with a former postal employee to steal Arbitron diaries. Klein admitted to filling out diaries in order to inflate WHBQ's ratings. Klein was found guilty of conspiracy and sentenced to 60 days in federal prison. By the early 1980s, the once-mighty Top 40 station could no longer compete with the increasing popularity of FM-band contemporary music stations. WHBQ tried playing oldies from 1981 to 1983 before switching to a full service talk radio format. It used local talk hosts as well as syndicated programming from NBC Talknet and ABC TalkRadio. In 1988, RKO sold WHBQ to Flinn Broadcasting, a local media company. Flinn tried oldies again, then country music and even heavy metal late at night. In 1992, WHBQ switched to all sports. For a time it was affiliated with CBS Sports Radio, then NBC Sports Radio. When NBC discontinued full-time sports programming at the end of 2018, WHBQ switched to Fox Sports Radio. In October 2020, WHBQ began simulcasting on FM translator W253DF (98.5 FM) in Memphis; its previous FM simulcast, WPGF-LP (87.7), dropped its simulcast with WHBQ and began stunting with Christmas music as "Santa @ 87.7". The arrangement lasted until the end of December 2020; in January 2021, it began running a rock format known as "Drake Hall Memphis Radio." WPGF-LP had until July 2021 to convert to digital and end its radio operations. Programming WHBQ serves as the Memphis area home for the University of Mississippi's Ole Miss Rebels football and men's basketball, and is also the main outlet for the Memphis Redbirds of baseball's Triple-A East. The station's hosts include: Peter Edmiston, Anthony Sain, Dave Woloshin, Greg Gaston, Eli Savoie, Gabe Kuhn, Brett Norsworthy, and John Hardin. Nights and weekends, WHBQ carries programming from Fox Sports Radio. Weekly programming includes: - Mornings with Greg & Eli - Hosts: Greg Gaston and Eli Savoie - 7am - 10am - Wolo & Friends - Host: Dave Woloshin - 10 am - 11am - Happy Hour with Johnny Radio - Host: John Hardin - 11am - 1pm - Sportstime with Gabe and Stats - Hosts: Gabe Kuhn and Brett Norsworthy - 3pm - 6pm Previous logo (WHBQ's logo under previous simulcast with WPGF-LP) References Radio Show Hosts External links Official website Puttin' on the Hits – E-book by John Long FCC Information for WPGF-LP George Klein Radio Ratings Fraud (2008) HBQ RKO General Sports radio stations in the