WMCW

Last updated
WMCW
Broadcast area McHenry County, Illinois
Boone County, Illinois
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Frequency 1600 kHz
Programming
Format Defunct
History
First air date
January 30, 1955 [1]
Last air date
May 3, 2008 [2]
Call sign meaning
Milk Capital of the World [1] [3]
Technical information
Facility ID 43241
Class D
Power 500 watts daytime
18 watts night

WMCW (1600 AM) was a radio station licensed to Harvard, Illinois, United States. The station began broadcasting in 1955 and was originally owned by Esther Blodgett. WMCW was the first station in Illinois owned and operated by a woman. The station's call sign stood for "Milk Capital of the World".

Contents

History

Esther Blodgett ownership

WMCW began broadcasting with midnight tests on January 30, 1955, and was officially dedicated February 22, 1955. [1] The station originally ran 500 watts during daytime hours only. [4] The station's motto was "Top of the State, Top of the Dial". [1] The station aired a high amount of local programming, with owner Esther Blodgett serving as an announcer. [1] [5] In 1965, Blodgett was named "AP Correspondent of the Month" for her coverage of a tornado that struck the area during the Palm Sunday outbreak. [1] Blodgett's final broadcast was March 14, 1979. [1]

Obed Borgen ownership

In 1979, Blodgett sold the station to Obed Borgen for $175,000. [4] [6] [5] Under Borgen's ownership, the station aired a country music format. [1] [7] [8]

Mitchell Broadcasting ownership

In 1982, the station was sold to Mitchell Broadcasting for $245,000. [9] [10] The station would air a full service-MOR format. [11] [12] Throughout the 1980s along with WXET (now WZSR), WMCW broadcasts sports games from high schools across McHenry and Boone Counties and the city of Marengo’s Federal Savings show “Making your finances fit” every Monday through Friday at 7:10 AM. In 1996, ownership of the station was transferred Stateline Radio, which was owned by the daughter of the owner of Mitchell Broadcasting. [13] WMCW was a favorite among locals, broadcasting daily local news and a talkshow featuring locals from the area every morning. The Station wrote daily local newspages which were delivered weekdays to local businesses in Harvard, Marengo and Woodstock.  During Harvard's yearly Milk Day celebration the reporters were always on the scene, reporting in great color, all the action. Live reports from county fairs, local events and as many news worthy stories they could cover. On Sunday, the local church services were aired. The station continued airing a full service-soft AC format throughout the 1990s. [14] [15] [16] [17]

WPW Broadcasting ownership

Logo as an adult standards station WMCW station logo.jpg
Logo as an adult standards station

In 1999, the station was sold to WPW Broadcasting for $790,000. [17] [18] [19] The station aired a news-talk format in 2002, featuring syndicated personalities such as Laura Ingraham. [20] The station switched to an adult standards format by early 2003, with the slogan "Your Music, Your Lifestyle, Your Station, Baby Loves Sherk,". [19] [21] The station continued to air a large amount of local programming. [19]

Kovas Communications ownership

In 2004, the station was sold to Kovas Communications for $650,000. [22] In 2005, the station switched to Health Radio Network programming, simulcasting 1580 WKKD. [23] [24] [25] On May 3, 2008, the station was taken silent, and the following year Kovas Communications surrendered WMCW's license, and the licenses of 1580 WKKD and 1600 WCGO to allow sister station 1590 WONX (now WCGO) to increase power to 7 kW. [2] [24] [26]

Related Research Articles

WYHI is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Park Forest, Illinois, serving the Southland suburbs of Chicago. It is owned and operated by the Bible Broadcasting Network and it carries a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on WYHI include Chuck Swindoll, Joni Eareckson Tada, Adrian Rogers and J. Vernon McGee. The station is listener-supported and seeks donations on the air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNWZ</span> Radio station in Coachella, California

KNWZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Coachella, California. It simulcasts a talk radio format with sister stations 1160 KNWQ and 1250 KNWH. It is owned by Alpha Media. The studios are on North Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs.

WJNL is a radio station licensed to Kingsley, Michigan and serving the Traverse City area. The station is owned by Mitten News LLC. The station is also rebroadcast on 101.1 FM, through a translator in Traverse City, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHFB (AM)</span> Radio station in Benton Harbor–St. Joseph, Michigan

WHFB is a U.S. radio station dually licensed to the Twin Cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, broadcasting an urban oldies format. 1060 AM is a United States and Mexican clear-channel frequency; KYW and XEEP are the dominant stations on this frequency. It broadcasts from its studios on Fairplain Avenue located in Fair Plain, Michigan, an unincorporated area south of Benton Harbor. The station's transmitter and broadcast tower are also at this location. WHFB is also heard on 102.5 FM, through a translator in Benton Harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYCA</span> Black gospel radio station in Crete, Illinois

WYCA is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Crete, Illinois, and serving the southern suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is owned by Dontron, Inc., a subsidiary of the Crawford Broadcasting Company with studios in Hammond, Indiana. WYCA has an urban gospel radio format. Weekdays begin with a syndicated morning show hosted by Erica Campbell. Some local ministers host Christian talk and teaching shows. Services from several churches are broadcast on Sundays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KYAR</span> Radio station in Lorena, Texas

KYAR is a radio station licensed to Lorena, Texas. The station airs a Catholic format and is owned by Red-C Apostolate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMIX</span> Radio station in Tracy, California

KMIX is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format. Licensed to Tracy, California, United States, it serves the Stockton area. The station is currently owned by Entravision Communications.

WNDZ is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting an ethnic brokered programming format. Licensed to Portage, Indiana, it serves the Chicago metropolitan area. The station is owned by Newsweb Corporation with studios on North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZSR</span> Radio station in Woodstock, Illinois

WZSR is a radio station broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to Woodstock, Illinois, United States, it serves Chicago's northwest suburbs. The station is currently owned by Alpha Media. The station's studios are located behind McHenry County College in Crystal Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCGO</span> Radio station in Evanston, Illinois

WCGO is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Evanston, Illinois, and serving the Chicago metropolitan area's northern suburbs. The station is owned by William Pollack through licensee Evanston Broadcasting LLC. WCGO has a brokered programming radio format where hosts buy time on the station and may use their shows to advertise their services or seek donations. On weekday mornings, the station airs Korean-language Christian radio programming. Russian language shows are heard in the afternoon. Evenings and weekends, WCGO airs brokered talk and ethnic shows. Overnight, it carries the nationally syndicated Coast to Coast AM with George Noory from Premiere Networks.

KCFN is a radio station broadcasting a Conservative Christian radio format. Licensed to Wichita, Kansas, United States, the station serves the Wichita area. The station is owned by American Family Association and is an affiliate of American Family Radio.

KYAK is a Christian radio station licensed to Yakima, Washington, broadcasting on 930 kHz AM. The station is owned by Thomas W. Read.

WCGO was a radio station licensed to Chicago Heights, Illinois, United States. The station ran 1,000 watts during the day and 23 watts at night.

WDYS is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a soft oldies and adult standards format. Licensed to Somonauk, Illinois, it serves DeKalb County and the Fox Valley, suburbs west of Chicago. It is owned by Nelson Multimedia Inc., with programming coming from Westwood One's "America's Best Music" service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBZG</span> Radio station in Peru, Illinois

WBZG 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 Local Radio after previously being owned by Studstill Media/Mendota Broadcasting, Inc. until April 2023.

WEIC was a radio station licensed to Charleston, Illinois, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLLM (AM)</span> Radio station in Lincoln, Illinois

WLLM is a radio station broadcasting a Christian Radio format. Licensed to Lincoln, Illinois, United States, the station is owned by Great News Radio, through licensee Good News Radio, Inc. WLLM's format consists of Christian talk and teaching and Christian music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQTY</span> Radio station in Linton, Indiana

WQTY is a radio station licensed to Linton, Indiana, serving Vincennes, Indiana, Robinson, Illinois and the Terre Haute area. WQTY airs a Christian contemporary format and is owned by The Original Company, Inc.

WKKD was a radio station licensed to Aurora, Illinois. The station's studios, transmitter and towers were at 1880 Plain Avenue in Aurora.

WGLC was a radio station licensed to Mendota, Illinois. The station ran 250 watts during daytime hours only. Its transmitter was located on US 51, 2 miles north of Mendota.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 137-141.
  2. 1 2 Application Search Details - BLSTA-20080602BOE, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  3. ↑ Haupt, Holly. "Top of the state, top of the dial", The Harvard Main Line. May 3, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  4. 1 2 History Cards for WMCW, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Heise, Kenan. "Esther Blodgett, 85, Founder Of Radio Station", Chicago Tribune . October 01, 1987. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Ownership Changes", Broadcasting . March 12, 1979. p. 150. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  7. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1980 , Broadcasting, 1980. p. C-68. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  8. ↑ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1982 , Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1982. p. C-72. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Changing Hands", Broadcasting . April 19, 1982. p. 71. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  10. ↑ Public Notice Comment - BAL-19820402GX, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  11. ↑ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983 , Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1983. p. B-74. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  12. ↑ Chicagoland Radio Waves , MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable . September 9, 1996. p. 74. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  14. ↑ Unmacht, Robert (1990). The M Street Radio Directory . p. 122. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  15. ↑ Unmacht, Robert; McCrummen, Pat; Heller, Jill; Apel, Steven (1994). The M Street Radio Directory . 1995 Edition. p. 196. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  16. ↑ Unmacht, Robert; McCrummen, Pat (1998). The M Street Radio Directory . Eighth Edition. p. 211. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  17. 1 2 Madler, Mark R. "Programs to Remain as Radio Station Sold", Chicago Tribune . October 12, 1999. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Transactions", Radio & Records . November 5, 1999. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  19. 1 2 3 Kampert, Patrick. "Lose a pet? Tractor to sell?", Chicago Tribune . March 02, 2003. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Laura Ingraham Affiliate List". LauraIngraham.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2002. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  21. ↑ "WMCW 1600 AM Radio - Setting the Standard for the State Line". WMCW. Archived from the original on February 3, 2003. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable . January 11, 2004. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  23. ↑ Devine, Cathy (2005). The Radio Book . 2005-2006 Edition. p. 196. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  24. 1 2 "Media Briefing for Wednesday, May 7, 2008", Thirteen. May 7, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Suburban Chicago AM Goes Dark", All Access Music Group. May 7, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  26. ↑ "WCGO Goes Dark, WONX -- Now WCGO -- Ups Power", All Access Music Group. April 13, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
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.