WFNZ
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| City | Charlotte, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Charlotte/Metrolina |
| Branding | Sports Radio 610 AM/102.5 FM The Fan |
| Frequency | 610 kHz (also on HD Radio) |
| Translator(s) | 102.5 MHz W273DA (Charlotte) |
| Repeater(s) | WLNK-FM-HD3 |
| First air date | 1941 (as WAYS) |
| Format | Sports |
| Power | 5,000 watts day 1,000 watts night |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 53974 |
| Callsign meaning | W FaNZ(S) |
| Former callsigns | WAYS (1941-1984) WROQ (1984-1986) WAES (1986-1990) WROQ (1990-1991) WGKL (1991) WAQS (1991-1994) WRFX (1994-1995) |
| Owner | Entercom |
| Sister stations | WBT, WLNK |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wfnz.com |
WFNZ (610 AM), also known as "610 AM The Fan", is a sports format radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Owned by Entercom, the studios are located on South Boulevard in Charlotte's South End, while its transmitter is located at the site of its former studios on Radio Road in the Oakdale neighborhood of northwest Charlotte.
WFNZ is broadcast in FM via FM Translator 102.5 FM and HD on sister station WLNK-HD3. WFNZ is licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast in HD.
WFNZ signed on in 1941 as WAYS (AM), airing a full-service format. By the 1960s, WAYS was Charlotte's lowest-rated station. The station's studios were in such bad shape, cats were needed to control the rodents. Stan and Sis Kaplan of Boston bought WAYS in 1965 for $550,000. Beginning in June of that year, "Big WAYS" aired an energetic Top 40 format which was considered "an alien sound in the Carolinas", knocking conservative WBT out of first place and eventually becoming the highest-rated Top 40 station in the country and the 15th most popular station overall. One reason was the Treasure Hunt, where people had to listen to clues from "Mr. Treasure" (Jack Gale) telling them how to find a $1,000 coupon. News director C. Michael Blackwell would interview winners. Personalities included John Kilgo, Jack Pride, Tom Kinard, Jack Armstrong, Pete Ray of "The Pete Ray-D-O Show", Dick Blanchard, and Long John Silver. WAYS jocks who went on to greater fame included Morton Downey Jr., actor Jay Thomas, and Robert Murphy (who had success in Chicago). Eventually, the morning show was simulcast on both WAYS and sister FM WROQ. Larry Sprinkle, now a WCNC-TV morning weather personality, also worked at the stations. They were known for lampooning The PTL Club with Bill Taker of the Pass the Loot Club.
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