WBZG

Last updated

WBZG
Broadcast area LaSalle / Princeton
Frequency 100.9 MHz
Branding100.9 FM Rocks!
Programming
Format Classic rock
Affiliations Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
WALS, WGLC-FM, WIVQ, WSTQ, WYYS
History
First air date
March 15, 1970 [2]
Former call signs
WGSY (1969–1977) [3]
WIVQ (1977–1984) [3] [4]
WLRZ (1984–2000) [4]
Call sign meaning
For aborted rock branding of The Buzz
Technical information [5]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 69732
Class A
ERP 3,000 watts
HAAT 100 meters (330 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 41°18′11″N89°14′10″W / 41.303°N 89.236°W / 41.303; -89.236
Links
Public license information
Website wbzg.net

WBZG (100.9 FM) is a radio station licensed to Peru, Illinois, covering, LaSalle, Peru, Princeton, and Vicinity. WBZG airs a classic rock format and is owned by Shaw Media, through licensee Shaw Local Radio Co., after previously being owned by Studstill Media/Mendota Broadcasting, Inc. until April 2023. [1]

Contents

History

WGSY

The station began broadcasting on March 15, 1970, holding the call sign WGSY. [2] [3] The station was originally owned by George W. Yazell, and had an ERP of 3,000 watts at a HAAT of 145 feet. [3] WGSY aired a variety format. [6] [7] In 1977, the station was sold to Radio Illinois, Ltd. for $85,000. [3] [8]

WIVQ

In 1977, the station's call sign was changed to WIVQ, and the station began airing a MOR format. [3] [9] By 1980, the station had begun airing an adult rock format. [10] By 1983, the station had begun airing a beautiful music/easy listening format. [11] By 1984, the station was airing a MOR format. [12] In 1984, the station was sold to Starved Rock Radio Project for $155,000. [13] [14]

WLRZ

In September 1984, the station's call sign was changed to WLRZ. [4] WLRZ would air an adult contemporary format. [15] By 1990, the station had begun airing a classic rock format. [16] [17] In 1994, the station was sold to Valley Plus Broadcasting for $150,000. [18] [19] In 1997, the station was sold to Mendota Broadcasting, Inc., along with 103.3 WAIV, for $700,000. [20] [21]

WBZG

In July 2000, the station's call sign was changed to WBZG, and the station was branded "The Buzz". [4] [22] However, in August 2000, 107.7 WBZM in Bloomington would begin broadcasting with "The Buzz" branding, airing a modern rock format. [23] Unbeknownst to WBZG, the owner of WBZM had trademarked "The Buzz" branding for the entire state of Illinois, and WBZG stopped calling itself "The Buzz" to avoid a lawsuit. [23] The station would later be branded "100.9 FM Rocks!". [24]

On January 24, 2023, it was announced that Studstill Media had sold WBZG, along with its sister stations, to Shaw Media in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for a total of $1.8 million. The sale was under FCC review for just under two months before being finalized on March 23, 2023. [25] Shaw Local Radio officially assumed ownership of WBZG and its sister stations on April 3, 2023. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Barichello, David. "Shaw Local Radio completes purchase of 8 radio stations". Shaw Local. Shaw Media.
  2. 1 2 Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1982 , Broadcasting/Cablecasting. 1982. p. C-75. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 History Cards for WBZG, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Call Sign History, FCC.gov. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WBZG". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  6. ↑ 1973 Broadcasting Yearbook , Broadcasting. 1973. p. B-64. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  7. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 , Broadcasting. 1977. p. C-66. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Ownership changes", Broadcasting . May 23, 1977. p. 68. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  9. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1978 , Broadcasting. 1978. p. C-68. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  10. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1980 , Broadcasting. 1980. p. C-71. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  11. ↑ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983 , Broadcasting/Cablecasting. 1983. p. B-77. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  12. ↑ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1984 , Broadcasting/Cablecasting. 1984. p. B-83. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Ownership changes", Broadcasting . July 9, 1984. p. 78. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  14. ↑ Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  15. ↑ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1986 , Broadcasting/Cablecasting. 1986. p. B-90. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  16. ↑ The Broadcasting Yearbook 1990 , Broadcasting & Cable. 1990. p. B-103. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  17. ↑ Rocheleau, Paul (1991). Radio on Wheels . Berkley Books. p. 102. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Late 1993 Transactions at a Glance", Radio & Records . January 14, 1994. p. 7. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  19. ↑ Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Transactions", Radio & Records . April 11, 1997. p. 6. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  21. ↑ Consent to Assignment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 17 No. 31. August 2, 2000. p. 2. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  23. 1 2 Sadler, Roger L. (2005). Electronic Media Law . SAGE Publications. p. 329. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  24. ↑ "100.9 FM Rocks!". WYKT. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  25. ↑ Shaw Local News Network. "Studstill announces sale of 8 radio stations to Shaw Media". Shaw Local. Shaw Media Local.
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