WDYZ-990 AM
Orlando

Original Call Letters: WHOO 

Originally Licensed: Dec. 5, 1947 

Original City of License: Orlando 

Original Frequency: 990

Origin of Call Letters: Sound alike; DYZney

Original Power: 50,000 Day/14,000 Night

Original Location: 610 Sycamore St., Suite 220, Celebration

Original Format: Children


Network Affiliation(s):


ABC

Owner(s):

1947-Orlando Daily Newspapers, Inc. 

1949-Radio Station WHOO 

1950-Orlando Daily Newspapers 
1951-Edward Lamb

1952-WHOO, Inc
1957-Ted Estabrook Associates ($250,000)

1957-WHOO Radio, Inc. (Horton-Kincaid)
1958-Bluegrass Broadcasting

1978-WHOO Radio, Inc. (Bluegrass Broadcasting)
1987-TK Communications ($13.5 million)
1994-Granum Communications ($11.5 million)
1997-Cox Broadcasting
2001-American Broadcasting Co./Radio Disney Group ($5 million)
2014-Pennsylvania Media Associates, Inc. ($1.3 million) (Salem Communications)

History Of  Call Letters and Formats:

WHOO-1947-Pop   Broadcasting from the Fort Gatlin Hotel
WHOO-1968-Country  "Country Gentlemen"
WMMA-1987-Adult Contemporary "Magic 99"
WMMA-1987-Oldies
WHTQ-1988-Rock-simulcast of WHTQ-FM 96.5
WHOO-1988-Big Bands/Adult Standards  Music Of Your Life
WHOO-1989-Classic Country
WHOO-1990-Rock-simulcast of WHTQ-FM 96.5
WHOO-1993-Adult Standards (ABC Radio "Stardust" format)
WDYZ- 2001-Radio Disney-Children  
WDYZ-2015-Silent/Licensed  (Mar 18, 2015)
WDYZ-2015-Spanish Contemporary Christian (Apr 9, 2015) "La Nueva" 

History of WDYZ
From the Orlando Business Journal
Dec 8, 2000, 3:33pm EST
Cox selling WHOO-AM to Disney 
Cox Radio plans to sell WHOO-AM in Orlando to ABC Radio for $5 million in cash, a transaction expected to close in the first half of 2001. ABC Radio plans to use WHOO-AM to broadcast Radio Disney, a live, 24-hour radio network for children. With the addition of the Orlando radio station, Radio Disney will have affiliates in 49 markets with 19 of the two 20 Designated Market Areas. ABC Radio is a unit of ABC, an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co.

Disney Station For Sale        8-13-14
The Walt Disney Company announced it plans to sell  23 of its 24 stations. WDYZ-AM 990 is included in the sale. The ultimate plan is to move all Radio Disney programming to digital distribution as the target audience is moving to satellite radio and online listening. Broadcasting & Cable reports the stations will go dark September 26.

Disney Sells Orlando Station     12-15-14
Salem Communications Pennsylvania Media Associates is purchasing WDYZ-AM 990
  from Radio Disney Group (subsidiary of ABC). The selling price is $1.3 million. Salem already owns 3 stations in the Orlando area. WORL-AM 660, WTLN-AM 950  and WBZW-AM1520. In 2001 Cox sold the station to ABC Radio for $5 million. 

Salem Announces Format For Former Disney Station    3-10-15
Salem Communications Chief Executive Officer and Director, Edward Atsinger, announced WDYZ-AM 990 would adopt their Spanish-language Christian Teaching and Talk format.


Names In WDYZ History

Jean-Paul Coleco-2001-President-American Broadcasting Co./Radio Disney Group
Pren Rashbury-2001-Marketing Vice President-American Broadcasting Co./Radio Disney Group
Robin Jones-2001-Programming Vice President-American Broadcasting Co./Radio Disney Group



Fleetwood Gruver-2003-Operations Manager-American Broadcasting Co./Radio Disney Group
Drew Rashbaum-2004-Operations Manager-American Broadcasting Co./Radio Disney Group
Salan Stone-2005-Marketing Vice President-American Broadcasting Co./Radio Disney Group
Paul T. Proly-2006-Station Manager/General Manager-American Broadcasting Co./Radio Disney Group

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