Previous Format: 80s Hits “101.5 The Point”
New Format: CHR “Hot 101.5”
Date & Time Of Change: July 1, 2011 at 11:00am
More Info: RadioInsight, Wikipedia

At 5 PM on August 12, 2005, 860 WGUL in the Tampa Bay market flipped from its longtime “Music of Your Life” format to a temporary Presidential Speech format under new owners Salem Communication.

Aircheck and Summary courtesy of Lou Pickney.

Infinity Broadcasting’s Outlaw Country 92.5 (WYUU, licensed to Safety Harbor, FL) found itself as the third country station in a two country station market when Clear Channel’s Thunder 103.5 (WTBT) flipped to Country as U.S. 103.5 (WFUS) on April 14, 2005. With Infinity co-owned WQYK also playing country in the market, it became obvious to many observers that something had to give, particularly with country stations out of Polk County and Sarasota edging into the fringes of the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater market.

On August 7, 2005, WYUU flipped formats following its broadcast of the Indianapolis Brickyard 400 NASCAR race. After three commercials, this announcement told listeners that a new format had come to the signal: La Nueva 92.5, The Latin Sound of Tampa Bay.

Aircheck and Summary courtesy of Lou Pickney

Mired with a subpar signal and being one of two Oldies stations in the market did not allow WSUN to take off in the Tampa Bay area. While rumors of Cox flipping the station to All-80′s ran rampant, the station began stunting with music from 2001: A Space Oddysey. At 5:00pm on November 3, 2000, the Tampa Bay area got its first taste at an Alternative station in many years with the debut of 97X. The first song, Hemhorrage by Fuel was dedicated to Modern AC WSSR and Active Rocker WXTB, both of whom are owned by competitor Clear Channel Communications.