The Oasis, a Cincinnati-based radio network (94.5 FM, 97.7 FM, and 106.7 FM) recently learned that a much-smaller North Carolina station was selling its own call letters as a fundraising move. When they learned those call letters were "WKRP", Oasis instantly bought them - and thus WKRP is really now on the air in Cincinnati as of this morning.
The deal actually went down a month ago. The smaller North Carolina station announced they were selling the call letter rights back in January, and broadcasters in Cincinnati instantly took notice, hoping to capitalize on the fame of the sitcom of the late 1970s. The deal was finalized in April, and the Oasis team spent a month in preparation - including tapping original cast member Gary Sandy, who played program director Andy Travis, to pre-record some station announcements. And at midnight today (12:00 am Monday May 4th), the station announced its switchover with a continuous loop of the program's theme song until morning broadcast properly began. The new WKRP plans to keep up its programming for the most part (which already was similar to the the rock roster from the original sitcom - but station managers are quick to say that their DJs will also not be channeling "Dr. Johnny Fever", and that they also DO NOT plan a turkey drop.
The deal actually went down a month ago. The smaller North Carolina station announced they were selling the call letter rights back in January, and broadcasters in Cincinnati instantly took notice, hoping to capitalize on the fame of the sitcom of the late 1970s. The deal was finalized in April, and the Oasis team spent a month in preparation - including tapping original cast member Gary Sandy, who played program director Andy Travis, to pre-record some station announcements. And at midnight today (12:00 am Monday May 4th), the station announced its switchover with a continuous loop of the program's theme song until morning broadcast properly began. The new WKRP plans to keep up its programming for the most part (which already was similar to the the rock roster from the original sitcom - but station managers are quick to say that their DJs will also not be channeling "Dr. Johnny Fever", and that they also DO NOT plan a turkey drop.
