On November 30, 1960, the station signed on as WPTW-FM. Its original city of license was Piqua, and it largely simulcast co-owned WPTW1570 AM.[3] WPTW-FM served as an extension of the AM station's programming, as WPTW originally operated as a daytime-only station.
By the late 1960s, WPTW played middle of the road music using a sophisticated reel-to-reel automation system, while the FM had a beautiful music format, playing 15 minute sweeps of instrumental cover versions of popular songs, at first with no vocals. The exception was the "Dell-O Morning Show" hosted by Dell Olmay, and heard on both stations. WPTW-FM's station identification remained until 1974 as: "This is WPTW...FM Stereo...transmitting from Piqua, Ohio." It began using both Piqua and Troy in its legal I.D. in 1975.
After Federal Communications Commission rules changed regarding daytimer AM stations operating on Mexican "clear channel frequencies", 1570 WPTW was finally given approval by the FCC in 1986 to broadcast around the clock. That led WPTW-FM to end all simulcasting. WPTW-FM could carry a separate format and image, including a change in its call sign.
The original Kool 95 logo
Soft Adult Contemporary (1989-1993)
After the original WHIO-FM 99.1 flipped to country music from easy listening in 1989, WPTW-FM management wanted to quickly fill the hole. The station continued its own easy format, but changed its call letters to WCLR with the moniker "Clear 95." Later that year, in an effort to attract younger listeners, WCLR began adding more vocals to its easy format. WCLR made a full switch to Soft Adult Contemporary a short time later, still under the "Clear 95" name with the "Lite and Easy Favorites" slogan.
Oldies (1993-2000)
In early 1993, WCLR switched to an oldies format playing the hits of the 1950s through the early 1970s as "Kool 95." Later that year, it purchased WDJK in nearby Xenia, flipping the call letters to WZLR and simulcasting the oldies format on both 95.3 and 95.7. In mid-1997 after the stations were purchased by Cox Media Group, the moniker was changed to "Oldies 95", keeping the same format.
Former WDPT 95.7 The Point logo
Classic Hits (2000-2006)
In 2000, the station switched from oldies to classic hits, covering the top songs from the late 1970s through the 1980s. It changed its call letters to WDPT and switched its moniker to "The Point." It only continued the simulcast with 95.3 for a short time, before the Xenia station flipped to classic rock as "The Eagle." 95.7 The Point, and its mostly 1980s format, was consulted by Randy Kabrich, who had programmed WRBQ/Tampa in the mid-to-late 1980s.
News/Talk (2006-present)
In October 2006, after playing "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, WDPT's music format ended. The station began a simulcast of WHIO, using the call sign WHIO-FM.
In July 2011, the station changed its "community of license" from Piqua, Ohio, to Pleasant Hill, Ohio, even though the transmitter did not move. This change was reportedly necessitated by FCC requirements that the station's main studio be located within 25 miles of its community of license. With the move of Cox Media Group facilities to the South Main Street location, Piqua no longer met that requirement, but Pleasant Hill does.[4] That rule was eliminated by the FCC in October 2017.[5]
Programming
WHIO-FM personality Larry Hansgen hosts the morning-drive program, Miami Valley's Morning News. Brian Kilmeade's late-morning program, produced by Fox News Talk and distributed by Westwood One, airs in late mornings. The Mark Kaye Show (based at WOKV-FM[6]) and The Sean Hannity Show (via Premiere Networks) airs in middays[7] and afternoons. The Evening Edge with Todd Hollst, airs from 5pm to 7pm. The Erik Erickson show airs 8pm to 11pm. Coast to Coast AM (via Premiere) airs in the overnight hours.
