WIYD-FM 99.9 Palatka

WIYD-FM 99.9
Palatka

Original Call Letters: WIYD

Originally Licensed: Dec 14, 1972

Original City of License: Daytona Beach

Original Frequency: 99.9

Origin of Call Letters: WIYD sounds like wide. Wide coverage

Original Power: 100,000 watts

Original Format: Beautiful Music

Original Location:

Network Affiliation(s):

Owner(s):	1973-Hall Communications Company
	1982-Carl Como Tutera and Ron Samuels
	1986-Norman S. Drubner
	1986-Heritage Broadcast Group ($8.5 million)
	1993-Ronette Communications Corp.
	1994-Daytona Beach Broadcasting
	1996-Randa broadcasting ($6.5 million with WWRR-FM, Brunswick, GA)

History Of Call Letters and Formats:	WWPF-1972-Construction Permit
	WIYD-1973-Beautiful Music
	WIYD-1975-Beautiful Music
	WIYD-1979-Country
	WNFY-1982-Top 40 "Y100"
	WNFI-1983-Churban "I-100" "The New 99.9" "Kiss 99.9"
	WNFI-1983-Top 40 "I-100" "The New 99.9" "Kiss FM"
	WFKS-1994-Soft Rock "Kiss 99.9"
	WFKS-1994-Top 40 "Kiss FM"
	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 (Young) (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)."