WPOZ Ups Power
WPOZ/Orlando (Z88.3) celebrated in a big way last week with a double celebration. August 2015 meant that Z88.3 had not only been on air serving Central Florida for 20 years, but also brought a historic moment for the station. They have been working to take the Z to 100,000 watts for eight years and dreaming about it even longer. Z listeners fully funded the power increase project several years ago, but it took till this year to get all the pieces in order to get Z88.3 to a full Class C, the most powerful designation of FM station in the country. On July 28th, with the construction all done, the FCC has officially granted Z88.3 the 100,000 watt power house increase with a Class C license to serve Central Florida.
To celebrate, Z88.3 brought in a room full of supporters for lunch to say thank you for standing with the Z and fully funding their station. The event was hosted by none other than Z artist tobyMac (who was one of the original artists heard on the Z when the station signed on in 1995, as part of DC Talk). The Z air staff along with Founder and President, Jim Hoge, and tobyMac held a “switch flipping” ceremony at the luncheon. Z artist, tobyMac, shared his new music, and then ended the event by leading the Z staff and the room in a round of happy birthday.
“This is not our celebration, as much as it is yours…Happy Birthday Z Land! To God Be All the Glory!” said Jim Hoge to the room full of Z supporters. This station isn’t possible without the sacrificial giving of so many families to keep listener supported Z88.3 on the air and serving Central Florida. On August 14, 2015, Z88.3 celebrated their official birthday by letting their listeners share their stories on the radio about what Z88.3 means to their family.