WJIM (AM)
Broadcast area | Lansing–East Lansing metropolitan area |
---|---|
Frequency | 1240 kHz |
Branding | 1240 & 106.9 WJIM |
Programming | |
Format | News/talk |
Network | ABC News Radio |
Affiliations | Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks Westwood One Michigan State Spartans Sports Network Michigan Talk Network |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WFMK, WITL-FM, WJIM-FM, WMMQ, WVFN | |
History | |
First air date | August 22, 1934 | (at 1210)
Former frequencies | 1210 kHz (1934–1941) |
Call sign meaning | JIM Gross, son of original owner Harold Gross |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 17382 |
Class | C |
Power | 890 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°43′12″N 84°31′11″W / 42.72000°N 84.51972°W |
Translator(s) | 106.9 W295BP (Haslett) |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | wjimam.com |
WJIM (1240
WJIM is a
Programming
Weekdays begin with "The Steve Gruber Show," heard on WJIM since March 2012 and also airing on other stations around the state via the Michigan Talk Network. Late mornings feature "Michigan's Big Show starring
Weekends feature shows on money, health, religion, cars, travel and the outdoors. WJIM is a network affiliate of ABC News Radio. WJIM is the Lansing outlet for Michigan State University's Spartan Sports Network, airing all MSU football and basketball games. It is not, however, the flagship station. That role belongs to WJR in Detroit.[1]
History
Early years
WJIM
According to local legend, Gross won the license, the oldest continually operated commercial license in Lansing, in a card game. He named the station after his son Jim, who would become the station's general manager from the 1960s through the sale of the station.
WJIM was sold in 1985 to Liggett Communications. Lansing's first radio station, WHW,[3] folded in 1923.[4] In 1941, as part of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA), WJIM moved to 1240 kHz with 250 watts. That year, many AM station were required to change their frequencies.
FM station
In July 1941, WJIM was issued an
In 1960, WJIM again got FCC permission to build an FM station. That became 97.5 WJIM-FM. After initially simulcasting programming from AM 1240, WJIM-FM switched to beautiful music and is today a Top 40 station.
Full service radio
From the 1950s through the 80s, WJIM had a
One of WJIM's hallmarks for most of its existence was extensive news coverage. It spawned Lansing's first television station, WJIM-TV (channel 6, now WLNS-TV) in 1950. The two stations combined forces to cover Central Michigan news. In recent years, following the sale to Cumulus and then Townsquare, the station's news department was eliminated. The station now only airs syndicated state and national newscasts, leaving competitor 1320 WILS as the only remaining radio station in the market covering local news.
Change in ownership
On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare would acquire 53
References
- ^ "Spartan Sports Network". Michigan State University. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1935 page 38
- ^ "New Stations ", Radio Service Bulletin, March 1, 1922, page 2.
- ^ "Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, February 1, 1923, page 8.
- ^ W77XL's Construction Permit was for operation on 47.7 MHz. Based on the call letter policy in force at this time, the "77" came from the last two digits of the station's frequency, and "XL" was a geographical identifier used for Lansing-area stations.
- ^ FCC History Cards for W77XL, Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1993 page B-181
- ^ "Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official". RadioInsight. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes". All Access. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
External links
- WJIM in the FCC AM station database
- WJIM in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W295BP in the FCC FM station database
- W295BP at FCCdata.org
- Michiguide.com - WJIM History
- Broadcasting Yearbook 1938 and 1943
- FCC History Cards for WJIM