WWLZ
Encyclopedia
WWLZ is a radio station
in the Elmira-Corning market in New York state. It is a talk radio
station that airs MRN
races
and Elmira Jackals
hockey
.
The station signed on in 1966 as WIQT, broadcasting
from studios on Hanover Square in Horseheads
during daylight hours on 1000 kHz. It was the fifth station to sign on in Chemung County
. It was a beautiful music station (extremely easy listening
) in its early years.
WIQT served as the headquarters of a flood-emergency network during the Hurricane Agnes
flood
of June 22 and 23, 1972, under the direction of chief engineer C. Michael Scullin and program director David G. Ridenour. It was the only Chemung County station that remained on the during the disaster, which kept all other stations off the air for over a week. Personnel from other stations volunteered to work alongside their WIQT colleagues to broadcast emergency information 24 hours a day, by special dispensation of the FCC to extend their daytime license. A US Army communications command post was set up in their studios, and a CB radio network node as well, for use by civil authorities.
Later in 1972, an FM sister station WQIX
went on the air, playing a modern country format.
WIQT, owned by Elmira retailer Manny Panosian, moved down the dial to 820 kHz on January 7, 1988. It also moved into new studios in Downtown Elmira, increased its daytime power to 5,000 watts and began nighttime broadcasting. Its former frequency and studios were picked up by a new Christian radio
station, WLNL
. Both stations kept Horseheads as their city of license.
In Elmira, WIQT played classic country
to complement the country
format of its sister station. Its slogan "820 American" came about after program director David Rockwell submitted a list of possible slogans to general manager Ron Ferro and Ferro misread "820 AM."
Sabre Communications, which owned WCLI and Wink 106
, entered into a limited marketing agreement to manage WIQT and WQIX
late in 1994. It bought the stations several months later, enabling Sabre to move popular talk shows from WCLI to the more powerful WIQT. Sabre has since been merged with Backyard Broadcasting
, which owns WWLZ to this day.
WIQT changed its call letters to WQIX on January 17, 1996. Its sister station added the -FM suffix. On February 21, 1997, it switched to its current call letters.
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...
in the Elmira-Corning market in New York state. It is a talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station that airs MRN
Motor Racing Network
The Motor Racing Network is the principal radio broadcasting operation of NASCAR, promoting themselves as "The Voice of NASCAR." It broadcasts coverage of most major NASCAR races at the top three levels of NASCAR at tracks owned by International Speedway Corporation as well as Dover International...
races
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
and Elmira Jackals
Elmira Jackals
The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
.
The station signed on in 1966 as WIQT, broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
from studios on Hanover Square in Horseheads
Horseheads (village), New York
Horseheads is a village in Chemung County, New York, USA. The population was 6,461 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the number of bleached skulls of pack horses left behind by the Sullivan Expedition....
during daylight hours on 1000 kHz. It was the fifth station to sign on in Chemung County
Chemung County, New York
Chemung County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Chemung County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 88,830. Its name is derived from the name of a Delaware Indian village . Its...
. It was a beautiful music station (extremely easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
) in its early years.
WIQT served as the headquarters of a flood-emergency network during the Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
of June 22 and 23, 1972, under the direction of chief engineer C. Michael Scullin and program director David G. Ridenour. It was the only Chemung County station that remained on the during the disaster, which kept all other stations off the air for over a week. Personnel from other stations volunteered to work alongside their WIQT colleagues to broadcast emergency information 24 hours a day, by special dispensation of the FCC to extend their daytime license. A US Army communications command post was set up in their studios, and a CB radio network node as well, for use by civil authorities.
Later in 1972, an FM sister station WQIX
WPGI
WPGI is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Horseheads, New York, USA, the station serves the Elmira-Corning area...
went on the air, playing a modern country format.
WIQT, owned by Elmira retailer Manny Panosian, moved down the dial to 820 kHz on January 7, 1988. It also moved into new studios in Downtown Elmira, increased its daytime power to 5,000 watts and began nighttime broadcasting. Its former frequency and studios were picked up by a new Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
station, WLNL
WLNL
WLNL is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Horseheads, New York, USA, the station serves the Elmira-Corning area. The station is currently owned by Trinity Media, Ltd and features programing from Salem Communications....
. Both stations kept Horseheads as their city of license.
In Elmira, WIQT played classic country
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
to complement the country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format of its sister station. Its slogan "820 American" came about after program director David Rockwell submitted a list of possible slogans to general manager Ron Ferro and Ferro misread "820 AM."
Sabre Communications, which owned WCLI and Wink 106
WNKI
WNKI Wink 106 is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Corning, New York, USA, the station serves the Elmira-Corning area. The Arbitron #1 rated station in the market...
, entered into a limited marketing agreement to manage WIQT and WQIX
WPGI
WPGI is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Horseheads, New York, USA, the station serves the Elmira-Corning area...
late in 1994. It bought the stations several months later, enabling Sabre to move popular talk shows from WCLI to the more powerful WIQT. Sabre has since been merged with Backyard Broadcasting
Backyard Broadcasting
Backyard Broadcasting is a radio broadcasting company, primarily owning radio stations in medium-sized, small and rural markets in the United States. The company is owned by the private equity firms Boston Ventures Management and Pacific Corporate Group and is headed by Barry Drake, the former head...
, which owns WWLZ to this day.
WIQT changed its call letters to WQIX on January 17, 1996. Its sister station added the -FM suffix. On February 21, 1997, it switched to its current call letters.