Tampa Radio: WHFS Drops Sports, Could Be Bubba's New Home

The way the chips are falling, Bubba the Love Sponge Clem could soon end up at WHFS 98.7 FM, according to the Tampa Business Journal.

The inflammatory radio personality was surprisingly ousted from WHPT 102.5 FM/The Bone, owned by Cox Media Group, in August. Clem claimed he would be back on the air in Tampa Bay within 20 days. Well, it took a bit longer but a deal may have been made.

Screenshot of Current WHFS-FM Website

Today sports talk station WHFS 98.7 FM/The Fan fired all of its on-air talent according to Tampa-based radio consultant Gabe Hobbs, "I heard it from one of their personalities," he said. "They were told to come in and sign their severance packages."  Beasley Broadcast closed on WHFS this past Monday.

WHFS 987. FM (50Kw) 60dBu Coverage

At 3 p.m. on WHPT-FM, the scheduled time for the "Booger and Ryan" show, a recorded voice said, "Tampa radio is changing. Tune into the station on Monday morning Jan. 5 for a stunning announcement." Then they spun Burl Ives' "A Holly Jolly Christmas."

"They might do some Christmas programming, but if it ends up a rock station, you can bet a fair amount of money that Bubba will be the morning man," Hobbs said.

Other factors come into play:

A few Internet domain names have been registered by the registrar normally used by Beasley: 987 Bubba.com; Bubba987.com and Bubba1047.com.  Bubba1047.com applies to the more successful Q105, a "Classic Hits" station. Q105 is part of Beasley's new Tampa portfolio, so they could be planning to move around some station formats.