WFRO-FM
Encyclopedia
WFRO-FM is a commercial FM radio station, licensed to the Sandusky county
seat of Fremont, Ohio
. The station operates at the federally-assigned frequency of 99.1 megahertz, and is owned by BAS Broadcasting.
For many years, WFRO-AM broadcast a full-service MOR format heavy on local news and information; WFRO-FM played beautiful music
during non-simulcast dayparts. AM 900's directional signal allowed WFRO programming to be heard clearly throughout much of southeastern Michigan
(including the metropolitan Detroit area) and southwestern Ontario
in addition to Ohio's North Coast region. By the 1990s, WFRO-AM and FM were simulcasting each other for most of the broadcast day, and WFRO's music format had evolved into a more contemporary mix of AC and adult-appeal CHR
hits, but the full-service emphasis remained.
The station was founded by Wolfe Broadcasting Company, which controlled the station until 2001, when both stations were sold separately to two different owners.
BAS Broadcasting purchased WFRO-FM, while ABC/Disney purchased the license to WFRO-AM 900, but not to run it as a separate entity. ABC purchased the license as part of an initiative to move recently purchased AM 910 WFDF in Flint, Michigan to Farmington Hills (in the Detroit market). The move was made to allow AM 910 to broadcast at an increased daytime power of 50,000 watts, up substantially from 5,000 watts. WFRO-FM changed to the satellite adult contemporary format it currently airs, and WFRO-AM 900, after a brief period of silence, returned to the air using ABC's "Real Country" format and then ESPN Radio
while preparations for WFDF's move into the Detroit area were made. WFRO-AM was officially silenced forever in June 2004 when ABC surrendered the license to the FCC.
region, but without many of the live and local DJs that had proliferated on the station for many years. BAS Broadcasting signed an agreement with ABC Radio/SMN
's "Hits and Favorites" AC format (formerly known as Starstation), and rebranded the station as "Eagle 99", though the heritage WFRO call letters were retained.
In September 2006, WFRO and classic-rock sister station 92.1 WOHF
"The Wolf" (the former WNRR "Hits 92.1"; the station has since switched to an oldies format) moved into a new 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) broadcast facility in Fremont. WFRO also now operates from a new 400 feet (121.9 m) tower that is double the original tower's height, allowing the station to be heard clearly across Lake Erie in Monroe County, Michigan
and in Essex County, Ontario
while continuing to provide a strong signal to serve Fremont and the surrounding cities of Tiffin
, Port Clinton
, Norwalk
, Sandusky
, Clyde
and Bellevue
. In March 2009, WFRO-FM switched affiliations from ABC's (now Citadel Media) "Hits and Favorites" format over to Waitt Radio Networks
' AC Pure
service, but has kept ABC News Radio
newscasts for both morning and afternoon drive.
BAS Broadcasting, owned by Jim Lorenzen and Tom Klein, also owns WMVO-AM and WQIO
-FM in Mount Vernon, Ohio
, as well as WCPZ
, WMJK
, WLEC
, and WOHF
in Sandusky. The Mount Vernon and Sandusky stations were all purchased from Clear Channel Communications
.
Sandusky County, Ohio
Sandusky County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,944. Its county seat is Fremont and it is named for a native word meaning "water" ....
seat of Fremont, Ohio
Fremont, Ohio
Fremont Public Schools enroll 4,450 students in public primary and secondary schools. The district administers 9 public schools including seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, Fremont Ross. In addition, the city is home to one private catholic high school, Saint Joseph...
. The station operates at the federally-assigned frequency of 99.1 megahertz, and is owned by BAS Broadcasting.
History
WFRO had for much of its existence, been a combination AM and FM station, with the FM first going on the air in 1946, and the AM (at 900 kHz) coming on the air three years later. Both stations simulcast each other for a portion of the broadcast day, breaking away for separate programming during the midday hours, with the AM concentrating more on information and talk, and the FM for music.For many years, WFRO-AM broadcast a full-service MOR format heavy on local news and information; WFRO-FM played beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
during non-simulcast dayparts. AM 900's directional signal allowed WFRO programming to be heard clearly throughout much of southeastern Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(including the metropolitan Detroit area) and southwestern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in addition to Ohio's North Coast region. By the 1990s, WFRO-AM and FM were simulcasting each other for most of the broadcast day, and WFRO's music format had evolved into a more contemporary mix of AC and adult-appeal 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...
hits, but the full-service emphasis remained.
The station was founded by Wolfe Broadcasting Company, which controlled the station until 2001, when both stations were sold separately to two different owners.
BAS Broadcasting purchased WFRO-FM, while ABC/Disney purchased the license to WFRO-AM 900, but not to run it as a separate entity. ABC purchased the license as part of an initiative to move recently purchased AM 910 WFDF in Flint, Michigan to Farmington Hills (in the Detroit market). The move was made to allow AM 910 to broadcast at an increased daytime power of 50,000 watts, up substantially from 5,000 watts. WFRO-FM changed to the satellite adult contemporary format it currently airs, and WFRO-AM 900, after a brief period of silence, returned to the air using ABC's "Real Country" format and then 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...
while preparations for WFDF's move into the Detroit area were made. WFRO-AM was officially silenced forever in June 2004 when ABC surrendered the license to the FCC.
WFRO Today
WFRO-FM continues as a full-service station serving the Sandusky/Port Clinton/Lake Erie IslandsLake Erie Islands
The Lake Erie Islands are a chain of archipelagic islands in Lake Erie. They include Kelleys Island, Pelee Island, the Bass Islands, and several others. The majority of these islands are under the sovereignty of Ohio in the United States. Pelee Island is the only major island administered by...
region, but without many of the live and local DJs that had proliferated on the station for many years. BAS Broadcasting signed an agreement with ABC Radio/SMN
Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered network to provide complete live 24-hour a day music programming to local stations, under several different formats...
's "Hits and Favorites" AC format (formerly known as Starstation), and rebranded the station as "Eagle 99", though the heritage WFRO call letters were retained.
In September 2006, WFRO and classic-rock sister station 92.1 WOHF
WOHF
WOHF is an American radio station licensed to Bellevue, Ohio, serving the Sandusky area, featuring an oldies music format.The station is an affiliate of ABC Radio's Classic Hits network...
"The Wolf" (the former WNRR "Hits 92.1"; the station has since switched to an oldies format) moved into a new 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) broadcast facility in Fremont. WFRO also now operates from a new 400 feet (121.9 m) tower that is double the original tower's height, allowing the station to be heard clearly across Lake Erie in Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
and in Essex County, Ontario
Essex County, Ontario
Essex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
while continuing to provide a strong signal to serve Fremont and the surrounding cities of Tiffin
Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin is a city in and the county seat of Seneca County, Ohio, United States. The population was 18,135 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Tiffin as a Tree City USA....
, Port Clinton
Port Clinton, Ohio
Port Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,056 at the 2010 census. The city has been nicknamed the "Walleye Capital of the World."...
, Norwalk
Norwalk, Ohio
At the 2000 census, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,950.3 per square mile . There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile...
, Sandusky
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
, Clyde
Clyde, Ohio
Clyde is a city in Sandusky County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,064 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Clyde as a Tree City USA....
and Bellevue
Bellevue, Ohio
Bellevue is a city in Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 8,193 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Bellevue as a Tree City USA....
. In March 2009, WFRO-FM switched affiliations from ABC's (now Citadel Media) "Hits and Favorites" format over to Waitt Radio Networks
Waitt Radio Networks
Dial Global Local is a national radio network based in Omaha, Nebraska, formerly owned by NRG Media and purchased in April 2008 by Triton Radio Networks...
' AC Pure
AC Pure
AC Pure is a 24-hour music format produced by Waitt Radio Networks. Its playlist is composed of adult contemporary music released from the 1970s to this day from artists such as Phil Collins, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart Gloria Estefan, Michael Bolton, etc. that mainly targets listeners ages 25-54...
service, but has kept ABC News Radio
ABC News Radio
ABC News Radio is the radio service of ABC News, a division of the ABC Television Network. Formerly known as ABC Radio News, ABC News Radio feeds, through Cumulus Media Networks, newscasts on the hour to its more than 2,000 affiliates...
newscasts for both morning and afternoon drive.
BAS Broadcasting, owned by Jim Lorenzen and Tom Klein, also owns WMVO-AM and WQIO
WQIO
WQIO is an FM radio station in Mount Vernon, Ohio located at 93.7 MHz. The station plays Adult Contemporary music as "Eagle 93-7". Currently, this is Dial Global's Radio Network's "AC Pure" format....
-FM in Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
, as well as WCPZ
WCPZ
WCPZ is a radio station in Sandusky, Ohio.The station began as WLEC-FM in 1968 and was the FM sister to AM station WLEC. It became WCPZ on May 19, 1980, dubbed "Leisure 103" with a soft adult contemporary format...
, WMJK
WMJK
WMJK is a commercial FM radio station, licensed to Clyde, Ohio, serving the Sandusky, Port Clinton, and Lake Erie Islands areas. The station broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts at 100.9 FM and is licensed to Clyde, Ohio; about 15 miles west-southwest of Sandusky. The...
, WLEC
WLEC
WLEC is an AM radio station in Sandusky, Ohio, USA broadcasting at 1450 kHz. It is owned by BAS Broadcasting. WLEC carries an Adult Contemporary/Adult Standards format, using Dial Global Local's satellite-delivered format known as The Lounge...
, and WOHF
WOHF
WOHF is an American radio station licensed to Bellevue, Ohio, serving the Sandusky area, featuring an oldies music format.The station is an affiliate of ABC Radio's Classic Hits network...
in Sandusky. The Mount Vernon and Sandusky stations were all purchased from 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...
.