| Broadcast area | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 730kHz |
| Branding | Ritmo FM |
| Programming | |
| Language | Spanish |
| Format | Tropical music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Geos Communications |
| WGMA,WGMF,WGMF-FM,WGMM | |
| History | |
First air date | February 1947; 78 years ago (1947-02) (as WHWL) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "parked" call sign; seeWGMA |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 59757 |
| Class | D |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 41°13′9″N75°59′15″W / 41.21917°N 75.98750°W /41.21917; -75.98750 |
| Translator(s) | See § Translators |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | ritmo |
WAZL (730kHz) is anAMradio station licensed to the city ofNanticoke, Pennsylvania, and serves theWilkes-Barre,Scranton, andHazleton radio markets with atropical music format, switching from adult standards and Tropical andSpanish languageadult contemporary and classic hits formats[2] in October 2023.[3][4]
WAZL broadcasts on a frequency of 730kHz with 1,000watts of power during the daytime with a non-directionalantenna. During the nighttime hours, the station must reduce its power to 12 watts. The power reduction at nighttime is required by rules set by theFederal Communications Commission in order to avoid interference fromCKAC, a CanadianClass A radio station also on 730kHz. WAZL also broadcasts at a frequency of 94.9MHz with 250watts of power from a site atop Bald Mtn nearKeyser Valley/Scranton, Pennsylvania, which covers Scranton, Old Forge, Avoca, Dickson City, Pittston, and Jessup, Pennsylvania. WAZL also broadcasts at a frequency of 95.3MHz with 99 watts of power from a site atop Penobscot Mountain nearMountain Top, Pennsylvania, which covers Wilkes-Barre, Mountain Top, Wyoming, Nanticoke, Dallas, West Pittston, and Kingston, Pennsylvania. WAZL also broadcasts at a frequency of 99.5MHz with 55 watts of power from a site in Hazleton Heights PA atop the 1490 tower nearHazleton, Pennsylvania, which covers Hazleton, Freeland, Drums, West Hazleton, and Conyngham, Pennsylvania.
The radio station has its origins as WHWL, the last three letters standing for the initials of Henry W. Lark, the station's former owner.[5] The station then changed hands and was owned by Radio Anthracite, Inc. with the call sign changing along the way to WNAK. The station changed ownership in 1958 to Attorney Martin Phillips and Wyoming Radio, Inc.[6] In 1965, Bob Neilson, Charmaine Grove, and accountant Harold Detwiler (to be known collectively as Seven-Thirty Broadcasters, Inc.) purchased radio station WNAK from Attorney Martin Phillips and Wyoming Radio, Inc.[7] During the 1980s, WNAK started broadcasting with theKahn-HazeltineAM stereo system, the only northeasternPennsylvaniaAM broadcasting station to use the system.
In 2003, Seven-Thirty Broadcasters and WNAK were acquired by Route 81 Radio, based inWest Chester, PA.[8] From 2004 until 2006, WNAK was simulcast on the former WNAK-FM located inCarbondale, Pennsylvania at 94.3MHz. WNAK-FM is now known as "94.3 FM The Talker" and broadcasts atalk format with the call signWTRW. In 2005, WNAK was honored by theNational Association of Broadcasters as theadult standards format station of the year inPennsylvania.[9] The station switched from an adult standards format on October 15, 2007, toSpanish language programming simulcasting sister stationWCDL, "Caliente (Hot) 1440", fromCarbondale, Pennsylvania.[3][4]
The station's programming as "Caliente" was a mix of locally produced shows from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays followed by syndicated shows fromBustos Broadcasting.[3]
It was announced in early December 2008 that WNAK, along with sister station WCDL, would be returning to a standards format. Newspaper ads have used the slogan "The Greatest Music of All Time" and have featured photos of singers such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and Peggy Lee. The station changed its call sign to WZMF on April 23, 2010. WZMF switched to a simulcast of the-then 1460 kHzWGMF on May 5, 2010, airing a classic hits/oldies format. On July 4, 2018, WZMF and WGMF swapped call signs.
In February 2023, WGMF rebranded as "Gem 99 & 100".[10]
On October 13, 2023, WGMF dropped its simulcast with WGMM, added translators W235DC and W237DP, and launched a Spanish tropical music format, branded as "Hola Radio". The station changed its call sign to WAZL on October 29, 2023. On November 14, 2023, WAZL rebranded as "Ritmo FM"
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W235DC | 94.9 FM | Dickson City, Pennsylvania | 157890 | 250 | 222.7 m (731 ft) | D | LMS |
| W237DP | 95.3 FM | Mountain Top, Pennsylvania | 145747 | 99 | 0 m (0 ft) | D | LMS |
| W258DJ | 99.5 FM | Hazleton, Pennsylvania | 201543 | 55 | 148 m (486 ft) | D | LMS |
(WGMF's logo under former "Gem 104" branding)