WEAT-FM
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| WEAT-FM | |
| Broadcast area | West Palm Beach, Florida |
|---|---|
| Branding | Sunny 104.3 |
| Slogan | The Best Variety of Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites |
| Frequency | 104.3 MHz |
| First air date | 1969 |
| Format | Adult Contemporary |
| Callsign meaning | station was once referred to Easy 104 |
| Owner | CBS Corporation |
| Sister stations | WEAT, WIRK, WMBX, WNEW, WPBZ part of CBS Corp. cluster with TV stations WTCN-CA & WTVX |
| Website | [1] |
WEAT, on-air known as Sunny 104.3, is a radio station licensed to the West Palm Beach, Florida market. It is owned by CBS Radio, and broadcasts at 104.3 FM.
WPEC, Channel 12 and 850 WFTL once shared the WEAT call letters when they were owned by billionaire John D. MacArthur. The television station became WPEC when sold to Alexander W. Dreyfoos in 1973. WEAT-AM became WDJA in 1998 and became WFTL in 2003.
Contents |
[edit] Timeline
1969 -- WEAT-FM broadcast an Easy Listening format as Easy 104."[1]. The Program Director was Paul Dunn and the morning host was Dave Supple in the late 80s and early 90s.
August 1, 1986 -- WEAT-FM moves from 104.5 to 104.3 [2]
March 23, 1992 -- WEAT-FM switches to Adult Contemporary. Les Howard, former program director at Broward's Joy 107 (now WAMR), assumed the same position at WEAT. Chuck Bennett, from WSSP in Orlando, is morning host.[3]
Summer 1993 -- Tom Kelley from WMEE in Ft. Wayne, Indiana replaces Chuck Bennett at host of the morning show. Bennett left to start a production company in Melbourne, Florida.
Summer 1995 -- Kevin Kitchens and Jennifer Ross join the station for mornings as the Champions of Breakfast. The pair had been together at rival WRMF for more than a decade until Kitchens left for San Diego. The Palm Beach Post reported that Kitchen earned more than $200,000.[4]
March 1996 -- Midday host Sunny Quinn leaves after 3 1/2 years for WZZR's morning show. She left WZZR in March 1997[5] and will later return to the midday time slot.[6]Shortly after the station dropped the Sunday morning Jazz brunch program that Quinn had hosted, but returned it a week later with Kevin Kitchens as host.[7] Chad Perry became the midday host, and the syndicated Delilah After Dark program runs in the evening.[8]
September 1996 -- Chad Perry returns to evenings for and Delilah After Dark is dropped.
December 1996 -- Sunny drops Dave Koz's weekend jazz show.[9]
May 1997 -- Jon Howe moves to afternoons, Cassie Jacoby joins midday.[10]
January 31, 1999 --- 'Midday host Cassie Jacoby quits over a contract dispute.[11]
February 3, 1999 -- Kevin Kitchens died of a heart attack.[12] Jennifer Ross becomes morning show host and morning show producer, John Taylor is promoted to co-host. Danny Ingram begins as morning show producer for Jennifer and John. [13]
April 1999 -- Sunny Quinn returns to midday after traveling with Grand Funk Railroad for two years.[14]
December 1999 -- Jon Howe replaces John Taylor on the Champions of Breakfast with Jennifer Ross.
January 2000: -- Tim Byrd joins station from WRMF.[15]
April 2000 -- Jon Howe leaves the Champions of Breakfast. Program Director Les Howard fills in as Obi-Wan Jacoby. Howard's real last name is Jacoby.
September 2000 -- Jennifer Ross leaves to return to WRMF. [16] Ross was forced off the air in April 2001 by Sunny 104.3.[17] Joe Martelle and Melanie Brenner eventually succeed to the Champions of Breakfast.
October 5, 2000 -- Sunny 104.3 is named station of the year and Les Howard Program Director of the year at the Billboard Radio Monitor Awards in New York.[18]
February 2001 -- Lindy Rome replaces Melanie Brenner. The Palm Beach Post reported that Brenner "mounted an active mail-in campaign to get the job but was never able to agree on a contract, returned from vacation two weeks ago and jumped to rival WRMF." [19]
July 2002 -- Program Director Les Howard leaves the station.
April 2004 -- Joe Martelle loses his voice and is no longer able to continue hosting the Champions of Breakfast. Program Director Rick Shockley replaces him. Lindy Rome was replaced by former WPTV television news reporter and anchor Rachele Scholes. The Palm Beach Post reported that Martelle's claim that that after his voice gave out, the station did not renew his contract. Station management says it wishes Joe well but will not comment further. Martelle has retained professional representation to make his case.
April 2005: -- A Palm Beach County jury Friday awarded Sunny 104.3 more than the $13.3 million the station's attorney had asked for after ruling that Jennifer Ross breached her contract by moving to rival station WRMF in September 2000.[20]
March 2006: -- Afternoon personality Tim Byrd leaves the station citing a "hostile and disrespectful" work environment and the "constant criticism" he has had to endure. His agent said Byrd had been working without a contract for two years and recently saw his bonus structure taken away. [21]
November 2006 -- 2 weeks or so before thanksgiving :
Sunny 104.3 started doing month long of Christmas music along with Kool 105.5
January 2007 -- Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal reverses Sunny's verdict against Jennifer Ross on both liability and damages, citing numerous errors by trial court Judge Diana Lewis. [2]
February 2007 -- Michelle Visage joins the Champions of Breakfast.
[edit] Ownership History
WEAT was initially owned by billionaire John D. MacArthur, who owned WEAT-TV Channel 12 (now WPEC) and WEAT-AM now WFTL. MacArthur sold both stations to sportscaster Curt Gowdy in 1975 for $1.5 million.
October 1986 -- Gowdy sold the stations the following year for an undisclosed price to J.J. Taylor Companies Inc. of North Dartmouth, Mass.[22].
October 1995 -- sold with WEAT-AM to OmniAmerica Group of Cleveland for an estimated $18 million.[23]
May 1996 -- sold with seven other stations for $178 million to Chancellor Broadcasting Co.[24]
June 1996 -- sold with WEAT-AM 850 and WOLL-FM 94.3 to American Radio Systems of Boston.
May 1997 -- sold with WKGR 98.7, WOLL 94.3, WBZT 1290 to Bud Paxon for $33 million.[25]
September 1997 -- Westinghouse (later CBS Corporation) purchases American Radio's 98 radio station for $1.2 billion.[26]
[edit] Ratings
Winter 2004: 6.0 share, #1 in market [27]
Summer 2003: 7.3 share, #1 in market [28]
Winter 2003: 7.7 share, #1 in market [29]"Broadcast Vet Does Media Advice", Palm Beach Post, May 9, 2003.</ref>
Summer 2002: 9.1 share, #1 in market [30]
Fall 2002: 8 share, #1 in market [31]
Spring 2002: 8.6 share, #1 in market [32]
Fall 2001: 7.4 share, #1 in market [33]
Summer 2001:6.4 share, #1 in market [34]
Spring 2001: 8.0 share, #1 in market [35]
Winter 2000: 8.2 share, #1 in market [36]
Spring 1999: 7.4 share, #1 in market [37]
Fall 1998: 7.4 share, #1 in the market[38]
Fall 1997: 9.2 share, #1 in market[39]
Summer 1997: 8.0 share, #1 in market[40]
Spring 1997: 8.5 share, #1 in market[41]
Fall 1996: 8.3 share, #2 in market. WRLX was #1 with 9.0 share.[42]
Summer 1996: 7.2 share, #3 in market. WRMF was #1 with 8.2 share [43]
Spring 1996: 7.2 share, #2 in market. WRMF was #1 with 7.8 share[44]
Fall 1995: 9.3 share, #1 in market[45]
Summer 1995: 6.4 share, 4th place in market. WRMF was #1 with a 7.7 share[46]
Spring 1995: 8.3 share, #1 in market. Kevin Kitchens had left WRMF and had just started as host of the Champions of Breakfast on Sunny 104.3.[47]
Winter 1995: 4.6 share, #5 in market, WRMF was #1[48]
Spring 1992: #1 in market after format change from Easy Listening Easy 104 to Adult Contemporary Sunny 104.3[49]
Spring 1991: #1 in market[50]
Fall 1990: #1 in market for 21st year in a row according to Marci Cooke, as reported in the Palm Beach Post.[51]
Summer 1990: 13.1 share, #1 in market
Spring 1990: 15.2 share, #1 in market [52]
Fall 1989: 17.8, #1 in market[53]
Summer 1989: 17.5, #1 in market[54]
Spring 1989: 16.7 share, #1 in market[55]
Fall 1986: #1 in market[56]
Fall 1985: 10.0, #2 in market, WRMF had an 11.3 share [57]
Spring 1985: 13.0 share, #1 in market[58]
Fall 1984: 14.4 share, #1 in market[59]
[edit] References
- ^ Mike Wilson. "WEAT'S Easy Listening Format is Tops in County, Ratings Show", Miami Herald, January 17, 1985.
- ^ "Two Stations Get a Boost", Miami Herald, July 30, 1986.
- ^ Pat Curry. "WEAT Changes Format, Pursues 25-To-54 Market", Sun-Sentinel, March 26, 1992.
- ^ Mitch McKenney. "Broadcasting Merger Creates 30-Station Firm", Palm Beach Post, August 29, 1995.
- ^ "Sunny Signs Off With WZZR-FM", Stuart News, March 19, 1997.
- ^ "WZZR Adds Quinn To Lineup", Stuart News, March 16, 1996.
- ^ "WXEL Special To Focus on Martin Cattle, Citrus", Stuart News, March 31, 1996.
- ^ Bob Betcher. "Some Odds and Ends on the Local TV Radio Beat", Stuart News, March 24, 1996.
- ^ Bob Betcher. "A Decent Nighttime Single For WJNO Eyed For Stuart", Stuart News, December 1, 1996.
- ^ Bob Betcher. "TV Reception Problems? Keep Eye Our For Squirrels", Stuart News, May 18, 1997.
- ^ Bob Betcher. "Jacoby Back on Stuart's WHLG-FM", Stuart/Port St. Lucie News, August 20, 2001.
- ^ Bob Betcher. "Radio Host Kitchens of WEAT Dies", Stuart News, February 4, 1999.
- ^ "How'd You Like to Find Garrison Keillor Sitting Under Your Tree Christmas Morning?", Fort Pierce News, December 10, 1999.
- ^ Thom Smith. "Celine Dion Cancels Concerts, Devotes Herself To Husband's Care", Palm Beach Post, April 22, 1999.
- ^ Thom Smith. "WRMF's Byrd Flies To Sunny Side Of Street", Palm Beach Post, January 20, 2000.
- ^ "Book Medal to Honor Writer Ray Bradbury", Sun-Sentinel, September 26, 2000.
- ^ Cheryl Wolfe and Matt Prichard. "Judge Orders Radio Personality Off The Air", Sun-Sentinel, April 28, 2001.
- ^ "J.D. 'Borrowed' Career in Radio", Palm Beach Post, November 5, 2000.
- ^ Mitch McKenney. "A Wave Of Radio Sales Echoes The Sound Of Money", Palm Beach Post, October 23, 1995.
- ^ Mitch McKenney. "Firm Buys 8 OmniAmerica Stations", Palm Beach Post, May 16, 1996.
- ^ "Lost in Paxon Suffle, WEAT Is Still For Sale", The Palm Beach Post, December 15, 1997.
- ^ Julie Waresh. "Westinghouse Buy Includes Local Stations", Palm Beach Post, September 20, 1997.
- ^ "Clear Channel, Independent Cut Into Infinity Radio Sahres", Palm Beach Post, May 19, 2004.
- ^ "Work of Channel 25 Reporter To Be Shown Aug. 22 on '20/20'", Palm Beach Post, August 15, 2003.
- ^ "Clear Channel, Independent Cut Into Infinity Radio Sahres", Palm Beach Post, May 19, 2004.
- ^ "'Closer' Expected To Break Even Soon", Palm Beach Post, November 8, 2002.
- ^ "'Orchids' Magazine Thinks Bigger, Colorfully", Palm Beach Post, January 31, 2003.
- ^ Susan T. Port. "Infinity Broadcasting Stations Take Top 3 Spots In Local Radio", Palm Beach Post, August 2, 2002.
- ^ "'Orchids' Magazine Thinks Bigger, Colorfully", Palm Beach Post, January 31, 2003.
- ^ "Sunny 104.3 Stays Atop Ratings Heap", Palm Beach Post, January 31, 2003.
- ^ Dan Weil. "Vessels Expected At Port's New Slip", Palm Beach Post, May 11, 2001.
- ^ Dan Weil. "Vessels Expected At Port's New Slip", Palm Beach Post, May 11, 2001.
- ^ "Radio Station Still No. 1 Despite Loss of DJ", Palm Beach Post, May 8, 1999.
- ^ "'Sunny' FM Stays On Top In Fall Radio Ratings", Palm Beach Post, January 26, 1999.
- ^ "Arbitron Radio Ratings Show Leaders Unchanged", Palm Beach Post, January 26, 1998.
- ^ "Summer Radio Arbitrons", Palm Beach Post, October 22, 1997.
- ^ "Spring Radio Arbitrons", Palm Beach Post, May 6, 1997.
- ^ "Fall Radio Arbitrons", Palm Beach Post, January 22, 1997.
- ^ "Summer Radio Arbitrons", Palm Beach Post, October 24, 1996.
- ^ Mitch McKenney. "Fairbanks Stations Top Winter Arbitron Ratings", The Palm Beach Post, May 1, 1996.
- ^ Mitch McKenney. "WEAT-FM Tops Fall Fatings", Palm Beach Post, January 17, 1996.
- ^ Mitch McKenney. "Fairbanks Stations Claim 3 of Top 5 Positions in Summer Radio Ratings", Palm Beach Post, October 27, 1995.
- ^ Mitch McKenney. "WRMF Falls To Third In Radio Ratings", Palm Beach Post, July 26, 1995.
- ^ Melissa Ruggieri. "Arbitron Books Shows Spanish Stations Strong", Sun-Sentinel, July 31, 1995.
- ^ Tom Jicha. "Neil Rogers Back on Old Time Clock, Status Quo in Palm Beach", June 1, 1992.
- ^ Carolyn Susman. "Aircraft Noise Group Losing Quiet Support", Palm Beach Post, May 13, 1991.
- ^ Carolyn Susman. "Wellington Sign Proposal Revives Longtime Rivalry", Palm Beach Post, January 14, 1991.
- ^ Tom Jicha. "Radio Ratings", Sun-Sentinel, August 2, 1990.
- ^ Tom Jicha. "WDZL Film a Non-Commercial Venture, Status Quo", Sun-Sentinel, January 12, 1990.
- ^ Tom Jicha. "World Series Helps ABC End NBC's Raing Reign, Palm Beach Radio Survey", Sun-Sentinel, October 18, 1989.
- ^ Tom Jicha. "Top Station Rocked From Ratings Roost", Sun-Sentinel, May 1, 1989.
- ^ "Sophia Playing Helen Boehn", Miami Herald, February 9, 1987.
- ^ "Top Station Rocked From Ratings Roost", Miami Herald, January 18, 1986.
- ^ "Top 10 Radio Stations", Miami Herald, July 26, 1985.
- ^ "Top 10 Radio Stations", Miami Herald, July 26, 1985.
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