 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Baltimore metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 97.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 98 Rock |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Mainstream rock |
| Subchannels | HD2:Simulcast ofWBAL (news/talk) |
| Affiliations | United Stations Radio Networks Baltimore Ravens Radio Network Baltimore Orioles Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBAL,WBAL-TV | |
| History | |
First air date | December 7, 1958 (66 years ago) (1958-12-07)[1] |
Former call signs | WFDS-FM (1958–1960) WBAL-FM (1960–1977) |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 65693 |
| Class | B |
| ERP |
|
| HAAT | 294 meters (965 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°20′5″N76°39′2″W / 39.33472°N 76.65056°W /39.33472; -76.65056 (WIYY) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www |
WIYY (97.9FM, "98 Rock") is acommercial radio station inBaltimore, Maryland. It is owned byHearst Communications and broadcasts amainstream rockradio format. WIYY shares studios and offices withsister stationsWBAL (1090 AM) andWBAL-TV (channel 11) onTelevision Hill in theWoodberry section of Baltimore. WIYY'stransmitter utilizes WBAL-TV's 'candlestick' antenna on the shared Television Hill candelabratower.
WIYY and WBAL are theflagship stations of theBaltimore Ravens radio network and theBaltimore Orioles Radio Network. The two are the only radio stations owned by the Hearst Corporation.
In January 1948, WMAR-FM signed on for the first time at 97.9,[4] owned by the A.S. Abell Company, publishers of theBaltimore Sun and founders ofWMAR-TV, Baltimore's first television station. WMAR-FM was a collaborative partner of Transit Rides Inc., developer of a music format designed forpublic transportation and owned by theCincinnati-basedTaft family.[5] While many Americans were buying TV sets, few owned FM radios. After two years on the air, Abell decided shut down WMAR-FM in June 1950 and turned in its license to theFederal Communications Commission.[6] (The callsign WMAR-FM returned to Baltimore in 1968 when Abell bought the station on 106.5, nowWWMX).
The 97.9 frequency remainedsilent until December 1958 when WFDS-FM signed on for the first time,[7] aclassical music outlet under the ownership of William S. Cook, a Baltimore native and professional engineer.[8] Cook created WFDS-FM as one of the first radio stations in the United States to experiment with stereo.[9] The Hearst Corporation purchased the station in April 1960 and retained classical music while changing the call sign to WBAL-FM.[10][11]
In June 1975, WBAL-FM joinedNBC Radio Network's 24-hour national "News and Information Service" (NIS) becoming anall news radio station on the FM dial, rare in that era. It was the largest marketnetwork affiliate of NIS not to be an NBC Radioowned-and-operated station.[12] After two years of all-news and low ratings, NBC closed down NIS in late May 1977. But WBAL-FM bailed on the service early.
WBAL-FM switched itscall sign to WIYY and began its rock music format on March 28, 1977.[13] It has used the98 Rock branding since the flip. WIYY is a rare radio station that has kept the same format for multiple decades.
In 2005, WBAL and WIYY were named the flagship stations of theBaltimore Ravens Radio Network. In 2022, WBAL and WIYY became the official broadcaster of theBaltimore Orioles. The Hearst stations took over that designation from the Orioles' previous flagship,WJZ-FM.
In 2007, the station was nominated for theRadio & Records magazineActive Rock Station of the Year Award for the top 25 markets. Other nominees includedWAAF in Boston,KBPI in Denver,WRIF in Detroit,WMMR in Philadelphia, andKISW in Seattle.[14]
WIYY was a nominee for the 2012 "Major Market Radio Station of the Year" RadioContraband Rock Radio Award.
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