WAIV

WAIV (105.5 FM) is a radio station licensed that serves Cape May, New Jersey. The station is owned by Equity Communications, L.P. Its studios are located at the Bayport One complex in West Atlantic City, and its transmitter is located in Middle Township, New Jersey.

For several years, the then-WSNQ simulcasted sister station WZBZ. WAIV broadcasts to cities in extreme South Jersey, such as Cape May and Wildwood.^[1]

History

105.5 originally went on the air in the Atlantic-Cape May market in 1985 as WBNJ. WBNJ was an adult contemporary station that by 1989 had evolved into a new age-style station marketed as "Joy 105.5."

1992, WBNJ tried flipping to several other formats, including an MOR format for a few months, followed by a country format branded as "Hit Country 105." When neither of these caught on, WBNJ began simulcasting another station further north in the market, 96.1 WTTH The Touch, based in Margate.

In February 1999, WBNJ changed call letters and flipped to a Dance/Rhythmic A/C station known as WZBZ, "The Buzz 105.5." Don Brooks, owner and general manager, hired Ted Noah in January 1999 to launch the radio station in its new dance format. It was Noah's first official full-time on air position and programming job at 19 years old. Noah programmed and directed The Buzz musically and was also the afternoon announcer for the first 3 years. The station operated in Atlantic City right in front of The Tropicana Casino. Interestingly, its signal reached the actual broadcast facilities, even though its broadcast tower served the extreme southern end of the Atlantic City/Cape May market, mainly covering Cape May, Southern and Western Atlantic and Eastern Cumberland Counties its first year.

In 2000, WBNJ began using sister station 99.3 WSAX as a simulcast. Then, the station, while keeping the Buzz name, switched formats to Rhythmic Top 40.^[2] 105.5's call letters, WZBZ, moved to 99.3; 105.5 became WGBZ. 99.3 became the originating station while 105.5 was now the simulcast frequency.

In 2002, WGBZ, along with all its sister stations WZBZ, WMID and WMID-FM, were purchased by the competition, Equity Communications, owner of then-rival CHR station WAYV.

In 2007, WGBZ's call letters were changed to WSNQ.^[3]

In 2008, The Buzz became 99.3 Kiss FM and began playing more of a CHR format. WSNQ continued to broadcast a simulcast of WZBZ.

On December 15, 2011 at 7 p.m., the station flipped its simulcast of sister station of WZBZ for a classic hits format, under the name "Sunny 105.5."^[4]

On August 26, 2013, WSNQ swapped formats and call signs with sister station WAIV.^[5]

References

External links

• WAIV official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WAIV
• Radio-Locator information on WAIV
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WAIV