WPOC
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2020) |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Baltimore metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 93.1 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 93.1 WPOC |
| Programming | |
| Languages | English |
| Format | Country music |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | February 4, 1960 |
Call sign meaning | "Pride of the Chesaspeake" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 47747 |
| Class | B |
| ERP |
|
| HAAT | 264 meters (866 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wpoc.iheart.com |
WPOC (93.1 FM) is a commercial radio station in Baltimore, Maryland. It airs a country music radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are at The Rotunda Shopping Center, on West 40th Street, in Baltimore.
The transmitter, with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 16,000 watts, is off North Rolling Road in Catonsville, Maryland.[2] It has a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 264 meters (886 feet), providing WPOC with a wide coverage area from Washington, D.C. to the Maryland-Pennsylvania state line, and from Annapolis to Frederick. It broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 digital subchannel formerly carried "24/7 Comedy Legends", a comedy format.
History
[edit]On February 4, 1960, the station signed on as WFMM-FM.[3] It was owned by the Commercial Radio Institute (which eventually evolved into Sinclair Broadcast Group) with studios at 44 West Biddle Street.[3] It was a rare stand-alone FM station, not associated with an AM station or a newspaper.
In 1974, the station was acquired by Nationwide Communications, a division of Nationwide Insurance.[4] Nationwide decided to put a country music format on 93.1 on September 2 of that year. The call sign was switched from WFMM-FM to WPOC, standing for "Pride of the Chesaspeake", because the station covers much of Chesapeake Bay. The station affiliated with the ABC Directions Network for national news.
In 1999, the station was acquired by Clear Channel Communications, which maintained the country music format.[5] Clear Channel later became iHeartMedia, the current owner.
Airstaff and honors
[edit]WPOC-FM is home one of the longest tenured air staff in iHeartMedia. WPOC is one of the format’s most consistently successful stations according to Country Aircheck. The station has seen "49 total No. 1 books and an unparalleled 104 years’ worth of combined tenure among its current airstaff." [6]
The station's on-air line up as of January 2025 consists of Michael J. (since 2000) and Bethany Linderman (since 2023) in morning drive, Bob Delmont (since 1999) handles middays and St. Pierre (since 2008) handles afternoon drive time.
Premiere Networks' syndicated The Bobby Bones Show is carried in the evening and Granger Smith's syndicated show is heard overnight.
Weekends consist of local voice tracking and syndicated programing, such as "Country House Party" and "Women of iHeart Country" as well as local specialty programing such as "Maryland Today," a public affairs show, and "Sunday Brunch with Laurie."
From 1988-2024, the station was home "The Laurie DeYoung Morning Show." Host Laurie DeYoung (since 1985) was the first female to lead a major market Country morning show. For the majority of the show's run she was joined by four other co-hosts who also handled traffic, news and weather. DeYoung is two-time CMA Personality of the Year (1994 and 2014) and was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2010. She was the longest-running Country morning show talent in a major market when the show concluded in December 2024.[7] She now hosts 11 a.m. - Noon Sundays.
Past personalities
[edit]- Marty Bass
- Mark Williams
- Bill "Aaron" Rehkof (Later at KDKA Pittsburgh)
- Bill Vanko (Later at WBAL)
- Mary Street-early news director
- Pat Nason
- Mike Fast
- Lee Dennis
- Gail Svenson
- Ted Patterson
- Fran Severn
- Jen Phoenix
- Jerry Houston
- Justin Cole
- Diane Lyn (Later at WLIF Today's 101.9 Baltimore)
- Trish Hennessey
- Libby Cole
- Jeff Michaels
- Carol Mason
- Tom Conroy
- Bob Raleigh (formerly WPGC)
- Todd Grimsted
- Scott Lawrence
- Danny Reese
- Brenda Bissett
- Greg Cole
- Jim Conway
- Ken Boesen-pd
- Scott Lindy-pd
- Doug Wilson-pd
- Bob Moody-pd
- Larry Clark-pd
- Tony Girard
- Mark Joseph
- Bob Mathers
References
[edit]- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WPOC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WPOC
- ^ a b "The Facilities of AM/FM Radio | U. S. stations directory, including am/fm profiles | MARYLAND | Baltimore" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 30, no. 1961–62 Yearbook Issue. September 1962. p. B-78 [PDF p. 266]. Retrieved March 31, 2024 – via worldradiohistory.com.
WFMM-FM (Feb. 4, 1960)… 44 W. Biddle St. … Julian Sinclair Smith, pres & gen mgr
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1975 page C-85
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 page D-205
- ^ Aircheck, Country (August 24, 2024). "Pride Of The Chesapeake x 50" (PDF). Country Aircheck. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Media, Barrett (December 12, 2024). "Laurie DeYoung To Exit WPOC Baltimore Mornings After 39 Years". Barrett Media. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
External links
[edit]- WPOC Official Website
- Facility details for Facility ID 47747 (WPOC) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WPOC in Nielsen Audio's FM station database