WVLI

WVLI (92.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. The station is licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, United States. During its days as WKIF, it also broadcast Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame Football and other sporting events. WVLI is owned by Milner Broadcasting Enterprises, LLC.[4]

For the Kankakee, Illinois radio station that held the call sign WVLI at 95.1 FM from 1995 to 2012, see WFAV.

WVLI
CityKankakee, Illinois
Broadcast areaSouthern Chicago market
Frequency92.7 MHz
BrandingThe Valley
Programming
FormatOldies
Ownership
OwnerMilner Broadcasting Enterprises, LLC
Sister stationsWFAV, WYUR, WIVR
History
First air dateSeptember 21, 1986 (as WLRT)[1][2]
Former call signsWLRT (1986–1998)[3]
WBRO (9-4-98–12-28-98)[3]
WKIF (1998-2012)[3]
Technical information
Facility ID62360
ClassA
ERP3,000 watts
HAAT100 meters (330 ft)
Transmitter coordinates41°7′22.00″N 87°53′35.00″W
Repeater(s)96.1 W241BS (Kankakee)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewvli927.com

History

WLRT

The station began broadcasting September 21, 1986, holding the call sign WLRT.[1][2] The station aired a lite rock format.[2][1] In 1993, the station adopted a country music format and was branded "T93".[5]

In 1998, the station was sold to Big City Radio, which also purchased WCBR-FM in Arlington Heights (also on 92.7) at the same time.[6] When Big City Radio took control of the two stations, they stunted with a simulcast of their Los Angeles sister station 107.1 KLYY, which aired a modern rock format.[7] The station's call sign was changed to WBRO shortly thereafter.[3]

92 Kiss FM
92 Kiss FM logo

On November 14, 1998, at Noon, WBRO and WCBR launched their new format, CHR as "92.7 Kiss FM", with the first song being "Kiss" by Prince.[8][9][10] In late December 1998, the station's call sign was changed to WKIF, while WCBR's call sign was changed to WKIE.[3][11]

Big City Radio also purchased WDEK 92.5 in DeKalb, Illinois, which was airing a locally programmed CHR format at the time, and switched it to a simulcast of WKIF and WKIE in early 1999.[12] Not long after, the moniker was adjusted to "92 Kiss FM".[13] Melissa Forman hosted mornings on 92 Kiss FM, before moving to 93.9 WLIT-FM in 2001.[14][15]

Energy 92.7&5

On January 12, 2001, Clear Channel's WUBT changed formats from rhythmic oldies to CHR as WKSC-FM "Kiss 103.5".[16] At that time, Clear Channel filed suit against Big City Radio, alleging the "Kiss FM" branding used by WKIF and its simulcasts violated its national trademark.[16][17] However, Big City Radio had already planned on changing the formats of these stations.[17] On January 26, 2001, 92 Kiss-FM signed off, and the three stations adopted a dance hits format as "Energy 92.7&5".[17][18] The station's airstaff remained intact.[19][20] The new format was designed by 92 Kiss FM's program director, Chris Shebel, who has stated that the dance hits format is something he had dreamed of doing for a long time.[17]

Onda 92

In late 2002, Big City Radio, became insolvent and began the process of selling all of its radio stations.[21] In early 2003, WKIF, WKIE, and WDEK were sold to Spanish Broadcasting System for $22 million.[22] On January 6, 2003, the three stations adopted a Spanish contemporary format as "Onda 92".[23][24][25][26]

Newsweb ownership

In 2004, Spanish Broadcasting System sold WKIF, WKIE, and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation for $28 million.[27][28] WKIF was broken off the simulcast and became a full time affiliate of CNN Headline News,[29][30] while WKIE and WDEK began simulcasting its new adult hits sister station 99.9 WRZA in Park Forest, Illinois as "Nine FM", with the slogan "We Play Anything".[31] In October 2008, the Nine FM simulcast on WKIE, WDEK, and WRZA was replaced with progressive talk, but on December 19, 2008, Nine FM was brought back on WKIF.[30]

The Valley

In 2012, the station was sold to Milner Broadcasting for $1 million.[32][33][34] In August 2012, WKIF changed their format to oldies, simulcasting WVLI 95.1 FM Kankakee, branded as "The Valley".[35] On December 27, 2012, WVLI 95.1 (now WFAV) dropped the simulcast of 92.7 and made its anticipated switch to CHR simulcasting WFAV 103.7 in Gilman, Illinois.[36] On December 29, 2012, WKIF and WVLI swapped call letters, putting WKIF on 95.1 and WVLI on 92.7.[3][37] In 2018, Milner Broadcasting was sold to the newly formed Milner Media Partners.[38]

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References
  1. Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1987, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1987. p. B-90. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  2. Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 300.
  3. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  4. "WVLI Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  5. "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 10, No. 1. January 6, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  6. "Big City Buys Four More In Chicago", Radio & Records. April 24, 1998. p. 4. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  7. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 31. August 5, 1998. p. 1-2. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  8. Feder, Robert. "'Kiss FM' set to debut 'in your face' attitude", Chicago Sun-Times. November 12, 1998. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  9. "WCBR Becomes 92.7 Kiss FM", Format Change Archive. November 14, 1998. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  10. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 46. November 18, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  11. "Call Sign History (WCPY)". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  12. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 16, No. 9. March 3, 1999. p. 2. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  13. "92.7 KISS fm". 92 Kiss FM. Archived from the original on February 29, 2000. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  14. "Melissa Forman". 92 Kiss FM. Archived from the original on March 4, 2000. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  15. Rosenthal, Phil. "Melissa Forman out at WLIT-FM -- again", Chicago Tribune. August 13, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  16. "M Street Bazaar... People, Products, and Programming", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 03. January 17, 2001. p. 8. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  17. Ross, Sean "Shebel Energizes WKIE With Dance", Billboard. February 17, 2001. p. 63-64. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  18. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 05. January 31, 2001. p. 1-2. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  19. "KISS On Air". 92 Kiss FM. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  20. "Energy Personalities". Energy 92 7/5. Archived from the original on April 10, 2001. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  21. "Big City Radio Announces Auction Of Stations", HispanicAd.com. October 05, 2002. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  22. Oppelaar, Justin. "Spanish B'casting picks up Chi trio", Variety. January 3, 2003. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  23. "Analysts React To Big City Sell-Off", Radio & Records. pp. 4 & 6. January 10, 2003. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  24. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2003-2004, Broadcasting & Cable, 2003-2004. p. D-141. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  25. "Latin Music 6 Pack", Billboard. February 22, 2003. p. LM-2. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  26. "Onda 92". Onda 92. Archived from the original on July 19, 2003. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  27. "SBS Closes $28 Million Sale of Chicago FMs to Newsweb", RadioWorld. November 30, 2004. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  28. Lazaroff, Leon. "Democratic donor plans to purchase 3 stations", Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2004. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  29. "Story, Daily Journal. July 11, 2005. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  30. "Reasons To Be Cheerful Pt. III: 'JBTV'", Illinois Entertainer. January 30, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  31. Kampert, Patrick. "Nine FM rolls out 'anything' format on 3 frequencies", Chicago Tribune, December 02, 2004. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  32. "Milners have straight As in Kankakee area", Radio & Television Business Report. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  33. Asset Purchase Agreement, fcc.gov. June 6, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  34. Public Notice Comment - BALH-20120723AAD, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  35. Venta, Lance. "Milner Shifting Programming In Kankakee", RadioInsight. November 29, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  36. "WFAV 95.1 - 103.7 - Your New FAVorite Hit Radio Station". WFAV. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  37. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  38. Provost, Lee. "New ownership for WVLI, WFAV", Daily Journal, April 21, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
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