City Baton Rouge, Louisiana First air date 1956 | Frequency 1380 kHz Format Catholic | |
Broadcast area Baton Rouge metropolitan area Power 5,000 watts (day)
62 watts (night) | ||
WPYR (1380 AM) is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The station currently airs a Catholic programming format.
History
WPYR was originally WYNK, a Country music outlet until its format was moved to the FM side. The station signed on in 1956 and was affiliated with ABC Radio and Mutual. In the 1990s, WPYR switched to Radio Disney, followed by a syndicated talk format in 2002.
In 2005, WPYR became the Baton Rouge affiliate of Air America Radio.
In late 2007, the station switched to Clear Channel's Hallelujah Contemporary Gospel music format.
In 2008, WPYR was sold to Michael Glitner, who then exchanged WPYR for station WBZK in York, South Carolina, which was owned by Pamal Broadcasting and is near Glitner's new home in South Carolina.[1][2]
Following the station swap, WPYR returned with a new Spanish format. The station is broadcasting a simulcast of WFNO's "La Fabulosa 830".
In August 2009, Catholic Community Radio, Inc. signed a purchase agreement with the Davidson Media Group intending to buy the station and switch to a Catholic format for the Baton Rouge area.[3] [4] [5]
On December 11, 2009, Catholic Community Radio, Inc. completed the sale of WPYR with Davidson Media Group.[6] The station is a lay apostolate owned and operated by Catholic Community Radio, Inc. within the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge.
The station currently hosts 24-hour Catholic Talk format, begun in the 1st Quarter of 2010 drawing from local and national sources such as EWTN Global Radio Network, Ave Maria Radio, and Relevant Radio.
WPYR began broadcasting a one-hour live morning program beginning at 7:00am called "Wake Up Baton Rouge! Live." When the live show began broadcasting in the New Orleans area via WQNO, the show's name changed to "Wake Up Louisiana."