WBYB
Encyclopedia
WBYB is a talk radio
formatted commercial radio station
, licensed to Kane, Pennsylvania
. WVTT operates at an effective radiated power of 840 watt
s. The station is owned by Colonial Radio Group and maintains studios and offices at 27 Fraley Street in downtown Kane.
Prior to October 2011, WBYB was located at 96.7 in Portville, New York
, broadcasting a country music
format, and before that, it was a hot adult contemporary station based at the same frequency in Coudersport, Pennsylvania
. WBYB and WVTT swapped licenses in October 2011, with WBYB moving to Kane and WVTT moving to Portville.
-FM, the sister station to AM 600 WFRM. It was owned by the Farm & Home Broadcasting Company and was a member of the Allegany Mountain Radio Network. Historically the station ran a satellite hot adult contemporary format, and during the mid-2000s simulcasted WQRM. During this time it was licensed to Coudersport, Pennsylvania
.
The station was put up for sale in 2008, shortly after applying to the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to move the station to Portville. Backyard Broadcasting
, owners of market leader WPIG
, offered to buy the station, though the purchase eventually fell through. Colonial Radio Group, owners of WLMI
and WXMT, followed with a lower bid, which was closed in July 2009.
Upon closing the deal, Colonial CEO Jeff Androlunis changed the call sign to WLMY (perhaps indicating a format similar to WLMI), then shortly to WBYB. Androlunis, upon signing on the signal, criticized WPIG's personality-driven format and use of classic country
in its playlist, claiming he had done research that supported a new country station. (Backyard Broadcasting, shortly after this, parked the WLMY
calls on a station of its own, a hot-AC station in Williamsport, Pennsylvania
.)
Among WBYB's initial programming was the Midday Mayhem with Mindy Cunningham, a program formerly heard on WPIG. Cunningham has since left the station and is now at WMXO
. Kerry Monroe, who previously hosted afternoon drive and moved to middays after Cunningham left, is also a former WPIG announcer. After about a year of simulcasting WLMI's morning show, WBYB began carrying its own morning show hosted by Androlunis and a co-host named "Sweet Tea." The station currently uses the syndicated Bob and Sheri program. The other prominent host on WBYB is Casey Hill, also formerly of WPIG; Hill hosts middays. The Lia Show
airs evenings.
WBYB carried broadcasts of Allegany-Limestone Central School sports in 2010 while W237CS carried Smethport High School athletics. Neither was reprised in 2011. WBYB's mascot is Bob the Builder
.
s and two small translators, 99.1 in Olean (which is expected to be temporary, as Androlunis has announced plans for "McKean County's Radio 99" for the 99.1 frequency) and 95.3 (W237CS) in Smethport. Hill, the station's lone local host, remains on staff for both stations.
Programming includes a local show hosted by Hill and Michael Baldwin, the Glenn Beck Program
, Dennis Miller
, The Dave Ramsey Show
, The Savage Nation
, Alex Jones
, and The Phil Hendrie Show
.
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...
formatted commercial 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 Kane, Pennsylvania
Kane, Pennsylvania
Kane is a borough in McKean County, Pennsylvania, east by south of Erie. It was founded in 1863 by Civil War general Thomas L. Kane at an elevated site 2210 feet above sea level. In the early part of the twentieth century, Kane had large glassworks, bottle works, lumber mills, and manufactures of...
. WVTT operates at an effective radiated power of 840 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. The station is owned by Colonial Radio Group and maintains studios and offices at 27 Fraley Street in downtown Kane.
Prior to October 2011, WBYB was located at 96.7 in Portville, New York
Portville, New York
Portville, New York is a village and a town in Cattaraugus County, New York.*Portville , New York*Portville , New York...
, broadcasting a country music
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...
format, and before that, it was a hot adult contemporary station based at the same frequency in Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Coudersport is a borough in Potter County, Pennsylvania, east by south of Erie on the Allegheny River. The populations were these: 1,530 in 1890; 3,217 in 1900; and 3,100 in 1910. The population was 2,650 at the 2000 census...
. WBYB and WVTT swapped licenses in October 2011, with WBYB moving to Kane and WVTT moving to Portville.
History
The station known today as WBYB signed on in 1985 as WFRMWFRM
WFRM is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Coudersport, Pennsylvania, the seat of Potter County. WFRM broadcasts at the federally assigned frequency of 600 kHz at a maximum power output of 1,000 watts day, 46 watts night...
-FM, the sister station to AM 600 WFRM. It was owned by the Farm & Home Broadcasting Company and was a member of the Allegany Mountain Radio Network. Historically the station ran a satellite hot adult contemporary format, and during the mid-2000s simulcasted WQRM. During this time it was licensed to Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Coudersport is a borough in Potter County, Pennsylvania, east by south of Erie on the Allegheny River. The populations were these: 1,530 in 1890; 3,217 in 1900; and 3,100 in 1910. The population was 2,650 at the 2000 census...
.
The station was put up for sale in 2008, shortly after applying to 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 move the station to Portville. Backyard Broadcasting
Backyard Broadcasting
Backyard Broadcasting is a radio broadcasting company, primarily owning radio stations in medium-sized, small and rural markets in the United States. The company is owned by the private equity firms Boston Ventures Management and Pacific Corporate Group and is headed by Barry Drake, the former head...
, owners of market leader WPIG
WPIG
WPIG is an FM radio station located in Olean, New York. Branded as the "Big Pig," "The Pig" or simply by its frequency and callsigns at times, the station operates at 95.7 MHz on the FM dial and operates a broad-based country music format...
, offered to buy the station, though the purchase eventually fell through. Colonial Radio Group, owners of WLMI
WLMI
WVTT is an FM radio station licensed to Portville, New York. The station, broadcasting at 96.7 MHz, is owned by Colonial Radio Group and broadcasts a talk radio format.Prior to October 2011, WVTT was licensed to Kane, Pennsylvania at 103.9 MHz...
and WXMT, followed with a lower bid, which was closed in July 2009.
Upon closing the deal, Colonial CEO Jeff Androlunis changed the call sign to WLMY (perhaps indicating a format similar to WLMI), then shortly to WBYB. Androlunis, upon signing on the signal, criticized WPIG's personality-driven format and use of classic country
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
in its playlist, claiming he had done research that supported a new country station. (Backyard Broadcasting, shortly after this, parked the WLMY
WLMY
WLMY is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA, the station serves the Williamsport area...
calls on a station of its own, a hot-AC station in Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
.)
Among WBYB's initial programming was the Midday Mayhem with Mindy Cunningham, a program formerly heard on WPIG. Cunningham has since left the station and is now at WMXO
WMXO
WMXO is a radio station licensed to and located in Olean, NY. The station broadcasts at 101.5 MHz and plays a Hot Adult Contemporary format. The station is currently owned by the Pembrook Pines Media Group and features programing from Jones Radio Network, Premiere Radio Networks and Westwood...
. Kerry Monroe, who previously hosted afternoon drive and moved to middays after Cunningham left, is also a former WPIG announcer. After about a year of simulcasting WLMI's morning show, WBYB began carrying its own morning show hosted by Androlunis and a co-host named "Sweet Tea." The station currently uses the syndicated Bob and Sheri program. The other prominent host on WBYB is Casey Hill, also formerly of WPIG; Hill hosts middays. The Lia Show
The Lia Show
The Lia Show, formerly known as Neon Nights, is a nationally syndicated country music and entertainment radio program hosted by Lia Knight . The program airs nightly from 7 pm to midnight locally across the United States...
airs evenings.
WBYB carried broadcasts of Allegany-Limestone Central School sports in 2010 while W237CS carried Smethport High School athletics. Neither was reprised in 2011. WBYB's mascot is Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder is a British children's animated television show created by Keith Chapman. In the original series Bob appears as a building contractor specialising in masonry in a stop motion animated programme with his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of...
.
Talk radio period
On October 19, 2011, WBYB dropped its country format annd swapped calls with WVTT and replaced it with a simulcast of WVTT, a talk station based in Kane. The country format was retained on Colonial's numerous digital subchannelDigital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
s and two small translators, 99.1 in Olean (which is expected to be temporary, as Androlunis has announced plans for "McKean County's Radio 99" for the 99.1 frequency) and 95.3 (W237CS) in Smethport. Hill, the station's lone local host, remains on staff for both stations.
Programming includes a local show hosted by Hill and Michael Baldwin, the Glenn Beck Program
Glenn Beck Program
The Glenn Beck Program is an American talk radio show hosted by commentator Glenn Beck on Premiere Radio Networks. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs...
, Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
, The Dave Ramsey Show
The Dave Ramsey Show
The Dave Ramsey Show refers to two programs:* The Dave Ramsey Show , a syndicated radio show on terrestrial and XM Satellite radio* The Dave Ramsey Show , a television program on the Fox Business Network...
, The Savage Nation
The Savage Nation
The Savage Nation is an American radio show hosted by conservative commentator Michael Savage on Talk Radio Network. His show is heard by 8-10 million listeners a week and syndicated across the U.S. in over 300 markets, making it the 3rd most listened to radio show in the country...
, Alex Jones
Alex Jones (radio)
Alexander Emerick "Alex" Jones is an American talk radio host, actor and filmmaker. His syndicated news/talk show The Alex Jones Show, based in Austin, Texas, airs via the Genesis Communication Network over 60 AM, FM, and shortwave radio stations across the United States and on the Internet...
, and The Phil Hendrie Show
The Phil Hendrie Show
The Phil Hendrie Show is a comedy talk radio program. The show is syndicated throughout North America on Talk Radio Network. It is known for outrageous guests, the majority of whom are fictional and voiced live by the host, Phil Hendrie...
.