WRUF-FM explained

WRUF-FM
City:Gainesville, Florida
Area:Gainesville/Ocala area
Branding:Country 103.7, The Gator
Airdate:1948
Format:Country
Erp:100,000 watts
Haat:234 meters
Class:C1
Facility Id:66575
Coordinates:29.7094°N -82.3944°W
Callsign Meaning:Radio from the University of Florida
Affiliations:Compass Media Networks
Premiere Networks
Westwood One
Owner:University of Florida
Sister Stations:WUFT-TV
WUFT-FM
WRUF-LD
WRUF (AM)
Webcast:Listen Live
Website:1037thegator.com
Licensing Authority:FCC

WRUF-FM (103.7 MHz) is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Gainesville, Florida, United States, the station serves the Gainesville/Ocala area. The station is currently owned by the University of Florida.[1] The station has been on the air since 1948.

Although the station is owned by a public university, the station, like AM sister WRUF, is operated as a commercial station in contrast to sister station WUFT-FM.

WRUF-FM has been a country station since October 2010.

History

Prior to 1981, WRUF played beautiful music and classical music under the moniker "Stereo 104," except for a Saturday-night disco music program from 1979-1980 called "Studio 104."

WRUF played a Top 40 style hit radio format from 1981 to 1983. The hit radio format was adopted because another local FM station, had recently switched to playing hits on the FM with great success. The hit format had previously been played for many years on WRUF-AM, so technically, it was an easy switch, though many of the important powers at the University disfavored putting pop music on the FM.

WRUF became an album-oriented rock station identified as "Rock 104" beginning in 1983.

On October 11, 2010, the University announced that WRUF-FM would switch to a country music format in the near future. The "Rock 104" name and format will move to an internet-only station.[2]

On October 15, 2010 WRUF-FM made the format change from rock to country, branded as "Country 103.7, The Gator".

Current Operations

Under the direction of Director of Programming Rob Harder, Operations Coordinator Brett T. Holcomb, and Sports Director Steve Russell, "The Gator" also serves as the home for Florida Gators football, men's basketball, and Sunday baseball.

WRUF-FM programs the Bobby Bones morning show from 6-10 am followed by midday personality Jessie Roberts, Justin Tyler in afternoons, and The Big Time with Whitney Allen in the evenings. WRUF-FM is the only "new country" formatted radio station in the Gainesville-Ocala radio market targeting adults 18–49 years of age.

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WRUF-FM Facility Record . United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division .
  2. Web site: UF putting country on 103.7 FM, moving rock online . Crabbe, Nathan . 11 October 2010 . The Gainesville Sun . 11 October 2010.
  3. http://www.richfields.tv Rich Fields, official site
  4. Web site: ASHLEY AND BRAD | G Networks .
  5. http://www.bradabrell.com Brad Abrell, official site