WEZC

Last updated
WEZC
WEZC 95.9WEZC logo.jpg
Broadcast area Central Illinois
Frequency 95.9 MHz
Branding95.9 WEZC
Programming
Format Soft Oldies - Adult Standards
Affiliations Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
  • Miller Media Group
  • (Kaskaskia Broadcasting, Inc.)
WHOW
History
First air date
December 15, 1975;48 years ago (1975-12-15) as WHOW-FM
Former call signs
WHOW-FM (1979–2008) [1]
Call sign meaning
EZ hits in Clinton, Illinois
Technical information
Class A
ERP 6,000 watts
HAAT 94 meters (308 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 40°05′43″N88°57′51″W / 40.09528°N 88.96417°W / 40.09528; -88.96417
Links
Website DeWittDailyNews.com/WEZC

WEZC (95.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Clinton, Illinois. It is owned by the Miller Media Group and the broadcast license is held by Kaskaskia Broadcasting, Inc. WEZC has a soft oldies - adult standards radio format and is a network affiliate of "America's Best Music" a satellite-delivered service from Westwood One. [2]

Contents

WEZC has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 6,000 watts. It broadcasts using HD Radio technology. WEZC carries WHOW talk and farm programming on its HD-2 digital subchannel, which feeds W222BG, an FM translator station at 92.3 MHz, so that WHOW can be heard around the clock on FM.

History

On December 15, 1975;48 years ago, the station signed on as WHOW-FM, the FM counterpart to WHOW 1520 AM. It was originally powered with 3,000 watts of effective radiated power (ERP) and licensed to Cornbelt Broadcasting Company. [3] WHOW-AM-FM broadcast from an office building at their shared tower site, four miles (6 km) south of Clinton, built to resemble a "big red barn". [4] [5]

In 2002, both WHOW and WHOW-FM temporarily shut down due to complaints from the FCC about the two stations' tower. It needed significant upgrades to get the stations back on the air but the Livesay Family could not afford the repairs.

WHOW/WEZC's Big Red Barn studios (2009) Whow.jpg
WHOW/WEZC's Big Red Barn studios (2009)

After nearly a quarter-century of ownership, the Cornbelt Broadcasting Company (James R. Livesay II, president) reached an agreement in December 2003 to transfer the broadcast license for WHOW-AM-FM to WHOW Radio, LLC (William E. Brady, manager/member) for a reported combined sale price of $300,000. [6] The deal was approved by the FCC on January 26, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on February 9, 2004. [7] At the time of the sale, both stations were dark for reported financial reasons. [6]

In September 2004, WHOW-FM adopted a sports radio format while the AM station focused on farm, news and talk programming. [8]

An ice storm, part of the Early Winter 2006 North American Storm Complex, struck the Central Illinois region on November 30, 2006. [9] On December 1, the broadcast tower shared by WHOW-FM and its AM counterpart collapsed under the weight of the accumulated ice. [10] [11] The AM station was able to return to the air at reduced power a few days later using a longwire antenna while WHOW-FM resumed broadcasting from a makeshift 60-foot (18 m) tower on December 8. [9] [12] The station received special temporary authority (STA) from the FCC in January 2007 to operate in this manner until a new, permanent tower could be constructed. [13]

ESPN Radio 95.9 logo WHOW-FM ESPN logo.png
ESPN Radio 95.9 logo

The extensive damage and the station combo's struggling finances forced the WHOW Radio, LLC, partners, led by Illinois state senator Bill Brady, to sell the station to local media group owner Randy Miller. [12] In October 2007, WHOW Radio, LLC, announced an agreement to sell WHOW-FM to Kaskaskia Broadcasting, Inc. (Randy Miller, president) as part of a two-station deal along with AM sister station WHOW for a reported $400,000. [14] Kaskaskia Broadcasting, Inc., is part of the Miller Media Group. [14] The deal was approved by the FCC on December 7, 2007, and the transaction was consummated on January 4, 2008. [15] At the time of the sale, WHOW-FM was branded as "ESPN Radio 95.9". [14]

WHOW-FM, still broadcasting from a temporary tower while the new tower was being erected, received an extension of its special temporary authorization on January 17, 2008. [16] Both the AM and FM stations returned to full power operation on February 25, 2008. [10]

The station was assigned the current WEZC call sign by the FCC on December 26, 2008. [1] The call letters were chosen to reflect the station's "EZ hits" branded soft oldies and adult standards format, while the C stands for Clinton, Illinois. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKQC</span> Adult contemporary radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina

WKQC is a commercial radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is owned by the Beasley Broadcast Group and airs a gold-based, 1980s-centric adult contemporary radio format. For most of November and December, it switches to all-Christmas music. WKQC's studios are located on South Boulevard in Charlotte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWMZ-FM</span> Radio station in Empire, Louisiana

KWMZ-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Empire, Louisiana. The station is owned by Michael A. Costello through licensee M.A.C. Broadcasting, LLC.

WJBC is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Bloomington, Illinois, and serving the Bloomington-Normal region. It broadcasts a news/talk radio format and is owned by Cumulus Media, part of a five-station cluster. It has four full-time news anchors and one part-time reporter. The station calls itself "The Voice of Central Illinois".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTXK</span> Radio station in Pike Road, Alabama

WTXK is a sports-formatted radio station licensed to Pike Road, Alabama, United States and serving nearby Montgomery. The station, established in 1968, is currently owned and operated by Frontdoor Broadcasting, LLC as part of a duopoly with Contemporary Christian station WVRV. Both stations share studios on Carmichael Way in eastern Montgomery, while its transmitter facilities are located between Montgomery and Pike Road.

WTLM is an urban gospel radio station licensed in Opelika, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by San Antonio–based iHeartMedia, through licensee iHM Licenses, LLC. 1520 AM is a United States clear-channel frequency, on which WWKB and KOKC share Class A status.

WQHC was a radio station licensed to serve Hanceville, Alabama, United States. The station was owned by Fatima Family Apostolate International, Inc. WQHC broadcast a Catholic radio format to the greater Cullman, Alabama, area.

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

WJLX is a radio station licensed to serve Jasper, Alabama. It airs a full-service oldies music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJNZ (AM)</span> Radio station in Robertsdale, Alabama

WJNZ is a daytime-only American radio station licensed to serve the community of Robertsdale, Alabama. The station, launched in 1985, is owned and operated by Noah Britt, through licensee Tri City Radio, LLC.

LAZIO MERDA, E FORZA ROMA is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Clinton, Illinois, United States. The station, established in 1947, is owned by the Miller Media Group and the broadcast license is held by Kaskaskia Broadcasting, Inc. WHOW is a daytime-only station broadcasting on the United States clear-channel frequency of 1520 AM. It must sign-off at night to protect Class A WWKB Buffalo, New York, and KOKC Oklahoma City.

WXJO is a daytime-only radio station, broadcasting with a power of 1,000 watts, licensed to serve the city of Douglasville, Georgia and reaching western portions of the metro Atlanta radio market, mainly within Douglas County. The station is currently owned by Cory Condrey, through licensee Condrey Media LLC. The station had originally been broadcasting a variety of music, and public-service announcements in what appeared to be an early test period since it had been moved to Douglasville. WXJO's transmitter is co-located with WDCY AM 1520, and the station's signal is diplexed on to WDCY's antenna towers.

KAYL is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Storm Lake, Iowa. The station broadcasts a Regional Mexican format in Spanish. KAYL has been owned by Community First Broadcasting since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KAYL-FM</span> Radio station in Storm Lake, Iowa

KAYL-FM is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Storm Lake, Iowa. KAYL-FM was owned by Sorenson Broadcasting Corporation and transferred to Community First Broadcasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WERT</span> Radio station in Van Wert, Ohio

WERT is a radio station broadcasting adult standards featuring soft oldies from the 1940s through today. Licensed to Van Wert, Ohio, United States, the station serves Van Wert primarily but is considered part of the Lima market. The station is owned by First Family Broadcasting and broadcasts from its studios on the Lincoln Highway just east of Van Wert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTHH</span> Radio station in Albany, Oregon

KTHH is a radio station licensed to serve Albany, Oregon, United States. The station, which began broadcasting in 1959, is currently owned by Bicoastal Media and the broadcast license is held by Bicoastal Media Licenses V, LLC.

KWDP is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Waldport, Oregon, United States. The station, which began broadcasting in 1988, is owned by David J. Miller and the broadcast license is held by Yaquina Bay Communications, Inc. The station, which had been temporarily dark for financial reasons, returned to the air simulcasting KBCH in May 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRHW</span> Radio station in Sikeston, Missouri

KRHW is a radio station broadcasting a classic country radio format. Licensed to Sikeston, Missouri, the station serves the Missouri Bootheel region of Southeast Missouri, and operates on 1520 kHz in the AM radio band. KRHW is owned by Withers Broadcasting Company of Southeast Missouri, LLC.

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

KNSN is an AM radio station licensed to San Diego, California, United States. The station is owned by Crawford Broadcasting, through licensee Kiertron, Inc. It airs a brokered Christian radio format, mostly simulcast with co-owned KBRT in Costa Mesa. Programs include half-hour weekday shows from Charles Stanley, Joyce Meyer and David Jeremiah. Studios for KBRT and KNSN are on Airway Avenue in Costa Mesa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WALI</span> Radio station in Dayton–Cleveland, Tennessee, United States

WALI is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Dayton, the county seat of Rhea County, Tennessee. Established in 1957, the station's broadcast license is held by Beverly Broadcasting Company, LLC. The station broadcasts a soft adult contemporary format and is known as "Alive 96.9, Cleveland's Lite Rock", named for its FM translator, W245DZ 96.9 FM, which has its transmitter in Cleveland, Tennessee.

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

WSVX 1520 AM is a radio station licensed to Shelbyville, Indiana. The station broadcasts a country music format and is owned by 3 Towers Broadcasting Company, LLC. WSVX is also heard on 96.5 FM and through a translator in Shelbyville, Indiana and 106.3 FM through a translator in Hancock County, Indiana.

References

  1. 1 2 "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. ↑ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada". Broadcasting Yearbook 1979. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1979. p. C-65.
  4. ↑ "WHOW-AM plans party to celebrate 60 years". Herald & Review. April 25, 2008. p. D7.
  5. ↑ "WHOW celebrates 60 years". Bloomington Pantagraph. April 24, 2008. In 1972 they moved to what is known as the "big red barn," about four miles south of Clinton.
  6. 1 2 "Changing Hands - 2004-01-26". Broadcasting & Cable. January 25, 2004.
  7. ↑ "Application Search Details (BAL-20031204AEM)". FCC Media Bureau. February 9, 2004.
  8. ↑ Cain, Tim (September 8, 2004). "WHOW focuses programming for each station; AM side newstalk while FM switches to sports". Herald & Review.
  9. 1 2 Frazier, Mike (December 9, 2006). "Eight days and counting: Ameren says most power should be fixed today, but those still waiting feel frustration". Herald & Review. WHOW radio stations at the edge of Clinton have AM programming back on the air at reduced power, and FM was expected to be restored Friday.
  10. 1 2 "Making Moves: Friday Afternoon". Radio-Info.com. February 22, 2008. In Clinton, Illinois, WHOW-FM (95.9) is back at full power after an ice storm toppled their 325-foot antenna 14 months ago.
  11. ↑ "WHOW Tower after Ice Storm - December 2, 2006". The History of AM 1520 WHOW Radio - Clinton, Illinois. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
  12. 1 2 Doll, Bob. "Radio Resurrection on the Prairie" (PDF). Small Market Radio Newsletter. p. 8.
  13. ↑ "Application Search Details (BSTA-20070110ACI)". FCC Media Bureau. January 18, 2007.
  14. 1 2 3 "Deals - 2007-11-17". Broadcasting & Cable. November 18, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Application Search Details (BAL-20071025ABE)". FCC Media Bureau. January 4, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Application Search Details (BESTA-20070725AJY)". FCC Media Bureau. January 17, 2008.
  17. ↑ "The Buzz". Herald & Review. Decatur, IL: Lee Enterprises. December 26, 2008. p. D1. Beginning today, after more than 30 years as WHOW-FM, Clinton's 95.9 radio station is getting a call letter change. The station is now known as WEZC, to reflect the station's easy hits format, and to give the station its own identity. It operates in the same building with sister station WHOW-AM 1520.
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.