WBYR
WBYR (98.9 FM), branded as 98.9 The Bear, is a radio station licensed to Woodburn, Indiana with studios in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station broadcasts an active rock format. WBYR is owned by Federated Media.
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Broadcast area | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
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Frequency | 98.9 MHz |
Branding | 98.9 The Bear |
Programming | |
Format | Active rock |
Affiliations | United Stations Radio Networks |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WOWO (AM), WFWI, WKJG, WMEE, WQHK-FM | |
History | |
First air date | 1989 |
Former call signs | WERT-FM (1979-1987) WKSD (1987-1989) |
Call sign meaning | W B Y R= BEAR. |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 55659 |
Class | B |
ERP | 50,000 watts |
HAAT | 138 meters (453 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°57′14.00″N 84°53′7.00″W |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | 989thebear.com |
History
WBYR was the former WERT-FM and WKSD in Van Wert, Ohio, owned by Ray Livesay. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, WERT-FM simulcast its sister AM station. When the FCC gave the ultimatum for Class B FM stations to increase power to maximum levels or be downgraded, WERT-FM increased power to 50,000 watts and introduced a beautiful music format. Once the station was sold to Atlantic Resources, the call letters were changed to WKSD ("Kiss 99") with a satellite-delivered adult contemporary format.
In January 1989, the station began stunting with comedy clips (including Looney Tunes clips), construction sound effects and a vague but brief announcement repeatedly for about a week, "9890 songs in a row on Fort Wayne's new 98.9". A classic hits format debuted on the 11th of the month at Noon, with the first song being "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger.[1] Meanwhile, the WKSD calls resurfaced at 99.7 FM licensed to Paulding, Ohio; WKSD 99.7 FM now features oldies and sports talk as a sister station to WERT/1220.[2]
References
- WBYR Signs-On
- "WBYR Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
External links
- WBYR in the FCC FM station database
- WBYR on Radio-Locator
- WBYR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database