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WSPT (97.9 FM) is a radio station that is licensed to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States and serves the Stevens Point-Wisconsin Rapids area. The station is owned by Richard L. Muzzy, through licensee Muzzy Broadcast Group, LLC and broadcasts a classic hits format.

History

The station first signed on May 1, 1961, as WSPT-FM. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it was a dominant top 40 station in the Wausau-Stevens Point market, originally simulcasting its AM sister station WSPT (1010 AM). In April 1968, Peter A. Bernard sold WSPT-AM-FM to Sentry Corp., a subsidiary of Stevens Point-based Sentry Insurance, for $465,000. The simulcast ended in late 1977 when WSPT (AM) flipped to country music as WXYQ; the FM outlet retained the top 40 format and adjusted its call sign to WSPT. Through the early 1990s, WSPT's ratings were second only to Wausau-based rival WIFC.

In October 1993, the station switched to an adult contemporary (AC) format, branding itself as "Sunny 98". By the middle of the decade, this was adjusted to a modern AC presentation as "Today's Music Revolution, 98 WSPT"; in 1996, the station changed its call sign back to WSPT-FM. In the 2000s, WSPT-FM segued to hot AC as "97.9 WSPT". In 2005, the station flipped to ABC Radio's fledging syndicated adult hits format, "Jack FM", reverting to the "97.9 WSPT" branding when it flipped to oldies featuring programming from The True Oldies Channel. In 2012, the station dropped the -FM suffix to become simply WSPT. Later, On June 30, 2014, WSPT segued to a classic hits format.

Syndicated programming on WSPT includes America's Greatest Hits, a weekly show hosted by Scott Shannon.

References

1. "Call Letter Origins". Radio History on the Web.
2. "Facility Technical Data for WSPT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
3. "Welcome to Muzzy Broadcasting". Muzzy Broadcasting.
4. "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S." (PDF). 1963 Broadcasting Yearbook. 1963 Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1963. p. B-205. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
5. "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. April 15, 1968. p. 122. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
6. "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. October 10, 1977. p. 85. Retrieved June 8, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 2104 (WSPT) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WSPT in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

• Radio stations in Wisconsin
• Classic hits radio stations in the United States
• Radio stations established in 1961
• 1961 establishments in Wisconsin