WWLS-FM
Encyclopedia
WWLS-FM is a radio station
broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to The Village, Oklahoma
, USA, the station serves the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, USA, area . The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media
and features programing from CBS Radio
, ESPN Radio
and Westwood One
.
103.3 in 1978, and still owns stations in Eastern Oklahoma. In 1978 call letters change to KCFX (representing the change to country and the station mascot "the Fox") 1979 Payne sold the station.* PAYNE website It later became KTNT. Porter Davis (whose family owned Davis Foods distributors) brought Jazz into the market as a Smooth Jazz
outlet in the early 1990s as KTNT "97.7 The Trend". In the late 1990s the station changed. Citadel Broadcasting
purchased the station, along with "SportsRadio 640" WWLS-AM and "Sports Talk 1340" KEBC
, in 1998. In February 1999, the station changed its call letters to KCYI and became "The City 97.9" retaining the Smooth Jazz
format, but in January 2000 it changed to Wild 97.9 with a Rhythmic Top 40 format.
On October 23, 2006, WWLS (then at 104.9) switched signals with sister station KKWD
and moved to the 97.9 frequency. On July 9, 2008 WWLS upgraded its signal to 31,000 watts ERP and moved from 97.9 to 98.1 FM.
In addition, WWLS is the hub for the "Sports Animal Network" that simulcasts selected programming on stations throughout Oklahoma including: AM 1550 KYAL
in Sapulpa and Tulsa, 97.1 FM KYAL-FM
in Muskogee
and Tulsa, AM 1490 KBIX
in Muskogee and Tulsa, AM 1240 KADS
in Elk City
, AM 1450 KSIW in Woodward, Oklahoma
.
WWLS is also the radio home of Oklahoma City Thunder
of the NBA. It is also an ESPN Radio
affiliate despite not carrying either Mike and Mike in the Morning
or The Herd with Colin Cowherd
.
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...
broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to The Village, Oklahoma
The Village, Oklahoma
The Village is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 10,157 at the 2000 census.-Geography:The Village is located at ....
, USA, the station serves the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, USA, area . The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
and features programing from 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...
, 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...
and Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
.
History
The station was put on the air in a small house on 1305 South Boulevard Street in Edmond, Oklahoma, (radio station in his home, transmitter in the bedroom, studio in the garage) his wife threaten to leave unless the radio station was moved out of the house. In 1964 the station moved to Kelly street at a frequency of 97.7 MHz, with call letters KWHP (from the initials of William "Bill" Haydon Payne, its owner). It was top 40, one of the first AOR station in the nation/underground rock, country, oldies and a variety of other formats throughout its earlier existence. (Bill Payne moved on to Tulsa to buy KTFXKJSR
KJSR is a Classic rock music formatted radio station in Tulsa, Oklahoma, owned by Cox Radio.-103.3 History:...
103.3 in 1978, and still owns stations in Eastern Oklahoma. In 1978 call letters change to KCFX (representing the change to country and the station mascot "the Fox") 1979 Payne sold the station.* PAYNE website It later became KTNT. Porter Davis (whose family owned Davis Foods distributors) brought Jazz into the market as a Smooth Jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
outlet in the early 1990s as KTNT "97.7 The Trend". In the late 1990s the station changed. Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
purchased the station, along with "SportsRadio 640" WWLS-AM and "Sports Talk 1340" KEBC
KEBC
KGHM is a radio station located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is among a cluster of stations in the market owned by Clear Channel Communications.-KGCB/KOCY:1340 started as KGCB, a church-owned station...
, in 1998. In February 1999, the station changed its call letters to KCYI and became "The City 97.9" retaining the Smooth Jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
format, but in January 2000 it changed to Wild 97.9 with a Rhythmic Top 40 format.
On October 23, 2006, WWLS (then at 104.9) switched signals with sister station KKWD
KKWD
KKWD, known as "WILD 104.9", is a Rhythmic Top 40 radio station serving the Oklahoma City area. The Cumulus Media outlet broadcasts at 104.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6 kW and is licensed to Bethany, Oklahoma....
and moved to the 97.9 frequency. On July 9, 2008 WWLS upgraded its signal to 31,000 watts ERP and moved from 97.9 to 98.1 FM.
In addition, WWLS is the hub for the "Sports Animal Network" that simulcasts selected programming on stations throughout Oklahoma including: AM 1550 KYAL
KYAL (AM)
KYAL is a Sports radio formatted radio station in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and licensed to serve Sapulpa, Oklahoma. The station is owned by Michael Perry Stephens.-History:...
in Sapulpa and Tulsa, 97.1 FM KYAL-FM
KYAL-FM
KYAL-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Muskogee, Oklahoma. The station is owned by KMMY, Inc. It airs a Sports radio format.- History :...
in Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
and Tulsa, AM 1490 KBIX
KBIX
-External links:*...
in Muskogee and Tulsa, AM 1240 KADS
KADS
KADS is a radio station licensed to serve Elk City, Oklahoma, USA. The station, established in 1929, is currently owned by Paragon Communications, Inc....
in Elk City
Elk City, Oklahoma
Elk City is a city in Beckham County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 11,693 at the 2010 census. Elk City is located on Interstate 40 and Historic U.S. Route 66 in Western Oklahoma, approximately west of Oklahoma City and east of Amarillo....
, AM 1450 KSIW in Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census....
.
WWLS is also the radio home of Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
of the NBA. It is also an 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...
affiliate despite not carrying either Mike and Mike in the Morning
Mike and Mike in the Morning
Mike and Mike in the Morning is an American sports-talk radio show hosted by Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg on ESPN Radio and simulcast on television, normally on ESPN2. If ESPN is broadcasting a live sporting event during the show's timeslot, Sportscenter will air on ESPN2, and the show's...
or The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a sports talk radio show hosted by Colin Cowherd and broadcast on ESPN Radio from Bristol, Connecticut. The show is heard Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. ET until 1 p.m. ET on most ESPN Radio stations and is simulcasted on ESPNews...
.