WCOS-FM

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WCOS-FM
City of license	Columbia, South Carolina
Broadcast area	South Carolina
Branding	"97-5 WCOS"
Slogan	"Today Best Country And Your All Time Favorites"
First air date	1958
Frequency	97.5 (MHz)
Format	Country music
ERP	100,000 watts
Class	C1
Callsign meaning	"We're Columbia's Own Station
Owner	Clear Channel Communications
Website	http://www.wcosfm.com

WCOS-FM is a Country music station located in Columbia, South Carolina. It is licensed by the FCC to broadcast at 97.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW.

[edit] Station History

WCOS-FM 97.9 MHz is the sister station of WCOS-AM 1400 kHz. Prior to 1963, it broadcast only during the evening hours. The programming featured Broadway, opera, and classical music, some or all of which came from the ABC Radio Network. In the fall of 1963, the station began broadcasting in stereo and the hours were extended to the daytime. The morning show was a simulcast of WCOS-AM, which was hosted by Bob Fulton, the long-time announcer for University of South Carolina football. After 9:00 a.m., the format was easy listening. The music was broadcast in mono until 6:00 p.m., converting to stereo for the evening hours. In the late 1960s, WCOS-FM converted to a Progressive Rock format. Prior to the change, the station promoted the new format by announcing frequently that WCOS-FM was "going underground." By 1973, the station changed to country, adopting it's longtime slogan "The Great 98." The format has remained since.

In 1991, the station upgraded it's signal by changing the frequency from 97.9 MHz to 97.5 MHz and increasing it's power to 100 kW, making it one of the strongest FM signals in the Columbia radio market.