| SimulcastsWTAX (AM)Springfield | |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Springfield metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 93.9MHz |
| Branding | NewsRadio WTAX |
| Programming | |
| Format | News/talk |
| Affiliations | CBS News Radio NBC News Radio Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks Salem Radio Network Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WLFZ,WTAX,WYMG,WDBR | |
| History | |
First air date | September 1, 1971; 53 years ago (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 stationWTAX (AM) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 9964 |
| Class | B1 |
| ERP | 15,000watts |
| HAAT | 131 meters (430 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°59′25.00″N89°30′46.00″W / 39.9902778°N 89.5127778°W /39.9902778; -89.5127778 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wtax.com |
WTAX-FM (93.9MHz) is acommercialradio station broadcasting anews/talkradio format,simulcast withWTAX1240 AM.Licensed toSherman, Illinois, it serves theSpringfield metropolitan area. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Capitol Radio Group.[2] Theradio studios and offices are on East Sangamon Avenue in Springfield.[3]
WTAX-FM has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 15,000watts. Thetransmitter is on 450th Avenue atInterstate 55 inMount Fulcher, Illinois.[4]
Weekdays on WTAX-AM-FM begin with a localdrive time show, "The Morning Newswatch," hosted by Joey McLaughlin. The rest of the weekday schedule is made up ofnationally 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 includeJoe Pags,Sebastian Gorka,Chris Plante,Leo Laporte andBill Handel. Most hours begin with world and national news fromCBS News Radio.
The stationsigned on as WPRC-FM on September 1, 1971; 53 years ago (1971-09-01). The station changed itscall 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 ahot adult contemporary format as WMHX, "Mix 93.9". On April 8, 2005, the station flipped toadult 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 toclassic hits as "Cool 93.9". On the same day, "ABE FM" was moved toFM translator 101.1 W266BZ (which is currently also aired onWDBR's HD2 subchannel asclassic 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 withWMAY, having a simulcast onWMAY-FM added the previous September, giving WTAX a similar option on FM radio.[5] Concurrent with the move, 93.9 changed its call letters to WTAX-FM to match its new simulcast partner.
