WFNZ

Infobox Radio station
name = WFNZ


city = Charlotte, North Carolina
area = Charlotte/Metrolina
branding = 610 AM
airdate = 1941 (as WAYS)
owner = CBS Radio
frequency = 610
format = Sports Talk
website = http://www.wfnz.com/
callsign_meaning = "The Franchise"|

WFNZ (610 AM) is a Sports Talk radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It also operates a semi-satellite, WFNA, at 1660 kHz.

History

WFNZ signed on in 1941 as WAYS (AM). For much of the 1960s through early 1980s, it was Charlotte's top-rated Top 40 station under the moniker "61 Big Ways." The morning show was aired on both WAYS and sister FM WROQ, and among the WROQ/WAYS DJs to become major celebrities were Robert Murphy, later the WKQX Chicago morning host, and actor Jay Thomas. Larry Sprinkle, a WCNC-TV morning weather personality, also worked at the stations [Jeff Borden, "Disc Jockeys to Reunite Here," "The Charlotte Observer", October 7, 1988.] . In 1984, it became WROQ (AM) and simulcast its then-FM sister station (now WNKS). [http://thatwasradio.com/ways.html, Retrieved on 2008/05/07.] In 1986, it changed its calls to WAES (a phonetic version of the old calls) with an oldies format, briefly bringing back its old "61 Big Ways" moniker [WROQ Changes WAYS - It's WAES Now," "The Charlotte Observer", June 27, 1986.] . However, it failed to make much headway in the ratings. With the debut of Magic 96.1, something else had to be done. After 18 months of the Oldies Channel satellite format, WAES began airing the "AM Only" adult standards satellite format (even older oldies, in other words) during the day, and talk show hosts Bruce Williams, Neil Myers and Larry King at night [Jeff Borden, "Station Turns to Larry King, Oldies," "The Charlotte Observer", June 18, 1988.] . It brought back the WROQ calls in 1990, playing an album rock format similar to the one its FM sister used in its glory days [Tim Funk, "WROQ Monkeys with Its Format," "The Charlotte Observer", January 20, 1990.] . In 1991, it became WGKL, simulcasting its FM sister's oldies format [Tim Funk, "WPEG Pumps Up Its Power, "The Charlotte Observer", February 15, 1991.] . Later in 1991, it became WAQS (another phonetic play on its old calls) while keeping the oldies format.

Finally, in September 1992, it became Charlotte's first ever all-sports station as "Sports 610 AM WAQS." Gerry Vaillancourt, formerly of WCNT, debuted the station's first local sports talk program on September 14 [David Poole, "AM Station to Go All-Sports," "The Charlotte Observer", August 26, 1992.] . Another local host was Mickey Conley, who now goes by her real name Michelle Tafoya [David Poole, "Charlotte Was Launching Pad for 2 Rising Stars," "The Charlotte Observer" June 7, 1995.] .The format took a while to take hold, but it got an assist when it was sold to the owners of popular rock station WRFX and became known as WRFX-AM (Fox 610 Sports). When WRFX was bought by Clear Channel, AM 610 was sold to American Radio Systems and renamed WFNZ in 1995. The ARS deal reunited it with its former longtime FM sister.

On April 1, 1996, Vaillancourt moved to WBT. One reason was that at WFNZ, he would have had to give up his role in Charlotte Hornets broadcasts [David Poole, "Gerry Vaillancourt," "The Charlotte Observer", March 8, 1996.] .

WFNA went on the air in 2003, after the FCC expanded the AM radio band. It replaced CBS-owned gospel station WGIV (1600 AM), which left the air. (The WGIV call letters are now on a different station in the Charlotte area, under different ownership.)

The two stations simulcast for part of the broadcast day and have separate schedules for part of the day.

WFNZ operates the second-strongest signal in the Charlotte area, at 5,000 watts (which is stronger at 610 AM than it would be farther to the right on the AM dial). During the day, it provides at least grade B coverage to 35 counties in North and South Carolina. However, it doesn't travel as far as 5,000-watt stations in other states due to the region's poor ground conductivity. At night, it must power down to 1,000 watts, making it hard to hear even in some parts of Mecklenburg County and all but unlistenable in the South Carolina portion of the market.

WFNZ runs a tailgate prior to Carolina Panthers home games at the station's "Doghouse" located near Bank of America Stadium.

In November 2008, the station went through a scheduling change when the station lost it's syndication of The Bill Rosinski Show after the Charis Radio Network cancelled the show. Instead of picking up syndication from Sporting News Radio or ESPN Radio, the station added a one hour show featuring Chuck Howard and added an hour to the "Mac Attack" show. On Wednesday October 1, 2008, Howard announced that he was leaving the station to become the producer for NASCAR Media Group. A new show featuring Frank Garcia and Brentson Buckner is scheduled to debut on October 6, 2008.

Personalities

Current Hosts and Producers

* Gary Williams: Co-host of "The Morning Sports Page"
* Jim Celania: Co-host of "The Morning Sports Page"
* Mark Yarbro: Producer of "The Morning Sports Page"
* Tom Reilly: Producer of "The Morning Sports Page"
* Frank Garcia: Co-host of "The Frank and Buck Show"
* Brentson Buckner: Co-host of "The Frank and Buck Show"
* Chris McClain: Host of "The Mac Attack"
* T-Bone: Producer of "The Mac Attack"
* JR Gump: Producer of "The Mac Attack"
* Mark Packer: Host of "Primetime with the Packman"
* QCB: Producer of "Primetime with the Packman"
* The Hitman: Producer of "Primetime with the Packman"
* Jay: Producer of "Primetime with the Packman"

Former

* Chuck Howard
* Bill Rosinski
* Hayseed
* Sandy Penner
* The B.O.C. with Shawn and Tony
* Tom Carey

how Descriptions

Morning Sports Page

The Morning Sports Page is WFNZ's morning show. The show airs every weekday from 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Gary Williams and Jim Celania host the show with the help of their producers Tom Trudow and Mark Yarbro. Every Wednesday at 9:25 Chris McClain of the "Mac Attack" joins the Morning Sports Page for a Panther "Pep Rally." Other popular segments include Jim's Hat of the Day, Mark's Pop Culture Icon of the Day, and the Goats of the Weekend. Frequent guests to the Morning Sports Page are ESPN's Jay Bilas and Trey Wingo, Gary Danielson from CBS, Steve Byrnes of FOX and the Speedchannel and Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers.

The Mac Attack

The "Mac Attack" is the station's mid day show. The "Mac Attack" is hosted by Chris McClain and the show's wacky producers JR Gump, and T-Bone also contribute to the show. JR Gump frequently interrupts with his stuttering pro Hilary Clinton political views, useless facts and predictions for his beloved Tar Heels, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Penguins. T-Bone frequently drops callers who are Tar Heel and Panther fans and interrupts the show with stories about how he almost got laid (chubbz?). Frequent guests to the "Mac Attack" include TNT's Nascar pit reporter Marty Snider, Mike Florio from ProFootballTalk.com, Brentson Buckner, the ladies from WCCB and the honorary grandfather of the show Doug from Lawndale. At the end of the show, McClain and T-bone drop in late hits where they update the audience on that day's weird sports and entertainment news. Gump used to have a late hit as well but it was dropped because the listeners to the "Mac Attack" voted that they do mankind a favor and eliminate Gump's late hit. When McClain is away on vacation the show loses the bulk of its audience because the substitute host, T-Bone, and Gump let the station's most annoying caller Chapel Hill Clarence host and take over the show. McClain, T-Bone, and Gump made their television broadcast debut on WCCB in the spring of 2008. In June 2008, Mac and his most devoted "Mac Slackers" challenged the Charlotte Eagles to a soccer scrimmage to prove that in order to play soccer, you do not have to be an athlete which the mac slackers lost to the Charlotte Eagles 16 to 0.

Primetime with the Packman

Primetime with the Packman is the afternoon drivetime show on WFNZ. The show is hosted by Mark Packer and has two daily co-hosts. Some frequent co-hosts to the show are Mike Gminski, Steve Israel, Corey Miller, Frank Garcia, and Cedric Maxwell. Primetime also has its famous "The Diamonds Direct Whiner Line."

QCB

The QCB has two comic relief segments on Primetime with the Packman. In his first segment, QCB picks games against the spread against a caller to the show. QCB is labeled as the "kiss of death" because of his bad luck in picking games. QCB then rants on a variety on sports and entertainment subjects for the rest of his two segments. In addition to his contributions to the "Primetime with the Packman" show, QCB has a daily video blog called "QCB Unleashed" on his WFNZ web page. QCB is an accomplished comedian and has performed at the Laugh Factory in New York City.

Frequent Skits performed by QCB are:

* The CIAA Fact of the Day
* Garinger High School Pep Talk
* March Madness Couch
* "Thugs" QCB mentions which athletes and rappers have been mentioned in the daily police blotter.
* QCB Recommends (QCB goes head to head with Charlotte columnist) Thomas Torrence.
* QCB's Thug Life Word Of The Day
* Fowler Uncovered Files: QCB rants on Scott Fowler's columns in the Charlotte Observer

Daily/Weekly Segments

Jim's Hat of the Day

Jim Celania of the "Morning Sports Page" always wears a hat while doing the talk show. Everyday at 7:30 A.M. Jim announces to the audience what hat he is wearing that specific day.

Yarb's Pop Icon of the Day

Everyday at 9:30 A.M. on the "Morning Sports Page," Mark Yarbro mentions a famous past or present pop culture icon.

Panther Pep Rally

Every Wednesday during the N.F.L. season at 9:35 A.M., Jim Celania of the "Morning Sports Page" Chris McClain of the "Mac Attack" attempt to rally fans of the Carolina Panthers for the upcoming game. Each week they debate whether Chris Harris or Charles Godfrey had a better game at the safety position and they have a "Peppers Sack Countdown" to count the number of quarterback sacks Julius Peppers has during the season.

Gump's Word of the Day

Everyday at 11:50 A.M. Gump from the "Mac Attack" gives listeners a daily vocabulary lesson.

T-Bone's Babe of the Day

Everyday at 1:50 P.M. T-Bone from the "Mac Attack" tells listeners his babe of the day.

Hitman's Cub Icon of the Day

Tony the Hitman mentions a Cub Icon everyday at 5:50 PM.

QCB's Thug Life Word of the Day

Every day, the QCB give his "Thug Life Word of the Day" to help listeners understand the life of thugs. Some examples of "Thug Life Words" are Police, Jordans, Angry, Timberlands, Five-Dollars, Free, Corner, Porch,Guns, Ghetto, Rich, Forties, Madden, Trouble, T-Shirts, Rims, Scarface, Begging, Lazy, Drama, and Booth

Fowler Uncovered Files

Fowler Uncovered or better known as the "F.U. files" is QCB's most famous segment on Primetime with the Packman. In this segment, QCB mocks and rants at Scott Fowler's columns in the Charlotte Observer. This segment started after QCB read Fowler's columns on air during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. These articles were ridiculed by both Mark Packer, QCB and the co-hosts on the show. After the Olympics ended, this segment was introduced due to the sheer popularity of QCB and Packer's ripping the local paper. Here is an example of an F.U. file;

Fake Scott Fowler:"The experts say you should only consume 2000 calories a day not me i eat too many fruits. I love pears, plums, juicy peaches, and i crave bananas."

QCB: "Wait a minute, hold on, i crave blizzards at Dairy Queen. Let me tell you something, I crave a certain dish I would like my wife to cook. But Corey Miller, I'm a grown man I ain't craving no damn bananas. But wait theres more!"

Fake Scott Fowler: "I guess I'm just a fruity guy. I like fruit cocktail, fruit cake, fruit mixed in my salad. Oh no you won't see me consume 2000 calories a day, my seedless red grapes won't allow me to."

QCB: "Now wait a minute Corey Miller, Fruit mixed in a salad, man this guy is sick. But wait theres moreI"

Fake Scott Fowler:"And I gotta tell you my favorite fruit dish of all is fruity pebbles as good as fruity pebbles taste can we blame barney..(interrupted by Pack telling him to end the segment) but wait there's more, Tomorrow Maybe!!"

References

External links

* [http://www.wfnz.com WFNZ official website]
* [http://www.wfnz.com/QCB/1552771 QCB's official page on WFNZ's website]
* [http://www.myfoxcharlotte.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=5850140&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1 The Mac Attack visits WCCB]
* [http://www.thatwasradio.com/ways.html History of the station]
*AMQ|WFNZ
*AML|WFNZ
*AMARB|WFNZ