 The station began playing a format of Top 40 and middle of the road music in its early days, first signing on as WHGM on March 28, 1970, more than three and a half years after the construction permit had been issued in the spring of 1966.WHGM was originally owned by John Powley, whose interests were primarily in television.Powley owned a financial stake in KHFI AM-FM-TV in Austin, Texas and would sign on an ABC-TV affiliate in Altoona six years later, known as WOPC-TV.