Editing Bob FM

{{short description|Radio format}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2009}}

'''BOB FM''' is the on-air [[brand]] of a number of [[FM broadcasting|FM]] [[radio station]]s in the [[United States]] and formerly in [[Canada]]. The BOB FM format mostly concentrates on [[album rock]], [[alternative rock]] and [[pop music|pop]] hits from the 1980s and 1990s, especially those popular during the early days of [[MTV]] when [[music video]]s made up most of MTV's schedule. However, BOB FM also features a smattering of [[oldies]] from the 1970s or earlier and [[classic hits]] from the 1990s or later.

Once or twice an hour, an unexpected song will get played, sometimes a [[dance music|dance hit]] or [[novelty song]]. BOB FM stations are quite similar to those using the moniker [[Jack FM]]. On many BOB FM and JACK FM stations, [[disc jockey]]s are not used or are only heard in morning [[drive time]]. Instead of a live DJ, a prerecorded voice will make sarcastic or ironic quips between songs.

BOB FM stations in Canada were all owned by [[Bell Media]]. Those in the United States are owned by a variety of companies. Bob FM stations are officially classified as '''variety hits''' or '''[[adult hits]]''' by radio research companies.

== Origins ==
It was originally named for the "'''B'''est '''o'''f the '''B'''est", and subsequently associated with an everyday character named "Bob." It proved very successful in its first implementation on [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]]'s [[CFWM]]. It inspired [[Rogers Communications]] to license the JACK FM format at many of its stations, [[Corus Entertainment]]'s subsequent [[CKNG-FM|Joe FM]] and [[CJDV-FM|Dave FM]] brands, and comparable moves at other stations. Currently a syndicated version of the format is offered by Envision Radio Networks. As with Jack FM, Bob FM stations have [[playlist]]s of over 1000 songs as opposed to most other commercial stations which play about 500 songs or less.

The format was largely conceived and created by Howard Kroeger, a former programming executive at CHUM Group Radio, after attending a friend's 40th birthday party in 2000. He took the "Bob" moniker from a [[country music]] station (then WBOB, today [[KFXN-FM]]) that had broadcast in the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]] market of [[Minnesota]] to the south several years earlier.

== Slogans ==
Many BOB FM stations use the catch phrase "We Play Anything!" or "We Play Everything!"  Most stations market themselves with the slogan "Turn your knob to BOB!"  This was parodied in a ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' skit in which [[TV's Frank]] creates his own radio station and exhorts viewers to "Turn your crank to Frank", satirizing commercials for [[KFXN-FM|BOB 100 FM]] that were playing in the Minneapolis area at the time.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

Many Bob-FM stations are imaged by Digital Sound & Video, Inc, located in Daytona Beach, Florida and voiced by Sean Caldwell.

== Country music ==
At least two non variety-hits Bob FM outlets exist, [[WRBT]] in [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]] and [[KLCI]] in [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]], both of which run a [[country music]] format. Kroeger created a similar format and brand for country stations, using [[Hank FM]] (named for Country and Western legend [[Hank Williams]]) and DUKE FM (named for actor [[John Wayne]]).

HANK FM and DUKE FM can currently be heard in over twenty U.S. markets. The majority of these HANK FM and DUKE FM branded stations use the positioning statement of "Playing the Legends of Country" and are also distributed by Envision Radio Networks.

== Stations calling themselves "BOB FM" ==
CHUM Limited's [[CKLY-FM|CKLY]] in [[Kawartha Lakes]], [[Ontario]], adopted the format on August 21, 2005, while [[WBPE (FM)|WLFF]] in [[Lafayette, Indiana]], jettisoned its country format to introduce Bob to its listeners on December 6, 2007.

The newest Bob FM station in the United States is [[WCVS-FM]] in [[Springfield, Illinois]], replacing its [[classic rock]] format.

The newest Bob FM station in Canada was [[CKX-FM]] in [[Brandon, Manitoba]], replacing its [[mainstream rock]] format.

The first international (non-American or Canadian) Bob FM launched in early 2016 in George Town, [[Grand Cayman]] in The [[Cayman Islands]]. 94.9 BOB FM, Grand Cayman [[ZFSP-FM|ZFBB-FM]] of Hurley's Media Ltd.

On March 18, 2021, the remaining Bob FM stations in Canada were re-branded as [[Bounce Radio]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bell Media Bounces 25 Stations Across Canada To New Variety Hits Brand|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/208315/bell-media-bounces-25-stations-across-canada-to-new-variety-hits-brand/|access-date=2021-05-20|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Bob FM stations in Canada==
{|class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
|-
!Location!! Call sign!! Frequency !! Notes/websites
|-
|[[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon]], [[Manitoba]] || [[CKX-FM|CKX]] || 96.1 FM || Re-branded as ''Bounce 96.1''
|-
|[[Brockville]], [[Ontario]] || [[CJPT-FM|CJPT]] || 103.7 FM || Re-branded as ''Bounce 103.7''
|-
|[[Kawartha Lakes, Ontario|Kawartha Lakes]], [[Ontario]] || [[CKLY-FM|CKLY]] || 91.9 FM || Re-branded as ''Bounce 91.9''
|-
|[[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]] || [[CKKL-FM|CKKL]] || 93.9 FM || Re-branded as ''New Country 94''
|-
|[[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]] || [[CFWM-FM|CFWM]] || 99.9 FM || Re-branded as ''Bounce 99.9''
|}

==Bob FM stations in the United States==
{|class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
|-
!Location!! Call sign!! Frequency 
!Since!! Format
!website
|-
|[[Anchorage, Alaska]] || [[KBBO-FM]] || 92.1 FM 
| || [[Variety hits]]
|https://921bob.com
|-
|[[Asbury, Missouri]] || [[KWXD]] || 103.5 FM
|June 1, 2023 || [[Variety hits]]
|
|-
|[[Augusta, Georgia]] || [[WDRR]] || 93.9 FM 
|April 2010 || [[Classic hits]]
|https://ilovebobfm.com
|-
|[[Austin, Texas]] || [[KBPA]] || 103.5 FM 
|September 2004 ||[[Adult hits]]
|http://www.1035bobfm.com
|-
|[[Biloxi, Mississippi]] || [[WANG]] || 1490 AM 
|October 10, 2021||[[Adult hits]]
|http://bob1063fm.com
|-
|[[Biloxi, Mississippi]] || [[WTNI]] || 1640 AM 
|October 10, 2021||[[Adult hits]]
|
|-
|[[Bloomington-Normal, Illinois]] || [[WBBE]] || 97.9 FM 
|2005||[[Adult hits]]
|https://nowbn.com/bob979/
|-
|[[Bluffton, South Carolina]] || [[WUBB]] || 106.9 FM 
|February 21, 2011|| [[country music|Country]]
|https://bob1069.com
|-
|[[Boise, Idaho]] || [[KSRV-FM]] || 96.1 FM 
|March 30, 2007||[[Adult hits]]
|https://961bobfm.com
|-
|[[Cambria, California]] || [[KCJZ]] || 105.3 FM 
|June 2014||[[Variety hits]]
|https://bobfm1053.com
|-
|[[Carmel-by-the-Sea, California]] || [[KKHK]] || 95.5 FM 
|December 3, 2010||[[Alternative Music|Alternative]]
|https://www.955bobfm.com
|-
|[[Chico, California]] || [[KBQB]] || 92.7 FM 
|2006||[[Adult Hits]]
|https://927bobfm.com
|-
|[[Edwards, California]] || [[KGBB]] || 103.9 FM 
|2006||[[Adult Hits]]
|https://www.bobfm1039.com
|-
|[[Emporia, Kansas]] || [[KANS]] || 96.1 FM
|July 1, 2023||[[Adult Hits]]
|
|-
|[[Erie, Pennsylvania]] || [[WXBB]] || 94.7 FM 
|January 5, 2007||[[Adult Hits]]
|https://947bobfm.iheart.com
|-
|[[Estero, Florida]]|| [[WJGO]] || 102.9 FM 
|March 16, 2007||[[Adult hits]]
|https://www.1029bobfm.com
|-
|[[Eugene, Oregon]] || [[KEUG]] || 105.5 FM 
|2004||[[Adult Hits]]
|https://www.1055bobfm.com
|-
|[[Fargo, North Dakota]] || [[KBVB]] || 95.1 FM 
|March 12, 2007|| [[country music|Country]]
|https://www.bob95fm.com
|-
|[[Faribault, Minnesota]] || [[KBGY]] || 107.5 FM
|2015 || [[Classic country]]
|
|-
|[[Forest Lake, Minnesota]] || [[WLKX-FM]] || 95.9 FM
|February 13, 2022 || [[Classic country]]
|
|-
|[[Hampton Roads, Virginia|Hampton Roads]]-[[Norfolk, Virginia]] || [[WNOB]] || 93.7 FM 
|September 23, 2006 ||[[Adult hits]]
|http://www.937bobfm.com/
|-
|[[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]] || [[WRBT]] || 94.9 FM 
| || [[country music|Country]]
|https://bob949.iheart.com/
|-
|[[Healdsburg, California]] || [[KNOB (FM)|KNOB]] || 96.7 FM 
|October 4, 2018 ||[[Variety hits]]
|https://www.967bob.fm/
|-
|[[Holliday, Texas]]
|[[KWFB (FM)|KWFB]]
|100.9 FM
|January 1, 2024
|[[Adult hits]]
|
|-
|[[Kansas City, Missouri]] || [[KCKC]] || 102.1 FM
|December 26, 2024 ||[[Adult hits]]
|https://1021bobfm.com/
|-
|[[Lafayette, Indiana]] || [[WBPE (FM)|WBPE]] || 95.3 FM 
|December 6, 2007 ||[[Adult hits]]
|http://www.wbpefm.com/
|-
|[[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] || [[KLCI]] || 106.1 FM 
| || [[Classic country]]
|http://www.mybobcountry.com/
|-
|[[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]] || [[WYNA]] || 104.9 FM 
| ||[[Variety hits]]
|http://1049bobfm.iheart.com/
|-
|[[Panama City Beach, Florida]] || [[WASJ]] || 105.1 FM 
|May 2008 ||[[Adult hits]]
|
|-
|[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] || [[WRRK]] || 96.9 FM 
|November 1, 2005 ||[[Variety hits]]
|https://www.bobfm969.com/
|-
|[[Redding, California]] || [[KESR]] || 107.1 FM 
|March 12, 2010 ||[[Adult hits]]
|http://www.1071bobfm.com/
|-
|[[Russellville, Arkansas]] || [[KCAB (AM)|KCAB]] || 980 AM
| ||[[Adult hits]]
|
|-
|[[Salt Lake City, Utah]] || [[KYMV]] || 100.7 FM 
| || [[Variety hits]]
|https://bobfmutah.com/
|-
|[[Spokane, Washington]] || [[KBBD]] || 103.9 FM 
| ||[[Adult hits]]
|http://www.1039bobfm.com/
|-
|[[St. Cloud, Minnesota]] || [[WQPM]] || 1300 AM
|February 13, 2022 ||[[Classic country]]
|
|-
|[[St. Cloud, Minnesota]] || [[KDDG]] || 105.5 FM
| ||[[Classic country]]
|
|-
|[[Sterling, Colorado]] || [[KSRX]] || 97.5 FM 
| ||[[Variety hits]]
|http://www.bobplaysanything.com/
|-
|[[Traverse City, Michigan]] || [[WZTC]] || 104.5 FM 
| ||[[Adult hits]]
|http://www.1045bobfm.com/
|-
|[[Twin Falls, Idaho]] || [[KIKX]] || 104.7 FM 
|September 7, 2009 ||[[Adult hits]]
|http://1047bobfm.com/
|-
|[[Washington, North Carolina|Washington]]-[[Greenville, North Carolina]] || [[WERO]] || 93.3 FM 
|1999 || [[Contemporary hit radio]]
|http://www.bob933.com/
|-
|[[Wichita, Kansas]] || [[KBOB-FM]] || 97.1 FM 
|February 14, 2008 ||[[Adult hits]]
|
|-
|[[Winfield, Kansas]] || [[KSOK-FM]] || 95.9 FM
|January 2022 || [[Variety hits]]
|
|}

The first BOB FM outside of The U.S. or Canada launched in early 2016, broadcasting from George Town, [[Grand Cayman]] in the [[Cayman Islands]]. '94.9 BOB FM Grand Cayman' - ZFBB FM ( http://www.BobFm.Ky ) .

==See also==
* [[BOB fm (Hertfordshire)]] - an independent station based in the [[United Kingdom]]
* [[Froggy (brand)]]
* [[KISS-FM (brand)]]
* [[Jack FM]]
* [[ESPN Radio]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bobformat.com Official website]
* [http://www.goenvisionnetworks.com/service/bob-fm/ Bob FM] at Envision Networks

{{Bob FM Radio stations}}
{{Bell Media}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bob Fm}}
[[Category:Radio formats]]
[[Category:Franchised radio formats]]
[[Category:Adult hits radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Adult hits radio stations in Canada]]
[[Category:Bob FM stations| ]]