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History
of WDFL
Thanks to Marc
Tyll for this history of WDFL.
WDFL-AM
began regular broadcast service in 1985 as Cross
City
’s first radio service, operating on the frequency of 1240 kHz
with 1,000 Watts daytime and 250 watts nighttime non-directional. The original
call letters were WDKA but soon changed to WUSW before changing to WDFL shortly before its inaugural broadcast. The original format was
modern country. Two years later the coverage area was widened by adding an FM
which became WDFL-FM 106.9 (now WKZY-FM
106.9). Both stations were originally licensed to Women in Florida
Broadcasting, Inc. which was owned by long-time
Florida
broadcaster and Lakeland resident Duane McConnell and his business partner
Jim Johnson.
Programming on both stations consisted of modern country and country classics
which were simulcasts on both stations primarily serving
Cross
City, Old
Town, Fanning Springs and Chiefland. This arrangement remained in place for nearly
fifteen years when in 2000 WDFL-FM upgraded to 100,000 Watts on a new
frequency, changed its format to Adult Standards and moved its studio to
Gainesville. In 2000 McConnell sold WDFL and WKZY to
Albany
,
New York
based Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. Programming on WDFL was modified
to classic country and originated from Pamal owned WDJY-FM 101.7 Trenton
(now WDVH-FM 101.7).through a second simulcast arrangement. Pamal
also owned adult standards WLUS-AM 980 Gainesville and adult standards WRZN-AM
720 Hernando –Ocala. After the FM moved to Gainesville, general manager Robert Young had
planned to link WDFL with WLUS and WRZN playing adult standards on all three
stations with programming originating from the WRZN main studio in Citrus
County. All three stations together were going to be called “The Kozy
Group”, however, the plan was eventually abandoned and programming
remained classic country. In 2003 the call letters were changed to WYNY.
Previous the WYNY call letters had been associated with NBC on two
New York City
frequencies. The first is what is now WQHT-FM 97.1 and second is the
former WAPP-FM 103.5 (now WKTU) Lake Success-
New York City. Pamal Broadcasting sold WYNY along with WRGO-FM 102.7
Cedar Key to WRGO Radio, LLC, owned by Richard S. Pope, in
2007. WYNY now (2008) rebroadcasts WRGO’s classic oldies
from the 60s and 70s.
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