After stunting all weekend with Christmas Music, iHeartMedia has flipped Classic Hip Hop “Throwback 96.5” 1270 WTLY/96.5 W243EG Tallahassee FL to Sports “96.5 The Spear“.
The move marks the return of Sports talk to the Tallahassee market since Horizon Broadcasting Company’s Sports “ESPN Tallahassee” 97.9 WTSM Woodville was sold to Christian operator Radio Training Network last year.
WTLY will carry the national Fox Sports Radio lineup and Florida State University play-by-play.
iHeartMedia Tallahassee announced today the debut of the new 96.5 THE SPEAR – Tallahassee’s Sports Radio, effective immediately.
Tallahassee is home to a variety of elite sports programs, both high school and college, and iHeartMedia is giving Tallahassee what it is missing – 96.5 The SPEAR – Tallahassee’s Sports Radio. With the market’s already established partnerships with FSU and Learfield, “The Spear” name symbolizes iHeartMedia Tallahassee’s commitment to the fans, alumni, athletes, coaches, and faculty of one of America’s best universities. 96.5 THE SPEAR can be heard on 96.5, iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio app.
“Tallahassee has been without a full-time sports radio station for over a year,” said Paul Rogers, Market President for iHeartMedia Tallahassee. “The fans deserve a radio station that highlights the numerous elite athletic programs here, and 96.5 THE SPEAR is that station. We just staked our claim on the sport’s real estate here in Tallahassee, and now it’s time to build the stadium with the support of Tallahassee sports fans.”
Full Programming Lineup:
6 a.m. to 9 a.m. “2 Pros and a Cup of Joe”
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. “The Dan Patrick Show”
12 p.m. to -3 p.m. “The Herd with Colin Cowherd”
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. “The Doug Gottlieb Show”
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. “The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard & Rob Parker”
Original Report 8/13: iHeartMedia has dropped its Classic Hip Hop “Throwback 96.5” 1270 WTLY/96.5 W243EG Tallahassee FL and is stunting with Christmas music ahead of debuting a new format on Monday, August 15.
Sweepers indicate that the station will continue to serve as the home of Florida State University sports perhaps giving an indication of what the new format will be.
The Classic Hip Hop format had debuted in July 2019. The station dropped to a 0.9 share in the Spring 2022 Nielsen Audio Ratings.
As an aside, the station’s “Under Construction” logo is one of the most creative we’ve come across.
