WTAX-FM

WTAX-FM (93.9 MHz) is a commercial radio station broadcasting a news/talk radio format, simulcast with WTAX 1240 AM. Licensed to Sherman, Illinois, it serves the Springfield metropolitan area. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Capitol Radio Group.[1] The radio studios and offices are on East Sangamon Avenue in Springfield.[2]

WTAX-FM
Simulcasts WTAX (AM) Springfield
Broadcast areaSpringfield metropolitan area
Frequency93.9 MHz
BrandingNewsRadio WTAX
Programming
FormatNews/talk
AffiliationsCBS News Radio
NBC News Radio
Compass Media Networks
Premiere Networks
Salem Radio Network
Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
  • Saga Communications
  • (Saga Communications of Illinois, LLC)
WLFZ, WTAX, WYMG, WDBR
History
First air date
September 1, 1971 (1971-09-01) (as WLRX)
Former call signs
WPRC-FM (1971-1981)
WLRX (1981-1986)
WESZ (1986-1994)
WWTE (1994-1996)
WYXY (1996-2001)
WMHX (2001-2005)
WABZ (2005-2013)
WQQL (2013-2021)
Call sign meaning
Taken from sister station WTAX (AM)
Technical information
Facility ID9964
ClassB1
ERP15,000 watts
HAAT131 meters (430 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
39°59′25.00″N 89°30′46.00″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewtax.com

WTAX-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 15,000 watts. The transmitter is on 450th Avenue at Interstate 55 in Mount Fulcher, Illinois.[3]

Programming

Weekdays on WTAX-AM-FM begin with a local drive time show, "The Morning Newswatch," hosted by Joey McLaughlin. The rest of the weekday schedule is made up of nationally syndicated talk shows: Hugh Hewitt, "Markley, Van Camp and Robbins," Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, John Batchelor, "Red Eye Radio" and "This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal."

Weekends feature shows on money, health, home repair, technology, the law and cars. Weekend hosts include Joe Pags, Sebastian Gorka, Chris Plante, Leo Laporte and Bill Handel. Most hours begin with world and national news from CBS News Radio.

History

The station signed on as WPRC-FM on September 1, 1971 (1971-09-01). The station changed its call sign to WLRX on May 3, 1981. On June 1, 1986, the call sign was changed to WESZ. On November 15, 1994, it was changed to WWTE, and on September 16, 1996, to WYXY. From February 19, 2001, to April 7, 2005, the station aired a hot adult contemporary format as WMHX, "Mix 93.9". On April 8, 2005, the station flipped to adult hits as "93.9 ABE FM" and adopted the callsign WABZ.

On October 2, 2013, the WQQL call sign was moved from 101.9 to 93.9, and the format was changed to classic hits as "Cool 93.9". On the same day, "ABE FM" was moved to FM translator 101.1 W266BZ (which is currently also aired on WDBR's HD2 subchannel as classic country "101.1 The Outlaw").

On May 28, 2021, WQQL announced that the classic hits format would move to translator 93.5 W288DL on June 7; at that time, WQQL assumed the translator's previous format, a simulcast of AM station WTAX. The move would end the use of the "Cool" branding in Springfield, as the station would rebrand as "Rewind 93.5" with the move; the name had been used, originally on 101.9, since 1993. The move is also believed to be an answer to a previous move with WMAY, having a simulcast on WMAY-FM added the previous September, giving WTAX a similar option on FM radio.[4] Concurrent with the move, 93.9 changed its call letters to WTAX-FM to match its new simulcast partner.

References
  1. "WTAX-FM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. WTAX.com/contact
  3. Radio-Locator.com/WTAX-FM
  4. Saga Preps Springfield Frequency Swap
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