WEAT-FM

Infobox Radio Station
name = WEAT-FM

| area = West Palm Beach, Florida
branding = Sunny 104.3
slogan = The Best Variety of Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites
airdate = 1969
frequency = 104.3 MHz
format = Adult Contemporary
callsign_meaning = station was once referred to Easy 104
owner = CBS Corporation
sister_stations = WEAT, WIRK, WMBX, WNEW, WPBZ
"part of CBS Corp. cluster with TV stations WTCN-CA & WTVX"
website = [http://www.sunny1043.com/] |

WEAT, on-air known as Sunny 104.3, is a radio station licensed to the West Palm Beach, Florida market. It is owned by CBS Radio, and broadcasts at 104.3 FM.

WPEC-TV, Channel 12 and 850 WFTL once shared the WEAT call letters when they were owned by billionaire John D. MacArthur. The television station became WPEC when sold to Alexander W. Dreyfoos in 1973. WEAT-AM became WDJA in 1998 and became WFTL in 2003.

Timeline

1969 -- WEAT-FM broadcast an Easy Listening format as Easy 104." [cite news | title=WEAT'S Easy Listening Format is Tops in County, Ratings Show |author=Mike Wilson | publisher=Miami Herald |date=January 17, 1985] . The Program Director was Paul Dunn and the morning host was Dave Supple in the late 80s and early 90s.

August 1, 1986 -- WEAT-FM moves from 104.5 to 104.3 [cite news|title=Two Stations Get a Boost|publisher=Miami Herald|date=July 30, 1986|author: Linda Thornton]

March 23, 1992 -- WEAT-FM switches to Adult Contemporary. Les Howard, former program director at Broward's Joy 107 (now WAMR), assumed the same position at WEAT. Chuck Bennett, from WSSP in Orlando, is morning host with WEAT's first Female full time employee Pam Triolo (assistant Director of operations for Metro Networks previously and WXLO/WFGL Worcester, Ma morning News Director/ P.R. DIrector). [cite news|title=WEAT Changes Format, Pursues 25-To-54 Market|publisher=Sun-Sentinel|date=March 26, 1992 |author=Pat Curry]

Summer 1993 -- Tom Kelley from WMEE in Ft. Wayne, Indiana replaces Chuck Bennett at host of the morning show. Bennett left to start a production company in Melbourne, Florida. Tom Kelly joined mainstay Co-host Pam Triolo who went on to win numerous American Women in Radio and Television Tara awards for both On-air personality and Copywriter in 1994, 1995 and 1996. (Palm Beach Post, Thom Smith))Tom Kelly resigned and Pam Triolo continued to host WEAT morning's with Dick Shannon and finally Rob Early. Pam Triolo and Early brought WEAT to #1 in the spring book of 1995. WEAT's cumulative ratings were up 38%.

Fall 1995.. (Pam Beach Post, Wednesday July 26, 1995 by Mitch McKenney). -- Kevin Kitchens and Jennifer Ross join the station for mornings as the "Champions of Breakfast". The pair had been together at rival WRMF for more than a decade until Kitchens left for San Diego. The Palm Beach Post reported that Kitchen earned more than $200,000. [cite news|title=Broadcasting Merger Creates 30-Station Firm|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=August 29, 1995|author=Mitch McKenney] Upon the arrival of Kevin and Jennifer, Pam Triolo relocated to WEAT's new sister station WOLL for her first solo stint as midday announcer then afternoon drive DJ when the stations turned it's moniker to 94-3 the Beach.

Fall 1996... Pam Triolo resigns to start her own advertising and marketing agency [http://ficreates.com First Impressions Creative Services, Inc.] Still in existence in Lake Worth, FL as well as write and host the TV Show "What's For Dinner?" which enjoyed an 8 year run. March 1996 -- Midday host Sunny Quinn leaves after 3 1/2 years for WZZR's morning show. She left WZZR in March 1997 [cite news|title=Sunny Signs Off With WZZR-FM|publisher=Stuart News|date=March 19, 1997] and will later return to the midday time slot. [cite news|title=WZZR Adds Quinn To Lineup|publisher=Stuart News|date=March 16, 1996|author: Bob Betcher] Shortly after the station dropped the Sunday morning Jazz brunch program that Quinn had hosted, but returned it a week later with Kevin Kitchens as host. [cite news|title=WXEL Special To Focus on Martin Cattle, Citrus|publisher=Stuart News|date=March 31, 1996] Chad Perry became the midday host, and the syndicated Delilah After Dark program runs in the evening. [cite news|title=Some Odds and Ends on the Local TV Radio Beat|publisher=Stuart News|date=March 24, 1996|author=Bob Betcher]

September 1996 -- Chad Perry returns to evenings for and Delilah After Dark is dropped.

December 1996 -- Sunny drops Dave Koz's weekend jazz show. [cite news|title=A Decent Nighttime Single For WJNO Eyed For Stuart|publisher=Stuart News|date=December 1, 1996|author=Bob Betcher]

May 1997 -- Jon Howe moves to afternoons, Cassie Jacoby joins midday. [cite news|title=TV Reception Problems? Keep Eye Our For Squirrels|publisher=Stuart News|date=May 18, 1997|author=Bob Betcher ]

January 31, 1999 --- 'Midday host Cassie Jacoby quits over a contract dispute. [cite news
title=Jacoby Back on Stuart's WHLG-FM
publisher=Stuart/Port St. Lucie News
date=August 20, 2001
author=Bob Betcher]

February 3, 1999 -- Kevin Kitchens died of a heart attack. [cite news|title=Radio Host Kitchens of WEAT Dies|publisher=Stuart News|date=February 4, 1999|author=Bob Betcher] Jennifer Ross becomes morning show host and morning show producer, John Taylor is promoted to co-host. Danny Ingram begins as morning show producer for Jennifer and John. [cite news|title=How'd You Like to Find Garrison Keillor Sitting Under Your Tree Christmas Morning? |publisher=Fort Pierce News|date=December 10, 1999|author: Bob Betcher]

April 1999 -- Sunny Quinn returns to midday after traveling with Grand Funk Railroad for two years. [cite news|title=Celine Dion Cancels Concerts, Devotes Herself To Husband's Care|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=April 22, 1999|author=Thom Smith]

December 1999 -- Jon Howe replaces John Taylor on the "Champions of Breakfast" with Jennifer Ross.

January 2000: -- Tim Byrd joins station from WRMF. [cite news
title=WRMF's Byrd Flies To Sunny Side Of Street
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=January 20, 2000
author=Thom Smith]

April 2000 -- Jon Howe leaves the "Champions of Breakfast." Program Director Les Howard fills in as "Obi-Wan Jacoby". Howard's real last name is Jacoby.

September 2000 -- Jennifer Ross leaves to return to WRMF. [cite news|title=Book Medal to Honor Writer Ray Bradbury|publisher=Sun-Sentinel|date=September 26, 2000] Ross was forced off the air in April 2001 by Sunny 104.3. [cite news|title=Judge Orders Radio Personality Off The Air |publisher=Sun-Sentinel|date=April 28, 2001|author=Cheryl Wolfe and Matt Prichard] Pam Triolo is called in to fill in with Joe Martelle for a few weeks which eventually become a few months. She is offered the job of returning to Sunny as Morning Co-host but can't reach an agreement. Melanie Brenner eventually succeed to the "Champions of Breakfast"The Palm Beach Post reported that Brenner "mounted an active mail-in campaign to get the job but was never able to agree on a contract, returned from vacation two weeks ago and jumped to rival WRMF." [cite news|title=Village of Golf Awaits Edward, Prince of a Guy|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=February 2, 2001]

October 5, 2000 -- Sunny 104.3 is named station of the year and Les Howard Program Director of the year at the Billboard Radio Monitor Awards in New York. [cite news|title=J.D. 'Borrowed' Career in Radio|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=November 5, 2000]

February 2001 -- Lindy Rome replaces Melanie Brenner.

July 2002 -- Program Director Les Howard leaves the station.

April 2004 -- Joe Martelle loses his voice and is no longer able to continue hosting the "Champions of Breakfast." Program Director Rick Shockley replaces him. Lindy Rome was replaced by former WPTV television news reporter and anchor Rachele Scholes. The Palm Beach Post reported that Martelle's claim that that after his voice gave out, the station did not renew his contract. Station management says it wishes Joe well but will not comment further. Martelle has retained professional representation to make his case.

April 2005: -- A Palm Beach County jury Friday awarded Sunny 104.3 more than the $13.3 million the station's attorney had asked for after ruling that Jennifer Ross breached her contract by moving to rival station WRMF in September 2000. [cite news
title=Radio Host Will Appeal Verdict; Jury Awarded Station Millions For Her Defection
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=April 12, 2005
author=John Cote]

March 2006: -- Afternoon personality Tim Byrd leaves the station citing a "hostile and disrespectful" work environment and the "constant criticism" he has had to endure. His agent said Byrd had been working without a contract for two years and recently saw his bonus structure taken away. [cite news
title=Tyson Settles With Boynton Man For $275,000
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=March 16, 2006
author=Jose Lambiet]

November 2006 -- 2 weeks or so before thanksgiving :

Sunny 104.3 started doing month long of Christmas music along with Kool 105.5

January 2007 -- Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal reverses Sunny's verdict against Jennifer Ross on both liability and damages, citing numerous errors by trial court Judge Diana Lewis. [http://www.4dca.org/Jan2007/01-24-07/4D05-3888.op.pdf]

February 2007 -- Michelle Visage joins the "Champions of Breakfast."

Ownership History

WEAT was initially owned by billionaire John D. MacArthur, who owned WEAT-TV Channel 12 (now WPEC-TV) and WEAT-AM now WFTL. MacArthur sold both stations to sportscaster Curt Gowdy in 1975 for $1.5 million.

October 1986 -- Gowdy sold the stations the following year for an undisclosed price to J.J. Taylor Companies Inc. of North Dartmouth, Mass. [cite news|title=Curt Gowdy Sells Two Radio Stations |author=Marcia A. Pounds | publisher=Sun-Sentinel |date=October 11, 1986] .

October 1995 -- sold with WEAT-AM to OmniAmerica Group of Cleveland for an estimated $18 million. [cite news|title=A Wave Of Radio Sales Echoes The Sound Of Money|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=October 23, 1995|author=Mitch McKenney] May 1996 -- sold with seven other stations for $178 million to Chancellor Broadcasting Co. [cite news|title=Firm Buys 8 OmniAmerica Stations|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=May 16, 1996|author=Mitch McKenney]

June 1996 -- sold with WEAT-AM 850 and WOLL-FM 94.3 to American Radio Systems of Boston.

May 1997 -- sold with WKGR 98.7, WOLL 94.3, WBZT 1290 to Bud Paxon for $33 million. [cite news|title=Lost in Paxon Suffle, WEAT Is Still For Sale|publisher=The Palm Beach Post|date=December 15, 1997]

September 1997 -- Westinghouse (later CBS Corporation) purchases American Radio's 98 radio station for $1.2 billion. [cite news|title=Westinghouse Buy Includes Local Stations|publisher=Palm Beach Post|date=September 20, 1997|author=Julie Waresh]

Ratings

Winter 2004: 6.0 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Clear Channel, Independent Cut Into Infinity Radio Sahres
date=May 19, 2004
Author=Susan T. Port]

Summer 2003: 7.3 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Work of Channel 25 Reporter To Be Shown Aug. 22 on '20/20'
date=August 15, 2003
Author=Susan T. Port]

Winter 2003: 7.7 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Clear Channel, Independent Cut Into Infinity Radio Sahres
date=May 19, 2004
Author=Susan T. Port] cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Broadcast Vet Does Media Advice
date=May 9, 2003
Author=Susan T. Port]

Summer 2002: 9.1 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title='Closer' Expected To Break Even Soon
date=November 8, 2002]

Fall 2002: 8 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title='Orchids' Magazine Thinks Bigger, Colorfully
date=January 31, 2003]

Spring 2002: 8.6 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Infinity Broadcasting Stations Take Top 3 Spots In Local Radio
date=August 2, 2002
author=Susan T. Port]

Fall 2001: 7.4 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title='Orchids' Magazine Thinks Bigger, Colorfully
date=January 31, 2003]

Summer 2001:6.4 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Sunny 104.3 Stays Atop Ratings Heap
author-Dan Weil
date=January 31, 2003]

Spring 2001: 8.0 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Vessels Expected At Port's New Slip
author=Dan Weil
date=May 11, 2001 ]

Winter 2000: 8.2 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Vessels Expected At Port's New Slip
author=Dan Weil
date=May 11, 2001 ]

Spring 1999: 7.4 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Palm Beach Post
title=Radio Station Still No. 1 Despite Loss of DJ
date=May 8, 1999 ]

Fall 1998: 7.4 share, #1 in the market [cite news
title='Sunny' FM Stays On Top In Fall Radio Ratings
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=January 26, 1999]

Fall 1997: 9.2 share, #1 in market [cite news
title=Arbitron Radio Ratings Show Leaders Unchanged
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=January 26, 1998]

Summer 1997: 8.0 share, #1 in market [cite news
title=Summer Radio Arbitrons
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=October 22, 1997]

Spring 1997: 8.5 share, #1 in market [cite news
title=Spring Radio Arbitrons
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=May 6, 1997]

Fall 1996: 8.3 share, #2 in market. WRLX was #1 with 9.0 share. [cite news
title=Fall Radio Arbitrons
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=January 22, 1997]

Summer 1996: 7.2 share, #3 in market. WRMF was #1 with 8.2 share [cite news
title=Summer Radio Arbitrons
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=October 24, 1996]

Spring 1996: 7.2 share, #2 in market. WRMF was #1 with 7.8 share [cite news
title=Fairbanks Stations Top Winter Arbitron Ratings
publisher=The Palm Beach Post
date=May 1, 1996
author=Mitch McKenney]

Fall 1995: 9.3 share, #1 in market [cite news
title=WEAT-FM Tops Fall Fatings
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=January 17, 1996
author=Mitch McKenney]

Summer 1995: 6.4 share, 4th place in market. WRMF was #1 with a 7.7 share [cite news
title=Fairbanks Stations Claim 3 of Top 5 Positions in Summer Radio Ratings
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=October 27, 1995
author=Mitch McKenney]

Spring 1995: 8.3 share, #1 in market. Rob Early and Pam Triolo morning team enjoy big success. "these Numbers are pre-Kevin, pre-Jennifer," WEAT General Manager Dave D'Eugenio said. Kevin Kitchens had left WRMF and was joining Jennifer Ross on Sunny in the Fall as host of the "Champions of Breakfast" on Sunny 104.3. [cite news
title=WRMF Falls To Third In Radio Ratings |publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=July 26, 1995
author=Mitch McKenney]

Winter 1995: 4.6 share, #5 in market, WRMF was #1 [cite news
title=Arbitron Books Shows Spanish Stations Strong
publisher=Sun-Sentinel
date=July 31, 1995
author=Melissa Ruggieri]

Spring 1992: #1 in market after format change from Easy Listening "Easy 104" to Adult Contemporary Sunny 104.3 Pam Triolo joins Chuck Bennett in the mornings [cite news
title=Neil Rogers Back on Old Time Clock, Status Quo in Palm Beach
publisher=
date=June 1, 1992
author=Tom Jicha]

Spring 1991: #1 in market [cite news
title= Aircraft Noise Group Losing Quiet Support
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=May 13, 1991
author=Carolyn Susman] "'Fall 1990: #1 in market for 21st year in a row according to Marci Cooke, as reported in the Palm Beach Post. [cite news
title= Wellington Sign Proposal Revives Longtime Rivalry
publisher=Palm Beach Post
date=January 14, 1991
author=Carolyn Susman]

Summer 1990: 13.1 share, #1 in market

Spring 1990: 15.2 share, #1 in market [cite news
title= Radio Ratings
publisher=Sun-Sentinel
date=August 2, 1990
author=Tom Jicha]

Fall 1989: 17.8, #1 in market [cite news
title=WDZL Film a Non-Commercial Venture, Status Quo
publisher=Sun-Sentinel
date=January 12, 1990
author=Tom Jicha]

Summer 1989: 17.5, #1 in market [cite news
title=World Series Helps ABC End NBC's Raing Reign, Palm Beach Radio Survey
publisher=Sun-Sentinel
date=October 18, 1989
author=Tom Jicha]

Spring 1989: 16.7 share, #1 in market [cite news
title=Top Station Rocked From Ratings Roost
publisher=Sun-Sentinel
date=May 1, 1989
author=Tom Jicha]

Fall 1986: #1 in market [cite news
title=Sophia Playing Helen Boehn
publisher=Miami Herald
date=February 9, 1987
Author=Glenn Singer]

Fall 1985: 10.0, #2 in market, WRMF had an 11.3 share [cite news
publisher=Miami Herald
title=Top Station Rocked From Ratings Roost
date=January 18, 1986]

Spring 1985: 13.0 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Miami Herald
title=Top 10 Radio Stations
date=July 26, 1985]

Fall 1984: 14.4 share, #1 in market [cite news
publisher=Miami Herald
title=Top 10 Radio Stations
date=July 26, 1985]

References

External links

* [http://www.sunny1043.com Sunny 104.3 official website]