WFOA

{{Short description|Spanish-language contemporary hit radio station in Baltimore}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WFOA

| city = Baltimore, Maryland

| country = US

| area = Baltimore metropolitan area

| frequency = {{frequency|1230|kHz}}

| branding = {{lang|es|Maxima 94.3FM}}

| language = Spanish

| format = Contemporary hit radio–Latin pop–reggaeton–regional Mexican–tropical music

| owner = Julio Arquinio

| licensee = BMax Media LLC

| airdate = {{start date and age|1941|3|1|p=y|br=yes}}

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WITH (1941–2006)|WRBS (2006–2025)}}

| licensing_authority = FCC

| facility_id = 25527

| class = C

| power = {{val|600|u=watts|fmt=commas}}

| coordinates = {{coord|39|18|6|N|76|34|9|W|region:US-MD_type:landmark}}

| translator = {{Radio Relay|94.3|W232CL|Baltimore}}

| webcast = {{listenlive|https://maxima943fm.com/}}

| website = {{URL|https://maxima943fm.com/}}

}}

WFOA (1230 kHz) is a AM radio station broadcasting a Spanish contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Baltimore, Maryland, the station serves the Baltimore metropolitan area. The station is owned by Julio Arquinio's BMax Media LLC.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=WFOA |title=WFOA Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}{{cite web|url=https://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SU08&band=fm&callLetter=WRBS|title=WRBS Station Information Profile|publisher=Arbitron}}

The station went on the air in 1941, as WITH. It became WRBS, a Christian talk and teaching sister station to WRBS-FM, in 2006, and WFOA in 2025.

History

=WITH=

WITH went on the air on March 1, 1941, operating 24 hours a day with 250 watts power on 1200 kHz.{{cite news|title=Baltimore's New Local|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/41-OCR/1941-01-01-BC-OCR-Page-0016.pdf|access-date=April 23, 2017|work=Broadcasting|date=January 1, 1941|page=16}} It was owned and operated by Thomas Garland Tinsley and his family.{{cite news|last1=Burman|first1=Howard|title=Tom Tinsley Launches WITH, Balto, With ASCAP and Joe Katz' Help|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety142-1941-03#page/n38/mode/1up|work=Variety|date=March 5, 1941|page=39}} Opening ceremonies included "a broadcast from the stage of the Maryland Theater, featuring seven songwriters represented by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Musicians, which was fighting with the radio networks over copyrights."{{cite web|title=Thomas Tinsley, began radio station WITH-AM|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/02/01/thomas-tinsley-began-radio-station-with-am/|website=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=April 23, 2017}}

=WRBS=

In 2006, the Peter and John Radio Fellowship, Inc. acquired WITH and changed its call sign to WRBS. The fellowship's existing FM station then became WRBS-FM.

As WRBS, the station aired Christian talk and teaching programs, such as David Jeremiah, John MacArthur and Alistair Begg, and live call-in shows like The Ramsey Show.

=WFOA=

Brighter Media Group sold WRBS to Julio Arquinio's BMax Media in October 2024 for $375,000.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Station Sales Week Of 10/25 |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/285081/station-sales-week-of-10-25/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=RadioInsight |date=October 25, 2024}} The new owners changed the call sign to WFOA on February 6, 2025.{{cite web |last1=Arquinio |first1=Julio |title=Form 380 - Transfer/Assignment Request |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/amDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076f9193dc1c720193e5669f25118f&id=25076f9193dc1c720193e5669f25118f&goBack=N |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=February 9, 2025 |date=December 20, 2024}} The previous WRBS programming continues to air on the second HD Radio channel of WRBS-FM.

References

External links

[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=61145 FCC History Cards for WFOA]

Category:1941 establishments in Maryland

Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 1941

FOA