WBEL (AM)

Last updated

WBEL
WBEL TheBeat92.3-98.9 logo.png
Broadcast area Beloit–Janesville, Wisconsin
Frequency 1380 kHz
BrandingThe Beat 92.3/98.9
Programming
Format 1990s hits
Affiliations Compass Media Networks
Ownership
Owner
  • Scott Thompson
  • (Big Radio)
History
First air date
May 18, 1948;76 years ago (1948-05-18) [1]
Former call signs
  • WBEL (1948–1998)
  • WTJK (1998–2014)
Call sign meaning
"Beloit"
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 58732
Class B
Power 5,000  watts
Transmitter coordinates
 42°27′34.06″N89°1′43.39″W / 42.4594611°N 89.0287194°W / 42.4594611; -89.0287194
Translator(s)
  • 92.3 W222AU (Beloit, Wisconsin)
  • 98.9 W255CZ (Janesville, Wisconsin)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website mostly90s.com

WBEL (1380 kHz) is a 1990s hits AM radio station in South Beloit, Illinois, with studios in Janesville, Wisconsin. Established in 1948, the station is owned by Big Radio. Its programming is simulcast on translator stations W222AU (92.3 FM) in Beloit, Wisconsin, and W255CZ (98.9 FM) in Janesville.

Contents

History

WTJK's logo as ESPN 1380 1380ESPN.png
WTJK's logo as ESPN 1380

WBEL was signed on in 1948 by pioneer broadcaster and engineer Russ Salter. The station originally focused primarily on the local Beloit, Wisconsin, area, with an adult standards format and talk radio programming. In August 1998, the station made the switch to a sports radio format affiliated with ESPN Radio, changed its call sign to WTJK, "The Jock" and began marketing itself to the Janesville and Rockford, Illinois, areas. [3] In 2001, Shelly Salter, CEO of Salter Broadcasting Company (SBC) and daughter of Russ Salter, sold the station to Good Karma Broadcasting. WTJK became the first ESPN Radio station for Good Karma Broadcasting.

WBEL's logo as "The Big AM 1380" WTJK1380.png
WBEL's logo as "The Big AM 1380"

In January 2014, Good Karma announced that it would sell WTJK and sister station WWHG (105.9 FM) to Scott Thompson's Big Radio; as part of the deal, the new owners began operating the stations through a local marketing agreement on February 1. Big Radio announced that it would decrease WTJK's ESPN Radio programming and add more local news; [4] on April 14, 2014, the station converted to a talk radio format, featuring local programming (including drive time simulcasts with sister station WEKZ-FM) from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.; ESPN Radio programming continued to be carried during nights and weekends. [5] [6] The sale was completed on May 12, 2014 at a purchase price of $1.45 million. [7] On October 13, 2014, the call sign were changed back to WBEL. [8]

On May 1, 2017, WBEL changed their format from news/talk to oldies. On October 9, 2017, WBEL changed their format from oldies to 1990s hits, branded as "The Beat 92.3/98.9" (simulcast on translators W222AU 92.3 FM Beloit and W255CZ 98.9 FM Janesville). [9]

Programming

Until 2014, ESPN Radio programming aired during most of the day, including Mike and Mike in the Morning , The Herd with Colin Cowherd, and The Scott Van Pelt Show. The station also aired The Jim Rome Show middays, while Jock Talk, the only daily local sports talk show in the Rockford/Beloit/Janesville region, served as the station's evening drive program.

In 2011, WTJK debuted four football talk shows: Wisconsin Prep Preview, focusing on Southern Wisconsin high school football with emphasis on the WIAA Big Eight Conference; NIC-10 Tonight, focusing on Northern Illinois high school football with emphasis on the Northern Illinois Conference; Campus Kickoff, a weekly college football show with emphasis on Wisconsin Badgers football, Northern Illinois Huskies football, and Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks football; and The Sunday Sideline Report, a wide-ranging Sunday morning show with preps and college recaps, and NFL previews, with emphasis on the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. These shows run seasonally during the fall and winter. All of these shows returned in 2012 with the exception of Campus Kickoff.

In 2012, WTJK premiered The Prep Corner, a one-hour talk show on Saturday mornings looking back at the high school football action from Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. The show's launch coincided with The Prep Corner on the station's website, featuring stories, standings, previews and polls on the local high school football scene.

Shows added to the WTJK lineup included Tuesdays With Aaron, a comprehensive interview with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Inside Huskies Football, featuring Northern Illinois Huskies football coach Dave Doeren, The Badger Hour, a one-hour show devoted to Wisconsin Badgers football, and The Lance Leipold Show, featuring Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks football coach Lance Leipold.

As a talk station, WBEL's programming included a morning drive program, The Morning Mess, hosted by Scott Thompson; Jock Talk, carried over from WTJK's sports format, in middays; and afternoon drive program The Afternoon Drive hosted by Sly. WBEL featured ESPN Radio programming during nights and weekends. [6]

WBEL features a diverse line-up of play-by-play programming, including the flagship (broadcasting) home of Beloit Snappers baseball, Hononegah Community High School football and basketball, and Roscoe Rush football. When the station was WTJK, it also carried Marquette Golden Eagles basketball, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events, Northern Illinois Huskies football, NBA on ESPN Radio, Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio, and the BCS on ESPN Radio. The station carried the Super Bowl, Monday Night Football, the Final Four, and NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship game from the Dial Global radio networks, and select Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks football games.

Past play-by-play events include Rockford RiverHawks baseball, Rockford IceHogs hockey, Rock River Raptors football and Chicago Bulls basketball.

Translator

Broadcast translators for WBEL
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class Transmitter coordinatesFCC info
W222AU92.3 FM Beloit, Wisconsin 155642250D 42°27′34.1″N89°1′43.4″W / 42.459472°N 89.028722°W / 42.459472; -89.028722 (W222AU) LMS
W255CZ98.9 FM Janesville, Wisconsin 150643250D 42°40′59″N89°1′12.4″W / 42.68306°N 89.020111°W / 42.68306; -89.020111 (W255CZ) LMS

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beloit, Wisconsin</span> City in Wisconsin, United States

Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 36,657 people. Beloit is a principal city of the Janesville–Beloit metropolitan statistical area and is included in the Madison–Janesville–Beloit combined statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTMJ (AM)</span> Radio station in Wisconsin, United States

WTMJ is a commercial AM radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Owned by Good Karma Brands, the station has a news/talk radio format. Its sign-on dates back to 1922 and for most of its history it was owned by The Milwaukee Journal newspaper. On weekdays, it airs news blocks during drive time, local talk shows in middays, sports in the evening and syndicated shows in late nights. It is the flagship station for Milwaukee Brewers baseball and Milwaukee Bucks basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKTI</span> ESPN Radio affiliate in Milwaukee

WKTI – branded 94.5 ESPN Milwaukee – is a commercial sports radio station licensed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Owned by Good Karma Brands, WKTI is an affiliate for ESPN Radio. WKTI is known as ESPN Milwaukee; also jointly identified as ESPN Wisconsin alongside Madison-based sister station WTLX, which simulcasts much of WKTI's local programming. WKTI also serves as the flagship station for the Marquette Golden Eagles; and the radio home of Mark Chmura, Mark Tauscher, Tony Smith and Steve True. WKTI shares its transmitter and tower facility with WTMJ-TV from its former studio located off of Capitol Drive in Milwaukee, an Art Deco facility known as "Radio City", in tribute to the New York complex of the same name. WTMJ radio, WKTI and WGKB moved to a new studio within the Third Street Market Hall in downtown Milwaukee at the end of 2022.

WWGK was a commercial daytime-only radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, that broadcast on 1540AM from 1947 until 2022. Last owned by Good Karma Brands, it featured ESPN Radio programming at the time of closure, co-owned with ESPN affiliate WKNR. The transmitter tower for WWGK was located on Euclid Avenue at East 81st Street in Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood.

WGKB is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and serving the Greater Milwaukee media market. It is owned by Good Karma Brands, broadcasting a talk radio format aimed at Milwaukee's African American community. Along with sister stations WTMJ 620 AM and WKTI 94.5 FM, WGKB has its studios in the downtown 3rd Street Market Hall. WGKB features local hosts with live programs on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The schedule is repeated at night and on weekends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAUK</span> Radio station in Jackson, Wisconsin

WAUK is a commercial progressive talk radio station licensed to the Washington County community of Jackson, Wisconsin, and serving the Milwaukee metropolitan area. It is known on-air as The Sha 101 FM in reference to the station's Waukesha based FM translator. The station's studios and offices are in downtown Waukesha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAXX</span> Radio station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

WAXX is a radio station in the Eau Claire area of Wisconsin, with its studio/offices located in Altoona, Wisconsin. Its transmitter is located in Fairchild, Wisconsin, sharing the tower with WEAU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAYY</span> Radio station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

WAYY is a commercial radio station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It broadcasts a sports radio format and is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting. Programming is mostly from Infinity Sports Network. It also carries Milwaukee Brewers baseball and Milwaukee Bucks basketball. The radio studios and offices are in Altoona, Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEAQ</span> Radio station in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

WEAQ is a radio station in the Eau Claire area of Wisconsin, with its studio and offices located in Altoona, Wisconsin. Its transmitter is located in Lake Hallie, Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWHG</span> Radio station in Evansville, Wisconsin

WWHG is a commercial mainstream rock radio station licensed to Evansville, Wisconsin and serving the areas of Madison and Janesville. The station is owned by Scott Thompson, through licensee Big Radio, and began a new rock music format as "105-9 The Hog" on January 13, 2007, after several years with a Rhythmic Top 40 format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTLX</span> Radio station in Monona–Madison, Wisconsin

WTLX is a commercial radio station, licensed to Monona, Wisconsin and serving the Madison metropolitan area. The station is owned by Good Karma Broadcasting, LLC, and runs a sports radio format as a network affiliate of ESPN Radio, sharing most programming with Milwaukee based WKTI-FM identifying jointly on air as ESPN Wisconsin. Studios and offices were on North Pinckney Street in Madison for 5.5 years from mid-2016 to the end of 2021. Jason Wilde stated on December 21, 2021 during an episode of Wilde & Tausch that the show that day was the last show from that studio as the radio station was going to be moving to a new location. The transmitter is off Tower Road, using an antenna on the water tower at the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTSO</span> Radio station in Madison, Wisconsin

WTSO is a commercial AM radio station in Madison, Wisconsin, known as "1070 The Game." The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a sports radio format. The offices and studios are on South Fish Hatchery Road in Fitchburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDUZ</span> Radio station in Green Bay, Wisconsin

WDUZ and WDUZ-FM are radio stations serving the Green Bay, Wisconsin area, simulcasting a sports format as "Sports Radio 107.5 and 1400 The Fan". The stations were owned by Clear Channel Communications, though they were still operated by their previous owner, Cumulus Media, who swapped ownership of both stations to Clear Channel in exchange for 2 Ohio stations in early 2009. In August 2013, Clear Channel reached a deal to sell its Green Bay stations back to Cumulus. The sale was consummated on December 31, 2013, at a price of $17,636,643.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZOK</span> Radio station in Illinois, United States

WZOK, branded as 97ZOK, is a radio station serving the Rockford, Illinois area with a top 40 (CHR) format. It is under ownership of Townsquare Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSJY</span> Radio station in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

WSJY is a commercial radio station licensed to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and serving a section of southern Wisconsin, including Janesville, Beloit and Madison, along with part of Northern Illinois. WSJY airs an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by the Magnum Media Group, through licensee Magnum Communications, Inc.

WFAW is a commercial radio station licensed to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, serving the Jefferson County and Janesville and Beloit area. The station is owned by Magnum Media, through licensee Magnum Communications, Inc., and features programming from Westwood One. WFAW has a classic rock radio format.

WBEV is an AM radio station broadcasting a sports radio format. Licensed to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, United States, the station is currently owned by Good Karma Brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGEZ</span> Radio station in Beloit, Wisconsin

WGEZ Is a radio station broadcasting a classic country music format. Licensed to Beloit, Wisconsin, United States, the station serves the Janesville area. The station is owned by Scott Thompson, through licensee Big Radio. WGEZ,features programming from Westwood One, Its programming is simulcast on translator station W270CW.

WMDX is a commercial radio station licensed to Columbus, Wisconsin, and serving the Madison metropolitan area radio market. The station is owned by Sage Weil and Michael Crute, through licensee Civic Media, Inc. Crute is the host of "The Devil's Advocates", a syndicated show for which WMDX serves as the flagship station. Branded as "Mad Radio 92.7", WMDX airs a progressive talk radio format. WMDX carries live locally programmed news and talk programming for most of the day, originating from studios located on State Street in downtown Madison as well the Waukesha studios of sister station WAUK. The station also carries live syndicated programming from Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann. WMDX also serves as the flagship station of the Civic Media Network, a statewide news network with affiliates across Wisconsin.

WNTA is a radio station licensed to Rockford, Illinois, United States. It serves the Rockford/Stateline area, using a two tower directional antenna system on Sandy Hollow Road. The station's current format is sports. WNTA rebroadcasts on W246DW 97.1 FM and is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting.

References

  1. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2009 (PDF). 2009. p. D-590. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WBEL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ Terry, Chris (August 31, 1998). "New WBEL makes debut: Beloit's long-time radio station to become WTJK". Beloit Daily News . Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Monroe man buying Janesville radio stations". The Janesville Gazette. January 30, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  5. ↑ "New Janesville radio station launches Monday". Janesville Gazette. April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "WTJK Flipping To Talk". All Access. April 10, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ The 90s Return to Southern Wisconsin Radioinsight - October 9, 2017
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.