WCOP (FM)
| Broadcast area | Olean, New York |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.7 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Voice of the Twin Tiers |
| Programming | |
| Format | Talk (WBYB simulcast) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Colonial Radio Group |
| WBYB, WXMT | |
| History | |
First air date | 1985 (as WFRM) |
Former call signs | WFRM (1985-mid 2000s) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 21197 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 460 watts |
| HAAT | 155 meters |
| Links | |
| Website | WVTT Online |
WVTT is an FM radio station licensed to Portville, New York. The station, broadcasting at 96.7 MHz, is owned by Colonial Radio Group and broadcasts a talk radio format simulcasting WVTT/Kane, Pennsylvania.
Previously, the station carried a hot country format under the name Bob FM.[1]
History
The station known today as WBYB signed on in 1985 as WFRM-FM, the sister station to AM 600 WFRM. It was owned by the Farm & Home Broadcasting Company and was a member of the Allegany Mountain Radio Network. Historically the station ran a satellite hot adult contemporary format, and during the mid-2000s simulcasted WQRM. During this time it was licensed to Coudersport, Pennsylvania.
The station was put up for sale in 2008, shortly after applying to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to move the station to Portville. Backyard Broadcasting, owners of market leader WPIG, offered to buy the station, though the purchase eventually fell through. Colonial Radio Group, owners of WLMI and WXMT, followed with a lower bid, which was closed in July 2009.
Upon closing the deal, Colonial CEO Jeff Androlunis changed the call sign to WLMY (perhaps indicating a format similar to WLMI), then shortly to WBYB. Androlunis, upon signing on the signal, criticized WPIG's personality-driven format and use of classic country in its playlist, claiming he had done research that supported a new country station.[1] (Backyard Broadcasting, shortly after this, parked the WLMY calls on a station of its own, a hot-AC station in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.)
Among WBYB's initial programming was the Midday Mayhem with Mindy Cunningham, a program formerly heard on WPIG. Cunningham has since left the station and is now at WMXO. Kerry Monroe, who previously hosted afternoon drive and moved to middays after Cunningham left, is also a former WPIG announcer. After about a year of simulcasting WLMI's morning show, WBYB began carrying its own morning show hosted by Androlunis and a co-host named "Sweet Tea." The station currently uses the syndicated Bob and Sheri program. The other prominent host on WBYB is Casey Hill, also formerly of WPIG; Hill hosts middays. The Lia Show airs evenings.
WBYB carried broadcasts of Allegany-Limestone Central School sports in 2010 while W237CS carried Smethport High School athletics. Neither was reprised in 2011. WBYB's mascot is Bob the Builder.
Talk radio period
On October 19, 2011, WBYB dropped its country format annd swapped calls with WVTT and replaced it with a simulcast of WVTT, a talk station based in Kane. The country format was retained on Colonial's numerous digital subchannels and two small translators, 99.1 in Olean (which is expected to be temporary, as Androlunis has announced plans for "McKean County's Radio 99" for the 99.1 frequency) and 95.3 (W237CS) in Smethport. Hill, the station's lone local host, remains on staff for both stations.
Programming includes a local show hosted by Hill and Michael Baldwin, the Glenn Beck Program, Dennis Miller, The Dave Ramsey Show, The Savage Nation, Alex Jones, and The Phil Hendrie Show.
References
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID WVTT ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database