WPUP explained

WPUP
City:Watkinsville, Georgia
Area:Athens, Georgia
Branding:Power 100.1
Frequency:100.1 MHz
Airdate: (as WLOV-FM)
Format:Top 40 (CHR)
Erp:6,000 watts
Haat:88 meters
Class:A
Facility Id:51120
Licensing Authority:FCC
Former Callsigns:WLOV-FM (1970–1984)
WGPL (1984–1986)
WLOV-FM (1986–1998)

WXKT (1998–2008)
Owner:Cox Media Group
Licensee:Cox Radio, LLC
Sister Stations:WNGC, WGAU, WXKT, WGMG, WRFC
Webcast:Listen Live

WPUP (100.1 FM, "Power 100.1") is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format. Licensed to the Athens suburb of Watkinsville, it serves the Athens metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in Washington in 1970. It is currently owned by Cox Radio.[1] Its studios are located in Bogart, and its transmitter is in Royston.

History

Today's WPUP signed on June 1, 1970, as WLOV-FM in Washington, Georgia.[2] The station was co-owned with WLOV (1550 AM) and broadcast as a local station, carrying the WLOV-FM call letters except for a brief two-year period from 1984 to 1986.[3] On August 14, 1998, Cumulus Media purchased WLOV-AM-FM from P&T Broadcasting for $533,000.[4] In August 2008, WPUP was sold (along with sister stations WGMG, WNGC, WRFC, and WGAU) to Cox Radio in Atlanta.[5] [6] Cox swapped callsigns, moving WXKT to 103.7 and changing 100.1 FM to the current WPUP.[3] The two stations began simulcasting the "Bulldog" classic-rock format; WXKT 100.1 had previously programmed a "Real Country" format.

On September 30, 2009, WPUP dropped the "Bulldog" classic-rock format and began stunting as "Obama Government Controlled Radio at 100.1 FM".[7] Station identifiers claimed (jokingly) that the station has been taken over by the government: it intermittently simulcast the Hawaiian music format of KCCN-FM in Honolulu, played clips from speeches by President Obama, and played other music he might enjoy, such as the theme song to Shaft.

The WXKT callsign remains on 103.7 FM, which changed its city of license from Royston to Maysville and now programs variety adult hits for the Gainesville-Athens market.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WXKT Facility Record . United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division .
  2. News: WLOV-FM. February 6, 2020. 1990. Broadcasting Yearbook. B-88 (174).
  3. Web site: WPUP Call Sign History . United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division .
  4. Web site: Cumulus Media Inc. CMLS Annual Report (10-K). EDGAR Online. 1998-12-31. 2010-12-13.
  5. "Deals," Broadcasting & Cable, January 28, 2008.
  6. News: Cox Closes On Athens Cluster. allaccess.com. 2008-08-01. 2010-12-13.
  7. Web site: "Obama Radio" is the temporary stunt format at WPUP-FM, Athens, GA . October 1, 2009 . Radio-Info.com .