Today in Wheeling History: September 18 — “Biggie 96.5” WBGI-FM and “Jack FM” WYJK-FM, both serving the Wheeling area, swapped call signs, with 96.5 FM in Moundsville becoming WYJK-FM “Jack FM,” a predecessor to the current WRQY “Rage 96.5” (2012).
On September 18, 2012, a notable shift occurred in the Wheeling-area radio landscape when WBGI-FM and WYJK-FM swapped call signs. This change followed a format swap that had taken place a week earlier, on September 10, 2012, when “Biggie 96.5,” a country music station, moved from 96.5 FM in Moundsville to 100.5 FM in Bellaire, Ohio. In turn, “Jack FM,” known for its variety hits format, transitioned from 100.5 FM to 96.5 FM. The call sign swap on September 18 officially aligned the branding with the new frequencies: WBGI-FM became WYJK-FM and vice versa. This move was part of a broader strategy to optimize signal strength and market reach, with the country format gaining a stronger Class B signal in Bellaire. The 96.5 FM frequency, now WYJK-FM, would later undergo further transformations. In 2014, it rebranded as “Rocky 96.5” with a hybrid sports/rock format, and in 2021, it evolved into “Rage 96.5,” an active rock station. Today, WRQY 96.5 FM continues to serve the Wheeling area with a bold rock identity, reflecting a decade of dynamic changes in local radio broadcasting.
To learn more: WRQY Wikipedia page (https://tinyurl.com/9e3wbv8h), RadioInsight article on the format swap (https://tinyurl.com/3ukc4v8d), WRQY history on Wikiwand (https://tinyurl.com/4c45huu2)
Photo caption and credit: Photo of the broadcasting facility for WRQY-FM 96.5 "Rage 96.5," a rock radio station serving the Wheeling, West Virginia area from Moundsville. Located at 56325 High Ridge Rd in Bellaire, Ohio, the station's transmission building features a distinctive satellite dish, alongside a sign displaying the logos of multiple radio stations in "The River Network," including WQVB, Rage 96.5, River Talk, and Big WVLY 103.5. An American flag flies prominently in the foreground, emphasizing the station's community presence. WRQY operates as a Class A FM station with 2,500 watts of power and has undergone several format and call sign changes since its inception, evolving from country music's "Biggie 96.5" through "Jack FM" and "Rocky 96.5" before becoming today's active rock station "Rage 96.5." (Google Maps)
On September 18, 2012, a notable shift occurred in the Wheeling-area radio landscape when WBGI-FM and WYJK-FM swapped call signs. This change followed a format swap that had taken place a week earlier, on September 10, 2012, when “Biggie 96.5,” a country music station, moved from 96.5 FM in Moundsville to 100.5 FM in Bellaire, Ohio. In turn, “Jack FM,” known for its variety hits format, transitioned from 100.5 FM to 96.5 FM. The call sign swap on September 18 officially aligned the branding with the new frequencies: WBGI-FM became WYJK-FM and vice versa. This move was part of a broader strategy to optimize signal strength and market reach, with the country format gaining a stronger Class B signal in Bellaire. The 96.5 FM frequency, now WYJK-FM, would later undergo further transformations. In 2014, it rebranded as “Rocky 96.5” with a hybrid sports/rock format, and in 2021, it evolved into “Rage 96.5,” an active rock station. Today, WRQY 96.5 FM continues to serve the Wheeling area with a bold rock identity, reflecting a decade of dynamic changes in local radio broadcasting.
To learn more: WRQY Wikipedia page (https://tinyurl.com/9e3wbv8h), RadioInsight article on the format swap (https://tinyurl.com/3ukc4v8d), WRQY history on Wikiwand (https://tinyurl.com/4c45huu2)
Photo caption and credit: Photo of the broadcasting facility for WRQY-FM 96.5 "Rage 96.5," a rock radio station serving the Wheeling, West Virginia area from Moundsville. Located at 56325 High Ridge Rd in Bellaire, Ohio, the station's transmission building features a distinctive satellite dish, alongside a sign displaying the logos of multiple radio stations in "The River Network," including WQVB, Rage 96.5, River Talk, and Big WVLY 103.5. An American flag flies prominently in the foreground, emphasizing the station's community presence. WRQY operates as a Class A FM station with 2,500 watts of power and has undergone several format and call sign changes since its inception, evolving from country music's "Biggie 96.5" through "Jack FM" and "Rocky 96.5" before becoming today's active rock station "Rage 96.5." (Google Maps)
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