WCHR-FM (105.7

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...

), known as "105.7 The Hawk", "Classic Rock for the Jersey Shore, 105.7 The Hawk" or in reverse "105.7 The Hawk, Classic Rock for the Jersey Shore", is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

Manahawkin, New Jersey Manahawkin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Stafford Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States.

, with a

classic rock Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, primar ...

format Format may refer to: Printing and visual media * Text formatting, the typesetting of text elements * Paper formats, or paper size standards * Newspaper format, the size of the paper page Computing * File format, particular way that informatio ...

. It is owned by

Townsquare Media Townsquare Media, Inc. (formerly Regent Communications until 2010) is an American radio network and media company based in Purchase, New York. The company started in radio and expanded into digital media toward the end of the 2000s, starting wi ...

Coverage area

WCHR-FM is the most powerful FM station in the Monmouth/Ocean market and can be heard as far west as the city of

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

and

Bucks County, Pennsylvania Bucks County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Doylestown. The county is named after the Englis ...

, as far north as

Wall Township, New Jersey Wall Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. It is located in the New York Metropolitan Area and is a bedroom community of New York. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 26,164, refle ...

, and as far south as Ocean City. The WCHR-FM antenna is co-located with 92.7

WOBM-FM WOBM-FM (92.7 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station known as "Ocean County's Hometown Station," licensed to Toms River and serving Ocean County, New Jersey. It airs an adult contemporary radio format. From late November until December 25 each y ...

and 104.1

W281CK WOBM (1160 AM broadcasting, AM) is a radio station city of license, licensed to Lakewood Township, New Jersey and broadcasting a country music format. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and serves the Monmouth County, New Jersey, Monmouth ...

on a tower located in Bayville.

History

On May 16, 1997 sign on the air as WAQB. On December 19, 1997 the call letters were changed to WNJO. WCHR-FM is not affiliated with WCHR, a Trenton radio station that currently broadcasts on 920 AM with a

religious Religion is usually defined as a social system, social-cultural system of designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morality, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sacred site, sanctified places, prophecy, prophecie ...

format; however, both stations were formerly owned by

Nassau Broadcasting Nassau Broadcasting Partners LP was a company based in Princeton, New Jersey that owned radio stations in New England and the Mid-Atlantic United States. Nassau's stations, which included both AM and FM frequencies, were located in Maryland, New J ...

. The WCHR call letters were originally associated with the Trenton station broadcasting at 94.5 FM, using a religious format (CHR standing for

Christian Radio Christian radio is a Christian media radio format that focus on programming with a Christian message. Many such broadcasters play contemporary Christian music, though many programs include sermons, radio dramas, as well as news and talk progra ...

). In February 1998, WCHR began simulcasting on 920 AM, and on March 2, 1998, 94.5 FM changed callsigns to WNJO as it changed format to oldies. For more on the 94.5 frequency, see the

WPST WPST (94.5 FM, "94-5 PST") is a commercial radio station licensed to Trenton, New Jersey, airing a CHR format known as "94-5 PST". Owned by Townsquare Media, the station serves Central Jersey, the Delaware Valley, Philadelphia and its northern ...

page. 105.7 was a construction permit that Nassau acquired in 1998. When WCHR's religious unit moved to AM 920 from 94.5 FM, the permit on 105.7 picked up the WCHR-FM call letters. 105.7 never employed the religious format. It did not sign on until 2000. On march 14, 2002, WCHR-FM with simulcast of 98.5

WBBO WBBO (98.5 FM, "B98-5") is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Hit Radio format. Licensed to Ocean Acres, New Jersey, it serves Ocean & Burlington counties in New Jersey. It first Sign-on On March 10, 1993. 1993 under the call sign WQN ...

. On April 15, 2002, 98.5 WBBO ended simulcast. 105.7 The Hawk is sign-on the airwaves. The first song played was "

Born in the U.S.A. ''Born in the U.S.A.'' is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Bruce Springsteen, released by Columbia Records on June 4, 1984. It topped the charts in nine countries, including the US and UK, becoming his most commercially su ...

" by

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...

. The under general manager Don Dalesio and Nassau's vice president of programming Michelle Stevens, Nassau originated The Hawk exclusively for the Jersey Shore. They brought in veteran program director Jim Spector who, in turn, hired ''The Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show''. Nassau gave Millennium Radio the option to buy the station in the deal that transferred the ownership of WJLK-FM, WOBM-FM, WBBO-FM, WADB and WOBM in June 2002. Nassau operated WCHR until its sale was completed a year later in July 2003. In 2010, 105.7 the Hawk agreed to broadcast all regular season New York Jets football games. The Hawk began broadcasting from a new facility in downtown Toms River on January 30, 2013.

References

External links

* {{coord, 39.716, N, 74.292, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title CHR-FM Classic rock radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1998 Stafford Township, New Jersey Townsquare Media radio stations 1998 establishments in New Jersey