| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater St. Louis |
| Frequency | 1260kHz |
| Branding | Relevant Radio |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Catholic radio |
| Network | Relevant Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Relevant Radio, Inc. |
| History | |
First air date | July 13, 1947 (77 years ago) (1947-07-13) |
Former call signs | WIBV (1947–1998) |
Call sign meaning | "St. Louis Disney" (former owner) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 4622 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 38°27′31.00″N89°57′41.00″W / 38.4586111°N 89.9613889°W /38.4586111; -89.9613889 |
| Translator(s) | 95.1 K236CS (St. Louis) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WSDZ (1260AM) is a radio stationlicensed toBelleville, Illinois, and serving theGreater St. Louisradio market. It is owned and operated by Relevant Radio, Inc.[2] WSDZ carries aCatholic radioformat supplied by the Relevant Radio network. WSDZ, along with 1120KMOX, are responsible for activation of the St. Louis areaEmergency Alert System.[3]
By day, WSDZ is powered at 20,000 watts. At night, to avoid interfering with other stations on1260 AM, it reduces power to 5,000 watts. It uses adirectional antenna at all times. The station's studios are located on Weber Hill Road in St. Louis, and itstransmitter is off Schuleter Germaine Road in Belleville.[4] Programming is also heard on 99-wattFM translator 95.1MHz K236CS in St. Louis.[5]
The stationsigned on the air on July 13, 1947, as WIBV "Belleville's Voice". It was adaytimer, broadcasting on 1060 kHz with 250 watts of power. WIBV was owned by Belleville Broadcasting Co.[6]
WIBV aired various types of music, and would broadcast high school sports into theMetro-East area for many years, until the mid-1990s, when it became atalk radio station.
Thecall sign switched to WSDZ when it began broadcastingchildren's/contemporary hit radio programming as anetwork affiliate ofRadio Disney on May 22, 1998, at 1 pm.[7] At that point, the talk programming moved over to 550 KSD, which becameKTRS in early 1997.
On August 13, 2014, Radio Disney announced it would sell nearly all of its owned-and-operated stations including WSDZ. Radio Disney said it wanted to focus on the network's programming, co-branded events, and digital outlets.[8][9]
Disney originally planned to take the stationsdark on September 26.[10] However, Disney changed its plans at the last minute, and all stations would remain on the air, continuing to broadcast Radio Disney programming until each were sold.[11] Radio Disney planned to keep only one of its stations, its outlet at 1110 AM in Los Angeles, nowKWVE.
On September 15, theSalem Media Group said it would acquire the last five Radio Disney owned-and-operated stations for sale (including WSDZ) for $2.225 million.[12] WSDZ was acquired through Caron Broadcasting, Inc., for $275,000.[13][14][15] The sale of WSDZ was completed on December 18, 2015.[16]
On December 11, Radio Disney programming went off the air and WSDZ went silent, pending its new format. On December 22, WSDZ signed back on the air with a newconservative talk radio format as "1260 AM The Answer". Most of the programming came from the co-ownedSalem Radio Network.
On October 30, 2017, WSDZ changed from conservative talk radio (which moved tosister station 1380KXFN). It began playingurban contemporary gospel music, branded as "Praise 95.1 & 1260".[17]
On November 14, 2019, the station was sold toImmaculate Heart Media, Inc., and became an affiliate of the co-ownedRelevant Radio network.[18][19][20] The programming includedCatholictalk and teaching shows.