WTPT
Encyclopedia
WTPT is an Active Rock
station licensed to Forest City, North Carolina
and serves the Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina
regions, including Greenville
, Spartanburg
, and Asheville, North Carolina
. The Entercom outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast at 93.3 MHz with an ERP of 93 kW. The station goes by the name New Rock 93.3—The Planet.
The station broadcasts from Hogback Mountain in Spartanburg, South Carolina
with sister station WSPA-FM
. However, it is licensed to Forest City, North Carolina
.
("We Build Business Opportunities"), signed on September 10, 1947 in Forest City, North Carolina
. The station was owned by the Anderson family, which also owned the "Forest City Courier" newspaper and WPNF-AM in nearby Brevard, North Carolina
. Both stations simulcasted with each other on a full-time basis until the late 60s. WBBO-FM featured a variety of formats throughout the next decade, including country
and adult contemporary. In 1988, after building a tower on Tryon Peak near Columbus, North Carolina
to improve its signal range, WBBO switched to a satellite smooth jazz
format, distributed from St. Paul, Minnesota, and began calling itself "The Breeze".
On February 14, 1991 (Valentines Day), WBBO-FM flipped to CHR
as "Power 93". This move brought back the format to the nearby Greenville-Spartanburg market that the former WANS (now WJMZ) had before they abandoned it for adult contemporary. Initially, ratings were very good, but quickly fizzled out to 9th place, where it stayed throughout much of its existence. In August of next year, the Power 93 moniker was dropped for "93.3 WBBO" as the station became more Dance-oriented. Again, ratings had shown little improvement and was re-adjusted toward Mainstream CHR within a year.
In mid-1994, the station was re-branded as "Q-93" and adopted a more uptempo-ed CHR format sprinkled with plenty of alternative rock
. Ratings started to slowly tick upward, but the station was sold to Benchmark Communications (then-owners of WESC AM-FM) and the format was dropped altogether on January 1, 1995 for a younger-skewering country
format as "93-Q Country" under the WFNQ-FM call letters. The station began the format with 19,095 songs in a row commercial-free, the most ever on a commercial radio station up to that time. The idea was to use WFNQ-FM as a flanker against then-rival country outlet WSSL-FM
so that WESC-FM could be the #1 station in the market. This strategy failed miserablely as WFNQ-FM went to the bottom of the ratings within several months.
In September 1996, WFNQ-FM dropped Young Country for active rock
as "93.3 The Planet". The call letters of WTPT-FM were adopted by the end of the year. Due to ownership issues, after being inherited by Clear Channel Communications
in the late 1990s, Barnstable Broadcasting purchased the station in 1999, along with WROQ
. The company sold WTPT as well as WROQ
and (then) WGVC-FM to Entercom Communications
in 2005.
Weekends include specialty shows Planet X, Fire Xscape, Rock 30, HardDrive, and Upstate Unsigned.
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
station licensed to Forest City, North Carolina
Forest City, North Carolina
Forest City, formerly known as "Burnt Chimney," is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,549 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:Forest City is located at ....
and serves the Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains, thus it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It is sometimes included with upstate South Carolina as the "Western Carolinas", which is also counted as a single media market...
regions, including Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
, and Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. The Entercom 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 93.3 MHz with an ERP of 93 kW. The station goes by the name New Rock 93.3—The Planet.
The station broadcasts from Hogback Mountain in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
with sister station WSPA-FM
WSPA-FM
WSPA-FM is an Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Spartanburg, South Carolina and serves the Upstate region, including Greenville and Spartanburg. The Entercom Communications outlet is licensed to the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 98.9 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW...
. However, it is licensed to Forest City, North Carolina
Forest City, North Carolina
Forest City, formerly known as "Burnt Chimney," is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,549 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:Forest City is located at ....
.
History
93.3, then known as WBBO-FM and WBBO-AM 780WWOL
WWOL is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Forest City, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Holly Springs Baptist Broadcasting. WWOL began broadcasting on April 1st 1990, but the frequency was signed on as WBBO on September 10th 1947 by...
("We Build Business Opportunities"), signed on September 10, 1947 in Forest City, North Carolina
Forest City, North Carolina
Forest City, formerly known as "Burnt Chimney," is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,549 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:Forest City is located at ....
. The station was owned by the Anderson family, which also owned the "Forest City Courier" newspaper and WPNF-AM in nearby Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County....
. Both stations simulcasted with each other on a full-time basis until the late 60s. WBBO-FM featured a variety of formats throughout the next decade, including 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...
and adult contemporary. In 1988, after building a tower on Tryon Peak near Columbus, North Carolina
Columbus, North Carolina
Columbus is a town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Polk County.-Geography:Columbus is located at ....
to improve its signal range, WBBO switched to a satellite smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
format, distributed from St. Paul, Minnesota, and began calling itself "The Breeze".
On February 14, 1991 (Valentines Day), WBBO-FM flipped to 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...
as "Power 93". This move brought back the format to the nearby Greenville-Spartanburg market that the former WANS (now WJMZ) had before they abandoned it for adult contemporary. Initially, ratings were very good, but quickly fizzled out to 9th place, where it stayed throughout much of its existence. In August of next year, the Power 93 moniker was dropped for "93.3 WBBO" as the station became more Dance-oriented. Again, ratings had shown little improvement and was re-adjusted toward Mainstream CHR within a year.
In mid-1994, the station was re-branded as "Q-93" and adopted a more uptempo-ed CHR format sprinkled with plenty of alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
. Ratings started to slowly tick upward, but the station was sold to Benchmark Communications (then-owners of WESC AM-FM) and the format was dropped altogether on January 1, 1995 for a younger-skewering 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...
format as "93-Q Country" under the WFNQ-FM call letters. The station began the format with 19,095 songs in a row commercial-free, the most ever on a commercial radio station up to that time. The idea was to use WFNQ-FM as a flanker against then-rival country outlet WSSL-FM
WSSL-FM
WSSL-FM is a country music music radio station licensed to Gray Court, South Carolina and serves the Upstate region, including Greenville and Spartanburg. The Clear Channel Communications outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 100.5 MHz with an effective...
so that WESC-FM could be the #1 station in the market. This strategy failed miserablely as WFNQ-FM went to the bottom of the ratings within several months.
In September 1996, WFNQ-FM dropped Young Country for active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
as "93.3 The Planet". The call letters of WTPT-FM were adopted by the end of the year. Due to ownership issues, after being inherited 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...
in the late 1990s, Barnstable Broadcasting purchased the station in 1999, along with WROQ
WROQ
WROQ-FM is a Classic rock station licensed to Anderson, South Carolina and serves the Upstate South Carolina region, including Greenville and Spartanburg. The station has had a Classic Rock and Roll format since December 1, 1987. This makes it one of the oldest Classic Rock stations in the...
. The company sold WTPT as well as WROQ
WROQ
WROQ-FM is a Classic rock station licensed to Anderson, South Carolina and serves the Upstate South Carolina region, including Greenville and Spartanburg. The station has had a Classic Rock and Roll format since December 1, 1987. This makes it one of the oldest Classic Rock stations in the...
and (then) WGVC-FM to Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
in 2005.
On-air staff
- 5:00AM-10:00AM The Rise Guys
- 10:00AM-2:00PM Paige
- 2:00PM-7:00PM Twisted Todd
- 7:00PM-12:00AM Dex
Weekends include specialty shows Planet X, Fire Xscape, Rock 30, HardDrive, and Upstate Unsigned.
Former on-air staff
- Bill Catcher - Power 93 - currently at WMYB, Myrtle Beach, SC
- Toddzilla - Power 93 -
- Scott McKay - Power 93
- Christopher Goode - Power 93
- Dr. Brad Collins - Power 93
- "Big" Steve Kelly (Tom Moog - http://www.thomasmoog.com) - Power 93
- Vic Thomas - Power 93
- "Pistol" Pete - Power 93
- Dallas Kincaid - Morning Show and Program Director 93.3 WBBO
- Jim Larsin (Jim Koza) - Afternoon Drive, Music Director and Asst. PD 93.3 WBBO
- Mike Murphy - 93.3 WBBO
- Skip Church - The Rise Guys