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WIZF

January 01, 1970

39°06′18″N 84°33′25″W / 39.105°N 84.557°W / 39.105; -84.557

WIZF
Broadcast areaCincinnati, Ohio
Frequency101.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding101.1 The Wiz
Programming
FormatMainstream urban
SubchannelsHD2: Regional Mexican "La Grande 101.5"
Ownership
Owner
  • Urban One
  • (Blue Chip Broadcasting Licenses, Ltd.)
WDBZ, WOSL
History
First air date
1965 (as WKKY-FM at 100.9)
Former call signs
WKKY-FM (1965–1968)
WHKK (1968–1985)
WSAI-FM (1985–1986)
Former frequencies
100.9 MHz (1965–2006)
Call sign meaning
A tribute to the Black musical and movie "The WIZ"
Technical information
Facility ID5893
ClassA
ERP2,500 watts
HAAT155 meters (509 ft)
Translator(s)101.5 W268CM (Cincinnati, Ohio, relays HD2)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Listen Live (HD2)
Websitewiznation.com
lagrande1015.com (HD2)

WIZF (101.1 FM) is a mainstream urban radio station licensed to Erlanger, Kentucky, serving the Cincinnati area. The station is owned and operated by Urban One. It broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 2,500 watts. Its studios are located at Centennial Plaza in downtown Cincinnati, and the transmitter site is west of the downtown area.

History edit

Early years edit

Ken Thomas, Inc., received a construction permit for a new FM radio station on 100.9 MHz in Erlanger, Kentucky, from the Federal Communications Commission on June 1, 1964.[1] WKKY-FM signed on in September 1965, broadcasting a full-service format.[2]

WKKY-FM was bought in late 1968 by the Christian Broadcasting Association, owners of WTOF in Canton; the call letters were changed to WHKK and a new format of religious programs instituted.[3] The Christian Broadcasting Association also converted the station to 24-hour operation.[4] Under its ownership, WHKK became known for its gospel music and its intensive public service programming, including an "unheard-of" four-hour news block in the evenings and local sports coverage.[5] Airing some 160 high school games a year by the early 1980s, WHKK also became the exclusive Cincinnati-market home of Kentucky Wildcats football and the United States Football League.[6]

On October 14, 1985, WHKK became WSAI-FM; the WSAI call letters, long a fixture in Cincinnati, had been abandoned by 1360 AM after that station had used them since 1923.[7] Its owner, Mortenson Broadcasting, had grown to own stations elsewhere in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Maryland.[7]

WIZF edit

1986 brought the biggest change in the history of the frequency when Inter-Urban Broadcasting Partnership Ltd. acquired WSAI-FM for $2 million.[8] It was immediately apparent that WSAI-FM was about to flip to an urban contemporary format, given the other stations owned by Inter Urban, including WYLD-FM New Orleans and WZEN-FM in St. Louis; Cincinnati had two stations already in the format.[9] Prep sports coverage previously heard on WSAI-FM migrated to two other northern Kentucky stations, WIOK and WTSJ.[10]

WSAI-FM went silent on midnight on November 24 as the ownership transfer awaited consummation. The next day, a burglar broke into the studios in Erlanger and stole $8,200 of equipment, though the theft was said to not have an impact on operations by the new owner.[11] After taking a delivery of its own studio equipment, WIZF "The Wiz" finally signed on January 24, 1987.[12] The new station edged out one of its format competitors, WCIN, but was far behind the other, WBLZ (103.5 FM), in the first ratings survey.[13] Despite the performance, it did result in the firing of morning host Allen Guess.[14] Ratings continued to climb for WIZF and fall for the competition.[15]

In August 1988, without authorization from the Federal Communications Commission, WIZF increased its power and antenna height, prompting the FCC to open a formal investigation and warn other broadcasters not to do the same without a construction permit.[16] The move had been announced in an on-air stunt in which the staff started claiming that they would walk out unless they got a 40 percent raise.[16] The station went silent on August 14 at 6 p.m., returning to the air six hours later with a message from Inter-Urban president James Hutchinson, who claimed that the demand had been settled and the jocks got their 40 percent. The next morning, the station promoted that the 40 percent was not a monetary increase, but rather a 40-foot height increase on their tower antennae, which raised suspicions at WBLZ.[16][17] The station admitted the infraction after the investigation was opened;[16] station manager Reggie Brown was fired.[17]

Inter-Urban filed for bankruptcy in December 1991 after failing to come to a deal with its largest creditor, Barclays.[18] The company continued to operate as a debtor-in-possession, but to satisfy $4 million of the claim by Barclays, a bankruptcy court approved the sale of WIZF in 1994 to Blue Chip Broadcast Company, which was owned by local minority investors including Procter & Gamble executive Ross Love and then-Ohio state treasurer Ken Blackwell.[19] The chairman and president of Inter-Urban—which had hoped to retain the station and revitalize it—unsuccessfully objected to the buyer, claiming that venture capitalist John Wyant had installed an African American chairman to make the company appear to be minority owned, but then set onerous financial terms designed to eventually allow Wyant to buy the station outright.[20] At the time of the sale, WIZF had moved into a tie for third place in the Cincinnati radio ratings.[19]

While WIZF rated well, the new ownership stepped into a lacking situation, even though the Cincinnati Enquirer branded it a "sleeping giant" with a loyal following.[21] The station had no full-time general manager and was lacking in other administrative areas.[21] Blue Chip, which began expanding in 1995 with its purchase of two FM stations in Louisville, Kentucky,[22] grew to 18 stations before Radio One acquired the company and almost all of its stations in 2001 in a $190 million transaction.[23]

On July 14, 2006, WIZF changed frequencies from 100.9 FM to 101.1 FM. The move had been ordered by the FCC in 2005 as part of a proceeding that led to other frequency changes in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.[24] The principal outcome was that WIFE-FM 100.3 in Connersville, Indiana, could move 50 miles (80 km) east to Norwood, Ohio, and into the Cincinnati market; Radio One subsequently purchased the station, which is today WOSL.[25]

WIZF was the Cincinnati affiliate of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show from 2016-2020.[26] Previously, the station aired Russ Parr in mornings; Parr in turn replaced Doug Banks after Radio One opted not to renew the Banks contract in favor of its in-house Parr program.[27] WIZF now carries "The Morning Hustle", syndicated from Atlanta sister station WHTA, in morning drive.

WIZF-HD2 edit

On November 1, 2021, WIZF launched a Regional Mexican format on its HD2 subchannel, branded as "La Grande 101.5" (simulcast on translator 101.5 W268CM).[28]

References edit

  1. ^ FCC History Cards for WIZF
  2. ^ Hogan, Jr., Marty (September 24, 1965). "He's 'Just Going West',—With Style". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 37. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "WKKY-FM Bought By Canton Group". Cincinnati Enquirer. December 3, 1968. p. 14. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "FCC Approves Sale Of WKKY To Association". Cincinnati Enquirer. May 10, 1968. p. 17. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Hoffman, Steve (February 14, 1975). "Gospel WHKK Community-Minded, Too". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 10. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  6. ^ King, Peter (May 22, 1983). "3,000 Sports-Oriented Watts". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C-21. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Kiesewetter, John (September 27, 1985). "WHKK Becomes WSAI In Radio's Name Game". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D-12. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. August 8, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Kiesewetter, John (July 29, 1986). "Chicago group buys Ky. religious radio station". Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. C-6, C-12. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Kiesewetter, John (November 16, 1986). "High school basketball aplenty on area radio". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C-18. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Beasley, Dave; Kiesewetter, John (December 6, 1986). "Equipment stolen from WSAI". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C-5. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  12. ^ Kiesewetter, John (January 26, 1987). "Northern Kentucky in view". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B-8. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Kiesewetter, John (April 29, 1987). "'Sentimental Journey' to old format". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. F-9. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  14. ^ Kiesewetter, John (April 16, 1987). "'Best And Worst' for WCPO". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C-17. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Kiesewetter, John (July 21, 1987). "WLW bumps WEBN into second place". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B-1. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d "FCC Investigates Illegal Power Boost" (PDF). Radio & Records. September 16, 1988. pp. 3, 50. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  17. ^ a b Kiesewetter, John (September 19, 1988). "'WIZ' in a tower of trouble". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B-5. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "Inter-Urban Files Chapter 11" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 13, 1991. p. 4. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Kiesewetter, John (April 23, 1994). "The WIZ changes owners". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B5. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  20. ^ "Inter-Urban Petitions To Block WIZF Sale" (PDF). Radio & Records. August 19, 1994. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  21. ^ a b Kiesewetter, John (May 8, 1995). "Rousing the sleeping giant". Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. B1, B2. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  22. ^ Harrington, Jeff (September 6, 1995). "Blue Chip Broadcasting cracks Louisville market". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C7. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  23. ^ "Radio One Buys Blue Chip" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 16, 2001. p. 6. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  24. ^ "DA 05-3027: Report and Order" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. November 23, 2005. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  25. ^ Kiesewetter, John (March 31, 2006). "'The Wiz' hops up radio dial for new station". Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A9, A11. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  26. ^ Venta, Lance (January 14, 2016). "Radio-One Adds Rickey Smiley In Four Markets". RadioInsight. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  27. ^ Kiesewetter, John (August 8, 2003). "WIZ hopes fans will bring bus onboard". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D9. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  28. ^ La Grande 101.5 Debuts In Cincinnati Radioinsight - November 1, 2021

External links edit

  • Station website
  • WIZF in the FCC FM station database
  • WIZF in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
  • W268CM in the FCC FM station database
  • W268CM at FCCdata.org

January 01, 1970
wizf, erlanger, kentuckybroadcast, areacincinnati, ohiofrequency101, radio, branding101, wizprogrammingformatmainstream, urbansubchannelshd2, regional, mexican, grande, ownershipownerurban, blue, chip, broadcasting, licenses, sister, stationswdbz, woslhistoryf. 39 06 18 N 84 33 25 W 39 105 N 84 557 W 39 105 84 557 WIZFErlanger KentuckyBroadcast areaCincinnati OhioFrequency101 1 MHz HD Radio Branding101 1 The WizProgrammingFormatMainstream urbanSubchannelsHD2 Regional Mexican La Grande 101 5 OwnershipOwnerUrban One Blue Chip Broadcasting Licenses Ltd Sister stationsWDBZ WOSLHistoryFirst air date1965 as WKKY FM at 100 9 Former call signsWKKY FM 1965 1968 WHKK 1968 1985 WSAI FM 1985 1986 Former frequencies100 9 MHz 1965 2006 Call sign meaningA tribute to the Black musical and movie The WIZ Technical informationFacility ID5893ClassAERP2 500 wattsHAAT155 meters 509 ft Translator s 101 5 W268CM Cincinnati Ohio relays HD2 LinksWebcastListen LiveListen Live HD2 Websitewiznation comlagrande1015 com HD2 WIZF 101 1 FM is a mainstream urban radio station licensed to Erlanger Kentucky serving the Cincinnati area The station is owned and operated by Urban One It broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 2 500 watts Its studios are located at Centennial Plaza in downtown Cincinnati and the transmitter site is west of the downtown area Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years 1 2 WIZF 2 WIZF HD2 3 References 4 External linksHistory editEarly years edit Ken Thomas Inc received a construction permit for a new FM radio station on 100 9 MHz in Erlanger Kentucky from the Federal Communications Commission on June 1 1964 1 WKKY FM signed on in September 1965 broadcasting a full service format 2 WKKY FM was bought in late 1968 by the Christian Broadcasting Association owners of WTOF in Canton the call letters were changed to WHKK and a new format of religious programs instituted 3 The Christian Broadcasting Association also converted the station to 24 hour operation 4 Under its ownership WHKK became known for its gospel music and its intensive public service programming including an unheard of four hour news block in the evenings and local sports coverage 5 Airing some 160 high school games a year by the early 1980s WHKK also became the exclusive Cincinnati market home of Kentucky Wildcats football and the United States Football League 6 On October 14 1985 WHKK became WSAI FM the WSAI call letters long a fixture in Cincinnati had been abandoned by 1360 AM after that station had used them since 1923 7 Its owner Mortenson Broadcasting had grown to own stations elsewhere in Ohio Kentucky West Virginia and Maryland 7 WIZF edit 1986 brought the biggest change in the history of the frequency when Inter Urban Broadcasting Partnership Ltd acquired WSAI FM for 2 million 8 It was immediately apparent that WSAI FM was about to flip to an urban contemporary format given the other stations owned by Inter Urban including WYLD FM New Orleans and WZEN FM in St Louis Cincinnati had two stations already in the format 9 Prep sports coverage previously heard on WSAI FM migrated to two other northern Kentucky stations WIOK and WTSJ 10 WSAI FM went silent on midnight on November 24 as the ownership transfer awaited consummation The next day a burglar broke into the studios in Erlanger and stole 8 200 of equipment though the theft was said to not have an impact on operations by the new owner 11 After taking a delivery of its own studio equipment WIZF The Wiz finally signed on January 24 1987 12 The new station edged out one of its format competitors WCIN but was far behind the other WBLZ 103 5 FM in the first ratings survey 13 Despite the performance it did result in the firing of morning host Allen Guess 14 Ratings continued to climb for WIZF and fall for the competition 15 In August 1988 without authorization from the Federal Communications Commission WIZF increased its power and antenna height prompting the FCC to open a formal investigation and warn other broadcasters not to do the same without a construction permit 16 The move had been announced in an on air stunt in which the staff started claiming that they would walk out unless they got a 40 percent raise 16 The station went silent on August 14 at 6 p m returning to the air six hours later with a message from Inter Urban president James Hutchinson who claimed that the demand had been settled and the jocks got their 40 percent The next morning the station promoted that the 40 percent was not a monetary increase but rather a 40 foot height increase on their tower antennae which raised suspicions at WBLZ 16 17 The station admitted the infraction after the investigation was opened 16 station manager Reggie Brown was fired 17 Inter Urban filed for bankruptcy in December 1991 after failing to come to a deal with its largest creditor Barclays 18 The company continued to operate as a debtor in possession but to satisfy 4 million of the claim by Barclays a bankruptcy court approved the sale of WIZF in 1994 to Blue Chip Broadcast Company which was owned by local minority investors including Procter amp Gamble executive Ross Love and then Ohio state treasurer Ken Blackwell 19 The chairman and president of Inter Urban which had hoped to retain the station and revitalize it unsuccessfully objected to the buyer claiming that venture capitalist John Wyant had installed an African American chairman to make the company appear to be minority owned but then set onerous financial terms designed to eventually allow Wyant to buy the station outright 20 At the time of the sale WIZF had moved into a tie for third place in the Cincinnati radio ratings 19 While WIZF rated well the new ownership stepped into a lacking situation even though the Cincinnati Enquirer branded it a sleeping giant with a loyal following 21 The station had no full time general manager and was lacking in other administrative areas 21 Blue Chip which began expanding in 1995 with its purchase of two FM stations in Louisville Kentucky 22 grew to 18 stations before Radio One acquired the company and almost all of its stations in 2001 in a 190 million transaction 23 On July 14 2006 WIZF changed frequencies from 100 9 FM to 101 1 FM The move had been ordered by the FCC in 2005 as part of a proceeding that led to other frequency changes in Indiana Ohio and Kentucky 24 The principal outcome was that WIFE FM 100 3 in Connersville Indiana could move 50 miles 80 km east to Norwood Ohio and into the Cincinnati market Radio One subsequently purchased the station which is today WOSL 25 WIZF was the Cincinnati affiliate of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show from 2016 2020 26 Previously the station aired Russ Parr in mornings Parr in turn replaced Doug Banks after Radio One opted not to renew the Banks contract in favor of its in house Parr program 27 WIZF now carries The Morning Hustle syndicated from Atlanta sister station WHTA in morning drive WIZF HD2 editOn November 1 2021 WIZF launched a Regional Mexican format on its HD2 subchannel branded as La Grande 101 5 simulcast on translator 101 5 W268CM 28 References edit FCC History Cards for WIZF Hogan Jr Marty September 24 1965 He s Just Going West With Style Cincinnati Enquirer p 37 Retrieved May 18 2020 WKKY FM Bought By Canton Group Cincinnati Enquirer December 3 1968 p 14 Retrieved May 18 2020 FCC Approves Sale Of WKKY To Association Cincinnati Enquirer May 10 1968 p 17 Retrieved May 18 2020 Hoffman Steve February 14 1975 Gospel WHKK Community Minded Too Cincinnati Enquirer p 10 Retrieved May 18 2020 King Peter May 22 1983 3 000 Sports Oriented Watts Cincinnati Enquirer p C 21 Retrieved May 18 2020 a b Kiesewetter John September 27 1985 WHKK Becomes WSAI In Radio s Name Game Cincinnati Enquirer p D 12 Retrieved May 18 2020 Transactions PDF Radio amp Records August 8 1986 p 10 Retrieved May 18 2020 Kiesewetter John July 29 1986 Chicago group buys Ky religious radio station Cincinnati Enquirer pp C 6 C 12 Retrieved May 18 2020 Kiesewetter John November 16 1986 High school basketball aplenty on area radio Cincinnati Enquirer p C 18 Retrieved May 18 2020 Beasley Dave Kiesewetter John December 6 1986 Equipment stolen from WSAI Cincinnati Enquirer p C 5 Retrieved May 18 2020 Kiesewetter John January 26 1987 Northern Kentucky in view Cincinnati Enquirer p B 8 Retrieved May 18 2020 Kiesewetter John April 29 1987 Sentimental Journey to old format Cincinnati Enquirer p F 9 Retrieved May 18 2020 Kiesewetter John April 16 1987 Best And Worst for WCPO Cincinnati Enquirer p C 17 Retrieved May 18 2020 Kiesewetter John July 21 1987 WLW bumps WEBN into second place Cincinnati Enquirer p B 1 Retrieved May 18 2020 a b c d FCC Investigates Illegal Power Boost PDF Radio amp Records September 16 1988 pp 3 50 Retrieved May 18 2020 a b Kiesewetter John September 19 1988 WIZ in a tower of trouble Cincinnati Enquirer p B 5 Retrieved May 18 2020 Inter Urban Files Chapter 11 PDF Radio amp Records December 13 1991 p 4 Retrieved May 18 2020 a b Kiesewetter John April 23 1994 The WIZ changes owners Cincinnati Enquirer p B5 Retrieved May 18 2020 Inter Urban Petitions To Block WIZF Sale PDF Radio amp Records August 19 1994 Retrieved May 18 2020 a b Kiesewetter John May 8 1995 Rousing the sleeping giant Cincinnati Enquirer pp B1 B2 Retrieved May 18 2020 Harrington Jeff September 6 1995 Blue Chip Broadcasting cracks Louisville market Cincinnati Enquirer p C7 Retrieved May 18 2020 Radio One Buys Blue Chip PDF Radio amp Records February 16 2001 p 6 Retrieved May 18 2020 DA 05 3027 Report and Order PDF Federal Communications Commission November 23 2005 Retrieved May 18 2020 Kiesewetter John March 31 2006 The Wiz hops up radio dial for new station Cincinnati Enquirer pp A9 A11 Retrieved May 18 2020 Venta Lance January 14 2016 Radio One Adds Rickey Smiley In Four Markets RadioInsight Retrieved May 18 2020 Kiesewetter John August 8 2003 WIZ hopes fans will bring bus onboard Cincinnati Enquirer p D9 Retrieved May 18 2020 La Grande 101 5 Debuts In Cincinnati Radioinsight November 1 2021External links editStation website WIZF in the FCC FM station database WIZF in Nielsen Audio s FM station database W268CM in the FCC FM station database W268CM at FCCdata org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WIZF amp oldid 1214460167, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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