WBPT

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WBPT
City of license	Homewood, Alabama
Broadcast area	Birmingham
Branding	106-9, the Eagle
Slogan	Birmingham's Home for Classic Hits
First air date	October 16, 2001 (adopted current call sign)
Frequency	106.9 MHz
Format	Classic Hits
ERP	100,000 watts
Class	C0
Callsign meaning	Birmingham’s PoinT (refers to the station’s former name)
Owner	Cox Radio
Website	www.birminghamseagle.com

WBPT is a classic hits FM radio station licensed to Homewood, Alabama that serves Birmingham and central Alabama. Since October 2005, it has been called “106.9 the Eagle.” The station is owned by Cox Radio. Other stations in the market that Cox owns include WBHJ-FM (95.7), WNCB-FM (97.3), WBHK-FM (98.7), WZZK-FM (104.7), WAGG-AM (610) and WPSB-AM (1320). Its transmitter is located atop Red Mountain in Birmingham.

[edit] History

The 106.9 frequency has been the home of several formats and sets of call letters throughout its history. It signed on in the 1950’s as WBRC-FM and was co-owned with WBRC-TV Channel 6 and WBRC-AM (960, now WERC). Throughout the 1960’s the FM station simulcasted the AM station. In 1972, both the AM and FM radio stations were sold by Taft Broadcasting to Mooney Broadcasting; as a result, the call letters of the radio stations were changed to WERC-AM and FM. The AM station flipped from “middle of the road” music (a precursor to today’s adult contemporary format) to Top 40. The FM station repeated the AM station’s daytime programming, while at night it was played album-oriented rock.

In 1977, the broadcast facilities of WERC-FM were upgraded, and the call letters were changed to WKXX. In August of that year, WKXX became the first Top 40 station on the FM dial in Birmingham with the name Kicks 106. Within two years, Kicks 106 was the top-rated radio station in Birmingham, dethroning the longstanding ratings leader, WSGN-AM, the Big 610 (now WAGG). The success of Kicks 106 eventually forced both WSGN and its AM sister station “96-ERC” to abandon their Top 40 formats.

Throughout the late ’70’s and early ‘80’s, WKXX was the dominant FM Top 40 station in Birmingham. As late as 1983, Kicks 106 was the top rated station in Birmingham. This success continued until 1985, when WAPI-FM (I-95) became the second station in the market with the format. By 1987, Kicks 106 modified its format, playing a hybrid of Top 40 and urban crossover music, positioning itself between I-95 and urban station WENN. Initially, the altered format was successful. However, in 1989 the station returned to a straight Top 40 format with the new name X-106. The X-106 format and nickname were not well-received, and in 1990, the station changed its on-air name to “the Power Cow, Kicks 106”, returning to the Top 40/urban hybrid.

In June 1991, WKXX abandoned its Top 40 format and became “Real Country 106.9”, WBMH. Some six months later, the call letters were changed to WIKX and the Kicks 106 named reappeared (in fact, many of the old Top 40-era Kicks jingles were used), but the station was still playing country music.

In October 1992, 106.9 took on its sixth set of call letters, becoming WODL “Oldies 106.9”. The station continued in this format until October 2001, when the oldies format moved from 106.9 to 97.3, which was (and is) co-owned by Cox Radio. At this time WBPT debuted on 106.9, calling itself “106-9 the Point”, playing an all-‘80’s music format. The Point was never a very successful station, and in October 2005 the ‘80’s format was dropped in favor of classic hits and the station’s current name, 106-9 the Eagle. The station plays hits of the ‘70’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s from artists such as Phil Collins, Styx, Boston, the Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[edit] External links

• Official Website of 106-9 the Eagle
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WBPT