WOZN (AM)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2012) |
kHz) AM (1948–1998; simulcast w/ 1670 AM, 1998-2002) | |
Technical information | |
---|---|
Facility ID | 87154 |
Class | B |
Power | 10,000 watts day 1,000 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°01′31.00″N 89°23′46.00″W / 43.0252778°N 89.3961111°W |
Translator(s) | 96.7 W244DR (Madison) |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | madcitysportszone.com |
WOZN (1670
WOZN originates from its Madison studios at 730 Ray-O-Vac Dr. on the far west side. Its single transmitter tower is located on Syene Rd. in the nearby Town of Madison, sharing a site with WLMV. The station's 1670 AM signal transmits on a non-directional antenna with daytime transmitting power of 10,000 watts reduced to 1,000 watts at sunset.
Programming
"The Zone's" schedule includes programming from
Live game broadcasts on WOZN have included the United States Hockey League's Madison Capitols as well as the Northwoods League's Madison Mallards.[1] Beginning in 2021, WOZN became part of the Milwaukee Brewers Radio Network, taking over as Madison's radio home of the Brewers from longtime affiliate WIBA.[2]
History
WOZN originated as the expanded band "twin" of an existing station on the standard AM band.
On March 17, 1997 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that eighty-eight stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with WTDY in Madison authorized to move from 1480 to 1670 kHz.[3] A Construction Permit for the expanded band station was assigned the call letters WAWY on January 9, 1998.[4] The FCC's initial policy was that both the original station and its expanded band counterpart could operate simultaneously for up to five years, after which owners would have to turn in one of the two licenses, depending on whether they preferred the new assignment or elected to remain on the original frequency.[3] However, this deadline has been extended multiple times, and both stations have remained authorized. One restriction is that the FCC has generally required paired original and expanded band stations to remain under common ownership.[5][6]
On June 12, 1998 the WTDY call letters and format were transferred from 1480 AM to 1670 AM, while 1480 AM became WTDA. The two stations simulcast programming until 2002, when 1480 AM became the
Perhaps WTDY's most recognizable local figure was John "Sly" Sylvester; a longtime Madison radio personality, "Sly" began a 15-year run at WTDY in 1997, and was mainly heard in the morning slot ("Sly in the Morning") except for a brief period in middays in the mid-2000s. Employing an acerbic, provocative style on-air, "Sly" displayed his own wide-ranging political viewpoints, though he gained notoriety for his open support of pro-union protests against the controversial Act 10 legislation passed by the Wisconsin Legislature in 2011.[8][9] In addition to "Sly," WTDY's schedule by 2012 included local show Forward with Kurt Baron; full hours of local news at 12PM and 5PM; national shows including Michael Smerconish and America's Radio News; and weekend broadcasts of NFL and college sports from Compass Media Networks and Sports USA.
On December 13, 2011, WTDY began simulcasting its sister station on 106.7 FM licensed to
On November 21, 2012, Mid-West Family Broadcasting management conducted layoffs at WTDY, with "Sly" Sylvester let go along with the station's entire news staff (program director and Forward host Kurt Baron was retained in another capacity); later that day, news/talk programming on both WTDY and WTDY-FM was replaced by automated Christmas music.[8][9][10][11] The Christmas stunting lasted until the weekend of December 29, 2012 in favor of a two-song loop of "Wherever I May Roam" by Metallica and "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses.[12]
The loop ended at 11AM on January 2, 2013, when both 1670 AM and 106.7 FM (respectively identifying as WOZN and WOZN-FM) unveiled a
See also
Previous Logo
(WOZN's logo under previous simulcast with WOZN-FM 106.7)
Notes
References
- ^ "Mallards Partner with The Zone," from NorthwoodsLeague.com, 5/31/2016
- ^ "Brewers to air on new stations in Madison, Eau Claire," from wi-broadcasters.org, 11/11/2020
- ^ a b "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations" (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
- ^ FCC Call Sign History (1670 AM) (Facility ID: 87154)
- ^ "In re: WHLY(AM), South Bend, Indiana" (FCC DA 13-600, released April 3, 2013)
- ^ "Re: WDDD (AM) Application for Consent to Assignment of AM Broadcast Station License" (August 23, 2010 correspondence from Peter H. Doyle, Chief, FCC Audio Division, Media Bureau. Reference Number 1800B3-TSN)
- ^ Source: WTDY station website, c. 1997 (via archive.org)
- ^ a b Staff report (21 November 2012). "Sly, WTDY news staff react to their layoffs by Midwest Family Broadcasting". Isthmus. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Radio personality Sly, others out of work at WTDY," from Wisconsin State Journal, 11/22/2012
- ^ Staff report (21 November 2012). "WTDY cuts news staff, including Sly". WISC-TV. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "WTDY Madison Dismisses Staff; Flips to Christmas," from Radio Insight, originally posted 11/21/2012 and updated 11/30/2012
- ^ Source: Twitter.com/RadioInsight (12/29/2012 message)
- ^ "Format Changes". Your Midwest Media. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ "Alternative Resistance Emerges in Madison," from RadioInsight, 10/31/2017
External links
- WOZN official website
- WOZN in the FCC AM station database
- WOZN in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W244DR in the FCC FM station database
- W244DR at FCCdata.org