WNDZ

WNDZ
City Portage, Indiana
Broadcast area Chicago
Branding Access Radio Chicago
Frequency 750 kHz
First air date May 13, 1987[1]
Format brokered programming
Power 15,000 watts daytime only
Class D
Facility ID 73316
Transmitter coordinates 41°33′49.00″N 87°9′18.00″W / 41.5636111°N 87.1550000°W / 41.5636111; -87.1550000
Callsign meaning WiNDZ (the Windy City)
Owner Newsweb Corporation
(WNDZ, Inc.)
Sister stations WSBC, WAIT
Website accessradiochicago.com

WNDZ (750 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a brokered programming format. Licensed to Portage, Indiana, United States, it serves the Chicago area. The station is owned by Newsweb Corporation. WNDZ operates as a daytime-only station.

History

It began when radio entrepreneurs Tom Jurek of WRIN, Rensselaer, and Annie Rose, a noted psychic, sold the frequency they found to begin a Merrillville, Indiana, radio station to Universal Broadcasting of New York, who were interested in starting a religious formatted station. It began broadcasting May 13, 1987 as a daytime only station, running 2,500 watts, with Rick Schwartz as its first General Manager.[1] The business office and studios were located in Lansing, Illinois.[1] They are currently on Pulaski Road in Chicago.[2] The station originally aired a mixture of religious and ethnic programming.[3] In 1992, the station was sold to Douglas Broadcasting, for $2 million.[4][5] In 1994, the station joined Douglas Broadcasting's new AsiaOne network.[6][7] In 1997, the station's power was increased to 5,000 watts.[8][9] In late May 1998, the station switched from brokered programming to the motivational "Personal Achievement Radio" network, which moved from WYPA 820.[10][11] Later that year, the station was purchased by Z-Spanish Radio.[12][13] In 2000, Z-Spanish Radio was acquired by Entravision Communications.[14]

In 2004, Entravision Communications sold the station to Newsweb Corporation, along with 99.9 FM WRZA, for $24 million.[15][16] In 2007, the station's power was increased to 15,000 watts.[17][18] The format has remained brokered for most of the station's history, even during the time it was owned by Entravision.

Shows

Programming includes various brokered foreign language programming, much of it in Slavic languages including: Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, etc. Other programs are geared towards other Eastern European languages including Romanian. Spanish language programming also airs in addition to English language Religious programming, at times geared towards English-speaking Europeans.

Automated Adult Contemporary music (in English) fills the rest of the airtime.

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Broadcasting Yearbook 1990, Broadcasting, 1990. p. B-111. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  2. ↑ http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Wndz-Am.Main.Studio.773-767-1000
  3. ↑ "WNDZ AM 750", Radio Chicago, Spring 1991. p. 46. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  4. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994, Broadcasting & Cable, 1994. p. B-128. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  5. ↑ Unmacht, Robert. "Proposed Station Transfers", The M-Street Journal. February 10, 1992. p. 4. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  6. ↑ Borzillo, Carrie. "Asian Network Debuts", Billboard, July 2, 1994. p. 102. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ Nidetz, Steve. "Mendte's 5 Emmys Giving His Critics Plenty To Ponder", Chicago Tribune, October 12, 1994. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  8. ↑ Unmacht, Robert; McCrummen, Pat (1998). The M-Street Radio Directory. p. 234. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  9. ↑ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates", The M-Street Journal. June 10, 1998. Vol. 15 No. 23. p. 1. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  11. ↑ Kirk, Jim. "Spanish-language Network May Buy WYPA", Chicago Tribune, June 2, 1998. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Elsewhere", The M-Street Journal. July 1, 1998. Vol. 15 No. 26. p. 9. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  13. ↑ Kirk, Jim. "Mickey Conquers WTAQ In Radio Cat And Mouse", Chicago Tribune, July 7, 1998. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Signs of the Times", Radio & Records, 30th Anniversary Issue. 2003. p. 113. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  15. ↑ Jacobson, Adam. "Entravision Exits Windy City", Radio & Records, January 23, 2004. p. 4. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  16. ↑ Lazaroff, Leon. "Democratic donor plans to purchase 3 stations", Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2004. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  17. ↑ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Technical Exhibit Amendment to Application for Construction Permit WNDZ, Inc. Radio Station WNDZ Portage, Indiana", du Treil, Lundin & Rackley, Inc. FCC.gov. April 7, 2005. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
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