 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Columbia metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 97.5MHz |
| Branding | 97-5 WCOS |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | March1951 |
Former frequencies | 97.9 MHz (1951–1991) |
Call sign meaning | "Columbia's Own Station" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 71290 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 299 meters (981 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (viaiHeartRadio) |
| Website | 975wcos |
WCOS-FM (97.5MHz) is acommercial radio station inColumbia, South Carolina. It airs acountry music radio format and is owned byiHeartMedia, Inc. The station goes by the name97-5 WCOS and its current slogan is "#1 For New Country". Its studios and offices are on Graystone Boulevard in Columbia nearInterstate 126.
WCOS-FM has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for all non-grandfathered stations.[2] Thetransmitter is north of the city, in the Arlington Heights neighborhood, off Heyward Brockingham Road.[3] WCOS-FM broadcasts in theHD Radio hybrid format. It formerly carried a 1990s country hits format on itsdigital subchannel WCOS-FM-HD2. WCOS-FM is a primary entry point station for theEmergency Alert System.
WCOS-FM plays a variety of country songs, mostly from the 2000s, but occasionally going back to the 1980s, with current and recent hits in heavy rotation. Weekdays begin with "The Morning Rush" featuring Jonathan Rush and Kelly Nash. Overnights, WCOS-FM carries thenationally syndicated "CMT After Midnite." WCOS-FM is South Carolina's primary entry point station for theEmergency Alert System.
WCOS-FMsigned on in March 1951 as thesister station ofWCOS (1400 AM). It was Columbia's second FM station and originally broadcast on 97.9 MHz. Prior to 1963, it was on the air only during the evening hours. The separate programming featuredBroadway showtunes, opera andclassical music, along with news from theABC Radio Network.
In the fall of 1963, the station began broadcasting inFM stereo and the hours were extended to the daytime. The morning show was asimulcast of 1400 WCOS, which was hosted by Bob Fulton, the long-time announcer forUniversity of South CarolinaGamecocks football. After 9 am, the format waseasy listening andbeautiful music. The music was broadcast in mono until 6 pm, converting to stereo for the evening hours. In the late 1960s, WCOS-FM converted to aprogressive rock format. Prior to the change, the station promoted the new format by announcing frequently that WCOS-FM was "going underground." By 1973, the station changed to country, adopting its longtime slogan "The Great 98." The country format has remained since.
In 1991, the station upgraded its signal by changing the frequency from 97.9 MHz to 97.5 MHz and increasing its power to 100,000 watts. That made it one of the strongest FM signals in the Columbia radio market.
In 1997, WCOS-AM-FM were acquired by Capstar, Inc.[4] Then in 2000, Capstar, including WCOS-AM-FM, were acquired bySan Antonio-basedClear Channel Communications.[5] Clear Channel changed its name to iHeartMedia in 2014.
WCOS-FM is co-owned withsports radio station WCOS (AM),CHR/Top 40 stationWNOK,variety hits stationWLTY,urban contemporary stationWXBT,Black Information Network station 105.5 W288CX, andtalk radio stationWVOC in the Columbiaradio market.
34°08′24″N81°03′22″W / 34.140°N 81.056°W /34.140; -81.056