WALY

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    This article is about the radio station currently known as WALY. For the radio station known as WALY until 1979, see WNRS (AM).
    WQWY
    Simulcasting WOWY State College
    Broadcast areaAltoona, Pennsylvania
    Frequency103.9 MHz
    BrandingWOWY 103.9
    Programming
    FormatClassic hits
    AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
    Ownership
    Owner
    • Seven Mountains Media
    • (Southern Belle Media Family, LLC)
    WFBG, WFGY, WRKY-FM, WTNA, WWOT
    History
    First air date
    		March 28, 1970 (as WHGM)
    Former call signs
    		WHGM (1966-1987)
    Technical information
    Facility ID58312
    ClassA
    ERP380 watts
    HAAT280 meters (920 ft)
    Transmitter coordinates
    		40°33′57″N 78°26′36″W / 40.56583°N 78.44333°W / 40.56583; -78.44333Coordinates: 40°33′57″N 78°26′36″W / 40.56583°N 78.44333°W / 40.56583; -78.44333
    Links
    WebcastListen live
    Websitewowyonline.com

    WQWY (103.9 FM, "WOWY 103.9") is an American radio station serving the Altoona, Pennsylvania, area. The station is owned by Seven Mountains Media. currently playing a classic hits format, simulcasting WOWY 103.1 FM State College.

    History[edit]

    The station began playing a format of Top 40 and middle of the road music in its early days, first signing on as WHGM on March 28, 1970, more than three and a half years after the construction permit had been issued in the spring of 1966.

    WHGM was originally owned by John Powley, whose interests were primarily in television. Powley owned a financial stake in KHFI AM-FM-TV in Austin, Texas and would sign on an ABC-TV affiliate in Altoona six years later, known as WOPC-TV.

    On New Year's Eve of 1986, the station was sold to Mid-Atlantic Radio, Inc., a company headed by Gregory Guise. The sale happened about ten months after Powley had sold the license of his television station, which had been silenced due to financial problems. The format was then changed to adult contemporary and the station moved from its transmitter location atop Wopsononock Mountain in Dysart to downtown Altoona. The following March 9, 1987, the call letters were changed to WALY, which are still used today. WALY was later used on a Local Access Channel in the early 90s.

    The station was sold again to S&P Broadcasting in February 1989 for $1 million, and then to its current owner, then known as Forever Broadcasting, Inc. in 1997.

    Founder John Powley died in 2008.

    It was announced on October 12, 2022 that Forever Media is selling 34 stations, including WALY and the entire Altoona cluster, to State College-based Seven Mountains Media for $17.3 million.[1] The deal closed on January 2, 2023.[2]

    On March 23, 2023 WALY changed their format from adult contemporary (format moved to 100.1 FM Altoona) to a simulcast of classic hits-formatted WOWY 103.1 FM State College, under new WQWY call letters.[3]

    Sister stations[edit]

    The sister stations of WQWY in the Altoona market are 98.1 WFGY, 100.1 WWOT, 104.9 WRKY-FM, 1290 WFBG, and 1430 WTNA.

    [edit]

    WALY WALY103.9 logo.png

    References[edit]

    1. ^ "SEVEN MOUNTAINS MEDIA TO ACQUIRE 34 STATIONS FROM FOREVER MEDIA". RadioInsight.com. October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
    2. ^ "Seven Mountains Media-Forever Media Deal To Close Jan. 2". October 12, 2022.
    3. ^ Seven Mountains Makes More Changes in Altoona Radioinsight - March 23, 2023

    External links[edit]

    Stub icon 1 Stub icon 2

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