WHNZ - A History
WHNZ-AM 570 Pinellas Park – AM-570 had been Tampa Bay talker WTKN since 1988 when its all news format took on the calls WHNZ (570 Wins) and a new owner (Paxson Communications) in 1991. The station operated from offices and studios at 11300 4th Street North in St. Petersburg before being acquired by Clear Channel in 1997.
WHNZ moved from AM-570 to AM-1250 in early 2000 when Clear Channel moved The Sports Animal WDAE to AM-620, the former home of WSUN. Due to the change in dial position, WHNZ was re-branded AM-1250 Impact Radio and re-licensed from Pinellas Park to Tampa. In 2005, “Imus In the Morning” with radio legend Don Imus was added to morning drive until his much-publicized “fall from grace.”
The 25kw (6kw nights) WHNZ became Rays Radio, the home plate station for the Tampa Bay Rays, although most of its programming was syndicated or brokered business, health and consumer talk. In the summer of 2021, it flipped to Spanish news/talk Accion, one of eight Clear Channel stations in the market broadcasting from studios at 4002 Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. WHNZ broadcasts with a directional two-pattern array from six towers at its transmitter site off Memorial Highway in Tampa.
Some names from WHNZ’s history include Gordon Byrd (Ass’t PD and host of the “Business for Breakfast” show), Rick Crandall, Chris Curley (1994), Gene Lindsey (Eugene Lisansky PD and news director 1996-2006), Brian Holmes (2000-2004), Tamsen Fadal (1993-94 morning news anchor), Rich Carey, Ken Stevens, Jon Volmar (PD), Stan Major (talk show), David Sharp, Gabe Hobbs (programming), Hugh Smith (from WTVT), John Sipos, Rocky D (1996-2001), Mike Oliviero (marketing), Mark Schreiner (1998-2007), Lionel (talk show), Diana Cunningham Roessel (traffic manager), Mike Killabrew (PD).
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Station History
1991 - 2021 Other Tampa Bay Area Stations (History)
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