 | |
| Broadcast area | Detroit metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 690kHz (Daytime) 680 kHz (Nighttime) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Ethnic |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Birach Broadcasting Corporation |
| History | |
First air date | October 12, 1985; 39 years ago (1985-10-12) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Class | B |
| Power | 2,500watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°5′55″N83°19′48″W / 42.09861°N 83.33000°W /42.09861; -83.33000 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | WNZK website |
WNZK (680kHz and 690 kHz) is acommercialAMradio stationlicensed toDearborn Heights, Michigan, and serving theDetroit metropolitan area. It is owned by theBirach Broadcasting Corporation and airs anethnicradio format. The programming isbrokered, where hosts pay for their time and may advertise their clients' goods and services during their shows. It broadcasts in a variety of languages, includingArabic and several fromEastern Europe. WNZK identifies itself as "Station of the Nations."
WNZK is unusual in that it broadcasts on two different frequencies.[1] During the daytime, it is heard on 690kHz. But because that is a Canadian and Mexicanclear channel frequency, WNZK must switch to 680 kHz at sunset. Although 680 AM is also a clear channel frequency, theClass A stations that operate on it are inSan Francisco andAlaska. Therefore, WNZK can operate on this frequency at night with its regular power of 2,500watts, without interfering with those stations. It uses adirectional antenna with a six-tower array off Will Carleton Road inHuron Charter Township, Michigan.[2]
WNZK began broadcasting on October 12, 1985; 39 years ago (1985-10-12).[3] The westernDetroit suburb ofWestland was its originalcity of license. It switched to Dearborn Heights by 1990. The station was always owned by Birach Broadcasting. The original studios were at 21700 Northwestern Highway inSouthfield, Michigan.
According to theFCC onlinedatabase, WNZK is the onlyAM radio station in North America using two frequencies, one by day, one at night.
At one time, several radio stations in Detroit were multi-lingual. 97.9 FM aired a similar ethnic format for many years with a similar call sign, WMZK. It used the same "Station of the Nations" slogan until 1980. That station is nowUrban ContemporaryWJLB. Several Detroit-area AM stations were also aimed at different ethnic groups. But they have also changed to more mainstream formats.
42°05′55″N83°19′48″W / 42.09861°N 83.33000°W /42.09861; -83.33000
