The 92.7 facilities, originally located at 2477 East Pike, on the east side of Zanesville, signed on January 5, 1983.[3] It originally operated as WCVZ, a religious station owned by Christian Voice of Central Ohio.[4]
The Christian Voice of Central Ohio had been serving Columbus and surrounding areas since 1972, with Christian programming on 104.9 WCVO-FM. Each station had an illuminated cross on the top of their broadcast tower.
WCVZ-FM programming was very similar to WCVO-FM, and featured many national Christian teaching, preaching, talk programs. These included Focus on the Family, with James Dobson, Turning Point, with Rev. David Jeremiah, Talk Back with Bob Larson, and many more. Seven days a week, a local "Prayer Line" program was broadcast, which invited listeners to share prayer needs, which would be prayed over by volunteer hosts.
Music programming consisted of a local morning drive and afternoon drive program, and the format was an eclectic mix of contemporary, praise, and southern gospel music. In a typical hour of drive time music, all three were featured in a continuous rotation. Friday evenings featured edgier youth oriented Contemporary Christian Music. Saturday evenings featured southern gospel music. Staff and volunteers produced several weekend music programs.
Several WCVZ on air hosts throughout the years include Robin (Sampson) Kelly, Chuck Case, Neil Snelling, Andy Shepherd, and Charles Rice. Locally produced weekend music shows included Gospel Ship (Farris Wilhite), Sunday Serenade (Charlie Swank), Street Light Radio (Michael Lanning), and Yesterday in Christian Music (Chuck Case).
WCVZ was known for including children's programming on Saturday mornings. In 1994, the station began carrying "The SonShine Radio Network", which broadcast children's programming 24/7, via a subcarrier channel. Listeners could access the programming by purchasing a specially tuned receiver.
The station was also known for its "Christmas Extravaganza" that preempted most regular programming for two weeks each December. The "Extravaganza" featured many special Christmas radio productions, including vintage radio productions like "A Christmas Carol" from Campbells' Radio Playhouse.
WCVZ was underwritten by contributions from local businesses and the listening audience. Each September, "Involvathon" invited listeners to pledge gifts to provide for the station's financial needs.
In 1994, a new transmitter site was constructed in rural Rose Farm, Ohio, where it remains today. The move allowed the station to increase its ERP from 6,000 watts to 16,000 watts.
In October 2001, WCVZ was relaunched as "Joy FM". All previous programming was replaced by a 24 hour Contemporary Christian format. Michael James served as the morning show host.[5]
On October 17, 2008, the Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting System, doing business as the WHIZ Media Group, announced the purchase of WCVZ, allowing 102.5 FM WHIZ to move out of the Zanesville area. Under a local marketing agreement, WCVZ then simulcast WHIZ-FM's adult contemporary music format in preparation for this move[6] until December 7, 2008, when WCVZ assumed WHIZ-FM's identity as "Z92", and WHIZ-FM became "Highway 102", featuring an automated country music format.
Studios on Downard Road, Zanesville, Ohio
When 102.5 FM moved to its new location serving Baltimore, Ohio, it took the WCVZ call sign from 92.7, allowing 92.7 to use the WHIZ-FM call sign.[7]
Former owner Christian Voice of Central Ohio continues to serve the Zanesville area on WZNP (89.3 FM) licensed to Newark, Ohio, a part of the company's "River Radio Group".[8] The WCVZ calls remained with WHIZ Media Group, and were used on 102.5 FM until December 23, 2010, when local marketing agreement operator Fun With Radio, LLC's WWCD calls were moved to the frequency.
WCVO is a radio station in Gahanna, Ohio, United States located at 104.9 MHz broadcasting family-friendly Christian music as "104.9 the River" in Central Ohio. The station was started by the Christian Voice of Central Ohio (CVCO), which was incorporated in 1964. In 2008, the parent company changed its name to One Connection Media Group. Since 2015, the organization has called itself River Radio Ministries. 104.9 the River's slogan is "Uplifting and Encouraging".
WKVR is a radio station licensed to Baltimore, Ohio. Owned by the Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting System of Zanesville, which often does business as the WHIZ Media Group, and operated by Educational Media Foundation via a long-term local marketing agreement, the station serves much of the Columbus metropolitan area. The WKVR transmitter resides off Pickerington Road in Carroll. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WKVR is available online.
WOSA is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to Grove City, Ohio, featuring a classical music format known as "Classical 101fm". Owned by Ohio State University, the station serves Columbus, Ohio, and much of the surrounding Columbus metro area, extending its reach into Mansfield, Marion and Southern Ohio with five full-power repeaters. The WOSA studios are located at the Fawcett Center on the Ohio State University campus, while the station transmitter resides off of Borror Road in Lockbourne. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WOSA is available online. It is one of a few non-commercial stations in the United States to broadcast outside of its recommended frequency range (88-92 MHz).
WHIZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Zanesville, Ohio, featuring a full service format known as "AM 1240 The Voice". Owned by Marquee Broadcasting, this station is the local affiliate for ABC News Radio, the Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ohio State Buckeyes radio networks, in addition to carrying ESPN Radio and Westwood One programming. WHIZ's studios are located in a combined facility with WHIZ-TV, WHIZ-FM and WZVL on Downard Road in Zanesville, while the transmitter is located to the northeast of the city's downtown. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WHIZ is relayed over low-power Zanesville translator W272EE and is available online.
WHIZ-TV is a television station in Zanesville, Ohio, United States, affiliated with NBC, Fox and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Marquee Broadcasting alongside the company's only radio properties—WHIZ, WHIZ-FM (92.7), and WZVL. The stations share studios on Downard Road in Zanesville, where WHIZ-TV's transmitter is also located.
WCVJ is a non-commercial radio station located in Jefferson, Ohio. It is owned by Educational Media Foundation and airs EMF's Air1 nationally syndicated Christian worship format.
WXZX is a commercial radio station that is licensed to serve Hilliard, Ohio and serves the Columbus metropolitan area. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station broadcasts an alternative rock format. Both the WXZX studios and the station transmitter are located in Downtown Columbus. The station is the Columbus affiliate of the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network. WXZX broadcasts in HD Radio.
KMJQ is a commercial radio station in Houston, Texas. Owned by Urban One, "Majic 102" has an urban adult contemporary radio format. KMJQ is co-owned with 97.9 KBXX, 92.9 KKBQ, 106.9 KHPT, and 107.5 KGLK, with studios and offices located in the Greenway Plaza district. KMJQ is one of the high-ranking stations in Greater Houston, sometimes reaching number-one. It is also one of the most honored UAC stations in the U.S, according to radio trade publications. The station carries the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, The Madd Hatta Show in the afternoon, and a Quiet Storm program in the nighttime.
WXGT is a commercial oldies radio station licensed to serve Columbus, Ohio, serving the Columbus metropolitan area. Owned by ICS Communications, Inc., the WXGT studios are located in beautiful Downtown Lewis Center, Ohio in the Lewis Center Metroplex, while the station transmitter resides in Columbus' Brandywine neighborhood on Morse Road,
KROI is a radio station serving the Greater Houston market. It is licensed to Seabrook, Texas and owned by the Spanish Broadcasting System. The station's studios are located in Greenway Plaza and the transmitter is based near Rosharon in unincorporated Brazoria County.
WBKV is a radio station in Buffalo, New York. It is owned by Educational Media Foundation and is a part of its K-Love network.
KBIQ, known as "Q102.7", is a Christian adult contemporary radio station broadcasting at 102.7 FM. The station serves the Colorado Springs, Colorado, area of the United States, and can be heard as far north as Denver and Arvada. The station is owned by the Salem Media Group.
KGGR is a commercial radio station, licensed to Dallas, Texas and serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is owned by MARC Radio Group, through licensee MARC Radio Dallas, LLC, and airs an urban gospel radio format, in place since 1990. The call sign stands for Great Gospel Radio.
WZPW is a radio station in Central Illinois with a rhythmic top 40 music format, licensed to Peoria, Illinois and broadcasting with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 19,200 watts. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, which purchased the station from Townsquare Media.
WMRN-FM is a country music radio station in Marion, Ohio, currently owned by iHeartMedia.
WBDX and WJLJ (103.1 MHz) are non-commercial, listener-supported FM radio stations. They are owned by Partners for Christian Media and they simulcast a Christian Contemporary radio format branded as "J103." WBDX is licensed to Trenton, Georgia, and WJLJ is licensed to Etowah, Tennessee. They serve the Chattanooga metropolitan area and are the Tennessee Valley's only local Contemporary Christian stations.
KVFZ is a terrestrial American radio station, licensed to Benton, Louisiana and serving Shreveport/Bossier City. The station airs Spanish language Contemporary Christian programming provided by the Encouragement Media Group.
WWJM is a radio station currently owned by Perry County Broadcasting Co. It broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format, featuring a number of syndicated female-oriented lifestyle talk shows.
WERC-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Hoover, Alabama, and serving Greater Birmingham. It is owned by iHeartMedia and it simulcasts a talk radio format with sister station WERC 960 AM. The studios and offices are in Beacon Ridge Tower on First Avenue South in Birmingham, off Interstate 65.
WZVL is a country music radio station licensed to Philo, Ohio, broadcasting on 103.7 FM. WZVL serves the Zanesville area and is owned by Marquee Broadcasting.
↑ Hiotis, George (October 17, 2008). "WHIZ Buys WCVZ 92.7 F-M Radio". WHIZ-TV. Retrieved December 22, 2010. Today The WHIZ Media Group and Christian Voice of Central Ohio are announcing an agreement for WHIZ to acquire WCVZ 92.7-FM. WHIZ will take over 92.7 and WCVZ is inviting its listeners to listen at 89.3 - The Promise. WHIZ President Hank Littick says it's a win-win for both radio groups.
↑ Jeffries, Katie (September 30, 2009). "Changes at the WHIZ radio stations". WHIZ-TV. Retrieved December 22, 2010. Some of your Favorite WHIZ Radio Stations are making a change. 102.5 FM, known as Highway 102, is moving to Baltimore, Ohio and will become WCVZ. The current WCVZ signal, known as 92.7, will revert to WHIZ FM here in Zanesville... It will open up access to hundreds of thousands of listeners west of Zanesville and all around the Columbus market. Littick says where a lot of impact will be felt is the northwest and west side of Columbus. He says starting today (Wednesday) that area will have a new radio station. Littick says the move will also be a big win for advertisers who will have access to over 1.4 million potential listeners in the new signal area in an affordable, economical way.
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