WRSR

WRSR

File:WRSR-FM.jpg
Owosso, Michigan
Broadcast area	[1] Flint, Michigan market
Frequency	103.9 MHz
Branding	103.9 The Fox
Programming
Format	Classic rock
Affiliations	Detroit Lions Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	Krol Communications Inc.
History
First air date	1965 (as WOAP-FM)
Former call signs	WAHV (2/5/96-5/15/98) WMZX (1/15/89-2/5/96) WOAP-FM (1965-1/15/89)
Call sign meaning	W R Soft Rock 103.9 (previous format)
Technical information
Facility ID	41681
Class	A
ERP	2,850 watts
HAAT	147 meters
Transmitter coordinates	42°59′44″N 83°59′33″W
Links
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	classicfox.com

WRSR (103.9 FM, "The Fox") is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. It is also the Flint affiliate of the Detroit Lions Radio Network. Licensed to Owosso, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1965 under the WOAP-FM call sign. Its transmitter is located east of Owosso, while its studios are located in Flint Township.

Coverage area

WRSR retains a fairly strong signal in Flint and the surrounding areas. However, as listeners travel east of Lapeer the signal tends to weaken. The signal can be heard as far south as Auburn Hills and as far west as Carson City. During certain atmospheric conditions it is often interfered with by CHOK 103.9 in Sarnia, Ontario, east of Lapeer County.

History

The original WOAP-FM began broadcasting in April 1948 at 103.1 on the FM dial. Although the station's owner, The Owosso Argus-Press, which also owned AM station WOAP 1080 AM, heavily promoted its new FM station, WOAP-FM was a failure and went off the air by 1953. WOAP-FM resurfaced on its current 103.9 frequency on December 2, 1965. It served as a simulcast of the full-service/MOR AM station and continued the AM's programming after AM sign-off as well as broadcasting local high-school sports. Eventually WOAP-AM and WOAP-FM separated programming completely, with the FM station taking a beautiful music format.

In 1987, the Federal Communications Commission's concerns about concentration of media ownership in the Owosso area at that time forced the Argus-Press to sell WOAP-AM-FM.

In 1989, WOAP-FM changed its call letters to WMZX and its format to adult contemporary.

In the late 1990s, the station began targeting the Flint market more aggressively. In 1998, 103.9 FM switched from classic hits as WAHV "The Wave" to soft AC as WRSR "Soft Rock 103.9." WRSR originally carried the syndicated Delilah love-songs show at night, but later switched to a simulcast of Detroit station WNIC-FM's "Pillow Talk" show hosted by Alan Almond after crosstown rival WCRZ dropped its own local love-songs show in favor of Delilah. Following the failure of the AC format, WRSR switched to its current format in September 2000.

On September 2011, WRSR owner Cumulus received permission to acquire Citadel Broadcasting on the condition that they spin off three radio stations including WRSR. WRSR was operated by Potential Broadcasting trust until the station was sold. The local Citadel stations Cumulus acquired are WFBE and WTRX. Potential moved the WRSR studios and offices from the Cumulus Flint cluster's base of operations in the Flint Radio Center on Taylor Drive in Mundy Township to the old WFBE location on Miller Road in Flint Township. Cumulus moved WFBE and WTRX from Miller Road to Taylor Drive.

On August 28, 2012 the station was sold to Krol Communications who currently owns stand alone property WJSZ and return to Owosso. Plans are for the new owner to take over in the fourth quarter of this year and he is satisfied with its current makeup. The sale of WRSR to Krol was consummated on December 1, 2012, at a purchase price of $1.15 million.

In August 2015, WRSR became the Flint affiliate for the Detroit Lions Radio Network, replacing WTRX.

References

• Michiguide.com - WRSR History

External links

• WRSR in the FCC FM station database
• WRSR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database