WNDZ
Broadcast areaChicago metropolitan area
Frequency750 kHz
BrandingAccess Radio Chicago
Programming
FormatEthnic Brokered programming
Ownership
Owner
WCPT, WCPY, WSBC
History
First air date
May 13, 1987; 36 years ago (1987-05-13)[1]
Call sign meaning
The Windy City
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID73316
ClassD
Power15,000 watts days only
Transmitter coordinates
41°33′49.00″N 87°9′18.00″W / 41.5636111°N 87.1550000°W / 41.5636111; -87.1550000
Links
Public license information
Websiteaccessradiochicago.com

WNDZ (750 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting an ethnic brokered programming format. Licensed to Portage, Indiana, it serves the Chicago metropolitan area. The station is owned by Newsweb Corporation with studios on North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago.

WNDZ is a daytimer station. It transmits 15,000 watts. To send its signal toward Chicago from its transmitter site, it uses a directional antenna with a three-tower array. But because 750 AM is a clear channel frequency reserved for Class A station WSB Atlanta, WNDZ must go off the air at sunset to avoid interference. The towers are on Bay Road at Robbins Road in Portage.[3]

Programming

WNDZ is a brokered programming station, where hosts pay for their time on the air and may advertise their products and services or seek donations. Much of WNDZ's ethnic shows are in Slavic languages including Serbian, Croatian and Macedonian. Other Eastern European languages including Romanian and Albanian.

Spanish-language and English-language religious radio shows are also heard, some of them from the EWTN Network, a Catholic programming service. Automated Adult Contemporary music (in English) fills the rest of the airtime.

History

WNDZ began broadcasting on May 13, 1987, as a daytime-only station, running 2,500 watts, and was owned by Universal Broadcasting, with Rick Schwartz as its first General Manager.[1] The business office and studios were located in Lansing, Illinois.[1] They are currently on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago.[4] The station originally aired a mixture of religious and ethnic programming.[5] In 1992, the station was sold to Douglas Broadcasting, for $2 million.[6][7]

In 1994, the station joined Douglas Broadcasting's new AsiaOne network.[8][9] In 1997, the station's power was increased to 5,000 watts.[10][11] In late May 1998, the station switched from brokered programming to the motivational "Personal Achievement Radio" network, which moved from WYPA 820.[12][13] Later that year, the station was purchased by Z-Spanish Radio.[14][15] In 2000, Z-Spanish Radio was acquired by Entravision Communications.[16]

In 2004, Entravision Communications sold the station to Newsweb Corporation, along with 99.9 FM WRZA, for $24 million.[17][18] In 2007, the station's power was increased to 15,000 watts.[19][20] The format has remained brokered for most of the station's history, even during the time it was owned by Entravision.

References

  1. ^ a b c The Broadcasting Yearbook 1990, Broadcasting, 1990. p. B-111. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WNDZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WNDZ
  4. ^ "WNDZ-Am Main Studio".
  5. ^ "WNDZ AM 750", Radio Chicago, Spring 1991. p. 46. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  6. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994, Broadcasting & Cable, 1994. p. B-128. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  7. ^ Unmacht, Robert. "Proposed Station Transfers", The M-Street Journal. February 10, 1992. p. 4. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  8. ^ Borzillo, Carrie. "Asian Network Debuts", Billboard, July 2, 1994. p. 102. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  9. ^ Nidetz, Steve. "Mendte's 5 Emmys Giving His Critics Plenty To Ponder", Chicago Tribune, October 12, 1994. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  10. ^ Unmacht, Robert; McCrummen, Pat (1998). The M-Street Radio Directory. p. 234. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  11. ^ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  12. ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M-Street Journal. June 10, 1998. Vol. 15 No. 23. p. 1. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  13. ^ Kirk, Jim. "Spanish-language Network May Buy WYPA", Chicago Tribune, June 2, 1998. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  14. ^ "Elsewhere", The M-Street Journal. July 1, 1998. Vol. 15 No. 26. p. 9. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  15. ^ Kirk, Jim. "Mickey Conquers WTAQ In Radio Cat And Mouse", Chicago Tribune, July 7, 1998. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  16. ^ "Signs of the Times", Radio & Records, 30th Anniversary Issue. 2003. p. 113. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  17. ^ Jacobson, Adam. "Entravision Exits Windy City", Radio & Records, January 23, 2004. p. 4. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  18. ^ Lazaroff, Leon. "Democratic donor plans to purchase 3 stations", Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2004. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  19. ^ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  20. ^ "Technical Exhibit Amendment to Application for Construction Permit WNDZ, Inc. Radio Station WNDZ Portage, Indiana", du Treil, Lundin & Rackley, Inc. FCC.gov. April 7, 2005. Retrieved July 12, 2018.

External links

Radio stations in Northwest Indiana, including Gary and Michigan City
Daytime-only radio stations in Indiana
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