WVLI

Last updated

WVLI
Site-mast-logo-wvli.png
Broadcast areaSouthern Chicago market
Frequency 92.7 MHz
BrandingThe Valley
Programming
Format Oldies
Ownership
OwnerMilner Media Partners, LLC
WFAV, WYUR, WIVR
History
First air date
September 21, 1986;37 years ago (1986-09-21) [1] [2]
Former call signs
  • WLRT (1986–1998) [3]
  • WBRO (1998) [3]
  • WKIF (1998-2012) [3]
Call sign meaning
Sounds like "valley"
Technical information [4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 62360
Class A
ERP 3,000 watts
HAAT 100 meters (330 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°7′22.00″N87°53′35.00″W / 41.1227778°N 87.8930556°W / 41.1227778; -87.8930556
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website wvli927.com

WVLI (92.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. The station is licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, United States. During its days as WKIF, it also broadcast Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame Football and other sporting events. WVLI is owned by Milner Media Partners, LLC. [5]

Contents

History

WLRT

The station began broadcasting September 21, 1986, holding the call sign WLRT. [1] [2] The station aired a lite rock format. [2] [1] In 1993, the station adopted a country music format and was branded "T93". [6]

In 1998, the station was sold to Big City Radio, which also purchased WCBR-FM in Arlington Heights (also on 92.7) at the same time. [7] When Big City Radio took control of the two stations, they stunted with a simulcast of their Los Angeles sister station 107.1 KLYY, which aired a modern rock format. [8] The station's call sign was changed to WBRO shortly thereafter. [3]

92 Kiss FM

92 Kiss FM logo 92 Kiss FM logo.PNG
92 Kiss FM logo

On November 14, 1998, at Noon, WBRO and WCBR launched their new format, CHR as "92.7 Kiss FM", with the first song being "Kiss" by Prince. [9] [10] [11] In late December 1998, the station's call sign was changed to WKIF, while WCBR's call sign was changed to WKIE. [3] [12]

Big City Radio also purchased WDEK 92.5 in DeKalb, Illinois, which was airing a locally programmed CHR format at the time, and switched it to a simulcast of WKIF and WKIE in early 1999. [13] Not long after, the moniker was adjusted to "92 Kiss FM". [14] Melissa Forman hosted mornings on 92 Kiss FM, before moving to 93.9 WLIT-FM in 2001. [15] [16]

Energy 92.7&5

On January 12, 2001, Clear Channel's WUBT changed formats from rhythmic oldies to CHR as WKSC-FM "Kiss 103.5". [17] At that time, Clear Channel filed suit against Big City Radio, alleging the "Kiss FM" branding used by WKIF and its simulcasts violated its national trademark. [17] [18] However, Big City Radio had already planned on changing the formats of these stations. [18] On January 26, 2001, 92 Kiss-FM signed off, and the three stations adopted a dance hits format as "Energy 92.7&5". [18] [19] The station's airstaff remained intact. [20] [21] The new format was designed by 92 Kiss FM's program director, Chris Shebel, who has stated that the dance hits format is something he had dreamed of doing for a long time. [18]

Onda 92

In late 2002, Big City Radio, became insolvent and began the process of selling all of its radio stations. [22] In early 2003, WKIF, WKIE, and WDEK were sold to Spanish Broadcasting System for $22 million. [23] On January 6, 2003, the three stations adopted a Spanish contemporary format as "Onda 92". [24] [25] [26] [27]

Newsweb ownership

In 2004, Spanish Broadcasting System sold WKIF, WKIE, and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation for $28 million. [28] [29] WKIF was broken off the simulcast and became a full time affiliate of CNN Headline News, [30] [31] while WKIE and WDEK began simulcasting its new adult hits sister station 99.9 WRZA in Park Forest, Illinois as "Nine FM", with the slogan "We Play Anything". [32] In October 2008, the Nine FM simulcast on WKIE, WDEK, and WRZA was replaced with progressive talk, but on December 19, 2008, Nine FM was brought back on WKIF. [31]

The Valley

In 2012, the station was sold to Milner Broadcasting for $1 million. [33] [34] [35] In August 2012, WKIF changed their format to oldies, simulcasting WVLI 95.1 FM Kankakee, branded as "The Valley". [36] On December 27, 2012, WVLI 95.1 (now WFAV) dropped the simulcast of 92.7 and made its anticipated switch to CHR simulcasting WFAV 103.7 in Gilman, Illinois. [37] On December 29, 2012, WKIF and WVLI swapped call letters, putting WKIF on 95.1 and WVLI on 92.7. [3] [38] In 2018, Milner Broadcasting was sold to the newly formed Milner Media Partners. [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKSC-FM</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Chicago

WKSC-FM – branded "103.5 Kiss FM" – is a commercial top 40 (CHR) radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois. Owned by iHeartMedia, its studios are located at the Illinois Center complex on Michigan Avenue in Downtown Chicago, and it broadcasts from a 4.3 kW transmitter atop Willis Tower. WKSC is the flagship station of the syndicated morning show The Fred Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBKS-FM</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Tacoma, Washington

KBKS-FM – branded as Hits 106.1 – is a commercial radio station licensed to Tacoma, Washington, and serving the Seattle metropolitan area. Owned by iHeartMedia, it broadcasts a top 40 (CHR) format. The studios and offices are located on Elliott Avenue West in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle. The transmitter is on Tiger Mountain, in Issaquah.

WCLR is a radio station located in DeKalb, Illinois. The station is owned by Educational Media Foundation, and airs a Christian contemporary format, as an affiliate of K-Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCPY</span> Polish radio station in Arlington Heights–Chicago, Illinois

WCPY is a radio station licensed to Arlington Heights, Illinois, and serving the Chicago area. WCPY airs a Polish language format during the daytime, as "Polski FM", while airing a Dance Hits format at night known as "Dance Factory FM". During at 5am Sundays this station aired as Viewpoints Radio and Radio Health Journal. Studios are located on Chicago's Northwest Side.

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">Nine FM</span>

Nine FM was the branding of several adult hits radio stations in the Chicago area, DeKalb, Illinois, and Kankakee, Illinois owned by media company Newsweb Corp. These stations included;

WKHL is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Palmyra, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Educational Media Foundation and is an affiliate of K-LOVE, EMF's contemporary Christian music network.

KIST-FM is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Carpinteria, California and broadcasts to the Santa Barbara radio market. The station is owned by Rincon Broadcasting and airs a regional Mexican music format. The KIST-FM studios and offices are on East Cota Street in Santa Barbara. The transmitter is off West Camino Cielo, near other FM and TV towers, in the hills north of Santa Barbara. KIST-FM also uses a 70-watt translator station, K274CJ in Santa Barbara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRPT</span> Radio station in Devine–San Antonio, Texas

KRPT is a commercial radio station broadcasting a classic country format. Licensed to Devine, Texas, United States, the station serves the San Antonio area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia. The KRPT studios are located in the Stone Oak neighborhood in Far North San Antonio, and the transmitter site is in Pearsall.

WRLX is a radio station that serves the Port St. Lucie/Stuart/West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale/Miami area with a Spanish-language top 40 (CHR) format. Its studios and transmitter tower are in West Palm Beach (separately). It is under ownership of iHeartMedia, Inc., and shares a building with several other iHeartMedia stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLXX</span> Radio station in Richmond, Kentucky

WLXX is a commercial radio station licensed to Richmond, Kentucky, and serving the Lexington metropolitan area. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. It subscribes to the nationally syndicated JACK FM radio service, using the slogan "Playing What We Want!" The playlist is mostly rock hits from the 1980s, '90s and early 2000s, but includes pop and novelty hits from the last 50 years. Unlike most music stations, WLXX does not have DJs, but uses the prerecorded voice of Howard Cogan to make humorous and sometimes sarcastic quips. The station Program Director is Anthony "Twitch" Longo.

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

WSDV is a commercial radio station licensed to Sarasota, Florida, and broadcasting to the Sarasota - Bradenton radio market. The station airs a hot adult contemporary format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKQR</span> Radio station in Mullens, West Virginia

WKQR - branded as 92.7 The Mix - is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Mullens, West Virginia. The station, established in 1981, is owned by Bob Spencer and Rick Lambert, through licensee First Media Services, LLC.

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

WPJX is a radio station, licensed to Zion, Illinois, that airs a heavy metal format. The station is owned by Polnet Communications, who also owns WKTA Evanston, WNVR Vernon Hills, and WEEF Highland Park-Deerfield. The station transmits with a directional 250 watts of power from 3 towers located on the corner of Delany Road and 21st Street near Wadsworth, Illinois. The station's daytime signal serves northern Lake County, Illinois and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. WPJX was licensed to operate during daytime hours only until May 2009 when it began broadcasting 24 hours a day with a power of 250 watts daytime and 2 watts nighttime.

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

WFAV is a radio station licensed to Kankakee, Illinois. WFAV has a Contemporary hit radio format and is owned by Milner Media Partners.

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

WYUR is a radio station licensed to Gilman, Illinois, and serving Iroquois. Kankakee, and Ford Counties. WYUR has a country music format and is owned by Milner Media Partners, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPNA-FM</span> Polish music radio station in Niles–Chicago, Illinois

WPNA-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Niles, Illinois, and serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It is owned by The Polish National Alliance, through licensee Alliance Radio, LLC. It airs a mix of Polish and International Contemporary Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVIV-FM</span> Radio station in Lemont–Chicago, Illinois

WVIV-FM is a Spanish radio station licensed to Lemont, Illinois, serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It is part of the family of Univisión Radio, a division of Univisión Communications. The station's studios are located at 625 North Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, and the transmitter is atop the Oakbrook Terrace Tower in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.

WKIF may refer to:

References

  1. 1 2 3 Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1987 , Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1987. p. B-90. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 300.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  4. "Facility Technical Data for WVLI". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. "WVLI Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  6. "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 10, No. 1. January 6, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  7. "Big City Buys Four More In Chicago", Radio & Records . April 24, 1998. p. 4. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  8. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 31. August 5, 1998. p. 1-2. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  9. Feder, Robert. "'Kiss FM' set to debut 'in your face' attitude", Chicago Sun-Times . November 12, 1998. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  10. "WCBR Becomes 92.7 Kiss FM", Format Change Archive. November 14, 1998. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  11. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 46. November 18, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  12. "Call Sign History (WCPY)". Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  13. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 16, No. 9. March 3, 1999. p. 2. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  14. "92.7 KISS fm". 92 Kiss FM. Archived from the original on February 29, 2000. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  15. "Melissa Forman". 92 Kiss FM. Archived from the original on March 4, 2000. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  16. Rosenthal, Phil. "Melissa Forman out at WLIT-FM -- again", Chicago Tribune . August 13, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  17. 1 2 "M Street Bazaar... People, Products, and Programming", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 03. January 17, 2001. p. 8. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Ross, Sean "Shebel Energizes WKIE With Dance", Billboard . February 17, 2001. p. 63-64. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  19. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 05. January 31, 2001. p. 1-2. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  20. "KISS On Air". 92 Kiss FM. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  21. "Energy Personalities". Energy 92 7/5. Archived from the original on April 10, 2001. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  22. "Big City Radio Announces Auction Of Stations", HispanicAd.com. October 5, 2002. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  23. Oppelaar, Justin. "Spanish B'casting picks up Chi trio", Variety . January 3, 2003. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  24. "Analysts React To Big City Sell-Off", Radio & Records . pp. 4 & 6. January 10, 2003. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  25. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2003-2004 , Broadcasting & Cable, 2003-2004. p. D-141. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  26. "Latin Music 6 Pack", Billboard . February 22, 2003. p. LM-2. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  27. "Onda 92". Onda 92. Archived from the original on July 19, 2003. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  28. "SBS Closes $28 Million Sale of Chicago FMs to Newsweb", RadioWorld. November 30, 2004. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  29. Lazaroff, Leon. "Democratic donor plans to purchase 3 stations", Chicago Tribune , July 27, 2004. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  30. "Story, Daily Journal . July 11, 2005. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  31. 1 2 "Reasons To Be Cheerful Pt. III: 'JBTV'", Illinois Entertainer. January 30, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  32. Kampert, Patrick. "Nine FM rolls out 'anything' format on 3 frequencies", Chicago Tribune , December 2, 2004. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  33. "Milners have straight As in Kankakee area", Radio & Television Business Report. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  34. Asset Purchase Agreement, fcc.gov. June 6, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  35. Public Notice Comment - BALH-20120723AAD, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  36. Venta, Lance. "Milner Shifting Programming In Kankakee", RadioInsight. November 29, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  37. "WFAV 95.1 - 103.7 - Your New FAVorite Hit Radio Station". WFAV. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  38. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  39. Provost, Lee. "New ownership for WVLI, WFAV", Daily Journal , April 21, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.