Bubba Clem on-air 1/5/2015
1/5 6:30am Update: Bubba says 98.7 FM will loop his show 24/7 as Beasley conducts a research project in the market.
Monday 1/5 6am Update: As expected Bubba hit the air at 6am on 98.7 FM WHFS-FM. No word on station format once this morning's show ends. Click Here to Listen.
Original posting 1/5/15....
Rumors had circulated for a month that Bubba The Love Sponge — known for a passionate "army" of loyal listeners, and feuds with fellow Tampa personality Todd "MJ" Schnitt and wrestler Hulk Hogan — might be headed for WHFS 98.7 FM. That's thanks in part to an ownership swap by CBS Radio, which recently dealt several stations, including WHFS and WHFS 1010-AM, to Beasley Broadcast Group in return for stations in other cities.
Clem's website says that he and his staff will return on Monday, when the Bubba Radio Network will debut on a new Tampa Bay station.
And so the next Chapter in our radio career begins. 6am 98.7 Tampa. The 4th Tampa station in my 23 years in Tampa. I'm honored that Beasley
— Bubba Clem (@BTLSRadio) January 5, 2015
On Friday, Ker's WingHouse announced Clem's return in conjunction with promoting the rollout of its double-breaded "Bubba Style Wings," now on the menu in all WingHouse locations. The statement reported that Clem "will be returning to the Tampa Bay radio waves on Jan. 5 to WHFS-98.7 FM after departing from Cox Media Group's WHPT 102.5 The Bone in August of 2014."
No such announcement had come from Beasley Broadcast Group, and a company representative disavowed knowledge of the WingHouse statement, according to The Tampa Times.
We'll know for sure at 6am today.