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WGL (AM)
Encyclopedia
WGL is an AM radio station
located in Fort Wayne, Indiana
. The station operates on the AM radio frequency of 1250 kHz.
The station was the first to broadcast in the city of Fort Wayne. Chester Keen and Lauer Auto founded what was originally called WCWK when it signed on in 1921. Keen bought the Lauer interests in WCWK in 1925. That same year, WOWO
was established by the Main Auto Supply Co., with studios above Main Auto's downtown factory.
In 1928, Keen sold WCWK to WOWO owner Fred Zieg, and the call letters were changed to WGL (What God Loves), taking a callsign previously used by the current WADO
in New York City
. WOWO and WGL were owned by the Zieg family until WOWO's sale to Westinghouse in 1936. Westinghouse sold WGL to Farnsworth in 1945 and subsequently it was purchased by Fort Wayne newspapers.
, which moved to WOWO in 1996. In February, 1998, WGL changed its format to sports; most of its programming came from "One-On-One Sports" (now "Sporting News Radio
.") As a result, they dropped G. Gordon Liddy
, Tom Leykis
, Art Bell
, and local host Rusty Humphries
. Between September, 1998 and August, 2000, WGL aired ESPN Radio
, claiming it from rival WOWO. By August, 2000, ESPN's affiliation moved to rival WONO
, WOWO's sister station. At this point, the format returned to talk, featuring the programs of such hosts as Liddy, Bill O'Reilly
, and Jim Rome
. Several years later, the format again switched to sports talk under the Fox Sports
1250 banner, with the notable exception of Dave Macy's morning program, which covered news, politics, and culture as well as sports.
WGL was sold (along with the other Kovas Communications stations) to Travis Broadcasting Corp. in December, 2001, for $7.5 million. WGL was purchased, along with its sister stations by Summit City Radio Group in July, 2004. Currently, it broadcasts adult standards, having picked up the format in 2003. WGL aired the syndicated Adult Standards (America's Best Music
) format from Dial Global
until April 2007, when the station went to a standards/soft AC hybrid with a combination of local DJs and local automation. The station soon returned to airing the Dial Global format with a local morning show.
Weekday programming on The River now consists of Dial Global's America's Best Music format from midnight to noon and then from 6 p.m. to midnight, Dave Ramsey
from noon to 3 p.m., and local talk host Pat White from 3 to 6 p.m.
WGL's programming was simulcast full-time on WGL-FM 102.9 until 12:00PM on April 1, 2010, when the FM station broke away to air a Soft AC format as "V102.9".
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
located in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
. The station operates on the AM radio frequency of 1250 kHz.
The station was the first to broadcast in the city of Fort Wayne. Chester Keen and Lauer Auto founded what was originally called WCWK when it signed on in 1921. Keen bought the Lauer interests in WCWK in 1925. That same year, WOWO
WOWO
Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, WOWO is an independent news/talk radio station transmitting on 1190 kHz at 50,000 watts during the daylight hours and 9,800 watts during the nighttime hours. An application is on file with the Federal Communications Commission to add a fourth tower to the three...
was established by the Main Auto Supply Co., with studios above Main Auto's downtown factory.
In 1928, Keen sold WCWK to WOWO owner Fred Zieg, and the call letters were changed to WGL (What God Loves), taking a callsign previously used by the current WADO
WADO
WADO is a radio station on 1280 AM. WADO serves New York City and is owned by Univision. The station carries a Spanish language News and Talk format. Its transmitters are located in Carlstadt, New Jersey.- Early programming :...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. WOWO and WGL were owned by the Zieg family until WOWO's sale to Westinghouse in 1936. Westinghouse sold WGL to Farnsworth in 1945 and subsequently it was purchased by Fort Wayne newspapers.
Programming
WGL is known for being the first station in Fort Wayne to carry a talk format and one of the initial stations to carry The Rush Limbaugh ShowThe Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
, which moved to WOWO in 1996. In February, 1998, WGL changed its format to sports; most of its programming came from "One-On-One Sports" (now "Sporting News Radio
Sporting News Radio
Yahoo! Sports Radio, formerly Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On August 1, 2011, it was announced the network would change its name to Yahoo! Sports Radio, effective...
.") As a result, they dropped G. Gordon Liddy
G. Gordon Liddy
George Gordon Liddy was the chief operative for the White House Plumbers unit that existed from July–September 1971, during Richard Nixon's presidency. Separately, along with E. Howard Hunt, Liddy organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in...
, Tom Leykis
Tom Leykis
Thomas Joseph Leykis is an American radio personality. He currently hosts The Tasting Room with Tom Leykis, a weekly lifestyle program dealing with fine food and drink, airing weekends mainly in West Coast markets...
, Art Bell
Art Bell
Arthur W. "Art" Bell, III is an American broadcaster and author, known primarily as one of the founders and the original host of the paranormal-themed radio program Coast to Coast AM. He also created and formerly hosted its companion show, Dreamland...
, and local host Rusty Humphries
Rusty Humphries
Ralph E. "Rusty" Humphries is an American radio host, conservative political commentator, and songwriter. Humphries' nationally-syndicated radio show, The Rusty Humphries Show, based in Atlanta, Georgia, airs on over 250 stations through Talk Radio Network.-Career:Humphries has hosted as a...
. Between September, 1998 and August, 2000, WGL aired ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
, claiming it from rival WOWO. By August, 2000, ESPN's affiliation moved to rival WONO
WKJG
WKJG is a radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station, owned by Federated Media, is Fort Wayne's ESPN Radio affiliate.-History:...
, WOWO's sister station. At this point, the format returned to talk, featuring the programs of such hosts as Liddy, Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
, and Jim Rome
Jim Rome
Jim Rome is an American sports radio talk show host syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications....
. Several years later, the format again switched to sports talk under the Fox Sports
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
1250 banner, with the notable exception of Dave Macy's morning program, which covered news, politics, and culture as well as sports.
WGL was sold (along with the other Kovas Communications stations) to Travis Broadcasting Corp. in December, 2001, for $7.5 million. WGL was purchased, along with its sister stations by Summit City Radio Group in July, 2004. Currently, it broadcasts adult standards, having picked up the format in 2003. WGL aired the syndicated Adult Standards (America's Best Music
America's Best Music
America's Best Music is the on-air branding of an adult standards 24-hour radio network, known internally as Adult Standards and formerly known as AM Only, currently owned by Dial Global. It was one of the original Westwood One's Transtar networks...
) format from Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
until April 2007, when the station went to a standards/soft AC hybrid with a combination of local DJs and local automation. The station soon returned to airing the Dial Global format with a local morning show.
Weekday programming on The River now consists of Dial Global's America's Best Music format from midnight to noon and then from 6 p.m. to midnight, Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
David L. Ramsey III is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker.Ramsey's syndicated radio program The Dave Ramsey Show is promoted with a tagline that "It's about your life and your money," and it is heard on over 450 radio stations throughout the...
from noon to 3 p.m., and local talk host Pat White from 3 to 6 p.m.
WGL's programming was simulcast full-time on WGL-FM 102.9 until 12:00PM on April 1, 2010, when the FM station broke away to air a Soft AC format as "V102.9".