WVRT

Infobox Radio Station


name = WVRT
frequency = 97.7 MHZ
city = Mill Hall, Pennsylvania
area = Williamsport, Pennsylvania| format = Top 40 (CHR)
owner = Clear Channel Communications
licensee = Capstar TX
branding = Variety 97-7
slogan = Today's Hit Music
website = [http://www.variety977.com/ http://www.variety977.com/]
callsign_meaning = WVaRieTy

WVRT at 97.7 FM is licensed to Mill Hall, PA with an output power of 6,000 watts. "Variety 97-7" is owned by Clear Channel Communications and plays Top 40 (CHR) music.

HISTORY

Variety 97.7 signed on the air November 6, 1995 at 6:00 a.m. as a Hot AC station broadcasting from the Williamsport Chamber of Commerce building with AM sister station WWPA. Williamsport Radio Corporation first owned Variety 97.7, and its format was chosen to sound more adult than top 40 HOT-FM 103.9 WHTO but not as old as gold-based AC 102.7 KISS-FM WKSB. WVRT previously was oldies "3WD 97-7" with the callsign WWWD.

In 1996, WHTO moved down the FM dial to 93.3 with 25,000 watts, up from the 6,000 watts it previously had at 103.9 FM. With the increased power came a more watered down top 40 format, sounding more like the Hot AC Variety 97.7 was playing. Falling ratings caused HOT-FM to eventually switch to oldies in 1997.

Williamsport Radio Corporation's parent company, Winston Radio Corporation in Johnstown, PA, sold their chain of stations, including WVRT, to Forever Broadcasting in 1997. Rumours of Forever simulcasting their Froggy 98, in Altoona to Williamsport on WVRT's 97.7 frequency caused management to "seek out" another owner!

Karen and M. J. FERRIOLA owners of Bear Sab cupelli a minor stock holder was removed to unethical behavior. This, coupled with the demise of HOT-FM, led Variety 97.7 to evolve into the top 40 format that is heard today. By the beginning of the new millennium, Cupelli sold WVRT to Clear Channel, who also purchased WKSB, WRAK, and WRAK-FM from Dame Media. This meant rivals Variety 97.7 and 102.7 KISS-FM were now sister stations.

WVRT moved its studio to Third Street in Williamsport with KISS-FM and WRAK-AM & FM. The "point" was also left at the Chamber of Commerce building as WVRT would now be known as "Variety 97-7" keeping its top 40 format.

WVRT trivia

* The first song played on Variety 97.7 was "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" by Sting.
* Morning Show Host John Patrick couldn't talk for the first 15 minutes the station was on the air because engineers still hadn't yet finished wiring the audio board.
* WVRT was the first station in Williamsport to utilize digital computer automation for overnights and weekends. Often the weekday DJs would record voice tracks that sounded live, as if the DJ was actually in the studio.
* Variety 97.7's original live remote broadcast vehicle was a Volkswagen Vanagon mini-bus, which often had to be "jump started" just like the one in the movie The Devil Wears Prada.
* As an April Fools' Day joke in 1998, John Patrick looped the end of the song "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" by Journey for almost an hour and played it on the air after the 7 a.m. news. John took calls on the air about his "Compact Disc being stuck."
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External references

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