WIYD-FM  99.9
Palatka

Original Call Letters: WIYD
Originally Licensed: Dec 13, 1973
Original City of  License: Daytona Beach
Power:  100,000 watts                                
Format: Beautiful Music

Owner(s): 1973-Hall Communications Company
                1982-Carl Como Tutera and Ron Samuels
                1986-Norman S. Drubner
                1988-Heritage Broadcasting
                1993-Ronette Communications Corp
                1994-Daytona Beach Broadcasting 
                1996-Renda Broadcasting ($6.5 million with WWRR-FM, Brunswick, GA)
                
History Of Call Letters and Formats: WIYD-1973-Beautiful Music
                                                         WIYD-1979-Country
                                                         WNFY-1982-Top 40  "Y100"
                                                         WNFI-1983-Churban  "I-100"   "The New 99.9"  "Kiss 99.9" 
                                                         WNFI-       -Top 40
                                                         WFKS-1994-Soft Rock
                                                         WFKS-1994-Top 40  
                                                        WGNE-2000-Country "99 Frog"  (moved from 98.1)
                                                         WGNE-2005-Country "Froggy 99.9" (moved to Jacksonville)

WIYD History

from Marc Tyll; In 1973, Hall Broadcasting Company added an FM station, beautiful music formatted WIYD-FM 99.9.

From Brian Douglas; "Around 1979 or 1980, the station went Country.  In 1981(?),  the station *almost* became WAPE-FM (with a move to Penney Farms). The deal fell through as Stan Kaplan (WAPE's owner) was about to be investigated in a matter involving campaign contributions.  He forfeited the 10% he'd already put down and the station remained Country. 

In 1982, a group led by Carl Como Tutera and Ron Samuels bought the station with the idea of competing with Top 40 WDOQ-FM 101.1 "Q-102" in Daytona.  I think the debut was probably August, 1982. The calls were WNFY "Y-100".  Miami's "Y-100" sued, as they had a service mark.  In the settlement, WNFY became WNFI "I-100".  Jerry Clifton consulted.  The format was Churban (Definition: A hybrid radio format which mixes CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) with Urban (Hip Hop, R&B, etc.)  Original PD/Mornings was Bill Bailey (WLS/WKLO)."

"Staff included Bob Mitchell and Bryan Logan.  After three months, Mark Shands became PD, then Bob Stevens.  In May, 1983, Brian Douglas became PD (for a little less than a year).  The format transitioned to Top 40. Randy Van Halen was PD next. A girl named Tracy (good jock, formerly at BJ-105) did mid-days through 1983-1985. There was a morning guy named Dr. Johnny Fever (believe it or not).  A really good PD followed RVH, but I don't remember his name. Later jocks included PD Rich Stevens (during the AC years)."
Norman S. Drubner acquired the station (6/20/86).  Heritage Broadcasting acquired (it) in 5/88. "...the WGNE thing was nothing but a good business decision... to grab the calls and hire some of the talent when WGNE flipped to Spanish (in other words, this was not an ownership change)."

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