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WWLG

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WWLG
Broadcast areaColumbus metro area
Frequency102.5 MHz
BrandingLa Grande 102.5
Programming
FormatRegional Mexican
Ownership
Owner
  • Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting System, Inc. (d/b/a WHIZ Media Group)
  • (Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting System, Inc.)
OperatorUrban One
History
First air date
December 16, 1961; 62 years ago (1961-12-16) (as WHIZ-FM)
Former call signs
WHIZ-FM (1961–2009)
WCVZ (2009–10)
WWCD (2010–20)
Call sign meaning
"La Grande"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID61230
ClassB1
ERP15,000 watts
HAAT130 meters (430 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
39°46′14.8″N 82°44′25.3″W / 39.770778°N 82.740361°W / 39.770778; -82.740361
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitelagrande1025.com

WWLG (102.5 FM) is a commercial regional Mexican radio station licensed to Baltimore, Ohio. Owned by the Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting System of Zanesville, which often does business as the WHIZ Media Group, and operated by Urban One via a long-term local marketing agreement, the station serves much of the Columbus metropolitan area. The WWLG studios are located in Downtown Columbus, while the station transmitter resides off Pickerington Road in Carroll. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WWLG is available online.

History

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WHIZ-FM/WCVZ (1961–2010)

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Not to be confused with South Zanesville, Ohio radio station WHIZ-FM.

The 102.5 MHz frequency was originally licensed to Zanesville, Ohio, and signed on as the original home to WHIZ-FM on December 16, 1961.[2] Under the ownership of the Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting System, Inc.'s WHIZ Media Group, WHIZ-FM programmed an adult contemporary format long identified as "Z102".

The WHIZ Media Group was granted authority to change WHIZ-FM's city of license from Zanesville to Baltimore, Ohio, in the fall of 2005, and a construction permit to build a new transmitter site was granted in October 2008. On October 17, 2008, the WHIZ Media Group purchased WCVZ (92.7 FM) in South Zanesville (from which those call letters stood for the Christian Voice of Zanesville) as the new frequency for WHIZ-FM.[3] Both WCVZ and WHIZ-FM simulcast programming as "Z102 and 92.7" until December 7, 2008, when WCVZ assumed WHIZ-FM's identity as "Z92.7", and WHIZ-FM became "Highway 102", featuring an automated country music format.

The "Highway 102" format continued on the 102.5 MHz frequency even after the station completed their relocation to Baltimore on October 1, 2008, and assumed the WCVZ call letters, while the 92.7 MHz frequency became WHIZ-FM.[4] What was now WCVZ effectively ended any connection to the Zanesville region and consequently entered the Columbus market. As a result of this move-in as "Highway 102", the station became one of four country music radio outlets in Columbus – WHOK-FM, WCOL-FM and WNKK being the other stations.

2010 "frequency shift"

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Former CD101 logo, continued to be utilized by WWCD after adopting the "CD101 @ 102.5" brand

On June 30, 2010, Ohio State University's WOSU Public Media announced a $4.8 million purchase of WWCD (101.1 FM) from Fun With Radio, LLC.;[5][6] at the same time, Fun With Radio entered into a local marketing agreement with the WHIZ Media Group[7][8] to take over programming on the 102.5 MHz frequency immediately,[9] with a future option for purchase. Although generally reported and regarded as a "frequency shift", Fun With Radio took over programming and operations of WCVZ; changed the station's format from country music to alternative rock as a direct simulcast of WWCD (101.1 FM); and rebranded the station as CD101 @ 102.5.[10][11]

WOSU Public Media's purchase of WWCD (101.1 FM) was consummated that December 14, with WOSU Public Media changing WWCD's callsign to WOSA; and changing the station's format to classical music.[12][13] WCVZ's callsign was concurrently changed to WWCD;[14] Fun With Radio retained all of WWCD (101.1 FM)'s respective on- and off-air staff. In effect, this new WWCD licensed to Baltimore became the successor to the previous WWCD (101.1 FM) licensed to Grove City.

For some time, WWCD continued to use the anachronistic "CD101" brand over the air, online and in print,[15] even though the terms of the sale with Ohio State University clearly dictated that WWCD must cease any and all on-air mentions of "101" or "101.1" when the deal closed.[7][16] Several days before the initial sale with WOSU Public Media was announced,[12] Fun With Radio, LLC registered the domain names CD101at1025.com and CD1025.com, which originally acted as redirectors to CD101.com; following the station rebranding to CD102.5 in 2012, the website was moved to the CD1025.com domain.

WWCD (2010–2020)

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Logo as "CD102.5"

In November 2011, amid weeks of speculation that Salem Communications was negotiating to either purchase or lease the 102.5 FM frequency as a new location for the programming of WRFD,[17] WWCD general manager Randy Malloy formed a new company, WWCD Ltd., to purchase the intellectual property of CD101 from Roger Vaughn's Fun With Radio, LLC. Vaughn retained a minority share of the new company, though all references to Fun With Radio would be removed from any station documents and promotion. The new ownership group immediately began negotiating a new lease agreement with Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting, owner of the frequency.[18] On September 15, 2017, Randy Malloy became sole owner of WWCD, Ltd.

Former WWCD DJs include the aforementioned Davis, who helmed the afternoon shift from 1991 until his death;[19] Mase Brazelle, the station's Program Director from 2016 until his death;[20] Jim Ballantine, a Columbus Chill player most notable for wearing the first three-digit jersey number in professional sports history (101, in a nod to the station's frequency);[21] and Fritz the Nite Owl, who also once hosted one of the last late night movie television programs locally produced in the United States. Fritz's show was broadcast on WCLL-CA, television channel 19, in Columbus.

The station featured "Guest DJs" once a week, where anyone has the chance of being a DJ for an hour on air. A compilation of 12-15 songs is put together by the guest, and they can play them during this hour. With COVID-19 concerns in mind, the station pivoted to "Select-a-Set" in March 2020, a newly revived program where listeners can remotely share their playlists without in-studio presence.[22]

WWLG (2020–present)

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On October 31, 2020, "CD102.5" announced that the LMA with the WHIZ Media Group would expire at the end of the day, with programming to be moved online.[23] WWCD Limited would subsequently lease WMYC (1580 AM and 92.9 FM) effective November 21, and WDLR (1550 AM) effective January 1, 2021, to return its "CD" alternative rock programming to the air.[24][25][26]

At 12:01 a.m. on 1 November 102.5 FM would temporarily go dark; it signed back on about 15 minutes later with a jockless mix of rock music and legal station identification. On November 6, 2020, at 10 a.m., Urban One took over operations of WWCD via local marketing agreement and changed the format to Regional Mexican, branded as "La Grande 102.5".[27] The station adopted the WWLG call letters on November 12.

The WWLG license was not included in the 2022 sale of the remainder of the WHIZ Media Group to Marquee Broadcasting.[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WWLG". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WHIZ Puts FM Station On Air Today". The Times Recorder. Zanesville, Ohio. December 16, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved April 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Hiotis, George (October 17, 2008). "WHIZ Buys WCVZ 92.7 F-M Radio". WHIZ-TV. Retrieved December 22, 2010. Today The WHIZ Media Group and Christian Voice of Central Ohio are announcing an agreement for WHIZ to acquire WCVZ 92.7-FM. WHIZ will take over 92.7 and WCVZ is inviting its listeners to listen at 89.3 – The Promise. WHIZ President Hank Littick says its a win-win for both radio groups.
  4. ^ Jeffries, Katie (September 30, 2009). "Changes at the WHIZ radio stations". WHIZ-TV. Retrieved December 22, 2010. Some of your Favorite WHIZ Radio Stations are making a change. 102.5 FM, known as Highway 102, is moving to Baltimore, Ohio and will become WCVZ. The current WCVZ signal, known as 92.7, will revert to WHIZ FM here in Zanesville... It will open up access to hundreds of thousands of listeners west of Zanesville and all around the Columbus market. Littick says where a lot of impact will be felt is the northwest and west side of Columbus. He says starting today (Wednesday) that area will have a new radio station. Littick says the move will also be a big win for advertisers who will have access to over 1.4 million potential listeners in the new signal area in an affordable, economical way.
  5. ^ Feran, Tim (June 30, 2010). "WOSU stations in deal with WWCD". The Columbus Dispatch. Dispatch Printing Co. Retrieved December 17, 2010. WOSU will pay WWCD a total of $4.8 million for the 101.1 FM signal. WWCD has entered into a partnership with WCVZ's owners -- WHIZ Media Group -- to operate the station using the same format and staff that are currently on WWCD. WWCD intends to retain its familiar call letters after the move, and will continue to air Columbus Blue Jackets games.
  6. ^ "Columbus, Ohio to get a fulltime classical station, and a relocated 'CD101'". Radio-Info.com. June 30, 2010. Archived from the original on July 7, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010. Ohio State University's WOSU Public Media is buying the Grove City-licensed WWCD (101.1) and will install a full-time non-commercial classical format there when it closes the deal this Fall. That allows OSU to turn its classical/news WOSU (89.7) into a 24/7 public radio news/talker.
  7. ^ a b Eaton, Dan (August 2, 2010). "WOSU deal for CD101's frequency gives public radio station options". Columbus Business First. American City Business Journals, Inc. Retrieved December 20, 2010. WWCD, in a partnership with Zanesville-based WHIZ Media Group, will migrate to 102.5 FM... WHIZ President Hank Littick said he thinks WWCD's format is a better fit for the 102.5 signal, formerly occupied by country music station WCVZ. He declined to characterize his group's partnership with Fun With Radio and Vaughan did not respond to the question... it (WWCD) gives up 20 years of the familiar CD101 brand and its ubiquitous promotional bumper stickers. The station is using the tag line "CD 101 at 102.5" for now and is broadcasting on both frequencies. But the WOSU agreement prohibits it from using the 101 or 101.1 name after the deal closes.
  8. ^ "OSU Buys WWCD Signal, CD101 Format To Move To 102.5". AllAccess.com. All Access Music Group. June 30, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010. WOSU will flip the 101.1 frequency to noncommercial Classical and will air all News-Talk on its WOSU-F/COLUMBUS, in a simulcast with WOSU-A. WWCD will retain its calls and format... and will move to the 102.5 frequency in a deal with WHIZ Media Group, which moved the signal from the Zanesville market to Columbus last year.
  9. ^ "WWCD to move to frequency 102.5". Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  10. ^ Feran, Tim (December 10, 2010). "WOSU expects to start classical programming on 101.1 FM on Wednesday". The Columbus Dispatch. Dispatch Printing Co. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  11. ^ "Media Morsels: CD1-0-what?". The Other Paper. American Community Newspapers. July 1, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Columbus, Ohio to get a fulltime classical station, and a relocated 'CD101'". RadioInsight.com. June 30, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2010. WOSU Public Media, the broadcasting arm of the Ohio State University, has acquired the 101.1 signal from Fun With Radio, LLC for $4.8 Million. Following the closing of the sale in September or October (it was delayed until December), 101.1 will flip to non-commercial Classical while 89.7 WOSU-FM will flip to all NPR News/Talk in a simulcast with 820 WOSU... Original Post 6/26/10: A move of Columbus, OH's Alternative "CD101" WWCD appears to be on the horizon. A pair of domain registrations hint at a new frequency for the longtime independently owned station. CD101at1025.com and CD1025.com were both registered anonymously but pointing to the servers of the Columbus area ISP that host WWCD's online operations.
  13. ^ "WOSU Launches Classical 101 – Classical Music All Day, Every Day". WOSU.org. WOSU Public Media. December 15, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  14. ^ "FM Query Results – WWCD: Call Sign History". Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  15. ^ "The 18th Annual Andyman-a-thon kicks off today". possibly, i like the thrill. December 15, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010 – via Tumblr. Please tune in to CD101 @ 102.5FM or listen live at www.cd101.com and support the Andyman-a-thon!
  16. ^ Eaton, Dan (December 10, 2010). "CD101 ready to complete move to 102.5 as WOSU takes over frequency". Columbus Business First. American City Business Journals, Inc. Retrieved December 17, 2010. The move gives WWCD a stronger signal than it had for the previous 20 years, though it does give up its 101 branding per the agreement.
  17. ^ "Are CD101 Columbus' Days Numbered?". Radioinsight.com. November 17, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  18. ^ "CD101 'not going anywhere'". Station will remain at 102.5 under new ownership. The Other Paper. November 17, 2011. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  19. ^ Alive, Chris DeVille, Columbus. "Feature: CD101 after Andyman". Columbus Alive. Retrieved December 4, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Melnik, Ally. "Remembering CD102.5′s Mason "Mase" Brazelle". Columbus Monthly. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  21. ^ Paitson, David; Merz, Craig (March 3, 2015). Chill Factor: How a Minor-League Hockey Team Changed a City Forever. New York City: Sports Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61321-767-2.
  22. ^ "Guest DJ". Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  23. ^ "AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM CD102.5". October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020. Recently, we were unable to reach an agreement with the owner of the FCC License, and at 12:01am on November 1st, CD102.5 will leave the FM airwaves.
  24. ^ "Columbus radio station CD102.5 returns to airwaves as CD 92.9". 10tv.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  25. ^ "Thank you SO much for all of your support during our digital transition, and we've got great news! WE'RE COMING BACK TO THE RADIO, now at 92.9 FM! Same station, same local talent, now on a new frequency. Learn more at cd929fm.com". Retrieved November 22, 2020 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Ward, Allison (November 23, 2020). "Alternative rock station CD102.5 finds new home". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  27. ^ Radio One Launches La Grande 102.5 Columbus Radioinsight – November 6, 2020
  28. ^ Venta, Lance (April 22, 2022). "Marquee Broadcasting Acquires WHIZ Media Group – RadioInsight". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
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