WAXA (1200 AM; "Maxima 97.3/95.7") was a radio station which broadcast a Spanish-language Tropical hits format. Licensed to Pine Island Center, Florida, United States, the station served the Fort Myers area. The station was last owned by Fort Myers Broadcasting Company.

WAXA
Broadcast areaFort Myers, Florida
Frequency1200 kHz
1460 kHz WNPL (Golden Gate)
BrandingMaxima 97.3/95.7
Programming
FormatDefunct (was Spanish Tropical Hits)
Ownership
OwnerFort Myers Broadcasting Company
WNPL, WINK-FM, WINK-TV, WTLQ-FM
History
First air date
February 20, 1986
Former call signs
WDCQ (1986–1995)
WTLQ (1995–1999)
WINK (1999–2003)
WPTK (2003–2010)
WINK (2010-2013)
WJUA (2013-2018)
Call sign meaning
"Maxima"
Technical information
Facility ID48329
ClassB
Power750 watts day and night
Transmitter coordinates
26°42′52″N 82°2′46″W / 26.71444°N 82.04611°W / 26.71444; -82.04611 (WINK)
Translator(s)97.3 MHz - W247CR (Pine Island Center)
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitemusicaalmaximo.com

History edit

WAXA signed on February 20, 1986, as WDCQ, offering an oldies format.[1] It had changed to a talk format by 1992.[2] Fort Myers Broadcasting Company bought the station in 1995, with the sale not being completed until October 1996;[3] soon afterward, the call letters were changed to WTLQ.

In 1999, the station swapped call letters with 1240 AM and became WINK; four years later, WINK was moved back to 1240, and 1200 became WPTK,[4] offering a separate talk lineup from that offered on WINK. The format was changed to tropical music in October 2005, with some of WPTK's programming being absorbed into WINK's schedule.[5] Another format change, this time to sports talk, followed in August 2008; programming was largely provided by Fox Sports Radio.[6]

WNPL signed on in 2009 to improve the station's coverage in the southern end of the market.[7]

The news format was adopted August 2, 2010.[8] To reflect the "WINK News Radio" branding, the WINK call sign was again moved from 1240 AM (which became WFSX) on August 26.[4]

On September 2, 2013, WINK dropped the news/talk format and adopted their current Spanish adult Hits format as Juan 1200. "Juan" is basically the Spanish-language version of Jack FM, both distributed by SparkNet Communications. WINK also changed their callsign on September 3, 2013, to match the new format as WJUA. It also simulcast on WNPL 1460 AM.

On January 19, 2018, the station changed its call sign to WAXA. On January 22, 2018, WAXA rebranded as "Maxima 97.3/95.7".[9] Fort Myers Broadcasting surrendered WAXA's license to the Federal Communications Commission, who cancelled the license on May 21, 2021. Due to that, W247CR started simulcasting the HD2 subchannel of WINK-FM

Former programming edit

On weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., WINK had an all-news format; the station also carried WINK-TV's 5 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. newscasts. Originally locally produced, by February 2012 WINK's news blocks (outside of WINK-TV simulcasts) began to be supplied by the Talk Radio Network-produced America's Radio News Network.[10]

Outside of its news blocks, the station carried the syndicated talk shows The Dave Ramsey Show, and Red Eye Radio. Weekend programming included WINK-TV's weekend morning newscasts, additional syndicated and brokered talk shows, Bloomberg Radio, and Meet the Press.

During its all-news programming, WINK used the resources of WINK-TV, The News-Press, and the Naples Daily News for local news. It also carried CNN Radio newscasts, as well as financial reports from MarketWatch.[8]

The station aired Florida Gators football.[11] WPTK served as the flagship station for the Florida Everblades ECHL hockey team during the 2009–2010 season;[12] the station dropped the team after determining that Everblades coverage did not fit the "WINK News Radio" identity.[13]

Other sports broadcasts carried by WPTK as a sports station include Florida State Seminoles football,[6] South Florida Bulls football,[6] the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (all now on WBCN), the Florida Firecats,[14] and spring training games of the Minnesota Twins.[15]

Former logos edit

 

 

References edit

  1. ^ Broadcasting/Cable Yearbook 1989 (PDF). 1989. p. B-67. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 10, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  2. ^ "Itemized Contributions for Candidates, Political Committees, and Committees of Continuous Existence" (PDF). p. 47. Retrieved August 26, 2010. An entry refers to "WDCQ Talk 1200".
  3. ^ "Application Search Details". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  5. ^ "WPTK-A/Ft. Myers Flips To Spanish". All Access. October 24, 2005. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c Hardwig, Greg (August 28, 2008). "New sports radio station AM-1200 goes on the air at noon Thursday". Naples Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  7. ^ "Fox Sports Radio 1200/Ft. Myers Adds Second Signal". All Access. May 21, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Layden, Laura (July 14, 2010). "WINK will launch AM news radio station on Aug. 2". Naples Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  9. ^ WJUA Fort Myers Rebrands as Commercial Free Maxima Radioinsight - January 22, 2018
  10. ^ Green, Bill (February 3, 2012). "STAY TUNED: Oliver goes from anchor to politics; more reader comments". Marco Eagle. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  11. ^ "WINK News Radio Adds Gators". All Access. July 26, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  12. ^ "Blades officially announce radio broadcasts will move to Fox Sports Radio". Naples Daily News. August 19, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  13. ^ Wommack, Woody (August 4, 2010). "Florida Everblades left searching for radio partner after Fox Sports Radio format switch". Naples Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  14. ^ "Firecats to broadcast games on Fox Sports 1200 WPTK". Naples Daily News. March 26, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  15. ^ "WPTK-A/WNPL-A Inks Minnesota Twins For Spring Training Games". All Access. March 3, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.

External links edit