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WFGY (98.1 FM, "Froggy 98.1") is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Altoona, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Seven Mountains Media, through licensee Southern Belle Media Family, LLC, and broadcasts a Froggy-branded country format.

WFGY is the flagship station of the Froggy Radio network of stations in the region, which also includes WFGI-FM (Froggy 95.5 on 95.5 MHz), licensed to serve Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and WFGE (Big Froggy 101.1 on 101.1 MHz), licensed to serve State College, Pennsylvania.

WFGY is a grandfathered “superpower” station. While the station’s effective radiated power (ERP) is within the maximum limit allowed for a Class B FM station, its antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) is too high for its ERP according to current FCC rules.

Sister stations

The sister stations of WFGY in the Altoona market are 100.1 WALY, 103.9 WQWY, 104.9 WRKY-FM, 1290 WFBG, and 1430 WTNA.

History

Beginnings as WFBG-FM

The Federal Communications Commission granted Triangle Publications, Inc. a construction permit for the station on April 8, 1959, with the WFBG-FM call sign. The station signed on October 17, 1960, and was granted its first license on March 26, 1962.

On September 20, 1972, the FCC granted a voluntary reassignment of the station's license to The Gilcom Corporation.

The station was best known for being Blair County's exclusive easy listening station, primarily automated, like others of its day. However, change would come by the start of the 1990s.

Switchover to Froggy

On April 2, 1991, the station's call sign was changed to WFGY. Forever of PA, LLC (Forever Media) purchased the station on July 31, 1996, with the sale consummating on August 31, 1996. The station adopted the "Froggy 98" branding while changing format to country music. The station became known for its colorful presentation, with jingles resembling a frog's croak (or, as they proclaimed, "ribbit"), as well as the even more colorful names assigned to its on-air staff. The station also promoted a family-friendly image and did station giveaways catering to families.

Among the on-air names used at Froggy by the DJs over the years were Roger Ribbit, Web Foote, Holly Hopper, Jeff Jumper, Davey Croak-it, Cricket, Tad Pole, Pete Moss, Polly Wogg, Kellie Green, Steve "The Frogman" Kelsey, Jumpin' Jim, JoJo, Leapin' Lily, and James Pond.

Sale to Seven Mountains Media

It was announced on October 12, 2022, that Forever Media was selling 34 stations, including WFGY and the entire Altoona cluster, to State College-based Seven Mountains Media for $17.3 million. The deal closed on January 1, 2023.

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for WFGY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. "FM Broadcast Station Classes and Service Contours". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
3. Smith, D. (July 5, 2013). "Superpower FMs". w9wi.com. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
4. ^ "History Cards for WFGY". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
5. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 (PDF). 2010. p. D-459. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
6. "Call Sign History [WFGY]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
7. "ASSIGNMENT OF PERMIT/LICENSE". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
8. "SEVEN MOUNTAINS MEDIA TO ACQUIRE 34 STATIONS FROM FOREVER MEDIA". RadioInsight.com. October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
9. "Seven Mountains Media-Forever Media Deal To Close Jan. 2". October 12, 2022.

External links

• Froggy 98
• Facility details for Facility ID 743485 (WFGY) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WFGY in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

• Radio stations in Altoona, Pennsylvania
• Country radio stations in the United States
• Radio stations established in 1960
• 1960 establishments in Pennsylvania
• Seven Mountains Media