WNWV
| File:WNWV logo (low res).png | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Cleveland |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 107.3 (MHz) (HD Radio) |
| Branding | V107.3 Cleveland |
| Programming | |
| Format | Analog: AAA HD1: AAA (analog simulcast) HD2: Smooth jazz[1] |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting |
| WEOL, WLKR-AM, WLKR-FM, WKFM | |
| History | |
First air date | November 15, 1987 (as WNWV) October 18, 1948 (as WEOL-FM) |
Former call signs | 1987: WCZR (328 days only) 1965-1987: WBEA 1948-1965: WEOL-FM |
Call sign meaning | "The New Age WaVe" (former smooth jazz format) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 19462 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 20,000 watts |
| HAAT | 238 meters |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.1073cleveland.com |
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WNWV (107.3 FM) — branded V107.3 Cleveland — is a commercial radio station licensed to Elyria, Ohio broadcasting an adult album alternative format. The station serves the Cleveland radio market and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio, and is one of the few remaining locally-owned stations in the entire Cleveland metropolitan area (WCLV-FM in Lorain, and WCCD in Parma are the other two.)[citation needed] Its transmitter is located in Grafton, Ohio.
It is not uncommon for the signal to travel northward into Ontario and the eastern Thumb of Michigan. During certain atmospheric conditions WNWV can be heard in the metro Detroit area.
History
The station began as WEOL-FM, simulcasting the programming on AM station WEOL through the 1950s and most of the 1960s. The FM installations was established as an adjunct to the AM outlet around the same time as WEOL's 1948 sign-on. By 1960, WEOL-FM started separate programming on the weekdays as "Formula 107," playing a mixture of automated classical music and pop standards from 2pm until 10pm weekdays, while both WEOL and WEOL-FM played "Sterophonic Hi-Lites" from 9pm to 11pm on Sundays. WEOL-FM assumed a separate identity on December 8, 1965 as WBEA, with a mostly automated beautiful music and easy listening format aimed toward Elyria, their city of license. Many of the area's top broadcast talents made a stop at WBEA and WEOL early in their careers, including Dick Conrad, Jeff Baxter, David Mark, Ronnie Barrett, Ron Penfound, Jim Mehrling, Rick Martyn, Bob Tayek, and others.
The easy listening soon segued to Top 40 as "WBEA B-107" in the early 1980s, then operated as "Z Rock" with a heavy metal rock format and the call letters WCZR from January 1 to November 15, 1987. This format itself originated from the Satellite Music Network (later absorbed into ABC Radio) in Dallas, Texas, and WCZR was only the second station to have picked it up. WCZR gained a cult following in the Cleveland area, as most other rock stations did not devote their playlists to heavy metal rock. However, lackluster ratings and the spread of the "smooth jazz" format (then only known as "New Age" music; the "smooth jazz" name would gain widespread usage a few years later) precipitated the format change less than a year later.
When the station effectively became "The Wave" as WNWV, (patterned after Los Angeles-based new age KTWV) the station changed their broadcasting focus to the entire Cleveland market, while sister station WEOL continued to focus on Lorain County. Both stations' studios are still located in downtown Elyria, while WNWV has a separate sales office and staff located in suburban Rocky River.
The station did alter its on-air nickname several times. Around 1992, WNWV became "Cleveland's Cool FM: 107-3 WNWV" before assuming its longtime nickname and logo in 1994. It's airstaff was remarkably stable throughout the rest of the decade, with broadcasters B.J. Hart, Dan Steinberg, Richard Greer, Tom Murphy, Lisa Danevich, Frank Macek (now at WKYC), Grace Roberts, Harvey Zay, Joan Kelly, Starr D'Avril, Mike Kessler (still on-air as Mike Gallagher at WNWV), Michelle Chase, Mark Ribbins, Brian Cruise, Sandy Bennett, Larry Adams, Sarah Greer, Cody Brooks, Mark McQuire, Mark Sanders, Al Pawlowski, Kathy Gudell, Tracey Brich Murphy, Jen Kaminski, Greg Yocum, Tammy Frizzel, Pat Allen, Desiray McCray (now at WDOK), Nathan Pope, Carmen Kennedy, Lisa Jeffries, Andrea Morris and Carolyn Carr gracing the airwaves. Its' programmers included Steve Hibbard, Bernie Kimble and Angie Handa, who went by Angie Calli on-air, as well as syndicated personalities Ramsey Lewis and Dave Koz.
In 2003, WNWV became the first station in the Cleveland market to broadcast in the new HD digital format - as well as one of a handful in the country to make the initial switch. WCLV, licensed to nearby Lorain, but also aimed at the Cleveland market, was the second.
Throughout its history the station has been owned by Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. On May 15, 1958, Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. was purchased by the Lorain County Printing and Publishing Company, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. LCP&P also owns the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette; in effect forming a radio/newspaper duopoly. This arrangement has lasted to this day, grandfathered by FCC legislation that now prohibit such arrangements. Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. also owns WEOL, as well as Norwalk/Sandusky stations WLKR 1510-AM, WLKR FM-95.3 and WKFM 96.1-FM.
On December 21, 2009, it was announced that "The Wave" would be changing formats after 22 years of bringing smooth jazz to Northeast Ohio.[2] WNWV was switching to an adult album alternative format featuring a mix of alternative and classic rock. The station cited the nationwide downturn for the smooth jazz format as the reason for the change, despite "The Wave" being a perennially strong ratings performer in Cleveland. The format was officially dropped after midnight on December 28, 2009, officially launching the AAA format at noon that same day; however, the smooth jazz format continues to run on the station's HD2 subchannel, and online, with Mark Ribbins assuming the title of program director and also serving as afternoon host.
WNWV had wanted to call itself Boom! 107.3 as a tribute to legendary radio announcer Len "Boom" Goldberg, but due to copyright restrictions, temporarily became 107.3 Cleveland before settling on V107.3 as its new moniker [3] [2] The current lineup as "V-107.3" features holdover morning host Mike Gallagher (Kessler), midday host Ravenna Miceli, afternoon host/program director Ric "Rocco" Bennett, and evening host/music director Brad Hanson.
References
- ^ "Station Guide: Cleveland, OH". HDRadio.com. HD Radio. 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
- ^ Steve Fogarty (December 23, 2009). "The Wave 107.3 FM to switch formats". Chronicle Telegram. Elyria, Ohio.
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External links
- WNWV Official Website
- The Wave Webpage
- Aerial photo of WNWV transmitter from Google Local
- Facility details for Facility ID WNWV ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database