WJWZ

WJWZ, also known as 97.9 Jamz, is an urban contemporary[2] formatted radio station that serves the Montgomery Metropolitan Area, broadcasting on the FM band at a frequency of 97.9 MHz and licensed to Wetumpka, Alabama. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. The station's transmitter is located in Montgomery. The station's studios are located on Wall St. in Midtown Montgomery.

WJWZ
Broadcast areaMontgomery, Alabama
Frequency97.9 MHz
Branding97.9 Jamz
Programming
FormatUrban Contemporary
Ownership
Owner
  • Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC
  • (Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC)
WACV, WGMP, WBAM-FM, WQKS-FM
History
First air date
1998
Former call signs
WICE (1997-1998)[1]
Call sign meaning
JamZ
Technical information
Facility ID70356
ClassA
ERP3,700 watts
HAAT92.3 meters (302 feet)
Transmitter coordinates
32°27′08″N 86°12′35″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website979jamz.com

Local on-air personalities include Michelle C, Doughboy, and Frank White. WJWZ also participates in Montgomery rating survey by Arbitron (Market #150) and is monitored by Mediabase. It is the home of Tom Joyner in the mornings as of October 2013, after crosstown urban WWMG dropped him for Steve Harvey. Joyner replaces Russ Parr after five years, whom in turn replaced Doug Banks on the station.

History

Vision Communications, Ltd. received the original construction permit to build a new 3,700 watt FM station at 97.9 MHz from the Federal Communications Commission on May 28, 1996.[3] This construction permit was transferred from Vision Communications, Ltd. to Vision Communications, Ltd. II in April 1997.[4] The new station was assigned the call letters WICE by the FCC on July 7, 1997.[1]

In April 1998, control of permit holder Vision Communications, Ltd. II was transferred from Philip L. Williams to Montgomery Broadcast Properties, Ltd.[5] On April 4, 1998, the station applied to the FCC for program test authority which was finally granted on July 24, 1998.[6] The station's call letters were changed to the current WJWZ on April 24, 1998.[1] The transfer to Montgomery Broadcast Properties, Ltd., was approved by the FCC on June 19, 1998.[5]

In August 1998, Vision Communications, Ltd. II applied to assign the permit outright to Montgomery Broadcast Properties, Ltd.[7] The transfer was approved by the FCC on September 16, 1998 and the transaction was consummated on September 22, 1998.

WJWZ received its license to cover from the FCC on April 20, 1999.[8]

In March 2004, Montgomery Broadcast Properties Ltd. (Allan Stroh, CEO) reached an agreement to sell this station to Bluewater Broadcasting LLC.[9] The sale was part of a multi-company four-station deal valued at a reported $15.3 million.[9] The deal was approved by the FCC on April 21, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on June 21, 2004.[10] At the time of the sale, WJWZ was broadcasting a Hip hop format.[9]

Technical information

WJWZ broadcasts with a 5 kW Harris transmitter into a 2-Bay Shively Labs High-Power 6810 non-directional antenna. While the station is non-directional, it must protect to the northeast per FCC rules section 73.215 (contour protection).

References
  1. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010.
  3. "Application Search Details (BPH-19921125MD)". FCC Media Bureau. May 28, 1996.
  4. "Application Search Details (BAPH-19970325GF)". FCC Media Bureau. April 22, 1997.
  5. "Application Search Details (BTCH-19980413EF)". FCC Media Bureau. June 19, 1998.
  6. "Application Search Details (PTA-19980515WW)". FCC Media Bureau. July 24, 1998.
  7. "Application Search Details (BAPH-19980825EC)". FCC Media Bureau. September 22, 1998.
  8. "Application Search Details (BLH-19980515KA)". FCC Media Bureau. April 20, 1999.
  9. "Changing Hands - 2004-03-07". Broadcasting & Cable. March 7, 2004.
  10. "Application Search Details (BAL-20040302ABH)". FCC Media Bureau. June 21, 2004.
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