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Radio station in Illinois, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WFRL (1570 AM) is a radio station licensed to Freeport, Illinois. WFRL airs a classic country format and is owned by Big Radio. Its studios and transmitter are at 834 North Tower Road, northeast of Freeport.
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Broadcast area | Stephenson County, Illinois |
Frequency | 1570 kHz |
Branding | Iron Country 104.3 and 1570 |
Programming | |
Format | Classic country |
Ownership | |
Owner | Big Radio |
WFPS, WEKZ, WBGR-FM, WQLF, WGEZ, WBEL, WWHG | |
History | |
First air date | October 28, 1947[1] |
Call sign meaning | "What Freeport Really Likes"[2] |
Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 63135 |
Class | B |
Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 42°18′45.07″N 89°35′40.42″W |
Translator(s) | 104.3 W282CT (Freeport) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | www |
The station features local news, plus farm and local high school sports programming. WFRL operates 24 hours a day, but at one time was licensed as a daytime only station. WFRL is also rebroadcast on translator station W282CT 104.3 FM in Freeport.
WFRL began broadcasting October 28, 1947, on 1570 kHz, running 1,000 during daytime hours only.[1][4] The station was licensed to Freeport Broadcasting Company, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Vincent S. Barker.[1][4][5] Barker built the station's transmitter in his basement during World War II.[5]
In 1959, the station was sold to Triad Television Corp for $275,000.[4][5][6] In 1964, the station's power was increased to 5,000 watts.[4] On April 11, 1965, its sister station, WFRL-FM, began broadcasting on 98.5.[5] WFRL-FM is now WXXQ.[5]
The station aired a country music format until June 1977 and flipped to a top 40 format with the change of ownership.[7] In 1977, the station was sold to Bradford-Ross Associates, along with WFRL-FM, for $475,000.[4][8] In 1980, the station was sold to Illinois Broadcasting, along with WXXQ, for $975,000.[4][9] In 1980, the station had adopted a country music format.[10] In 1983, the station was sold to a partnership of C.R. Griggs, James D. McQuality and Larry S. Ward.[11] In 1985, the station was sold to Freeport Radio Associates, along with WXXQ, for $1 million.[12]
By 1989, the station had adopted an adult contemporary format, and the station had begun nighttime operations, running 500 watts.[13] In 1991, the station was sold to Stateline Broadcasting, along with WXXQ, for $900,000.[14] In 1993, the station added talk programming.[15] In 1995, the station was sold to Connoisseur Communications, along with WXXQ, for $2.3 million.[16] By 1996, talk programming had replaced all music on the station.[17] In 1996, the station was sold to Eveningstar Media Group for $245,000.[18] The station temporarily simulcast 1440 WROK while the sale was pending.[17][19]
In 1998, the station adopted an adult standards format.[20] In 2005, the station was sold to Maverick Media.[21] In 2006, the station was sold to Green County Broadcasting, along with 92.1 WFPS, for $1,475,000.[22] In 2010, the station was an affiliate of the short lived "Hit Parade Radio" oldies network, which featured DJs Larry Lujack and Wink Martindale.[23][24] After the network's shutdown, WFRL retained the oldies format with local personalities.[23] In 2017, WFRL switched to a classic country format.
WFRL was granted a modification in August 2022 to change its signal from directional to non-directional and reduce power to 1,000 watts daytime and 210 watts nighttime. This took effect as of August 2023.
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W282CT | 104.3 FM | Freeport, Illinois | 202101 | 250 | D | 42°18′46″N 89°35′36″W | LMS |
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