WCHR-FM (105.7

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...

), known as "105.7 The Hawk", is a radio station in

Manahawkin, New Jersey Manahawkin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Stafford Township, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

, with a

classic rock Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...

radio format A radio format or programming format (not to be confused with broadcast programming) describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. The radio format emerged mainly in the United States in the 1950s, at a time when Radio broadcasting, ...

. It is owned by

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Coverage area

WCHR-FM is the most powerful FM station in the Monmouth/Ocean market and can be heard as far west as the city of

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

and

Bucks County, Pennsylvania Bucks County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the List of counties in Pennsylvania, four ...

, as far north as

Wall Township, New Jersey Wall Township is a Township (New Jersey), township within Monmouth County, New Jersey, Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Crisscrossed by several different highways within the heart of the Jersey Shore region, the township is a t ...

, and as far south as Ocean City. The WCHR-FM antenna is co-located with 92.7 WOBM-FM and 104.1 W281CK on a tower located in Bayville.

History

On May 16, 1997, sign on the air as WAQB. On December 19, 1997, the call letters were changed to WNJO. WCHR-FM is not affiliated with WCHR, a Trenton radio station that currently broadcasts on 920 AM with a

religious Religion is a range of social- cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural ...

format; however, both stations were formerly owned by Nassau Broadcasting. The WCHR call letters were originally associated with the Trenton station broadcasting at 94.5 FM, using a religious format (CHR standing for

Christian radio Christian radio refers to Christian media radio formats that focus on Christian religious broadcasting or various forms of Christian music. Many such formats and programs include contemporary Christian music, gospel music, sermons, radio dramas, ...

). In February 1998, WCHR began simulcasting on 920 AM, and on March 2, 1998, 94.5 FM changed callsigns to WNJO as it changed format to oldies. For more on the 94.5 frequency, see the WPST page. 105.7 was a construction permit that Nassau acquired in 1998. When WCHR's religious unit moved to AM 920 from 94.5 FM, the permit on 105.7 picked up the WCHR-FM call letters. 105.7 never employed the religious format. It did not sign on until 2000. On March 14, 2002, WCHR-FM with simulcast of 98.5

WBBO WBBO (98.5 FM broadcasting, FM, "B98-5") is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Ocean Acres, New Jersey, it serves Ocean County, New Jersey, Ocean & Burlington County, New Jersey, Burlington counties in New ...

. On April 15, 2002, 98.5 WBBO ended simulcast. 105.7 The Hawk is sign-on the airwaves. The first song played was " Born in the U.S.A." by

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American Rock music, rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss", Springsteen has released 21 studio albums spanning six decades; most of his albums feature th ...

. The under general manager Don Dalesio and Nassau's vice president of programming Michelle Stevens, Nassau originated The Hawk exclusively for the Jersey Shore. They brought in veteran program director Jim Spector who, in turn, hired ''The Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show''. Nassau gave Millennium Radio the option to buy the station in the deal that transferred the ownership of

WJLK-FM WJLK-FM (94.3 FM broadcasting, FM; "The Point") is a Commercial broadcasting, commercial radio station city of license, licensed to Asbury Park, New Jersey, and serving Monmouth County, Ocean County, New Jersey, Northern Ocean County and Middles ...

, WOBM-FM, WBBO, WADB and WOBM in June 2002. Nassau operated WCHR until its sale was completed a year later in July 2003. In 2010, 105.7 the Hawk agreed to broadcast all regular season New York Jets football games. The Hawk began broadcasting from a new facility in downtown

Toms River The Toms River is a freshwater river and estuary in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. The river rises in the Pine Barrens of northern Ocean County, then flows southeast and east, where it is fed by several tributaries, and flows in a ...

on January 30, 2013.

References

External links

* * {{coord, 39.716, N, 74.292, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title CHR-FM Classic rock radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1998 Stafford Township, New Jersey Townsquare Media radio stations 1998 establishments in New Jersey