WIZZ

Last updated

WIZZ
Frequency 1520 kHz
BrandingPure Oldies 1520 AM & 100.5 FM
Programming
Format Oldies
Ownership
Owner
  • Saga Communications
  • (Saga Communications of New England, LLC)
WAQY, WHAI, WHMP, WLZX, WLZX-FM, WPVQ-FM, WRSI
History
First air date
August 26, 1980;44 years ago (1980-08-26)
Former call signs
  • WPOE (1980–1987)
  • WGAM (1987–2003) [1]
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 54779
Class D
Power
  • 1,000 watts day
  • 160 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
42°35′20.31″N72°37′3.33″W / 42.5889750°N 72.6175917°W / 42.5889750; -72.6175917
Translator(s) 100.5 W263DE (Greenfield)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website pureoldiesgreenfield.com

WIZZ (1520 AM) is a radio station licensed to Greenfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Saga Communications and operates as part of its Western Mass Radio Group. It broadcasts an oldies radio format, switching to Christmas music in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Contents

By day, WIZZ is powered at 1,000 watts. But 1520 AM is a clear channel frequency. To protect other stations on 1520 from interference, WIZZ greatly reduces power at night to 160 watts. Programming is also heard on FM translator W263DE at 100.5 MHz in Greenfield.

History

The station signed on the air on August 26, 1980;44 years ago. [3] The original call sign was WPOE, standing for "Poet's Seat Broadcasting." It had a middle of the road (MOR) format. In its early years, the station was a daytimer, required to go off the air at night. [4]

In 1987, the call letters changed to WGAM, with a format of big band music and adult standards. The station was assigned the WIZZ call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on February 1, 2003. [1]

WIZZ previously aired a locally programmed adult standards format. [5] It carried the national AP Radio newscast on the hour and half-hour. The station verified signal reports by QSL card. At the top of the hour, WIZZ used the same "V for Victory" time tone as WTIC 1080 in Hartford.

WIZZ's former owner and disc jockey, Phil D (Phillip Drumheller), was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2010, and was active in broadcasting for 60 years. He is the first inductee into the MBHOF to have had his career outside the Boston radio market. [6]

On April 6, 2022, Saga Communications acquired WIZZ and flipped it from adult standards to oldies. Programming is simulcast on the HD3 digital subchannel of 99.3 WLZX-FM in Northampton. [7] It is also heard on an FM translator at 100.5 MHz.

Translator

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class Transmitter coordinatesFCC info
W263DE100.5 FM Greenfield, Massachusetts 201279250D 42°35′20″N72°37′3.7″W / 42.58889°N 72.617694°W / 42.58889; -72.617694 (W263DE) LMS

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WIOQ</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Philadelphia

WIOQ is a commercial radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station broadcasts a top 40 radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The studios and offices are on Presidential Boulevard in Bala Cynwyd. The station carries a mixture of local programming and nationally syndicated shows, including Elvis Duran and the Morning Show.

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

WJOI is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is known on-air as "Joy 1340/98.7". WJOI is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Milwaukee Radio Group, with radio studios and offices on Milwaukee's West Side. The transmitter is on West Martin Drive in Milwaukee. Programming is also heard on 99-watt FM translator W254CU at 98.7 MHz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KYCH-FM</span> Radio station in Portland, Oregon

KYCH-FM is a commercial radio station in Portland, Oregon. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an adult hits radio format branded as "97.1 Charlie FM." KYCH-FM plays a fairly wide mix of music, mostly from the rock and pop genres, from the 1960s to today; much of the playlist is made up of modern rock and classic rock from the MTV music video era of the 1980s and 1990s. It switches to all Christmas music for several weeks leading to Christmas Day. The station does not have disc jockeys, instead playing amusing or ironic messages after every three or four songs.

WGHQ is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Kingston, New York, and serving the Hudson Valley. WGHQ is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and airs a conservative talk format known as "The Beacon".

WYDE is a commercial AM radio station. The station is owned by the Crawford Broadcasting Company and airs a Southern Gospel radio format with some Christian talk and teaching programs. It is simulcast with WYDE-FM 92.5 MHz in Cordova.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBAE</span> Soft adult contemporary radio station in Portland, Maine, United States

WBAE is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Portland, Maine. Owned by Saga Communications, it broadcasts a soft adult contemporary format. Its studios and offices are located on Western Avenue in South Portland, and its transmitter is off Forest Avenue in Portland. The Bay primarily features music from soft rock artists and music of the 1970s and 80s, with a few newer titles mixed in.

WWAC is a commercial radio station licensed to Ocean City, New Jersey, and serving the Atlantic City area of the Jersey Shore. It is owned by Enrico S. Brancadora, broadcasting a country music radio format. WWAC is co-owned with WIBG-FM, a classic hits station licensed to Avalon, New Jersey.

KQNM is a radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. KQNM is owned by Relevant Radio, Inc. and airs a Catholic radio ministry featuring network talk programs and broadcasts of the mass.

WEST is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Easton, Pennsylvania, and serving the Lehigh Valley. It airs a rhythmic contemporary format, simulcast with AM 1600 WHOL. Both stations are owned by Lee L'Heureux, Patrick Cerullo, and Andrea Cerullo, through licensee Major Keystone LLC. Studios and offices are on Colorado Street in Allentown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQMZ</span> Radio station in Charlottesville, Virginia

WQMZ is an adult contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Charlottesville, Virginia, serving Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia. WQMZ is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Charlottesville Radio Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBEC-FM</span> Radio station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts

WBEC-FM is a commercial radio station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHMP</span> Radio station in Northampton, Massachusetts

WHMP is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Northampton, Massachusetts, it serves the Pioneer Valley. It is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Northampton Radio Group. Its programming is also heard on translator station W268CZ in Northampton, and the second HD Radio channel of WRSI in Turners Falls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNYY</span> Radio station in Ithaca, New York

WNYY is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Ithaca, New York, United States, the station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Cayuga Radio Group serving the Ithaca area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLGZ-FM</span> Radio station in Webster, New York

WLGZ-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Webster, New York, and serving the Rochester metropolitan area. It broadcasts an oldies/classic hits radio format and is owned by DJRO Broadcasting LLC. The radio studios and offices are in Rochester's east side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJGL</span> Radio station in Jacksonville, Florida

WJGL is a commercial FM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. The station is owned by Cox Radio, a division of the Cox Media Group. WJGL airs a classic hits radio format that leans towards classic rock, playing primarily rock songs from the 1970s, 80s and some 90s, while avoiding pop/dance artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna.

WLZX-FM is a radio station in Northampton, Massachusetts. The station has an active rock format, and is owned by Saga Communications. The station is also simulcast on WLZX and translator station W253CD, both in East Longmeadow, as well as the HD2 channel of WAQY in Springfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRSI</span> Radio station in Turners Falls–Northampton, Massachusetts

WRSI is a radio station licensed to serve Turners Falls, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Saga Communications and licensed to Saga Communications of New England, LLC. It airs an adult album alternative music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPVQ-FM</span> Radio station in Massachusetts, United States

WPVQ-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Greenfield, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Saga Communications and licensed to Saga Communications of New England, LLC; it operates as part of Saga's Western Mass Radio Group. WPVQ-FM airs a country music format.

WTXW is a commercial radio station in Towanda, Pennsylvania. It broadcasts an Adult Top 40 radio format and is owned by the Radigan Broadcasting Group, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJBC-FM</span> Radio station in Pontiac, Illinois

WJBC-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Pontiac, Illinois, in the Bloomington-Normal radio market. It is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts a country radio format, calling itself "93.7 Nash Icon." The transmitter is on County Road 3200 North in Weston, Illinois.

References

  1. 1 2 "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. "Facility Technical Data for WIZZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. Youtube silent film of WPOE signing on the air on August 26, 1980. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  4. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1984 page B-122. Retrieved Dec. 14, 2024.
  5. "About WIZZ".
  6. "Phillip G. Drumheller". Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
  7. "WIZZ Joins Pure Oldies Simulcast". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 7, 2022.