WXBT
Encyclopedia
WVOC-FM is a news/talk
station licensed to West Columbia, South Carolina
and serves the Columbia, South Carolina
market. The Clear Channel Communications
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast at 100.1 MHz with an ERP of 5.9 kW. The station goes by the name "News Radio WVOC" and simulcasts a news/talk format with WVOC 560 AM.
station. It was owned by Sanders Guignard with studios located at 1440 Knox Abbott Drive on the Cayce
-West Columbia city limit boundary. Ratings for the new station were at the bottom, measuring at a 0.1 in its first year on the air.
With the station losing money, Guignard put a stake in the station's ownership for sale in late 1976. It was acquired by Congaree Broadcasters, a group consisting of former WIS-AM veterans Gene McKay (now deceased), Bill Benton, Dave Wright, and Dennis Waldrop. WSCQ retain its call letters, but changed the format to Adult Contemporary with Gene McKay hosting mornings (a position he had held previously at WIS-AM and would hold at WSCQ over the next 22 years). Meantime, station partners Bill Benton and Dave Wright held down various on-air duties while Dennis Waldrop became the station's general manager. The station did very well throughout the rest of the 1970s and on throughout the 1980s as FM became the choice for radio listening. Also, in the early 1980s, WSCQ adopted the "Q-100" handle with the slogan "Lite Rock, Less Talk". By 1991, the handle was changed to "Sunny 100" and a more upbeat AC approach was used.
By 1992, WSCQ had found itself in a 3-way battle with WTCB
and WAAS (now WARQ
) for the Adult Contemporary listening audience as well as declining ratings and revenues from commercial advertising. Management realized there was a hole in the market for older listeners and it was decided to change the format to Adult Standards
, but retain the "Sunny 100" nickname. Gene McKay was joined by station partners Bill Benton and Dave Wright as the morning show became "Good Morning Columbia", a mix of talk, news and music. Also, the station greatly expanded its news/talk programing in other parts of the day as the format became more full-service oriented. Almost overnight, the station rebounded and enjoyed tremendous ratings.
In early 1997, WSCQ was sold to Benchmark Communications. While early rumors circulated that the station would change formats after the sale, it was not the immediate case and the station retained its Adult Standards format. However, by the end of 1997, Benchmark was sold to Capstar Broadcast Partners which started to consolidate management and programing staff with sister stations WCOS
, WHKZ (now WLTY
), and WVOC. Longtime WSCQ GM Dennis Waldrop was dismissed in 1997 and "Good Morning Columbia" co-host Dave Wright decided to retire from radio in the fall of 1997. Wright was replaced by former afternoon host Doug Enlow, who also served as the station's program director at the time.
By late 1998, almost the entire airstaff of WSCQ was dismissed, reduced to voicetracking all shifts outside of "Good Morning Columbia". Ratings declined dramatically over the next few months, leaving little choice but to abandoned the Adult Standards format. In mid-June, 1999, it was announced that WSCQ would change formats to Jammin' Oldies over the July 4 weekend. In a rare move, uncommon in radio, the station was allowed to say goodbye to its longtime listeners ahead of time. After the dismissal, "Good Morning Columbia" resurfaced within a month's time on Citadel Broadcasting
's News/Talk outlet WISW
.
On July 2, at 6 a.m. WSCQ began stunting by simulcasting sister stations WVOC and WLTY
until 4 p.m., replaced by the sound of a ticking clock that lasted for an hour. At 5 p.m. the station launched into its new format. Initially, the station was known as "100.1 Columbia's Jammin Oldies", but became known once again as "Q-100" one year later. WSCQ remained voicetracked in its first year, but eventually added live air talent in morning and afternoon drive times.
While most other Jammin Oldies stations nationwide burned out within a period of 12 to 18 months, WSCQ was able to retain the format for a period of four years, becoming one of the few remaining Jammin Oldies left in the country at the time.
However, on July 17, 2003, after a period where WSCQ ratings had slowly eroded, the format was finally changed to Mainstream Urban
as "100.1 The Beat", taking the new call letters of WXBT. Within a short amount of time, the station had beaten out rival Urban WHXT
and Urban AC outlets WWDM
and WLXC
in the ratings.
WXBT was home to the nationally syndicated Russ Parr In the Morning
.
The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
, which also owns Country
WCOS-FM
, CHR
WNOK
, Variety Hits WLTY
, and Sports/Talk
WCOS
in the Columbia radio market.
On October 26, 2011 at 1pm WXBT changed their format to a simulcast of news/talk-formatted WVOC 560 AM. On November 7, 2011, WXBT's call letters were officially changed to WVOC-FM.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station licensed to West Columbia, South Carolina
West Columbia, South Carolina
West Columbia is a city in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 13,064 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and serves the Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
market. The Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to broadcast at 100.1 MHz with an ERP of 5.9 kW. The station goes by the name "News Radio WVOC" and simulcasts a news/talk format with WVOC 560 AM.
History
100.1 FM signed on August 5, 1975 as WSCQ, Columbia's first all-newsAll-news radio
All-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcast of news.All-news radio is available in both local and syndicated forms, and is carried in some form on both major US satellite radio networks...
station. It was owned by Sanders Guignard with studios located at 1440 Knox Abbott Drive on the Cayce
Cayce, South Carolina
Cayce is a city in Lexington and Richland counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, along the Congaree River. The population was 12,150 at the 2000 census...
-West Columbia city limit boundary. Ratings for the new station were at the bottom, measuring at a 0.1 in its first year on the air.
With the station losing money, Guignard put a stake in the station's ownership for sale in late 1976. It was acquired by Congaree Broadcasters, a group consisting of former WIS-AM veterans Gene McKay (now deceased), Bill Benton, Dave Wright, and Dennis Waldrop. WSCQ retain its call letters, but changed the format to Adult Contemporary with Gene McKay hosting mornings (a position he had held previously at WIS-AM and would hold at WSCQ over the next 22 years). Meantime, station partners Bill Benton and Dave Wright held down various on-air duties while Dennis Waldrop became the station's general manager. The station did very well throughout the rest of the 1970s and on throughout the 1980s as FM became the choice for radio listening. Also, in the early 1980s, WSCQ adopted the "Q-100" handle with the slogan "Lite Rock, Less Talk". By 1991, the handle was changed to "Sunny 100" and a more upbeat AC approach was used.
By 1992, WSCQ had found itself in a 3-way battle with WTCB
WTCB
WTCB is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to Orangeburg, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 106.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
and WAAS (now WARQ
WARQ
WARQ is a Modern Rock radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 93.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 2.8 kW...
) for the Adult Contemporary listening audience as well as declining ratings and revenues from commercial advertising. Management realized there was a hole in the market for older listeners and it was decided to change the format to Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
, but retain the "Sunny 100" nickname. Gene McKay was joined by station partners Bill Benton and Dave Wright as the morning show became "Good Morning Columbia", a mix of talk, news and music. Also, the station greatly expanded its news/talk programing in other parts of the day as the format became more full-service oriented. Almost overnight, the station rebounded and enjoyed tremendous ratings.
In early 1997, WSCQ was sold to Benchmark Communications. While early rumors circulated that the station would change formats after the sale, it was not the immediate case and the station retained its Adult Standards format. However, by the end of 1997, Benchmark was sold to Capstar Broadcast Partners which started to consolidate management and programing staff with sister stations WCOS
WCOS-FM
WCOS-FM is a Country music radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 97.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
, WHKZ (now WLTY
WLTY
WLTY is a variety hits radio station licensed to Cayce, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 96.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 9 kW...
), and WVOC. Longtime WSCQ GM Dennis Waldrop was dismissed in 1997 and "Good Morning Columbia" co-host Dave Wright decided to retire from radio in the fall of 1997. Wright was replaced by former afternoon host Doug Enlow, who also served as the station's program director at the time.
By late 1998, almost the entire airstaff of WSCQ was dismissed, reduced to voicetracking all shifts outside of "Good Morning Columbia". Ratings declined dramatically over the next few months, leaving little choice but to abandoned the Adult Standards format. In mid-June, 1999, it was announced that WSCQ would change formats to Jammin' Oldies over the July 4 weekend. In a rare move, uncommon in radio, the station was allowed to say goodbye to its longtime listeners ahead of time. After the dismissal, "Good Morning Columbia" resurfaced within a month's time on 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...
's News/Talk outlet WISW
WISW
WISW is a news/talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina. It serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1320 kHz with 5,000 watts daytime and 2,500 watts nighttime, directional...
.
On July 2, at 6 a.m. WSCQ began stunting by simulcasting sister stations WVOC and WLTY
WLTY
WLTY is a variety hits radio station licensed to Cayce, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 96.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 9 kW...
until 4 p.m., replaced by the sound of a ticking clock that lasted for an hour. At 5 p.m. the station launched into its new format. Initially, the station was known as "100.1 Columbia's Jammin Oldies", but became known once again as "Q-100" one year later. WSCQ remained voicetracked in its first year, but eventually added live air talent in morning and afternoon drive times.
While most other Jammin Oldies stations nationwide burned out within a period of 12 to 18 months, WSCQ was able to retain the format for a period of four years, becoming one of the few remaining Jammin Oldies left in the country at the time.
However, on July 17, 2003, after a period where WSCQ ratings had slowly eroded, the format was finally changed to Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban is a term used to describe a radio format similar to an Urban Contemporary format. The format differentiates itself due to two factors: playlist composition and target demographic...
as "100.1 The Beat", taking the new call letters of WXBT. Within a short amount of time, the station had beaten out rival Urban WHXT
WHXT
WHXT is an urban contemporary radio station licensed to Orangeburg, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 103.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 9.2 kW...
and Urban AC outlets WWDM
WWDM
WWDM is a Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Sumter, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 101.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
and WLXC
WLXC
WLXC is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia market. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 103.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6 kW...
in the ratings.
WXBT was home to the nationally syndicated Russ Parr In the Morning
Russ Parr
Russ Parr is an American radio and television personality.-Career:Parr began as a Production Services Director at ABC TV....
.
The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
, which also owns Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
WCOS-FM
WCOS-FM
WCOS-FM is a Country music radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 97.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
, CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
WNOK
WNOK
WNOK is a CHR radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 104.7 MHz with an ERP of 90 kW...
, Variety Hits WLTY
WLTY
WLTY is a variety hits radio station licensed to Cayce, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, South Carolina market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 96.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 9 kW...
, and Sports/Talk
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...
WCOS
WCOS (AM)
WCOS is a sports talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia market. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1400 kHz with an ERP of 1 kW...
in the Columbia radio market.
On October 26, 2011 at 1pm WXBT changed their format to a simulcast of news/talk-formatted WVOC 560 AM. On November 7, 2011, WXBT's call letters were officially changed to WVOC-FM.