WGFT

WGFT
City Campbell, Ohio
Broadcast area Youngstown-Warren
Branding Star 94.7
Frequency 1330 kHz
Repeater(s) 94.7 W234CH (Girard)
First air date 1963 (as WHOT)
Format Urban adult contemporary
Power 500 watts (day)
Class D
Facility ID 74164
Transmitter coordinates 41°5′21.00″N 80°36′55.00″W / 41.0891667°N 80.6152778°W / 41.0891667; -80.6152778
Callsign meaning The G i F T (former nickname)
Former callsigns WHOT (1963-1990)
WYWR (1990-1992)
WZKC (1992-1993)
WASN (1993-2003)
Owner

Helen Bednarczyk

(sale pending to LHTC Media,Inc)
(Y-Town Radio Broadcasting, LLC)
Sister stations WASN W232AI
Webcast Listen Live
Website 947-star.com

WGFT (1330 AM) is a radio station licensed to Campbell, Ohio, USA. The station serves the Youngstown-Warren area with a Urban adult contemporary format. The station is owned by Helen Bednarczyk, through licensee Y-Town Radio Broadcasting, LLC.[1]

History

Prior to 1990, the frequency was the second home to WHOT, one of the longest-running Top 40 stations in the country. WHOT relocated to this frequency from the 1570 frequency, enabling it to operate as a full-time station for the first time. After moving both to the FM dial in 1984, and to the 1390 kHz facility on April 23, 1990, the license was re-activated as a separate station, WYWR, that October 8. By July 6, 1992, the station changed its call sign to WZKC, then to WASN on November 15, 1993, and swapped callsigns with WGFT on December 1, 2003.[2]

The station switched from a gospel music format to a talk/personality format in December 2007. The WGFT calls refer to the station's former gospel music format ("The Gift"), which now resides on sister station WASN AM 1500. It was a full-time station until around 2000, when its night power was voluntarily relinquished. However, their web streaming now operates on a 24-hour basis, along with sister station (and fellow daytimer) WGFT.

In addition to Don Imus, Laura Ingraham, Dave Ramsey, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin, the station featured a local daily talk radio show hosted by Louie Free.[3] Free's show originated on sister station WASN until January 1, 2010, when WASN changed from a Hispanic and gospel music format to carry urban-oriented news/talk programming; Free moved to WYCL and WHTX the following year.

WGFT changed its format to classic hits early in 2012.

In February 2013, WGFT and sister station WASN were taken off the air due to on-going technical reasons with a plan to return to the air by February 2014.

In June 2013, an application was filed with the Federal Communications Commission for WGFT to be rebroadcast on 94.3 FM owned by Helen M. Bednarczyk, wife of WGFT and WASN general manager Ted "Skip" Bednarczyk.

In February 2014, WGFT and WASN were sold by Bernard Radio LLC to Y-Town Radio Broadcasting, LLC, which operates W232AI 93.7. The sale, at a price of $16,501, was consummated on August 1, 2014.

On May 11, 2014, at 10 am, after broadcadting only the sound of a ticking clock for three days, WGFT launched an urban adult contemporary format being simulcast on Niles FM W232AI 93.7, as Star 93.7, launching with 5,000 songs in a row commercial-free. The first song on Star was Black or White by Michael Jackson. The station airs The Steve Harvey Morning Show from 6 am to 10 am, and the "The Keith Sweat Hotel" from 7 pm to midnight.

On February 1, 2016, Y-town radio announced that WGFT, WASN, and W234CH will be sold to Laurel Highland Total Communications for $325,000. LHTC Media plans to relocate the translator to the Pittsburgh metro area where it will simulcast adult standards WCNS (1480).

Previous logos

References

  1. ↑ "WGFT Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ↑ "WGFT Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ↑ http://free.vindy.com
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