WGEM-FM

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WGEM-FM
FCC
Facility ID54281
ClassB
ERP26,500 watts
HAAT209 meters (686 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
39°57′4.00″N 91°19′53.00″W / 39.9511111°N 91.3313889°W / 39.9511111; -91.3313889 (WGEM-FM)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.wgem.com/about-us/radio/

WGEM-FM (105.1

radio station in Quincy, Illinois, broadcasting a sports radio format. The station is the lone radio station owned by Gray Television, which owns WGEM-TV in Quincy, and is affiliated with ESPN Radio
.

History

The station signed on August 1, 1947, as WQDI.

Quincy Newspapers' first broadcasting station, signing on five months before WGEM; it was also the first FM station in the market.[4] The WQDI callsign was retained until 1953, when the station became WGEM-FM to match the AM station and WGEM-TV.[5][6]

Logo as "News Talk 105"

For much of its early history, WGEM-FM was a simulcast of WGEM.[7] This ended by 1976, when the station implemented a country music format;[8] "Gem Country" lasted until 2002, when it gave way to a news/talk format.[9]

On February 1, 2021, Gray Television announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire all Quincy Media television and radio properties for $925 million in a cash transaction. This included WGEM (AM) and WGEM-FM, as well as WGEM-TV.[1] The acquisition was completed on August 2.[10] At the time of the acquisition, Gray's only other radio property was KTXC in Lamesa, Texas, which was in the process of being divested in an unrelated concurrent deal;[11] by 2023, the WGEM radio stations were the only radio stations in Gray's holdings.[12]

In the later years of the news/talk format, WGEM-FM's programming was primarily centered around the local morning show "News Talk Live!", as well as simulcasts of WGEM-TV's newscasts and

Syndicated programming included Classic Radio Theater, Dave Ramsey, Markley, Van Camp and Robbins, Ben Shapiro, and Red Eye Radio.[13]

WGEM-FM dropped the news/talk format in favor of the

FM translator W255CY (98.9), which shut down on March 1.[12] The station continues to air weather updates and breaking news coverage.[14] While most of WGEM's programming, including the local "WGEM SportsCenter" morning program, Quincy University athletics, and high school sports, moved to WGEM-FM,[13] the FM station's existing carriage of St. Louis Cardinals baseball was retained in lieu of WGEM's affiliation with the Chicago Cubs.[14] Competing talk station WTAD immediately acquired the rights to carry The Dave Ramsey Show.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Goldsmith, Jill (February 1, 2021). "Gray Television Acquires Quincy Media For $925 Million In Cash". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WGEM-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1948 (PDF). 1948. p. 178. Retrieved April 11, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Why Advertise With WGEM Radio?". WGEM.com. June 10, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  5. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1953 (PDF). 1953. p. 131. Retrieved April 11, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook 1954 (PDF). 1954. p. 130. Retrieved April 11, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1958 (PDF). 1958. p. A-278. Retrieved April 11, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 (PDF). 1977. p. C-132. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  9. ^ "About WGEM". WGEM.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2000. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  10. ^ Howell, Jr., Hilton (August 2, 2021). "Gray Television Closes Quincy Acquisition". Gray Television. GlobeNewswire. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  11. ^ Venta, Lance (June 8, 2021). "VCY America Acquires KTXC From Gray Television". RadioInsight. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "WGEM-FM To Flip To Sports As 1440 WGEM Signs Off". February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Simon, Perry Michael (February 17, 2023). "WGEM-F/Quincy, IL Flipping To Sports". All Access. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Gough, J. Robert (February 21, 2023). "Death of WGEM-AM means Cubs have no Quincy-area radio affiliate". Muddy River News. Retrieved March 10, 2023.

External links

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