WBFA (98.3 FM, "98.3 The Beat") is a radio station broadcasting an mainstream urban format.[3] Licensed to Fort Mitchell, Alabama, the station is owned by J. Christopher Martin, through licensee RCG Media, LLC,[4] and features programming from Westwood One and Premiere Radio Networks.[5] Its studios are in Columbus, the second largest city in Georgia. The station is east of downtown, and its transmitter is outside Fort Mitchell, Alabama.

WBFA
Broadcast areaColumbus, Georgia
Phenix City, Alabama
Frequency98.3 MHz
Branding98.3 The Beat
Programming
FormatMainstream Urban
AffiliationsWestwood One, Premiere Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner
  • J. Christopher Martin Program Director Angela AP Peterson
  • (RCG Media, LLC)
History
First air date
2004
Former call signs
WAGH (1987–2007)[1]
Call sign meaning
The Beat
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID43093
ClassA
ERP6,000 watts
HAAT100.0 meters
Transmitter coordinates
32°21′48″N 85°03′06″W / 32.36333°N 85.05167°W / 32.36333; -85.05167
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Website983thebeat.com/

Programming

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WBFA changed from Contemporary Hit Radio to Urban Contemporary music on September 9, 2004, and has been in its current format since that change. Current personalities and programming includes the Morning Hustle morning show, A.P. "The Mid-Day Diva", Jay King' on afternoon drive, plus DJ Cashflow. Angela AP Peterson has been program director and music director since 2017.

History

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In September 2004, WAGH, then known as WBFA, flipped from a contemporary hit radio format branded as "B101" to a mainstream urban format branded as "The Beat".[6] In September 2007, this format, branding, and the WBFA call letters were swapped with sister station WAGH.

The station was assigned the WBFA call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on September 4, 2007.[1]

In July 1998, adult contemporary music formatted WAGH ("Magic 98") was purchased by M&M Partners Inc. for a reported $2 million to become the fifth station in that ownership group's Columbus cluster.[7]

WBFA, along with sister station WSHE, officially joined the Aloha Station Trust on August 4, 2008.[8]

On November 24, 2017, after being in the Aloha Trust for 8 years, WBFA was bought by RCG Media for $1.1 million.[9] The sale was consummated on January 24, 2018.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBFA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "WBFA Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. ^ "Aloha Station Trust" (PDF). Radio & Records.
  5. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  6. ^ "B101 changes 'The Beat', station switched to urban format". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. September 9, 2004. p. L1.
  7. ^ "Georgia Radio Purchase Establishes Dominant Player". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. July 2, 1997.
  8. ^ "Aloha Station Trust" (PDF). Radio & Records.
  9. ^ "Station Sales Week Of 11/24: iHeart Says Aloha To WBFA Columbus GA". RadioInsight.
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