WJIS - A History
WJIS-FM 88.1 Bradenton – 100,000 watt non-commercial educational FM WJIS (“The Joy FM”) went on the air in 1987, and is owned by the Radio Training Network, Inc. headquartered in Lakeland.
The Joy FM is actually a network of non-commercial, listener-supported contemporary Christian music stations serving Southwest, Central and North Florida. Although licensed to Bradenton, its main studios are in Sarasota at 6469 Parkland Drive while its transmitter/tower location is in southeast Sarasota County. There are also satellite studios in Gainesville’s Seagle Building at 408 W. University Avenue and in Port Richey at 6214 Springer Drive.
In addition to its main station on 88.1 mHz, WJIS beams its programming over five other full power stations – WCIE 91.5 (New Port Richey), WJLF 91.7 (Gainesville), WHIJ 88.1 (Ocala), WJFH 91.5 (Sebring/Lake Placid), and WAQV 90.9 (Crystal River). Programming is also broadcast from seven translators – 98.7 (Auburndale), 96.7 (Brandon), 92.7 (Lake City), 96.3 and 106.1 (Lakeland), 95.3 (Pinellas Park), and 103.9 (Ruskin).
Some names in WJIS history are Jim Campbell (president/CEO of Radio Training Network), Dave Kirby (mornings-1987), Bill Scott (mornings 1989), Peter Lloyd (middays & host of "Lunchtime Express" 1989-91), Rob Dempsey (overnights-1989), David Sharp, Jennifer Page (news director), Steve Swanson (PD), Kimberly Stevens (traffic reporter), Jerry MacFarlane (GM), Steve Rieker (chief engineer), Dave Cruse, Bill Martin, and Carmen Brown (“The Morning Cruise” 2008), Dan Brodie (mid-days 2008), Jayar Reed (afternoons 2008), and Michelle Tellone (evenings 2008).
(Please contact us if you have additional information to share about WJIS.)
Station History
1986 - 2010 Other Tampa Bay Area Stations (History)
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