Broadcast area Central Florida ERP 250 watts Class D (translator) Frequency 102.5 MHz Format Talk radio Area Central Florida Slogan Orlando's Right Talk | First air date 2011 HAAT 138 meters Facility ID 157099 City of license Windermere Owner iHeartMedia Inc Branding 102.5 WFLA | |
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W273CA (102.5 FM, "NewsRadio 102.5 WFLA") is a news/talk radio station translator owned and operated by iHeartMedia and simulcasting AM 540 WFLF licensed to Orlando, Florida. Until February 2014, the translator aired a smooth jazz format as "102.5 WLOQ."
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History
The original WLOQ at 103.1 FM was the brainchild of John T. Rutledge, co-owner of WLOF Orlando (Clarke Broadcasting Company). The station signed on the air in 1966 from the Langford Hotel in Winter Park, FL as WLOQ-FM. The format was beautiful music, instrumentals only. The original format was designed by Rutledge who was very particular as to its adherence. The station itself was located in a former hotel room at the Langford. The antenna was on a monopole on top of the hotel. All of the production, news and sales originated from the WLOF staff. Violet Jean Sidebottom was the manager of WLOQ and ran a tight ship. Rutledge appointed Jerry Reeves manager after Violet Sidebottom. The station was a Class A FM, licensed to Winter Park, FL, stereo, dual-polarized antenna, with approximately 3000 watts of power.
WLOQ was sold along with WLOF c. 1972 to the Home Security Life Insurance Company. The call sign was retained after being purchased by the current owners, the Gross Family. The original format from the station's sign-on in 1966 until 1977 was beautiful music. The station programmed what became the "Smooth Jazz" format from 1977 to 2011.
A new home for Smooth Jazz
In 2011, after CEO John Gross retired for medical reasons, WLOQ was sold to TTB Media Corporation. At midnight on August 1, WLOQ's smooth jazz format moved exclusively online. The station on 103.1 changed its call letters to WHKQ, and the station began stunting as "Elvis 103.1". On August 3, the station went to Spanish CHR as KQ103.
The WLOQ branding and smooth jazz format continued as an internet-only radio station at WLOQ.com, which is now an empty website. Later in August, the WLOQ "Smooth Jazz" branding was purchased by iHeartMedia, Inc. (formerly Clear Channel Communications). The WLOQ branding was revived on a translator, 102.5 W273CA in Orlando, with a simulcast of 107.7 WMGF-HD2's Smooth Jazz format and programming from Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network. The new "102.5 WLOQ" was a moderate ratings success.
Programming on 102.5 and 107.7 HD2 came from the Smooth Jazz Network except for a local morning show hosted by Erica Lee, formerly of crosstown Hot AC WOMX. Lee's show debuted on June 3, 2013.
In February 2014 W273CA switched from smooth jazz "WLOQ" (which continues on 107.7 WMGF-HD2) to a simulcast of news/talk-formatted WFLF 540 AM.