WFAT

WFAT (930 AM) is a radio station in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States, owned by Midwest Communications. Established in 1948 as WBCK, the station airs a classic hits/oldies format.

For radio stations which formerly held the call sign WFAT, see WFAT (disambiguation).
WFAT
Broadcast area (Daytime)
(Nighttime)
Frequency930 kHz
BrandingFat One 102.7
Programming
FormatClassic hits/oldies
AffiliationsWestwood One
Detroit Lions Radio Network
Detroit Tigers Radio Network
Ownership
Owner
WNWN
History
First air date
July 9, 1948 (as WBCK)
Former call signs
WBCK (1948-2014)
WTOU (2014-2019)
Call sign meaning
W The FAT One
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID37459
ClassB
Power5,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
42°17′31″N 85°11′00″W
Translator(s)102.7 W274AQ (Battle Creek)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Website1027wfat.com

History

WBCK began broadcasting July 9, 1948, with a Detroit Tigers baseball game as its first program. The station was a Mutual affiliate.[2] WBCK featured a full-service MOR/adult contemporary format for years, evolving into news/talk by the mid-1990s.

The sale of the Battle Creek Radio Group from Clear Channel Communications to Cumulus Media has been completed. 95.3 WBXX began to simulcast with the news/talk format of AM 930 and WBXX's former adult contemporary format moved to 104.9 (formerly WRCC). 95.3 FM became the permanent home of WBCK's news/talk format. On March 21, 2008, AM 930 dropped the simulcast with 95.3 FM and started airing a classic country format and became known as Country 93. The format later evolved from classic country to contemporary country. On April 10, 2012, WBCK changed their format to sports, branded as "The Score." Programming came from CBS Sports Radio. Current Radio assumed the station's license from Cumulus on August 31, 2013.

Midwest Communications purchased WBCK for $175,000 on January 23, 2014.[3] The sale was approved by the FCC on March 26, 2014, and was consummated on July 1, 2014.[4] Michiguide.com reported on May 23, 2014 that Midwest Communications had also purchased a LPFM translator from the Calvary Radio Network in Battle Creek (W274AQ on 102.7 MHz) for $45,000, with the intention of repeating WBCK.[5] On July 1, 2014, WBCK changed its callsign to WTOU and then went silent on July 3. On February 2, 2015, WTOU returned to the air with a simulcast of urban AC-formatted WNWN 1560 AM.[6]

On September 12, 2019, WTOU dropped the simulcast with WNWN/Portage and changed their format to classic hits, branded as The Fat One under new WFAT calls. The branding and calls were previously used by sister station WZOX.[7]

References
  1. "Facility Technical Data for WFAT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "WBCK Battle Creek Starts; MBS Outlet" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 12, 1948. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  3. Venta, Lance (23 January 2014). "Midwest expands in Battle Creek". RadioInsight. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  4. "FCC Authorization" (PDF). FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  5. "CDBS Print".
  6. Touch Expands to Battle Creek
  7. "The Fat One Returns To Michigan". RadioInsight. 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2019-09-13.


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