WJFK-FM
Encyclopedia
WJFK-FM, known on-air as 106.7 The Fan, is a sports radio
-formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Manassas, Virginia
, serving the metro Washington DC area. WJFK-FM is owned and operated by CBS Radio
.
The station formerly shared its call letters with WJFK (now WJZ), another sports radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland.
in Manassas. In the 1970s, as WEZR, it was easy listening
; in the early 1980s it switched to soft adult contemporary, then went top 40 as WBMW "B106" in 1985. In 1987 it switched formats to New Age
, then in 1989 became WJFK with a rock
format, with Howard Stern
in mornings.
Gradually, WJFK dropped music and became a general-talk outlet, mostly with lifestyle programs geared to men. Hosts at various times included Stern, Don and Mike
, Opie & Anthony, G. Gordon Liddy
, The Greaseman
, Ron & Fez and the Sports Junkies. Its last branding as a talk station was "Washington's Talk Superstation" and before that it was called "Free FM
."
On July 20, 2009, the station changed to an all sports talk format, competing with WTEM
. Station owners point to WJFK's local sports talk programming as differentiating itself from WTEM's primarily network supplied programming from ESPN Radio
. The station now serves as the flagship for Washington Wizards
basketball and Washington Nationals baseball, and an affiliate for Virginia Tech Hokies
football and basketball. The station had already broadcast playoff games
of the Washington Capitals
in the spring of 2009; flagship station WFED had to end its coverage when the Washington Nationals
' (MLB
) season opened.
While morning drive time sports talk program "The Junkies" survived the switch regaining their former name "The Sports Junkies", The Big O and Dukes Show along with the Mike O'Meara
Show broadcast their last shows on July 17, 2009. The station's current weekday lineup includes The Sports Junkies
, Mike Wise
and Holden Kushner, The LaVar Arrington
Show with Chad Dukes
, and Overtime with Bill Rohland.
On March 8, 2009, CBS Radio inaugurated the first station with an HD4 subchannel, WJFK-FM in Washington, DC, a sports radio station which also carries sister sports operations WJZ-FM from Baltimore, Philadelphia's WIP and WFAN from New York.
On February 28, 2011, 106.7 The Fan became the new flagship station of the Washington Nationals
.
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
-formatted broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
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 Manassas, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...
, serving the metro Washington DC area. WJFK-FM is owned and operated by CBS Radio
CBS 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...
.
The station formerly shared its call letters with WJFK (now WJZ), another sports radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland.
History
The station originated as WPRW-FM in 1968, co-owned with WPRW-AMWKDV
WKDV is a Regional Mexican formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Manassas, Virginia, serving Manassas and Prince William County, Virginia. WKDV is owned and operated by Metro Radio, Inc.-External links:*...
in Manassas. In the 1970s, as WEZR, it was easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
; in the early 1980s it switched to soft adult contemporary, then went top 40 as WBMW "B106" in 1985. In 1987 it switched formats to New Age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
, then in 1989 became WJFK with a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
format, with Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
in mornings.
Gradually, WJFK dropped music and became a general-talk outlet, mostly with lifestyle programs geared to men. Hosts at various times included Stern, Don and Mike
Don and Mike
The Don and Mike Show was an American nationally syndicated radio talk show hosted by the shock jocks Don Geronimo and Mike O'Meara, which aired from December 1985 through April 2008, when Geronimo retired in order to focus on his personal life. After Geronimo's retirement, the remaining cast...
, Opie & Anthony, G. Gordon Liddy
G. Gordon Liddy
George Gordon Liddy was the chief operative for the White House Plumbers unit that existed from July–September 1971, during Richard Nixon's presidency. Separately, along with E. Howard Hunt, Liddy organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in...
, The Greaseman
The Greaseman
Doug "The Greaseman" Tracht is an American radio, television, and movie personality. Tracht is best known for his morning show on WWDC-FM in Washington, D.C., during the 1980s where he took over the morning drive time slot from Howard Stern and his controversial comments made on that show.Tracht...
, Ron & Fez and the Sports Junkies. Its last branding as a talk station was "Washington's Talk Superstation" and before that it was called "Free FM
Free FM
Free FM was a short-lived, mostly-talk-radio format and brand name for eleven FM CBS Radio stations in the United States, and was created because of Howard Stern's departure to Sirius Satellite Radio in January 2006. Free FM was given its name to highlight that its stations broadcast free-to-air,...
."
On July 20, 2009, the station changed to an all sports talk format, competing with WTEM
WTEM
WTEM — branded ESPN 980 — is a sports radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. and serving the Washington metro area. It is the flagship of a sports talk trimulcast with WWXT in Prince Frederick, Maryland and WWXX in Buckland, Virginia, all affiliated with ESPN Radio and owned by Red Zebra...
. Station owners point to WJFK's local sports talk programming as differentiating itself from WTEM's primarily network supplied programming from ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
. The station now serves as the flagship for Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
basketball and Washington Nationals baseball, and an affiliate for Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech Hokies
The Virginia Tech Hokies are the athletic teams officially representing Virginia Tech in college sports. The Hokies participate in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference in 19 varsity sports. Virginia Tech's men's sports are football, basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer,...
football and basketball. The station had already broadcast playoff games
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
of the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
in the spring of 2009; flagship station WFED had to end its coverage when the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
' (MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
) season opened.
While morning drive time sports talk program "The Junkies" survived the switch regaining their former name "The Sports Junkies", The Big O and Dukes Show along with the Mike O'Meara
Mike O'Meara
Michael Sean Patrick "Mike" O'Meara is the host of The Mike O'Meara Show, previously a nationally syndicated radio show which returned as a podcast. Previously he was the co-host of the nationally syndicated The Don and Mike Show...
Show broadcast their last shows on July 17, 2009. The station's current weekday lineup includes The Sports Junkies
The Junkies
The Sports Junkies, also known as The Junkies, are the hosts of an eponymous morning drive time radio show aired in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The hosts are John Auville, Eric Bickel, Jason Bishop and John-Paul Flaim. Their show is heard on WJFK-FM, at 106.7 on the FM radio dial...
, Mike Wise
Mike Wise (American columnist)
Mike Wise is a sports columnist and feature writer for The Washington Post. He also hosts a midday radio show on WJFK-FM in Washington, D.C.-Career:...
and Holden Kushner, The LaVar Arrington
LaVar Arrington
LaVar RaShad Arrington is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State for coach Joe Paterno.A two-time All-American at Penn State, Arrington played...
Show with Chad Dukes
Chad Dukes (radio personality)
Chad Dukes is a radio personality co-host of the "The LaVar Arrington show with Chad Dukes" and formerly a co-host of the Big O and Dukes Show on WJFK-FM in Washington, D.C.-Early life:...
, and Overtime with Bill Rohland.
On March 8, 2009, CBS Radio inaugurated the first station with an HD4 subchannel, WJFK-FM in Washington, DC, a sports radio station which also carries sister sports operations WJZ-FM from Baltimore, Philadelphia's WIP and WFAN from New York.
On February 28, 2011, 106.7 The Fan became the new flagship station of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.