WIWA (AM)
 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Orlando |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1270 kHz |
| Branding | The Shepherd |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Christian talk and teaching |
| Network | SRN News |
| Affiliations | Salem Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Marc Radio Orlando, LLC |
| WDVH, WHHZ, WPLL, WRZN, WTMG, WTMN | |
| History | |
First air date | 1957 (as WHIY Orlando) |
Former call signs | WHIY (1957–1978)[1] WORL (1978–1988) WBZS (1988–1991) WHBS (1991–1996) WRLZ (1996–2019)[2] |
| Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 57931 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 25,000 watts day 5,000 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 28°34′03″N 81°25′38″W / 28.56750°N 81.42722°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | TheSheperdRadio.com |
WIWA (1270 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a Christian talk and teaching format. Licensed to Eatonville, Florida, it serves the Greater Orlando radio market. The station is owned by Marc Radio Orlando, LLC.[4] Some of its programs are simulcast with sister station WTMN 1430 AM Gainesville. The two stations have their radio studios and offices on NW 76th Drive in Gainesville.
By day, WIWA is powered at 25,000 watts. But at night, to protect other stations on 1270 AM from interference, it reduces power to 5,000 watts. It uses a directional antenna with a four-tower array. The transmitter is on Brengle Avenue at West New Hampshire Street in Orlando.[5]
Programming
[edit]WIWA is a brokered programming station, where host pay for their time on the air and may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries. National religious leaders heard on WIWA and WTMN include Tony Evans, David Jeremiah, Rick Warren and James Dobson. Some hours begin with a news update from SRN News. From the Salem Radio Network, the stations also carry The Eric Metaxas Show.
History
[edit]WHIY and WORL
[edit]The station signed on the air in 1957. The original call sign was WHIY. Its city of license was Orlando and it used the slogan "Radio Hi Fi".[1] In 1962, it transitioned to a country music format.
From 1978 to 1986, the station switched call signs to WORL and adopted a full service, adult contemporary music format. It spent a brief period in 1979 with a Disco music format as “Studio 13” before returning to AC the same year. By 1986, WORL 1270 was known as "Power Hits ORL".
WBZS and WHBS
[edit]In 1987, the station dropped AC for R&B. In late 1988, with FM on the rise, the station dropped music altogether. It began a business news format as WBZS. This lasted about one year before a switch to Spanish language programming.
WBZS, despite its call letters representing the word "Business," continued airing Spanish language programming and served the Orlando Hispanic community for the next six years. In 1991, the call letters changed to WHBS.
WRLZ and WIWA
[edit]The station ran into financial problems and went dark in 1995. In 1996, it was revived under new ownership as WRLZ.[2]
The station changed its call sign to WIWA on July 3, 2019. It began airing a Christian talk and teaching format, programmed along with sister station WTMN 1430 AM in Gainesville, Florida.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "WHIY-AM 1270 Eatonville". Central Florida Radio. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
- ^ a b "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WIWA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Marc Radio: Our Stations". marcradiogroup.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WIWA
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 57931 (WIWA) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WIWA in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- WHIY music survey from August 26, 1967
