Update 8/1: As it prepares to flip to ESPN Radio, 100.5 WAPI-FM has changed call letters to WJQX. The station will officially be branded as “JOX 2: 100.5 ESPN” to tie into the branding of sister 94.5 WJOX-FM.
That move could lead to ramifications for Townsquare Media’s 99.1 WDGM Tuscaloosa. The station, branded as “99.1 The Deuce“, airs some programming from WJOX dating back to when it was also owned by Cumulus. Townsquare has registered a number of domains related to the hometown Alabama Crimson Tide for the station: 991TheTide.com, 991RollTide.com, 991Tide.com, BamaSports991.com, RollTide991.com, TheTide991.com, Tide991.com, TideRadio991.com, and TideSports991.com.
Original Report 7/24: Cumulus Conservative Talk “100 WAPI” will break its AM/FM simulcast with 100.5 WAPI-FM Helena flipping to Sports as “ESPN Radio 100.5“.
The move will bring the ESPN affiliation back to the market just as the biggest personality in Birmingham prepares to debut his new regionally syndicated show for ESPN. Paul Finebaum’s program will return to sister 94.5 WJOX-FM, while 100.5 will carry the national feed including Mike & Mike and Colin Cowherd. ESPN had been heard on Summit Media’s “97.3 The Zone” WZNN and “107.3 The Ticket” 1320 WENN/W297BF until those stations changed formats earlier this month.
The Talk format of WAPI will continue on 1070 WAPI Birmingham. The AM station operates with 50kW daytime and 5kW at night. The station began simulcasting on 100.5 in February 2010.
The move of WAPI back to AM only was first reported by the Birmingham News earlier this afternoon before being confirmed on Twitter by morning host Matt Murphy.
