WYHT

WYHT (105.3 FM) is a radio station licensed to Mansfield, Ohio, United States, the station serves the Mid-Ohio area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.

History

The station signed on October 18, 1962 as a sister to now defunct 1140 AM WCLW located at 791 McPherson Street in Mansfield, Ohio and owned by Mansfield Broadcasting Inc owned by Frederick Eckardt. Simulcasting 100% of the AM station 105.3 aired a Mainstream Rock/Pop format that was a first in the area. In 1975, the company changed names to Greater Mansfield Broadcasting Inc. having Lynn Eckardt join as vice president of the company. At that time, WCLW aired a freeform format, with each DJ airing one format, from Big band to Adult contemporary to Album-oriented rock to Top 40. In 1983, WCLW-AM would become country competing against nearby WNCO Ashland, Ohio and WCLW-FM would change to a MOR format.

Greater Mansfield Broadcasting would sell both WCLW-AM/FM to Cleveland lawyer and radio specialist Harrison Fuerst's Treasure Radio on April 16, 1987 for $2 Million. Fuerst had also owned several radio stations under the banner of Welcome Radio including 1280 KTLK Denver now KBNO (AM) and 105.1 KADX now KXKL-FM, 1490 KLNG Omaha now KIBM, 1460 WOKO Albany now WOPG (AM), 1390 KTUR Turlock/Modesto now KLOC, and 1350 WSLR Akron now WARF and sister station 96.5 WKDD. Under the newly incorporated Treasure Radio Associates, Fuerst was also purchasing WMAN (AM)/Mansfield for $1.6 Million to combine with his 1490 WMGW and 100.3 WZPR now WGYY in Meadville, Pennsylvania, 98.1 WJJR and now defunct 970 WHWB (AM) Rutland. The station changed its call letters to the current WYHT-FM on August 3, 1987.

Treasure worked with consultant Nick Anthony, who'd programmed WKDD in Akron, and who currently is Vice President of Rubber City Radio Group. When Anthony joined the station, the entire format and lineup of the newly named Y105 changed adding Scott Bruner and Toni Foxx to mornings; Steve Casale to middays; Sheri Wharton in Afternoons; David G. Cook, evenings; and Eric Taylor, overnights. Program Director for the new Y105 was John Foster and music director Bob Dickey.https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickanthony The music format shifted from Adult Contemporary to Contemporary Hit Radio with the call letter change as well.

After nearly a decade of ownership, Treasure Radio began divesting properties around the country including WYHT and WMAN for $7.65 Million to Faircom Communications who also owned WFNT and WCRZ in Flint. Less than one year later, Regent Communications (now Townsquare Media) purchased the entire Faircom portfolio for $32 Million. Shortly after the much anticipated Clear Channel/AMFM merger in 2000, Regent Communications announced it would swap WYHT and WMAN Mansfield, WSWR Shelby, KZXY-FM Apple Valley, KIXW (AM) Apple Valley, KIXA Lucerne Valley, KATJ-FM Victorville and KVTR Victorville plus an additional $67 Million in cash. In return Regent Communications secured new markets with both Albany and Grand Rapids.

In August 2020 Y105 has transitioned back to a hot adult contemporary format from Top 40 (CHR), effective Saturday August 1 12:00AM keeping #1 morning show, Dave & Jimmy in the morning in the 5-10am Monday through Friday time slot and "best of" on the weekends.

References

External links

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{{IHeartMedia

YHT
Radio stations established in 1962
1962 establishments in Ohio
IHeartMedia radio stations
Hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States