WFTL
Encyclopedia
WFTL is a radio station
with studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
, and licensed to West Palm Beach, Florida
.WFTL serves Fort Lauderdale, Miami and The Palm Beaches. The station broadcasts a mix of news and mostly syndicated talk programming. Its signal is broadcast at 50,000 watts, covering all of South Florida from the Keys to Jupiter. It is currently operated by the James Crystal Radio Group. The station is the South Florida home to Florida State Seminoles football
broadcasts.
and was paired with WEAT-FM (Easy 104.3). In October, 1986 sportscaster Curt Gowdy
sold the station to J.J. Taylor Companies Inc. of North Dartmouth, Mass., for an undisclosed price. In October, 1995, it was sold with WEAT-FM to OmniAmerica Group of Cleveland for an estimated $18 million.
In May, 1996, WTFL was sold with seven other stations for $178 million to Chancellor Broadcasting Co., and WTFL was sold again in June of that year, along with WEAT-FM 104.3 and WOLL-FM
94.3 to American Radio Systems of Boston.
In April, 1998, the station was sold to James Hilliard's James Crystal Enterprises for $1.5 million and changed its call letters to WDJA
. (Dow Jones Averages) to which respectively, the station became a moneytalk station.
affiliate, airing everything from NBC Theater to Eddie Cantor
.
prior to October 1, 1982 – format was country music
.
October 1, 1982 – became news
/talk radio
April 16, 1984 – became adult contemporary WCGY, 60's and 70's music with 25% current music.
prior to April 1985 – station was once again known as WEAT
and simulcasting WEAT-FM's Easy 104 format.
March 1992 – WEAT-FM switches to adult contemporary. According to the Sun-Sentinel
, on the AM side, WEAT (AM 850) has adopted a more conservative easy listening
format to keep the station's 45-and-older listeners. The studios have been re-equipped for digital sound, with all the music on compact disc and all the commercials run from a computer hard drive.
July 1994 – switches to all-news format
November 2000 – Jack Cole
, formerly of WJNO
, begins a daily hour long show.
October 2001 – Jack Cole leaves the air becauise of a brain tumor. He died three months later.
October 2003 – becomes "Live 85" with call letters WFTL, swapping with a Ft. Lauderdale station at 1400. Live 85 was an all-news format.
August 2005 – becomes NewsTalk 8-5-oh WFTL after a failed all news format. New slogan adopted as "Bigger, Better, Smarter"
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...
with studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, and licensed to West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
.WFTL serves Fort Lauderdale, Miami and The Palm Beaches. The station broadcasts a mix of news and mostly syndicated talk programming. Its signal is broadcast at 50,000 watts, covering all of South Florida from the Keys to Jupiter. It is currently operated by the James Crystal Radio Group. The station is the South Florida home to Florida State Seminoles football
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
broadcasts.
Ownership
For many years prior to October 1, 1982, the station was owned by billionaire John D. MacArthurJohn D. MacArthur
John Donald MacArthur was an American businessman and philanthropist who established the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, benefactor in the MacArthur Fellowships.-Early life:...
and was paired with WEAT-FM (Easy 104.3). In October, 1986 sportscaster Curt Gowdy
Curt Gowdy
Curtis Edward "Curt" Gowdy was an American sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally-televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:The son of a manager for the Union Pacific railroad,...
sold the station to J.J. Taylor Companies Inc. of North Dartmouth, Mass., for an undisclosed price. In October, 1995, it was sold with WEAT-FM to OmniAmerica Group of Cleveland for an estimated $18 million.
In May, 1996, WTFL was sold with seven other stations for $178 million to Chancellor Broadcasting Co., and WTFL was sold again in June of that year, along with WEAT-FM 104.3 and WOLL-FM
WOLL-FM
WOLL is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed in Hobe Sound, Florida, it serves all of the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches.-History:1988 - Signed on as Oldies 94.3 playing the oldies format...
94.3 to American Radio Systems of Boston.
In April, 1998, the station was sold to James Hilliard's James Crystal Enterprises for $1.5 million and changed its call letters to WDJA
WDJA
WDJA is a radio station broadcasting a News/talk format. Licensed to Delray Beach, Florida, USA. The station is currently owned by Professional Broadcasting, LLC.-History:...
. (Dow Jones Averages) to which respectively, the station became a moneytalk station.
Timeline
1948 – originally an NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate, airing everything from NBC Theater to Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
.
prior to October 1, 1982 – format was 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...
.
October 1, 1982 – became news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
/talk radio
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...
April 16, 1984 – became adult contemporary WCGY, 60's and 70's music with 25% current music.
prior to April 1985 – station was once again known as WEAT
WEAT
WEAT-FM, on-air known as Sunny 104.3, is a radio station licensed to the West Palm Beach, Florida market. It is owned by CBS Radio, and broadcasts at 104.3 FM....
and simulcasting WEAT-FM's Easy 104 format.
March 1992 – WEAT-FM switches to adult contemporary. According to the Sun-Sentinel
Sun-Sentinel
The Sun Sentinel, owned by the Tribune Company, is the main daily newspaper of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S., and all of Broward County, but circulates throughout all of South Florida.-Overview:...
, on the AM side, WEAT (AM 850) has adopted a more conservative easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
format to keep the station's 45-and-older listeners. The studios have been re-equipped for digital sound, with all the music on compact disc and all the commercials run from a computer hard drive.
July 1994 – switches to all-news format
November 2000 – Jack Cole
Jack Cole
Jack Cole may refer to:*Jack Cole *Jack Cole *Jack Cole *Jack Isadore Cole , founder of the Coles chain and Coles notes...
, formerly of WJNO
WJNO
WJNO is a News/Talk radio station in the West Palm Beach market.Its location links WJNO to two nationally syndicated radio programs. WJNO is a de facto flagship station for The Rush Limbaugh Show; Limbaugh hosts the show from his home studio, located in the area...
, begins a daily hour long show.
October 2001 – Jack Cole leaves the air becauise of a brain tumor. He died three months later.
October 2003 – becomes "Live 85" with call letters WFTL, swapping with a Ft. Lauderdale station at 1400. Live 85 was an all-news format.
August 2005 – becomes NewsTalk 8-5-oh WFTL after a failed all news format. New slogan adopted as "Bigger, Better, Smarter"