WPUR - 107.3 FM, Atlantic City107.3 was granted the WZZP calls on March 17, 1997 and went on the air in February 1998, with what has to be one of the strangest sign-ons in history:
WZZP signed on with a test broadcast featuring 20 songs, a mix of classic rock, oldies and newer songs.This test broadcast was erratic, mostly heard on weekends, through March 17, 1998.Then on April 9 and 10, 1998, WZZP broadcast a mix of country songs.
And then later on April 10 and going into April 11, we were inundated with hearing the song "Tubthumping" by the group Chumbawumpa over and over.
April 12 to April 14 brought another stunt, this time all classic rock songs, as "ZZ-107."
April 14 to April 17, CHR was featured, with ID's only saying "107.3."
April 17 to April 25, when more CHR songs were added to the playlist and ID's were now "ZZ-107 The Zipper."
April 25, -June 29.. (a two month stunt!) 1998, "Fun 107" and a Rhythmic CHR format,
June 29, 1998, the real format finally debuted: "Cat Country 107.3".
The calls officially changed to WPUR on July 20, 1998.Interestingly enough, during the time the "Fun 107" stunt was on the air, it garnered a 2.0 in the Spring 1998 Arbitrons!
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I personally put the station on the air, and was responsible for a couple of the stunts ... here's why it happened like it did.
ReplyDeleteThe testing phase: the signal from the station was interfering with TV reception at the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, where the antenna is located on the roof. We were not permitted to broadcast full time until that was resolved. It was very difficult, since they were trying to receive off-air TV stations 60 and 90 miles away.
The other stunts: we had "Cat Country 107.3" ready to go, but didn't want to move the Country format from our other station on 106.3 until we actually owned 107.3, and that was a longer process than anticipated.
So we played around with it. It was also 100% commercial free until the debut of Cat Country 107.3 ...
I love hearing these first-hand details that makes sense out of seemingly absurd radio history. thanks!
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