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'''WAAL''' (99.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]; "The Whale") is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[radio station]] licensed to [[Binghamton, New York]]. It airs a [[classic rock]] [[radio format]] and is owned by [[Townsquare Media]]. WAAL is the oldest FM radio station in the [[Binghamton metropolitan area]]. It is an [[network affiliate|affiliate]] of the [[New York Giants Radio Network]].
'''WAAL''' (99.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]; "The Whale") is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[radio station]] licensed to [[Binghamton, New York]]. It airs a [[classic rock]] [[radio format]] and is owned by [[Townsquare Media]]. WAAL is the oldest FM radio station continuously broadcasting in the [[Binghamton metropolitan area]]. It is an [[network affiliate|affiliate]] of the [[New York Giants Radio Network]].


The studios and offices are on Court Street in Binghamton.<ref>[http://991thewhale.com/help/ 991TheWhale.com/help]</ref> The [[transmitter]] is off Ingraham Hill Road, also in Binghamton, amid other towers for local TV and FM stations.<ref>[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Waal&nav= Radio-Locator.com/WAAL]</ref>
The studios and offices are on Court Street in Binghamton.<ref>[http://991thewhale.com/help/ 991TheWhale.com/help]</ref> The [[transmitter]] is off Ingraham Hill Road, also in Binghamton, amid other [[radio masts and towers|tower]]s for local TV and FM stations.<ref>[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Waal&nav= Radio-Locator.com/WAAL]</ref>


==History==
==History==
===WKOP-FM===
===WKOP-FM===
In March 1954, the station [[sign-on|signed on]] as WKOP-FM at 95.3&nbsp;MHz.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1955/Radio-NE-Ter-1955-BC-YB.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1955 page 210]</ref> It was the FM counterpart of WKOP (1360 AM; later [[WYOS]]). The two stations [[simulcast]] and were [[network affiliate]]s of the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]]. They were owned by Binghamton Broadcasters, Inc. At first, WKOP-FM broadcast at only 420 [[watt]]s, a fraction of the station's current power.
In March 1954, the station [[sign-on|signed on]] as WKOP-FM at 95.3&nbsp;MHz.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1955/Radio-NE-Ter-1955-BC-YB.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1955 page 210]</ref> It was the FM counterpart of WKOP (1360 AM; later [[WYOS]]). The two stations [[simulcast]] and were [[network affiliate]]s of the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]]. They were owned by Binghamton Broadcasters, Inc. At first, WKOP-FM broadcast at only 420 [[watt]]s, a fraction of the station's current power.

While WKOP-FM (now WAAL) has been continuously on the air since 1954, [[WNBF-FM]] (now 98.1 [[WHWK]]) went on the air 14 years earlier as an experimental station owned by the Howitt-Wood Radio Company.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting19unse/page/n1074/mode/1up "New FM Call Letters Proposed"], ''Broadcasting'', November 15, 1940, page 77.</ref> But it left the airwaves from 1952 to 1956.


In the 1960s, WKOP-FM received [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) permission to move to 99.1&nbsp;MHz, with an increase in power to 33,000 watts.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1970/B%20N-Ter%20BC%20YB%201970%20All-3.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1970 page B-134]</ref> By 1970, it ended its simulcast with WKOP 1360 and began playing a [[progressive rock]] format.
In the 1960s, WKOP-FM received [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) permission to move to 99.1&nbsp;MHz, with an increase in power to 33,000 watts.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1970/B%20N-Ter%20BC%20YB%201970%20All-3.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1970 page B-134]</ref> By 1970, it ended its simulcast with WKOP 1360 and began playing a [[progressive rock]] format.


===WAAL===
===WAAL===
In 1974, the station was sold to Butternut Broadcasting, which switched the [[call sign]] to WAAL, running an AOR format.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/C-2-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1978 page C-144]</ref> The station was known as "WAAL (pronounced like whale) Stereo FM 99". The station dropped its AOR format in October 1985 for [[contemporary hit radio|Top 40/CHR]] after the drop of CHR station WWWT-FM for adult contemporary due to the station's complaint on its listeners. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was known as "The Hot FM" and was affiliated with the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC FM Network]].
In 1974, the station was sold to Butternut Broadcasting, which switched the [[call sign]] to WAAL. It moved to an [[album-oriented rock]] (AOR) format, playing the top tracks from the biggest selling albums.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/C-2-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1978 page C-144]</ref> The station was known as "WAAL Stereo FM 99". It pronounces its call letters as "[[Whale]]" and uses a cartoon whale as its mascot.
The station dropped its AOR format in October 1985 for [[contemporary hit radio|Top 40/CHR]] after contemporary hit station WWWT-FM switched to [[adult contemporary music]]. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, WAAL was known as "The Hot FM" and was affiliated with the [[ABC News Radio|ABC FM Network]].


Wicks Broadcasting bought WAAL in 1996, and changed its format to [[classic rock]].
Wicks Broadcasting bought WAAL in 1996. It ended its run as a Top 40/CHR station and changed its format to [[classic rock]].


===Citadel ownership, then Townsquare===
===Citadel ownership, then Townsquare===
WAAL was acquired by [[Citadel Broadcasting]] in 1998 from Wicks Broadcast Group in a $77 million deal that included a total of 16 radio stations.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Citadel+Communications+Acquires+16+Radio+Stations+From+Wicks...-a053253254 Citadel Communications Acquires 16 Radio Stations From Wicks Broadcast Group for $77 Million]</ref> Citadel merged with [[Cumulus Media]] on September 16, 2011.<ref name=abj-citadelcumulus>{{cite news|title=Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/09/16/cumulus-now-owns-citadel-broadcasting.html|access-date=September 16, 2011|newspaper=Atlanta Business Journal|date=September 16, 2011}}</ref>
WAAL was acquired by [[Citadel Broadcasting]] in 1998 from Wicks Broadcast Group. It was part of a $77 million deal that included a total of 16 radio stations.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Citadel+Communications+Acquires+16+Radio+Stations+From+Wicks...-a053253254 Citadel Communications Acquires 16 Radio Stations From Wicks Broadcast Group for $77 Million]</ref> Citadel merged with [[Cumulus Media]] on September 16, 2011.<ref name=abj-citadelcumulus>{{cite news|title=Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/09/16/cumulus-now-owns-citadel-broadcasting.html|access-date=September 16, 2011|newspaper=Atlanta Business Journal|date=September 16, 2011}}</ref>


In 2013, in a $281 million, multi-station deal involving Cumulus, [[Townsquare Media]] and Peak Broadcasting, Townsquare acquired all of Cumulus Media's Binghamton radio stations, ihcluding WAAL.<ref>[http://www.townsquaremedia.com/press/townsquare-media-acquiring-assets-from-cumulus-and-peak TownsquareMedia.com/press/"Townsquare Acquiring Assets from Cumulus and Peak"]</ref> The classic rock format has remained in place on WAAL.
In 2013, a $281 million, multi-station deal was worked out between Cumulus Media, [[Townsquare Media]] and Peak Broadcasting. Townsquare acquired all of Cumulus Media's Binghamton radio stations, including WAAL.<ref>[http://www.townsquaremedia.com/press/townsquare-media-acquiring-assets-from-cumulus-and-peak TownsquareMedia.com/press/"Townsquare Acquiring Assets from Cumulus and Peak"]</ref> With Townsquare's take over, the classic rock format has remained in place on WAAL.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:01, 31 May 2024

This article is about the Binghamton radio station. For other uses, see Waal.
WAAL
Broadcast areaBinghamton metropolitan area; Southern Tier
Frequency99.1 MHz
Branding99.1 The Whale
Programming
FormatClassic rock
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WHWK, WNBF, WWYL
History
First air date
March 1954 (1954-03) (as 95.3 WKOP-FM)
Former call signs
WKOP-FM (1954–1975)
Call sign meaning
Play on the word "Whale"
Technical information
Facility ID7920
ClassB
ERP8,700 watts
HAAT291 meters (955 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website991thewhale.com

WAAL (99.1 FM; "The Whale") is a commercial radio station licensed to Binghamton, New York. It airs a classic rock radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media. WAAL is the oldest FM radio station continuously broadcasting in the Binghamton metropolitan area. It is an affiliate of the New York Giants Radio Network.

The studios and offices are on Court Street in Binghamton.[1] The transmitter is off Ingraham Hill Road, also in Binghamton, amid other towers for local TV and FM stations.[2]

History

WKOP-FM

In March 1954, the station signed on as WKOP-FM at 95.3 MHz.[3] It was the FM counterpart of WKOP (1360 AM; later WYOS). The two stations simulcast and were network affiliates of the Mutual Broadcasting System. They were owned by Binghamton Broadcasters, Inc. At first, WKOP-FM broadcast at only 420 watts, a fraction of the station's current power.

While WKOP-FM (now WAAL) has been continuously on the air since 1954, WNBF-FM (now 98.1 WHWK) went on the air 14 years earlier as an experimental station owned by the Howitt-Wood Radio Company.[4] But it left the airwaves from 1952 to 1956.

In the 1960s, WKOP-FM received Federal Communications Commission (FCC) permission to move to 99.1 MHz, with an increase in power to 33,000 watts.[5] By 1970, it ended its simulcast with WKOP 1360 and began playing a progressive rock format.

WAAL

In 1974, the station was sold to Butternut Broadcasting, which switched the call sign to WAAL. It moved to an album-oriented rock (AOR) format, playing the top tracks from the biggest selling albums.[6] The station was known as "WAAL Stereo FM 99". It pronounces its call letters as "Whale" and uses a cartoon whale as its mascot.

The station dropped its AOR format in October 1985 for Top 40/CHR after contemporary hit station WWWT-FM switched to adult contemporary music. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, WAAL was known as "The Hot FM" and was affiliated with the ABC FM Network.

Wicks Broadcasting bought WAAL in 1996. It ended its run as a Top 40/CHR station and changed its format to classic rock.

Citadel ownership, then Townsquare

WAAL was acquired by Citadel Broadcasting in 1998 from Wicks Broadcast Group. It was part of a $77 million deal that included a total of 16 radio stations.[7] Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[8]

In 2013, a $281 million, multi-station deal was worked out between Cumulus Media, Townsquare Media and Peak Broadcasting. Townsquare acquired all of Cumulus Media's Binghamton radio stations, including WAAL.[9] With Townsquare's take over, the classic rock format has remained in place on WAAL.

References

  1. ^ 991TheWhale.com/help
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WAAL
  3. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1955 page 210
  4. ^ "New FM Call Letters Proposed", Broadcasting, November 15, 1940, page 77.
  5. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1970 page B-134
  6. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1978 page C-144
  7. ^ Citadel Communications Acquires 16 Radio Stations From Wicks Broadcast Group for $77 Million
  8. ^ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  9. ^ TownsquareMedia.com/press/"Townsquare Acquiring Assets from Cumulus and Peak"

42°03′32″N 75°57′04″W / 42.059°N 75.951°W / 42.059; -75.951

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