1941 and set out the bandplan and interference rules for mediumwave AM broadcasting in North America. Although mostly replaced by other agreements in the 1980s, the basic bandplan...
shift of 1941, WFOY shifted from 1210 to 1240 kHz. (the new home of all stations formerly on 1210). Over the years WFOY gained power increases to 250 watts (first in the daytime only, then continuously) and then 1 kW (again, daytime only at first, then continuously). When WFOY vacated its property to move to the WAOC building, it had to reduce power to 580 watts to avoid interfering with WIYD
WIYD
WIYD is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Palatka, Florida, USA. The station is currently owned by Hall Broadcasting Company and features programing from ABC Radio....
/1260 in Palatka, Florida
Palatka, Florida
Palatka is a city in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,033 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,796. It is the county seat of Putnam County and includes East Palatka. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka...
and other stations on or around 1240.
In August 1965, WFOY added FM service on 97.7 MHz (Channel 249), which was primarily a simulcast of WFOY. With Shull Broadcasting taking possession of WFOY-AM-FM in April 1984, the FM became WUVU "View 97.7 FM" with a rock format. WUVU was sold in 1992 when it increased power to 50 kW and shifted frequency to 97.9 MHz (Channel 250). Today, this station is WNWW
WNWW
WNWW is a commercial radio station located in Neptune Beach, Florida, broadcasting to the Jacksonville, Florida area on 97.9 FM. WNWW airs a Top 40 music format branded as "Radio NOW" a brand name used on several other sister Clear Channel Top 40 Pop stations....
"97.9 RadioNOW" and is owned by Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
. FM service returned to the site in 1993 when Flagler College
Flagler College
Flagler College, is a private four-year liberal arts college in St. Augustine, Florida, USA and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008.The college has been named in recent years by US News & World Report as one of the southeast region's best comprehensive liberal arts colleges, and is included on...
's WFCF
WFCF
WFCF is a radio station broadcasting an eclectic college radio format. Licensed to St. Augustine, Florida, USA, the station is currently owned by Flagler College....
/88.5 began broadcasting.
Shull Broadcasting bought competing AM station WAOC
WAOC
WAOC is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to St. Augustine, Florida, USA, the station serves the Jacksonville area. The station is currently owned by Phillips Broadcasting, LLC and features programing from ESPN Radio, The Sport Buffet and Motor Racing...
in 2002 and sold off WFOY's property at 1 Radio Road, St. Augustine, Florida to developers. WFOY moved its studios and transmitter to the WAOC building at 567 Lewis Point Road Extension from where WAOC, WAYL and WSJF transmit. WFCF moved to its own property where it was able to increase power to 10 kW (Class C3) up from the previously authorized 6 kW (full Class A).
Famous Alumni
- Billy GrahamBilly GrahamWilliam Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
(his sermons were aired on the station around 1938). - Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
(disc jockey/studio musician in the 1940s).
Programming
WFOY had been an affiliate of CBS RadioCBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
from 1940 to 2006. Today it broadcasts the news/talk format including Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, Fox News, Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
, Michael Savage
Michael Savage (commentator)
Michael Savage is a conservative American radio host, author, and political commentator. He is the host of The Savage Nation, a nationally syndicated talk show that airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network...
and other talk programming. Local programming is on for only a few hours each day.
On July 1, 2006, the station began streaming on the Internet at www.1240news.com.
Also in 2006, an article appeared in the St. Augustine Record
St. Augustine Record
The St. Augustine Record is a daily morning newspaper published in St. Augustine, Florida. The newspaper was founded in 1894 and is owned by Morris Communications of Augusta, Georgia.- External links :*...
about Shull Broadcasting's sale of the station (along with WAOC 1420) to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-based Phillips Broadcasting, a minority-owned broadcasting company owned by Kristine Phillips.
Controversy
Kevin Leslie Geddings, known on air as "Kevin Leslie" & also husband of WFOY owner Kris Phillips was sentenced on May 7, 2007 due to an October 2006 conviction of 5 counts of fraud when he served as the state lotteryNorth Carolina Education Lottery
The North Carolina Education Lottery is run by the government of North Carolina. It was established after Gov. Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act and the 2005 Appropriations Act....
commissioner in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Phillips must serve 4 years in federal prison in Jesup, Georgia
Jesup, Georgia
Jesup is a city in Wayne County, Georgia, United States. The population was 9,279 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Wayne County.-Geography:Jesup is located at ....
as well as pay a $25,000 fine. http://staugustine.com/stories/050807/state_4582555.shtml In 2010 the conviction was overturned and he was exonerated when it was determined the rules of law were not applied properly to his case.