WWPF-AM 1260 Palatka

WWPF-AM 1260
Palatka

Original Call Letters: WWPF

Originally Licensed: Feb. 14, 1947

Original City of License: Palatka

Original Frequency: 800

Origin of Call Letters: Location: Welcome to Palatka Florida

Original Power: 1,000 watts daytime/500 nighttime

Original Location:

Original Format: Block Programming

Network Affiliation(s):	Jones
	Associated Press
	ABC News

Owner(s):	1947-Palatka Broadcasting Co.
	1957-Hall Communications
	1997-Janice J. Register
	1997-Wayne Bullock, Barbara Bullock, James Hester, Gail Hester
	1998-Radio Palatka, Inc.
	2007-Florida Radio, LLC
	2007-Flagler County Broadcasting, LLC
	2007-WPLK, Radio Palatka, Inc.
	2009-Natkim Radio ($300,000)

History Of Call Letters and Formats:	WWPF-1947-Block Programming (on 800 kc)
	WWPF-1957-MOR
	WWPF-1975-Top 40 "The Superstars"
	WIYD-1979-Top 40 "The Superstars"
	WIYD-1985-50% Adult Contemporary/50% Country
	WIYD-1986-Country "All Hit Country"

WWPF History

Thanks to Marc Tyll for this history of WWPF.

Palatka’s first radio station – WWPF – began regular broadcast service shortly after World War II on February 14, 1947 bringing local radio service to the area that prior to 1947 relied upon radio service from Jacksonville, Gainesville and Orlando. The original frequency was on 800 kc and operated with 1,000 watts daytime only. In 1947, WWPF programmed a variety of music, news, information and live programming from sunrise to sunset seven days a week. This trend continued for ten years when it was determined night service could be added by changing the frequency from 800kc to 1260kc. The frequency move enabled WWPF to begin operating during the nighttime hours with a full 500 watts in addition to its 1,000 watt daytime signal. On February 14, 1957, ironically the station’s ten year anniversary date, operations on the new 1260 kc frequency began. WWPF’s operation schedule expanded to 10PM beginning its broadcast day at 7AM. Soon, the station started signing on the air at 6AM and remaining on air till Midnight seven nights per week, programming a variety of Middle of the Road music programming along with some local news and talk. The Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS) was soon added as a national news network.

In 1973, Hall Broadcasting Company added an FM station, beautiful music formatted WIYD-FM 99.9. In 1975 programming on WWPF shifted to Top 40 – known as “Music From The Superstars” - with an emphasis placed on bringing hit music to the area while crosstown WSUZ-AM 800 continued to play a variety of country classics and modern country hits. Donald Wolfe was the program director while Brian Douglas (Goodrich) was WWPF’s knowledgeable music director. Ronald Tumlin took over the day to day general management of the station from his mother (who owned WWPF and WIYD-FM), while Mary Makie served as the station’s General Sales Manager. Butch Prevat was WWPF’s morning news anchor and news director covering news from in and around the Saint John’s area. Many changes came about in mid 1979 when WWPF changed its call letters to WIYD-AM on July 1st (which stood for wide (WIYD) coverage). Wolfe left programming and began a sales career, working with Makie daily while Brian Douglas was promoted to Program Director. Top 40 remained a staple on the new WIYD while WIYD-FM switched to Country. Soon after WIYD-FM was sold to Ronette Communications and became Top 40 formatted WNFY "Y 100". Mutual News was dropped, and Douglas left to join the new "Y 100" as program director while morning man George Gibb became WIYD's program director. By 1985, the music started shifting away from Top 40 and became a 50/50 music mix consisting of 50% adult contemporary and 50% country music. A year later programming became totally country as it remains today (2007).