WSPL

WSPL (1250 AM) is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Streator, Illinois. The station is owned by Shaw Media, through licensee Shaw Local Radio Co., after previously being owned by Studstill Media/Mendota Broadcasting, Inc. until April 2023.

WSPL
Broadcast areaLa Salle/Peru
Frequency1250 kHz
BrandingFM 98.5 WSPL
Programming
FormatOldies
Ownership
Owner
WALS, WBZG, WGLC-FM, WIVQ, WSTQ, WYYS
History
First air date
September 26, 1953 (as WIZZ)[2]
Former call signs
WIZZ (1953-2001)[3]
Call sign meaning
Where Streator People Listen
Technical information
Facility ID63535
ClassD
Power500 watts day
64 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
41°09′30″N 88°50′13″W
Translator(s)98.5 W253BX (Streator)
Repeater(s)106.1 WYYS-HD2 (Streator)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewsplradio.com

The station, established in 1953 as WIZZ, was assigned the call sign WSPL by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on January 5, 2001.[2][3]

Logo before translator sign on

Programming
Station's logo as a News/Talk station

WSPL airs an Oldies format.[4][5] WSPL previously broadcast a news/talk radio format.[6] Local programming on WSPL includes a morning drive show, and sports with Illinois Hall of Fame Broadcaster "Big Al" Hauessler, along with a tradio show called The Swap Shop. Sports broadcasts include Streator Township High School football and, up until recently, simulcasts of Chicago White Sox baseball and Chicago Bulls basketball.[7]

On January 24, 2023, it was announced that Studstill Media had sold WSPL, along with its sister stations, to Shaw Media in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for a total of $1.8 million. The sale was under FCC review for just under two months before being finalized on March 23, 2023.[8] Shaw Local Radio officially assumed ownership of WSPL and its sister stations on April 3, 2023.[9] As of September 2023, 1250 AM is in silent status and WSPL's programming is heard on translator station W253BX 98.5 FM and WYYS HD-2 106.1 FM.

Alumni

"Cousin Ed" Nowotarski hosted "Polka Party", a live polka music program, on WSPL for 34 years before retiring from broadcasting in November 2001.[10] Nowotarski died in January 2004.[11]

References
  1. Barichello, David. "Shaw Local Radio completes purchase of 8 radio stations". Shaw Local. Shaw Media.
  2. "Directory of AM and FM Stations and Market Data for the United States". 1955 Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1955. p. 133.
  3. "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Media Bureau. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  4. "", AM 1250 WSPL. Accessed March 17, 2022
  5. WSPL Arbitron Station Information Profile, Nielsen Audio. Accessed November 19, 2015
  6. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  7. "On-Air Personalities". WSPL AM 1250. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  8. Shaw Local News Network. "Studstill announces sale of 8 radio stations to Shaw Media". Shaw Local. Shaw Media Local.
  9. Barichello, David. "Shaw Local Radio completes purchase of 8 radio stations". Shaw Local. Shaw Media.
  10. "Cousin Ed's last 'Polka Party'". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, IL. November 9, 2001. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  11. "Cousin Ed remembered for music". The Daily Times. Ottawa, IL. January 20, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
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