WUIN (FM)

WUIN (98.3 MHz, "The Penguin") is an American FM radio station broadcasting an adult album alternative format. Licensed in Oak Island, North Carolina, the station serves the greater Wilmington, North Carolina, area.[2] The station, originally established in 2000, is currently owned by Thomas Davis, through licensee Davis Media, LLC. WUIN features a broad variety of styles including reggae, blues, jazz, Americana, rock, soul and hip-hop.[3]

WUIN
Broadcast areaWilmington, North Carolina
Frequency98.3 MHz
Branding98.3 The Penguin
Programming
FormatAdult album alternative
Ownership
Owner
  • Thomas Davis
  • (Davis Media, LLC)
WNTB
History
First air date
2000
Former call signs
WAZO (1998-2004)
WSFM (2004-2011)[1]
Call sign meaning
W The PengUIN
Technical information
Facility ID48626
ClassC3
ERP18,500 watts
HAAT116 meters (381 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
33°57′40″N 78°01′37″W
Links
Website983thepenguin.com

History

In 2000, Ocean Broadcasting LLC, which owned Wilmington radio stations WLGX, WRQR and WMFD, started a CHR radio station at 98.3 FM, licensed to Oak Island, North Carolina. Broadcasting at the equivalent of 25,000 watts from a 400-foot tower near Southport, and serving Brunswick and New Hanover counties, WAZO "Channel Z" played artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sugar Ray, Will Smith, the Backstreet Boys, Dave Matthews, TLC, Jennifer Lopez and Santana.[4][5][6]

Surf 98.3 logo

In July 2004, NextMedia Group purchased WKXB and WSFM from Sea-Comm Inc., and WRQR, WAZO, and WMFD from Ocean Broadcasting LLC.[7] The sale meant two big changes for Surf: the move to 98.3 FM, and the end of the controversial Lex and Terry, replaced with "The Mad Max Morning Show with Special K," based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. WAZO moved to 107.5 FM, former home of WSFM.[8]

The station was a finalist for Radio and Records magazine's 2007 Industry Achievement Award for best Alternative Station for markets 100 and up. Other finalists include WKZQ-FM, WJSE, WBTZ, KQXR, and KXNA.[9]

In July 2008, Capitol Broadcasting announced its purchase of NextMedia's Wilmington stations.[10]

On December 31, 2010, Surf 98.3 went off the air. Brian Schimmel of Sunrise Broadcasting said the frequency was purchased by Sea-Comm Media, which moved the programming of WUIN to 98.3. A new station called "Coastal Carolina's Modern Rock 98.7" took its place.[11]

Effective September 10, 2014, WUIN, WNTB, and WUDE were purchased from Sea-Comm by Davis Media, LLC, at a price of $1.5 million.

References
  1. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  2. "WSFM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. 106.7 WUIN, The Penguin FM - Home
  4. Cory Reiss, "3 Companies Compete for Listeners; Less Static Expected on Area Dial As Radio Stations Debut," Star-News, May 26, 2000.
  5. "New FM Radio Station Takes to Airwaves," Star-News, July 25, 2000.
  6. Daniel Thigpen, "Turn on the Radio," Star-News August 7, 2000.
  7. Bonnie Eksten, "Ocean Broadcasting, Sea-Comm Stations Sold to NextMedia - New Owner to Operate Locally," Star-News, July 14, 2004.
  8. Amy Hotz, "Radio Changes Bring Two New Morning Teams," Star-News, September 20, 2004.
  9. "2007 Industry Achievement Awards". Radio and Records. September 28, 2008. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
  10. "Capitol Broadcasting acquires seven radio stations in deals worth nearly $13M". www.wral.com. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  11. Royal, Judy (2010-12-01). "Surf 98.3 changing to Coastal Carolina's Modern Rock 98.7". Star-News. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
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