WUIN (FM)
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WUIN
| logo = WUIN-FM Penguin radio logo.png
| city = Oak Island, North Carolina
| area = Wilmington, North Carolina
| branding = 98.3 The Penguin
| frequency = 98.3 MHz
| airdate = 2000
| format = Adult album alternative
| erp = 18,500 watts
| haat = {{convert|116|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = C3
| facility_id = 48626
| coordinates = {{coord|33|57|40|N|78|01|37|W|type:landmark}}
| callsign_meaning = W The PengUIN
| former_callsigns = WAZO (1998–2004)
WSFM (2004–2011)
| affiliations =
| owner = Thomas Davis
| licensee = Davis Media, LLC
| sister_stations = WNTB
| webcast =
| website = [http://www.983thepenguin.com 983thepenguin.com]
| licensing_authority= FCC
}}
WUIN (98.3 MHz, "The Penguin") is an American FM radio station broadcasting an adult album alternative format. Licensed in Oak Island, North Carolina, the station serves the greater Wilmington, North Carolina, area.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WSFM |title=WSFM Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }} The station, originally established in 2000, is currently owned by Thomas Davis, through licensee Davis Media, LLC. WUIN features a broad variety of styles including reggae, blues, jazz, Americana, rock, soul and hip-hop.[http://www.1067thepenguin.com/index.php 106.7 WUIN, The Penguin FM - Home]
History
In 2000, Ocean Broadcasting LLC, which owned Wilmington radio stations WLGX, WRQR and WMFD, started a CHR radio station at 98.3 FM, licensed to Oak Island, North Carolina. Broadcasting at the equivalent of 25,000 watts from a 400-foot tower near Southport, and serving Brunswick and New Hanover counties, WAZO "Channel Z" played artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sugar Ray, Will Smith, the Backstreet Boys, Dave Matthews, TLC, Jennifer Lopez and Santana.Cory Reiss, "3 Companies Compete for Listeners; Less Static Expected on Area Dial As Radio Stations Debut," Star-News, May 26, 2000."New FM Radio Station Takes to Airwaves," Star-News, July 25, 2000.Daniel Thigpen, "Turn on the Radio," Star-News August 7, 2000.
In July 2004, NextMedia Group purchased WKXB and WSFM from Sea-Comm Inc., and WRQR, WAZO, and WMFD from Ocean Broadcasting LLC.Bonnie Eksten, "Ocean Broadcasting, Sea-Comm Stations Sold to NextMedia - New Owner to Operate Locally," Star-News, July 14, 2004. The sale meant two big changes for Surf: the move to 98.3 FM, and the end of the controversial Lex and Terry, replaced with "The Mad Max Morning Show with Special K," based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. WAZO moved to 107.5 FM, former home of WSFM.Amy Hotz, "Radio Changes Bring Two New Morning Teams," Star-News, September 20, 2004.
The station was a finalist for Radio and Records magazine's 2007 Industry Achievement Award for best Alternative Station for markets 100 and up. Other finalists include WKZQ-FM, WJSE, WBTZ, KQXR, and KXNA.{{cite news |work=Radio and Records |title=2007 Industry Achievement Awards |url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/con2007/awards/altFinal.asp |date=September 28, 2008 |access-date=April 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511182511/http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/con2007/awards/altFinal.asp |archive-date=May 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
In July 2008, Capitol Broadcasting announced its purchase of NextMedia's Wilmington stations.{{cite web |url=http://www.wral.com/business/story/3215727/ |title= Capitol Broadcasting acquires seven radio stations in deals worth nearly $13M|website=www.wral.com |date= 16 July 2008|access-date=2008-09-22}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}
On December 31, 2010, Surf 98.3 went off the air. Brian Schimmel of Sunrise Broadcasting said the frequency was purchased by Sea-Comm Media, which moved the programming of WUIN to 98.3. A new station called "Coastal Carolina's Modern Rock 98.7" took its place.{{cite news|url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20101201/ARTICLES/101209967/1002?Title=Surf-98-3-changing-to-Coastal-Carolina-8217-s-Modern-Rock-98-7|title=Surf 98.3 changing to Coastal Carolina's Modern Rock 98.7|last=Royal|first=Judy|work=Star-News|date=2010-12-01|accessdate=2010-12-08}}
Effective September 10, 2014, WUIN, WNTB, and WUDE were purchased from Sea-Comm by Davis Media, LLC, at a price of $1.5 million.
References
External links
- [http://www.983thepenguin.com/ WUIN official website]
- {{FM station data|48626|WUIN}}
- [http://wuin.wilmington.nc.amfibi.com/us/c/7970733-wuin/ Business directory listing]
{{Wilmington (NC) Radio}}
Category:Adult album alternative radio stations in the United States