Land Shark Sighted In Tampa

• After a two-year run as an AC station, Beasley Media Group has returned WPBB (b98.7)/Tampa to its Rock roots, flipping the station to Classic Rock as 98.7 The Shark, featuring a new generation of classic rock songs geared towards the ’80s and ’90s, with songs ranging from AC/DC‘s “Back in Black” and Ozzy Osborne‘s “Crazy Train” to Pearl Jam‘s “Alive” and Metallica‘s “Enter Sandman.” The Shark is under the command of PD Ted Kamikaze, who also programs Classic Hits clustermate WRBQ (Q105).

To best jump-start The Shark, Beasley is importing the Dave & Chuck the Freak Morning Show, based at sister WRIF/Detroit, beginning Monday, Jan. 7. The show is also carried on WRXK (96 k-rock)/Ft. Myers, FL and WBOS (ALT 92.9)/Boston. Through the month of January, the station will roll commercial-free each day after 10:30am.

“We are thrilled to bring Classic Rock radio back to Tampa Bay with 98.7 The Shark,” said Steve Triplett, Interim Market Manager of Beasley Media Group Tampa. “With a hand-picked mix of Rock hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s and the Dave and Chuck the Freak Morning Show, we’re excited to give listeners something new and truly unique!” Justin Chase, Beasley EVP of Programming, said, “It’s been many years since Tampa Bay had a true Classic Rock station on a full signal, and we’re excited to offer the next generation of Classic Rock to such a great Rock market. Plus, we’re including our successful morning show Dave & Chuck the Freak, which is a perfect complement to the music position.”

Tampa Operations Manager Travis Daily remarked, “There is a large group of Rock fans that do not have a radio station right now. Tampa Bay has always been one of the best Rock markets in America. Our goal is to give the music fans exactly what they have been asking for, which is a highly entertaining morning show with Dave and Chuck the Freak with Classic Rock for the Next Generation the rest of the day!”

• It was late 2015 when Beasley performed a palate-cleansing procedure on former Rock outlet WBRN— the former “Bubba 98.7” — cutting ties with the syndicated Bubba The Love Sponge and shifting into holiday mode as “Santa 98.7.” In January 2016, the station relaunched as Mainstream AC as “The New B98.7.”