WOWI

Infobox Radio Station
name = WOWI


area = Norfolk/Virginia Beach
branding = "103 Jamz"
slogan =
airdate = 1948
frequency = 102.9 (MHz) HD Radio
102.9 HD-2 for Urban Streets
format = Mainstream Urban
erp = 50,000 watts
class =
owner = Clear Channel Communications
sister_stations = WCDG, WJCD, WKUS
webcast = [http://www.103jamz.com/cc-common/streaming_new/index.html Listen Live]
website = [http://www.103jamz.com/ http://www.103jamz.com/]
callsign_meaning = W O W I (former brand name "Wowee")

WOWI, known on the air as "103 Jamz", is a radio station in Hampton Roads, Virginia, United States. It plays music in the Mainstream Urban genre, focusing on hip-hop and R&B. From the early 1990s until 2002, WOWI had been Hampton Roads' #1 rated radio station, when it was surpassed by rival station WKUS. It started broadcasting digitally with iBiquity's HD Radio technology in March 2005, the first station to do so in the Hampton Roads market. Its transmitter is located in Chesapeake, Virginia.

History

WOWI began operations in 1948, as the 102.5 frequency as WRVC, a relay for WRVB & WRVA in Richmond. It carried the CBS Radio programs until 1952, when WTAR switched affiliation. WRVC then relayed WRVB because WTAR had the CBS affiliation. It later moved to 102.9 frequency in the 1960s. In 1975, it became AOR-formatted as WOWI, "102.9 WOWee". Former program director Bishop Willis had the employees of the former format escorted out of their studios on Colonial Avenue, but some were literally thrown out. WOWI changed from AOR in early 1975 to its current format as an Urban Contemporary, known then on as "Hot 103"", In the mid-80's Willis sold the station to Philadelphia-based Ragan Henry Broadcasting. While the same format was kept, its name was changed to "103 Jamz"" late in 1989. Ragan Henry was later absorbed by Clear Channel who still owns tne station. Today WOWI is a monster in the ratings as an urban -- even when competitors WNVZ (Rhythmic), WVKL (Urban AC) and WWHV (Now a Sports Talk outlet) came into the market later on. WOWI is paired with Urban AC sister WKUS, which is why WOWI tilted its Urban format to mainstream for this reason.

The "Supreme Team" morning drive show was the highest rated timeslot for the station since 1988. However, in March 2004, Clear Channel dumped the local "Supreme Team" show after 14 years on the air. Instead it carried the nationally syndicated Doug Banks Morning Show, which moved from sister station WBHH-turned WCDG when the format changed from Mainstream Urban to Oldies. The market didn't agree with the move and the arrangement didn't last long as ratings fell. In Fall 2004, the station reintroduced a local morning drive show, "The Boodah Brothers Show" hosted by former afternoon jocks DJ Law and Big B.

External links

* [http://www.103jamz.com/ WOWI Web site]