WYOS

On December 17, 1946, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a construction permit to The Binghamton Broadcasters, a group run by Andrew Jarema and Frank H. Altdoerffer, to start a new radio station on 750 kHz in Binghamton. It would operate with 1,000 watts during daytime hours only.{{r|hc}} The station made its debut as WKOP on July 15, 1947, from studios on the fourth floor of 34 Chenango Street; it was affiliated with the Mutual Broadcasting System.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77474773/the-southern-tiers-new-radio-station/|title=The Southern Tier's New Radio Station WKOP Will Begin Operations Tuesday, July 15|date=July 12, 1947|page=15|work=Binghamton Press|accessdate=May 11, 2021|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512134407/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77474773/the-southern-tiers-new-radio-station/|url-status=live}} In order to broadcast at night, WKOP obtained a construction permit to move to 1360 kHz, with nighttime broadcasts at 500 watts,{{r|hc}} and moved there in June 1950.{{Cite news|title=WKOP Will Begin Night Broadcasts At 1360 Tuesday|page=5|work=Binghamton Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77534726/|date=June 13, 1950|accessdate=May 11, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032449/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77534726/wkop-will-begin-night-broadcasts-at/|url-status=live}} Daytime power increased to 5,000 watts in 1955.{{r|hc}} WKOP launched WKOP-FM, which initially aired Rural Radio Network programming, in 1954;{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77537670/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=March 10, 1954|first=Tom|last=Cawley|page=25|work=Binghamton Press|title=Matter of Fact|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032436/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77537670/matter-of-fact/|url-status=live}} it also expressed interest in television, but the FCC denied its bid to add VHF channel 7 to the market in 1952.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77537794/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=April 15, 1952|page=17|work=Binghamton Press|title=FCC Denies WKOP Use Of Channel 7|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032424/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77537794/fcc-denies-wkop-use-of-channel-7/|url-status=live}}

Jarema became the controlling shareholder in 1961 when he purchased another 45 percent in the company from Altdoerffer.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77534364/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|title=Jarema Gets Control Of WKOP|page=27|work=The Evening Press|date=June 8, 1961|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032424/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77534364/jarema-gets-control-of-wkop/|url-status=live}} By 1972, the station was established as a country music outlet.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77534910/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|title=Frank Dolan Is Hanging Up His Microphone|page=1-B|work=The Sunday Press|first=Tom|last=Cawley|date=December 17, 1972|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77534910/frank-dolan-is-hanging-up-his-microphone/|url-status=live}}

In 1973, Jarema sold the station to Connecticut-based Royal Industrial Corporation, which in turn spun off the FM station, which became WAAL. Royal, however, missed payments on the purchase, and in October 1974, Jarema was appointed receiver and resumed management duties.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77481674/wkop-reins-back-to-jarema/|title=WKOP Reins Back to Jarema|page=14-A|work=The Evening Press|date=October 25, 1974|accessdate=May 11, 2021|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512084642/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77481674/wkop-reins-back-to-jarema/|url-status=live}} Just days after his appointment, WKOP sustained damage when a fire was set in the Weeks and Dickinson music store in which it had been housed since its launch.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77481703/cant-guess-fire-loss-yet-store-owner/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=October 28, 1974|page=5-A|work=The Evening Press|first=Bud|last=Ayres|title=Can't Guess Fire Loss Yet, Store Owner Says|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512084654/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77481703/cant-guess-fire-loss-yet-store-owner/|url-status=live}} The fire, it turned out, had a direct connection to the station: it had been started by a 21-year-old Johnson City man, Michael Fullman, who had briefly been a DJ as "Mike Eldredge" on WKOP in 1973.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77481798/man-accused-in-fire-among-42-indictments/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|title=Man Accused In Fire Among 42 Indictments|first=Ciro|last=Scotti|page=5-A|work=The Evening Press|date=October 28, 1974|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060323/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77481798/man-accused-in-fire-among-42-indictments/|url-status=live}} Fullman was convicted of arson and sentenced to three years in state prison.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77481959/jc-man-guilty-of-arson-gets-up-to-3/|page=5-A|date=February 27, 1975|title=JC Man Guilty of Arson, Gets Up to 3 Years in Jail|accessdate=May 11, 2021|work=The Evening Press|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512003425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77481959/jc-man-guilty-of-arson-gets-up-to-3/|url-status=live}}

Jarema was able to sell WKOP out of receivership to Southern Tier Broadcasters, Ltd., owned by Raymond Ross and Clark Cook, in 1977.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-01-03.pdf|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=January 3, 1977|page=82|work=Broadcasting|title=Ownership Changes|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308041722/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-01-03.pdf|url-status=live}}

Southern Tier Broadcasters sold the station to the owners of WAAL, Regional Broadcasters Group, in 1981 after receiving what Ross called "an offer we couldn't refuse".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77535418/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=August 21, 1981|work=The Evening Press|page=3-A|title=WKOP sold to WAAL-FM|first=Gene|last=Grey|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77535418/wkop-sold-to-waal-fm/|url-status=live}} Regional's ownership of WKOP was marked by changes in the Binghamton radio market. In 1982, WENE flipped to country and tried to make a run at WKOP; when rumors circulated that an FM station was about to join the format, WKOP decided to leave. On Christmas Day 1983, WKOP became oldies "K-Gold".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77535721/radio-stations-keep-shuffling/|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77535761/ 10A]|first=Kevin|last=Maney|date=February 19, 1984|accessdate=May 11, 2021|work=The Sunday Press|title=Radio stations keep shuffling|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060038/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77535721/radio-stations-keep-shuffling/|url-status=live}} Ratings were poor, and listeners continued to associate the WKOP call sign with country music, so in December 1985, the station tried to solve two problems at once: it adjusted its music mix and changed its calls to WRSG, for "Rock Solid Gold".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77536055/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|title=WKOP gets new identity|first=Gene|last=Grey|page=1D|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|date=December 8, 1985|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032429/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77536055/wkop-gets-new-identity/|url-status=live}}

In the late 1980s, WRSG saw its ratings slide due to the adoption of an oldies format by an FM station. As a result, on October 29, 1990, the station flipped to a financial news format and adopted the call letters WBNK the next year.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77536519/|title=AM radio hitting a sour note|pages=8B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77536686/ 7B]|first=Fred|last=Williams|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|date=December 24, 1990|accessdate=May 11, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77536519/am-radio-hitting-a-sour-note/|url-status=live}} Advertising revenue remained steady, while ratings ticked up slightly, though not enough to pull the station from last place in the market.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77536764/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|first=Fred|last=Williams|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|date=May 1, 1991|title=Business news station takes aim at rich niche|page=8B|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77536764/business-news-station-takes-aim-at-rich/|url-status=live}}

In 1992, WBNK dropped its business format, returned to country music, and reclaimed the WKOP call letters.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1992-07.pdf#page=7|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=July 8, 1992|page=1|title=Format Changes & Updates|work=M Street Journal|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309181700/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1992-07.pdf#page=7|url-status=live}}

Regional Broadcasting opted to sell all four of its radio stations in 1996 to Wicks Broadcasting, which divested itself of two stations but kept the Binghamton pair of WKOP and WAAL.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77538215/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=September 10, 1996|work=Latrobe Bulletin|agency=Associated Press|title=Radio Stations Being Sold|page=3|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032426/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77538215/radio-stations-being-sold/|url-status=live}} Wicks already owned three stations in the Binghamton market.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77538356/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|page=10B|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|title=Banks, broadcasters consolidate, relocate|first=Phillip|last=Pina|date=December 13, 1996|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032426/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77538356/banks-broadcasters-consolidate/|url-status=live}}

The 16 Wicks radio stations were sold to Citadel Communications for $77 million in late 1998, by which time WKOP was airing an adult standards format.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1998/RR-1998-11-27.pdf|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=November 27, 1998|pages=1, 16|first=Jeffrey|last=Yorke|title=Citadel Buys 16 Wicks Stations For $77 Million|work=Radio & Records|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309131244/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1998/RR-1998-11-27.pdf|url-status=live}} Citadel then filed to swap WKOP to Titus Broadcasting Systems in order to acquire that company's WINR a year later.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-11-12.pdf|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=November 12, 1999|page=8|title=Transactions|work=Radio & Records|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309125824/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-11-12.pdf|url-status=live}} The move was proposed as a swap of the two stations' frequencies, even though they aired the same programming;{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77539249/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=February 12, 2000|title=Local radio stations may switch frequencies|first=Gene|last=Grey|page=1C|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032427/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77539249/local-radio-stations-may-switch/|url-status=live}} it never came to pass, with WINR being sold to Clear Channel Communications instead.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-2000-08.pdf#page=17|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=August 9, 2000|page=7|title=Elsewhere|work=M Street Journal|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309181653/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-2000-08.pdf#page=17|url-status=live}}

The WYOS call letters and the oldies format that accompanied them moved to 1360 AM when Citadel relaunched 104.1 FM as WWYL "Wild 104", airing a contemporary hit radio format, in February 2002.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77539631/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|date=April 9, 2002|first=Heather|last=Hare|title=Oldies are goodies for CD 100's new format|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|page=1C|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032431/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77539631/oldies-are-goodies-for-cd-100s-new/|url-status=live}} The oldies format was discarded in 2005, when WYOS became a progressive talk station.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77539834/|date=May 15, 2005|title=Radio changes its tune to recapture listeners|accessdate=May 11, 2021|agency=Gannett News Service|page=5D|first=Gary|last=Strauss|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032427/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77539834/radio-changes-its-tune-to-recapture/|url-status=live}}

In November 2006, WYOS adopted a sports radio format, initially using programming from ESPN Radio.{{cite news|url=https://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/061113/nerw.html|first=Scott|last=Fybush|date=November 13, 2006|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|title=Clear Channel Cuts Continue|accessdate=May 11, 2021|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060319/https://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/061113/nerw.html|url-status=live}} In 2012, Cumulus, which had acquired Citadel out of bankruptcy, transferred WYOS and its other Binghamton outlets to Townsquare Media as part of a 65-station swap.{{cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/57181/cumulus-townsquare-swap-65-stations/|accessdate=May 11, 2021|work=RadioInsight|first=Lance|last=Venta|date=April 30, 2012|title=Cumulus & Townsquare Swap 65 Stations|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512134415/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/57181/cumulus-townsquare-swap-65-stations/|url-status=live}} The following year, WYOS became an affiliate of the new CBS Sports Radio.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Townsquare Shuts Down Binghamton AM |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/247239/townsquare-shuts-down-binghamton-am/ |access-date=January 11, 2023 |work=RadioInsight |date=January 10, 2023 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111032930/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/247239/townsquare-shuts-down-binghamton-am/ |url-status=live }} As a CBS Sports Radio affiliate, WYOS' primary programming draws were the afternoon drive show co-hosted by Binghamton native Maggie Gray, and The Jim Rome Show.

Townsquare Media shut down WYOS on December 28, 2022, citing an "auxiliary transmitter failure". At the time of the shutdown, the station maintained a lower share of the Binghamton radio audience than WENE, the market's other sports radio station. Though Townsquare filed for special temporary authority to return the station to the air up to one year in the future, Townsquare also shut down the WYOS Web site, redirecting visitors to sister station WNBF. In a statement to the media, Townsquare's Binghamton cluster manager noted that WYOS was not selling nor airing local advertising at the time.{{cite news |last1=Ehmke |first1=Jim |title=Jim Rome fans lament, WYOS 1360 AM shut down |url=https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/top-stories/jim-rome-fans-lament-wyos-1360-am-shut-down/ |access-date=January 11, 2023 |work=WIVT |date=January 10, 2023}} The WYOS license was returned to the FCC on July 19, 2023,{{cite web |last1=Liberman |first1=Howard M. |title=Re: WYOS(AM), Binghamton, New York (Facility ID No. 7921) Cancellation of License |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f91896b1a2b0189718b187401be |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=July 21, 2023 |format=PDF |date=July 19, 2023}} and cancelled on July 20.{{cite web|url= https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=7921|title=License Cancelled|work=Federal Communications Commission Licensing and Management System|date=July 20, 2023|access-date=December 7, 2023}} The shutdown would be a harbinger of Townsquare's future strategy of shutting down underperforming AM stations that would accelerate in 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-14 |title=Twenty Cumulus & Townsquare Media Stations Cease Operations With More To Come |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/296690/twenty-cumulus-townsquare-media-stations-cease-operations-with-more-to-come/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=7921 Facility details for Facility ID 7921 (WYOS)] in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=62623 FCC History Cards for WYOS] (covering 1946-1981 as WKOP)

{{Binghamton Radio}}

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Category:Defunct radio stations in the United States

YOS

Category:Townsquare Media radio stations

Category:1947 establishments in New York (state)

Category:Radio stations established in 1947

Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2023

Category:2023 disestablishments in New York (state)

YOS