| Broadcast area | South Bend / Michiana |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 94.3 MHz |
| Branding | Z94.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic rock |
| Affiliations | Chicago Bears Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WSBT, WQLQ, WNSN | |
| History | |
First air date | July 20, 1966 (as WTCA-FM)[1][2] |
Former call signs | WTCA-FM (1966–1981)[2] WNZE (1981–1994)[3] WLTA (1994–1996)[3] |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 12999 |
| Class | B1 |
| ERP | 11,500 watts |
| HAAT | 150 meters (490 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | z943radio.com |
WZOC (94.3 FM, "Z94.3") is a radio station licensed to Plymouth, Indiana, serving Michiana and the South Bend area. WZOC has a classic rock format and is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting.
History
WTCA-FM
The station began broadcasting on July 20, 1966, holding the call sign WTCA-FM, a sister station to AM 1050 WTCA.[1][2][4] The station was owned by the Kunze family's Community Service Broadcasters.[2][4] Its transmitter was located one mile south of Plymouth, Indiana, and it had an ERP of 3,000 watts at a HAAT of 220 feet.[2]
WNZE
In 1981, the station's call sign was changed to WNZE.[2] As WNZE, the station aired a country music format.[5][6] In 1992, the station's transmitter was moved to Lakeville, Indiana, and it ERP was increased to 11,300 watts at a HAAT of 150 meters.[7][8]
WLTA
In 1994, the station's call sign was changed to WLTA, and the station adopted a soft AC format.[3][6] The call sign WLTA had been held by 100.7 in Elkhart, Indiana, which changed formats from soft AC to country as WBYT "B-100".[6]
WZOC
In Spring 1996, the station adopted an oldies format, and its call sign was changed to WZOC.[9][3] The station was branded "Oldies 94.3".[10] In Summer 1996, the station was sold to Plymouth Broadcasting for $575,000.[11] In March 2012, WZOC was sold to Douglas Road Radio for $2,100,000.[12][13]
On February 28, 2014, after the station had shifted from an oldies format to a classic hits format, it was re-branded from "Oldies 94.3" to "Z94.3".[14]
In September 2015, Schurz Communications, which previously held a minority interest in Douglas Road Radio, agreed to acquire full ownership of the company. The transaction is part of the $442.5 million acquisition of Schurz' broadcast interests, including WZOC, by Gray Television.[15][16][17] Though Gray initially intended to keep Schurz' radio stations, on November 2, it announced that Mid-West Family Broadcasting would acquire WZOC and Schurz' other South Bend radio stations for $5.5 million.[18][19][20] The sale to Mid-West was consummated on February 16, 2016.[21]
In February 2022, WZOC shifted its format from classic hits to classic rock.[22]
References
- ^ a b Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2005, Broadcasting & Cable, 2005. p. D-200. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f History Cards for WZOC, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ a b "Station History". WTCA. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ The M Street Radio Directory. 1989. p. S-111. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Format Changes & Updates", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 11 No. 25. June 22, 1994. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ "Facilities Changes", Broadcasting, April 1, 1991. p. 72. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ "Format Changes", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 13 No. 13. March 27, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ "Oldies 94.3 fm - Good Times, Great Oldies!". WZOC. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable, August 26, 1996. p. 36. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ Asset Purchase Agreement, fcc.gov. February 9, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ Venta, Lance (February 28, 2014). "Schurz Rebrands Two In South Bend". radioINSIGHT. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ "Schurz Communications to sell WSBT and other TV, radio stations". South Bend Tribune. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Kuperberg, Jonathan (September 14, 2015). "Gray Acquiring TV, Radio Stations from Schurz for $442.5 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ "APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
- ^ "Gray Sells Radio Stations From Schurz Deal". TVNewsCheck. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ^ Venta, Lance (November 2, 2015). "Gray Television Divests Schurz Clusters To Three Buyers". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ^ Allen, Kevin (November 2, 2015). "WSBT Radio Group will have a new owner, again". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ^ Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ "Z94.3 South Bend Shifts To Quality Rock". Radioinsight. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- WZOC in the FCC FM station database
- WZOC in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
41°31′41″N 86°15′54″W / 41.528°N 86.265°W
This page was last edited on 28 April 2024, at 21:34