WZOC

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.

WZOC
Broadcast areaSouth Bend / Michiana
Frequency94.3 MHz
BrandingZ94.3
Programming
FormatClassic rock
AffiliationsChicago 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 ID12999
ClassB1
ERP11,500 watts
HAAT150 meters (490 ft)
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitez943radio.com

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
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2005, Broadcasting & Cable, 2005. p. D-200. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  2. History Cards for WZOC, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  3. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  4. "Station History". WTCA. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  5. The M Street Radio Directory. 1989. p. S-111. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  6. "Format Changes & Updates", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 11 No. 25. June 22, 1994. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  7. "Facilities Changes", Broadcasting, April 1, 1991. p. 72. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  8. Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  9. "Format Changes", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 13 No. 13. March 27, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  10. "Oldies 94.3 fm - Good Times, Great Oldies!". WZOC. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  11. "Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable, August 26, 1996. p. 36. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  12. Asset Purchase Agreement, fcc.gov. February 9, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  13. Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  14. Venta, Lance (February 28, 2014). "Schurz Rebrands Two In South Bend". radioINSIGHT. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  15. "Schurz Communications to sell WSBT and other TV, radio stations". South Bend Tribune. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  16. Kuperberg, Jonathan (September 14, 2015). "Gray Acquiring TV, Radio Stations from Schurz for $442.5 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  17. "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.
  18. "Gray Sells Radio Stations From Schurz Deal". TVNewsCheck. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  19. Venta, Lance (November 2, 2015). "Gray Television Divests Schurz Clusters To Three Buyers". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  20. Allen, Kevin (November 2, 2015). "WSBT Radio Group will have a new owner, again". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  21. Application Search Details, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  22. "Z94.3 South Bend Shifts To Quality Rock". Radioinsight. Retrieved February 10, 2022.

41.528°N 86.265°W / 41.528; -86.265

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