Wikipedia

WPPY

WPPY (92.7 FM, "Happy 92.7") is a commercial radio station licensed to Starview, Pennsylvania (a neighborhood of Mount Wolf), and serving the York and Harrisburg radio markets.[2] It airs an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by Forever Media.[3]

WPPY
  • Starview, Pennsylvania
  • United States
Broadcast areaYork–Harrisburg
Frequency92.7 MHz
BrandingHappy 92.7
Programming
FormatAdult contemporary
AffiliationsWestwood One
Ownership
Owner
  • Forever Media
  • (FM Radio Licenses, LLC)
History
First air date
November 22, 1971; 53 years ago (1971-11-22)
Former call signs
  • WRHY (1971–1983)
  • WHTF (1983–1996)
  • WEGK (1996–2001)
  • WHBO (2001–2004)
  • WSJW (2004–2011)
  • WKZF (2011–2014)
  • WLPA-FM (2014–2015)
  • WONN-FM (2015–2021)
  • WNUU (2021–2022)
Call sign meaning
"Happy"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID62368
ClassA
ERP700 watts
HAAT291 meters (955 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°4′32.3″N 76°48′1.9″W / 40.075639°N 76.800528°W / 40.075639; -76.800528 (WPPY)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.foreveryork.com/happy-92-7/

WPPY's studios and offices are located at 275 Radio Road in Hanover, Pennsylvania.[4] Its broadcast tower is located near Copenhaffer Road in Conewago Township, York County at (40°4′32.3″N 76°48′1.9″W / 40.075639°N 76.800528°W / 40.075639; -76.800528).[5]

History

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On June 23, 1971, the Federal Communications Commission granted Capital Media, Inc., a construction permit for a new station on 92.7 MHz.[6] While it was still being built, the station was assigned the WRHY call sign on September 7, 1971. It signed on for the first time on November 22, 1971.[7][8] WRHY was granted its first license by the FCC on January 20, 1972.[6]

By 1974, the station was airing a progressive rock format.[9] On May 13, 1976, the FCC granted a voluntary assignment of the station's license from Capital Media, Inc., to Harrea Broadcasters, Inc.[6]

By 1980, the station's format had shifted to AOR.[10] In 1982, the format changed to "contemporary".[11]

The station's license was voluntarily transferred from Harrea Broadcasters, Inc., to Starview Media, Inc., on July 27, 1983.[12] On August 12, 1983, the station switched call signs to WHTF.[13] Its format changed to contemporary hit radio/top 40 branded as 92 Rock. The format evolved toward classic rock over the next two years, and by the summer of 1985, the station's branding changed to Starview 92, then Starview 92.7.

On February 12, 1993, the station switched to an active rock format and re-branded as Solid Rock 92.7. On November 13, 1995, Hall Communications, Inc., announced the purchase of station. The sale consummated on January 16, 1996.[14]

On February 23, 1996, the station returned to the classic rock format, changing the call sign to WEGK and re-branding as 92.7 The Eagle.[15]

On June 6, 2001, the station switched its call sign to WHBO and its format to oldies as "Big Oldies" 92.7, followed by another call sign change on March 1, 2004, to WSJW and a format change to smooth jazz.[15]

On July 29, 2011, the station abruptly dropped its Smooth Jazz format and began stunting, mainly with cover versions of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". The following message was displayed on the station's website:

The decision to end Smooth Jazz 92.7 was not an easy one to make. Many factors contributed to the change, including the fact that listenership never reached predicted levels and revenues coming in were not enough to support the station and keep it on the air. We thank you for being a loyal listener and for your support of the station. A new format will begin shortly.[16]

On August 1, 2011, the station changed its call sign to WKZF, returning to classic rock, and re-branding as 92.7 WKZF, with the first song being "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin.[15] Rick Everett, former Hall Communications operations manager of Cat Country 98.1 WCTK in Providence, Rhode Island, was hired as a consultant for the transition. The syndicated The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show aired weekday mornings.[17]

 
"ESPN92.5-92.7" logo

On September 1, 2014, WKZF changed its call sign to WLPA-FM, in anticipation of its format change to sports radio from ESPN Radio, which took place at midnight on September 3, 2014.[13][18]

On December 2, 2015, the WLPA-FM call sign was changed to WONN-FM.[13]

On July 23, 2021, it was announced that Forever Media would purchase WONN-FM along with WLPA and its translator for a total of $400,000. This signals Hall Communications' withdrawal from the market, as the sale of 101.3 WROZ to religious broadcaster Educational Media Foundation was announced earlier that month.[19]

The sale was consummated on October 15, 2021. WONN-FM simultaneously switched to a Top 40 (CHR) format.[3][20] The station’s call sign changed to WNUU on November 1, 2021.

On November 1, 2022, WNUU dropped its top 40 (CHR) format and began stunting with Christmas music, branded as "Santa 92.7", with a new format to launch in January.[21]

The station applied to change its callsign to WPPY, effective January 1, 2023.[22] On that date, WPPY launched an adult contemporary format branded as "Happy 92.7".[23] The station again began playing Christmas music under the "Santa 92.7" name on November 1, 2023 and again on November 1, 2024.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WPPY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "60 dBu Service Contour for WPPY, Starview, PA, 92.7 MHz BLH-20040322AFY". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Fybush, Scott (October 18, 2021). "NorthEast Radio Watch 10/18/2021: New Owners in New England". fybush.com. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "Contact Us". foreveryork.com. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "FM Query Results for WPPY". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "History Cards for WPPY". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-386. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  8. ^ "Stations by State NE to USVI" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. p. B-322. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  9. ^ "Radio Stations NE to Territories" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. p. B-184. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  10. ^ "C2 Radio by State N-Terr" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. p. C-199. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "Stations by State NE to USVI" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. p. C-207. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  12. ^ "Application Search Details [WPPY]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Call Sign History, WPPY". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  14. ^ "Application Search Details [WPPY]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c "At 92.7, everything old is new again". LancasterOnline.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  16. ^ Venta, Lance. "Smooth Jazz 92.7 Harrisburg, PA Now Classic Rock WKZF". RadioInsight.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  17. ^ "The Classic Rock Station (WKZF Homepage)". Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  18. ^ Venta, Lance. "ESPN Returns to FM in Central PA". RadioInsight.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  19. ^ "Forever Media Acquires Rest Of Hall's Central Pennsylvania Stations". RadioInsight. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "Forever Media Launches Nu 92.7 York". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  21. ^ Santa Arrives in York Radioinsight - November 1, 2022
  22. ^ Deppen, Lynn A (December 21, 2022). "Form 380 - Change Request". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  23. ^ Venta, Lance (January 1, 2023). "Forever Gets Happy In York". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  24. ^ Venta, Lance (November 1, 2023). "Over A Dozen Stations Make Early Christmas Music Move". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
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