 | |
| Broadcast area | Canton metro area Akron metro area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.7MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Sunny 101.7 |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Classic hits |
| Subchannels | HD2:Country "99.7 Canton's New Country" |
| Affiliations | iHeartRadio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | July 25, 1968 (57 years ago) (1968-07-25) |
Former call signs | WJER-FM (1968–2006) |
Call sign meaning | "Hall Of Fame City" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 73135 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 6,000 watts |
| HAAT | 81 meters (266 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°49′22″N81°25′41″W / 40.82278°N 81.42806°W /40.82278; -81.42806 |
| Translator | HD2: 99.7 W259BW (Canton) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast |
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| Website | sunny1017 cantonsnewcountry |
WHOF (101.7FM) is a commercialradio station licensed toNorth Canton, Ohio, carrying aclassic hits format known as "Sunny 101.7". Owned byiHeartMedia, Inc., the station serves both theCanton andAkron metro areas and is the local affiliate for syndicated personalitiesRon Wilson andJim Brickman. WHOF's studios are located in North Canton, while the station transmitter resides inCanton. In addition to standardanalog transmission, WHOF broadcasts over twoHD Radio channels, and is available online viaiHeartRadio. WHOF's HD2digital subchannel features acountry format under the brand "99.7 Canton's New Country", and is relayed overCanton-licensed low-powertranslator W259BW (99.7 FM).
WHOF began as WJER-FM, under license toDover, Ohio, on July 25, 1968, the FM sister toWJER (1450 AM). On April 14, 2006, theFederal Communications Commission approved a request from the station's owners,iHeartMedia (then known as Clear Channel Communications) to move the WJER-FMcity of license toNorth Canton, Ohio. On December 27, 2006, the station adopted a new callsign, WHOF, and signed off. On January 16, 2007, WHOF signed back on as My 101.7 with anadult contemporary format;Billy Joel's "My Life" was the first song to air.[2][3][4]
On September 4, 2015, WHOF dismissed all on-air staff and began stunting with 80s music, teasing a change to come the following Tuesday at 8 am. At that time, rumors abounded that WHOF would adopt the country format of its HD2 channel.[5] The "Something Different" turned out to be a 1980s-orientedvariety hits format, as WHOF removed all current/recurrent music.[6] The first song under the variety hits format was "My Town" by the Michael Stanley Band.
On November 19, 2018, My 101.7 flipped to its seasonalChristmas music format and on their website, it said to tune in on December 26, at 9 a.m. to hear a new format. This is pretty odd since theVariety Hits format thatMy 101.7 was ranked number 3 in the market with a 5.0 share.[7] On December 26, 2018 at 9 am, WHOF launched an adult contemporary format, branded as "Sunny 101.7".[8]
In February 2021, the station switched to aclassic hits format, focusing on music from the 1960s-1980s, still keeping the "Sunny" branding.[9]
Country music accounts for all regular programming on the HD2digital subchannel. Branded99.7 Canton's New Country, WHOF-HD2 alsosimulcasts over Canton translator W259BW (99.7 FM), owned and operated byiHeartMedia. The transmitter for W259BW is located off 22nd St NW inCanton on a tower also utilized by WHOF and full-power sister stationWRQK-FM.
WHOF-HD2/W259BW serves as the regional affiliate forThe Bobby Bones Show; all other regular content, includingstation imaging,voice-over audio, music and on-air talent, either comes from the iHeartMedia country national format via thePremium Choice "iHeartRadio Country" network, or isvoice-tracked out-of-market specifically for the subchannel/translator.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W259BW | 99.7 FM | Canton, Ohio | 144998 | 250 | 67 m (220 ft) | D | 40°49′22″N81°25′41″W / 40.82278°N 81.42806°W /40.82278; -81.42806 (W259BW) | LMS |
