WYZE (AM)

WYZE
Broadcast areaAtlanta metropolitan area
Frequency1480 kHz
BrandingWYZE Radio
Programming
FormatGospel
Ownership
Owner
  • Ray Neal
  • (New Ground Broadcasting, LLC)
History
First air date
March 16, 1956 (1956-03-16)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID24145
ClassD
Power10,000 watts day
44 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
33°43′25″N 84°22′08″W / 33.72361°N 84.36889°W / 33.72361; -84.36889
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.wyzeradio.com

WYZE (1480 kHz) is a gospel AM radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting with 10,000 watts of power during daytime hours, and 44 watts of power during nighttime hours with a non-directional antenna pattern. The station is owned by Ray Neal, through licensee New Ground Broadcasting, LLC.

History

WYZE signed on March 16, 1956.[2] The 1480 kHz frequency was previously used by WAGA, which moved to 590 kHz in 1942;[3] despite using the same frequency, WYZE has no connection to WAGA, which has since become WDWD.[4] WYZE broadcast during daytime hours[5] with what appeared to be an adult standards radio format popular during the 1950s. Fay Fueller hosted a romantic music show consisting of poetry and music in 1958.[5]

Former logo

In 1968, the station switched from a country music format to country/gospel.[6] The station aired a "Town and Country" radio format by 1970.[7] During the early 1970s the station flipped to an all-news radio format for a time, one of the first in the Atlanta radio market.[7] In 1980, WYZE changed to a gospel format relying mainly on brokered programming.[8]

WYZE went silent in November 2018 due to technical problems that would have required cost-prohibitive repairs.[8][9] It was reported that then-owner GHB Broadcasting intended to sell WYZE's existing property and relocate, and had also received offers for the station's license and equipment.[9] Effective May 30, 2019, GHB Broadcasting consummated the sale of WYZE to New Ground Broadcasting, LLC.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WYZE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WYZE Atlanta Goes on Air With $25,000 Promotion" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. April 2, 1956. p. 80. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Radio Index" (PDF). RADEX Radio Index. 18 (January). The Radex Press: 51. 1942. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "WAGA-TV and WDWD, Atlanta, 2009".
  5. ^ a b AtlantaradiointroWAKE
  6. ^ 1968 Atlanta Radio Time Warp
  7. ^ a b Atlanta Area AM Radio Stations
  8. ^ a b Venta, Lance (November 20, 2018). "WYZE Atlanta Takes Signal Off The Air". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Ho, Rodney (November 20, 2018). "1480/WYZE-AM has gone dark after 38 years as gospel". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "Consummation Notice". Federal Communications Commission CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved November 5, 2024.