| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Memphis metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 560kHz |
| Branding | Sports 56 WHBQ |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Flinn Broadcasting Corporation |
| History | |
First air date | March 25, 1925; 100 years ago (1925-03-25) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 21727 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 35°15′12″N90°2′51″W / 35.25333°N 90.04750°W /35.25333; -90.04750 |
| Translator(s) | 98.5 W253DF (Memphis) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | sports56whbq |
WHBQ (560kHz) – brandedSports 56 WHBQ – is acommercialsportsAM radio stationlicensed to serveMemphis, Tennessee. Owned by Flinn Broadcasting, the station covers theMemphis metropolitan area, and is the local affiliate forFox Sports Radio, theMemphis Redbirds, andOle Miss Rebels football andbasketball. The WHBQ studios and transmitter are located in the city of Memphis. Besides a standardanalog transmission, WHBQ is available online. The station is also simulcast over translator W253DF at 98.5 FM.
On March 25, 1925, WHBQ first signed on the air. It was among the earliest stations in Memphis and had its studios in the historicHotel Claridge.[2] During the 1930s, it broadcast at 100 watts on 1370kilocycles.
After theNorth American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) went into effect in 1941, WHBQ switched to 1400 kHz, powered at 250 watts.[3] WHBQ moved its studios to Hotel Gayoso. In the 1940s, WHBQ became a network affiliate of theMutual Broadcasting System. At the end of the 1940s, WHBQ moved to its current spot on the dial, 560 kHz.[4] It got a boost in power to 5,000 watts days and 1,000 watts nights.
General Teleradio (laterRKO General), the broadcasting arm of theGeneral Tire and Rubber Company, purchased the WHBQ stations in March 1954,[5] and later turned the AM counterpart into a leadingTop 40 station. Its reputation was developed byDewey Phillips, a disc jockey who playedrhythm and blues music on his night time show, "Red, Hot and Blue." In 1954, Phillips played a recording of "That's Alright Mama" byElvis Presley, a young truck driver and budding musician, marking the first time an Elvis recording was broadcast on the radio.[6]
For many years, WHBQ was considered a "farm team" for RKO's larger stations. Young, aspiring DJs, such asRick Dees and game show hostWink Martindale worked there with hopes of being moved up to RKO's larger markets, likeBoston, New York City, San Francisco, or the biggest Top 40 station in the chain,KHJ in Los Angeles. In the 1960s, under the guidance of programmerBill Drake, WHBQ becameBoss Radio, known for playing the hottest hits with the most popular DJs.
Disc jockeyGeorge Klein was indicted and convicted ofmail fraud in 1977. Klein, a former Program Director for WHBQ, went to trial after being indicted on four counts of conspiring with a former postal employee to stealArbitron diaries. Klein admitted to filling out diaries in order to inflate WHBQ's ratings. Klein was found guilty of conspiracy and sentenced to 60 days in federal prison.[7]
By the early 1980s, the once-mighty Top 40 station could no longer compete with the increasing popularity of FM-band contemporary music stations. WHBQ tried playingoldies from 1981 to 1983 before switching to afull servicetalk radio format. It used local talk hosts as well as syndicated programming fromNBC Talknet andABC TalkRadio.[8]
In 1988, RKO sold WHBQ to Flinn Broadcasting, a local media company. Flinn tried oldies again, thencountry music and evenheavy metal late at night. In 1992, WHBQ switched to all sports.[9] For a time it was affiliated withCBS Sports Radio, thenNBC Sports Radio. When NBC discontinued full-time sports programming at the end of 2018, WHBQ switched toFox Sports Radio.
In October 2020, WHBQ began simulcasting on FM translator W253DF (98.5 FM) in Memphis; its previous FM simulcast,WPGF-LP (87.7), dropped its simulcast with WHBQ and began stunting withChristmas music as "Santa @ 87.7". The arrangement lasted until the end of December 2020; in January 2021, it began running a rock format known as "Drake Hall Memphis Radio."[10] WPGF-LP had until July 2021 to convert to digital and end its radio operations.[11]
WHBQ serves as the Memphis area home for theUniversity of Mississippi'sOle Miss Rebels football andmen's basketball, and is also the main outlet for theMemphis Redbirds of baseball'sTriple-A East.
The station's hosts include: Peter Edmiston, Anthony Sain, Dave Woloshin, Greg Gaston, Eli Savoie, Gabe Kuhn, Brett Norsworthy, and John Hardin. Nights and weekends, WHBQ carries programming fromFox Sports Radio.
Weekly programming includes:
- Mornings with Greg & Eli - Hosts: Greg Gaston and Eli Savoie - 7am - 10am
- Wolo & Friends - Host: Dave Woloshin - 10 am - 11am
- Happy Hour with Johnny Radio - Host: John Hardin - 11am - 1pm
- Sportstime with Gabe and Stats - Hosts: Gabe Kuhn and Brett Norsworthy - 3pm - 6pm
(WHBQ's logo under previous simulcast with WPGF-LP)