WLZL

WLZL
Broadcast areaBaltimore–Washington metropolitan area
Frequency107.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingEl Zol 107.9 FM
Programming
Language(s)Spanish
FormatReggaeton
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
1960 (64 years ago) (1960)
Former call signs
  • WFSI (1960–2011)
  • WBGR (2011)
Call sign meaning
"El Zol"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID20983
ClassB
ERP
  • 49,000 watts (analog)
  • 2,400 watts
(digital)[2]
HAAT151.1 meters (496 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
38°59′46.0″N 76°39′23.9″W / 38.996111°N 76.656639°W / 38.996111; -76.656639 (WLZL)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via Audacy)
Websitewww.audacy.com/elzolradio

WLZL (107.9 FM, "El Zol 107.9 FM") is a commercial radio station licensed to serve College Park, Maryland. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. through licensee Audacy License, LLC and broadcasts a Spanish hits format. Studios are located in Washington, D.C.[3] while the station's broadcast tower is located east of Crofton, Maryland at (38°59′46.0″N 76°39′25.0″W / 38.996111°N 76.656944°W / 38.996111; -76.656944).[4]

WLZL broadcasts using HD Radio.[5]

History

The station signed on for the first time in 1960 with the WFSI call sign. WFSI was owned by Family Radio and aired a Christian radio format.

On November 16, 2011, CBS Radio announced plans to acquire WFSI from Family Radio, with the intention of moving WLZL's Spanish Tropical format and El Zol branding from 99.1 to 107.9, with a new all-news format to be launched on 99.1.[6][7] The format change occurred on December 1, when both stations began simulcasting El Zol programming. WFSI also swapped call signs with WBGR, a Family Radio-owned AM station in Baltimore, the same day. The 99.1/107.9 simulcast ended on December 12, 2011, with the WLZL call sign moving from 99.1 to 107.9 and the new WNEW-FM call sign debuting on 99.1.

On February 19, 2013, the FCC granted CBS Radio a construction permit for WLZL to lower its ERP from 50,000 watts to 49,000 watts and to lower its HAAT from 152 meters (499 ft) to 151.1 meters (496 ft). These changes brought WLZL into compliance with current FCC rules regarding maximum ERP and HAAT for a Class B station. WLZL had been operating using facilities that exceeded these parameters as a "grandfathered" facility.[8] On May 7, 2014, the FCC granted a request by CBS Radio to change the community of license for the station from Annapolis, Maryland to College Park, Maryland, as a modification of the construction permit.[9] The reason given was to provide College Park with its first local transmission service.[10]

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom.[11] The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on the 17th.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WLZL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "FCC 335-FM Digital Notification [WLZL]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. March 19, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "FCC 302-FM APPLICATION FOR FM BROADCAST STATION LICENSE, Exhibit 6". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. December 10, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  4. ^ "FM Query Results for WLZL". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  5. ^ "New HD Radio/IBOC signal in Washington: 107.9 WLZL Annapolis, MD". fmradiodx.wordpress.com. April 28, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  6. ^ "Official: CBS buying D.C.-Baltimore WFSI (107.9), will debut all-news on 99.1". radio-info.com. November 16, 2011. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  7. ^ Venta, Lance (January 22, 2012). "CBS Acquires WFSI, To Launch All-News On 99.1". radioinsight.com. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  8. ^ "FCC 301 APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST STATION, Attachment 30: Exhibit 30 - Statement A - Nature of the Proposal". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. December 6, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  9. ^ "FCC 301 APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST STATION, Attachment 30: Exhibit 30 - Statement A - Nature of the Proposal". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. October 22, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  10. ^ "FCC 301 APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST STATION, Attachment 36: 307(b) Showing". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. October 22, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  11. ^ CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom
  12. ^ "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio". Entercom. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  13. ^ Venta, Lance (November 17, 2017). "Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger". Radio Insight. Retrieved November 17, 2017.