 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Hampton Roads Northeastern North Carolina |
| Frequency | 93.7MHz |
| Branding | 93-7 Bob FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WNIS,WROX-FM,WTAR,WUSH | |
| History | |
First air date | November 30, 1973 (1973-11-30) |
Former call signs | WMYK (1973–1991) WKOC (1991–2003) WKCK (2003–2004) WPYA (2004–2009)[1] |
Call sign meaning | Turn Your Knob to Bob |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 73184 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 295 meters (968 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 36°32′55.0″N76°11′16.0″W / 36.548611°N 76.187778°W /36.548611; -76.187778 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 937bobfm.com |
WNOB (93.7FM) is anadult hits formattedbroadcastradio station licensed toChesapeake, Virginia, servingHampton Roads andNortheastern North Carolina. WNOB is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc.[3]
WNOB's studios are located on Waterside Drive in Norfolk, while its transmitter is located on Route 168 inMoyock, North Carolina, just south of theVirginia/North Carolina state line.
The station, originally licensed toElizabeth City, North Carolina, started in 1973 asAOR/Top 40 hybrid stationWMYKThe New K94, and would later shift to aNew Wave/"Rock of the 80s" format in 1982.[4][5]
In 1984, WMYK becameThe Rhythm of the City, K94 with aCHR/urban contemporary format (also known as "CHUrban", which would become the basis for what is now therhythmic contemporary format).[6] From 1988 to 1990 WMYK was known as"Power 94", later it became"WMYK-94FM".[7]
At 3 p.m. on June 21, 1991, after stunting with a loop of "My Prerogative" byBobby Brown, "Joy" by Satellite Orchestra, "God Bless The U.S.A." byLee Greenwood, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" byThe Rolling Stones, and "Every Little Step" byBobby Brown, 93.7 switched to anAdult Album Alternative format branded as "93.7 The Coast" with call lettersWKOC.[8][9] (At the same time as the format switch, the WMYK calls and urban format moved to92.1 FM.) WKOC simulcasted on 94.1WKOD from 1991-1992[10] and 106.1WEXM from 2001-2004.[11] WKOC addedHoward Stern in October 1995.[12][13]
In May 1996, Sinclair Communications purchased the station, as well asWTAR, for $8 million. At the time, Bob Sinclair was feuding with Tidewater Communications (owners of WNOR/WAFX) due to the fact that WNOR attempted to block Sinclair from installing a second transmitter on WROX. Perry Stone, program director of both WROX and WKOC, issued an on-air ultimatum that WNOR must pay Sinclair $1 million by the following Wednesday, or they would change the WKOC's format to rival WNOR. On the other hand, if WNOR paid, Sinclair would convert WKOC to Country music. WNOR did not acknowledge this and thus on May 29, 1996, WKOC would briefly become "K94" again with a hard rock format, but would switch back to "The Coast" and adult album alternative music on September 19, 1996.[14][15][16][17]
On December 3, 2003, just after 4 p.m., after playing "Otherside" by theRed Hot Chili Peppers, WKOC announced it would fill the hole left behind byWCMS's flip to rock the previous month by flipping to "93.7 Kick FM", and beganstunting with a loop of "Gone Country" byAlan Jackson. Two days later, the station officially completed its flip to country.[18][19][20][21] On December 11, 2003, WKOC changed call letters toWKCK-FM to match the "Kick" branding.
On March 7, 2004, simulcast partnerWEXM broke from the simulcast and switched toAdult Hits as "106.1Bob FM".[22][23] (WEXM changed call letters to WPYA a week earlier on February 27.)
At Midnight on September 23, 2004, WKCK and WPYA swapped formats, with 93.7 adopting the "Bob FM" format and 106.1 became "Kick 106".[24] On September 17, 2009, WPYA changed call letters to the currentWNOB.