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| Broadcast area | Saginaw-Bay City-Midland |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104.5MHz |
| Branding | Wheelz 104.5 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic rock |
| Affiliations | United Stations Radio Networks Westwood One Michigan State Spartans football and men's basketball |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WHNN,WIOG,WKQZ,WFBE,WTRX | |
| History | |
First air date | 1992 (as WUVE) |
Former call signs | WMJA (4/8/95-3/19/99) WUVE (5/3/91-4/8/95) |
Call sign meaning | WheeLZ |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 58578 |
| Class | A |
| Power | 2,900watts |
| HAAT | 126 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°23′34″N83°55′27″W / 43.39278°N 83.92417°W /43.39278; -83.92417 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wheelz.fm |
WILZ (104.5FM, "Wheelz 104.5") is a radio station broadcasting aclassic rock format inSaginaw, Michigan, owned byCumulus Media. The station is the local affiliate of morning comedy programThe Bob and Tom Show, music showNights with Alice Cooper andMichigan State Spartans football and men's basketball games.[2][3]
104.5 FM began in the early 1990s asWUVE, analbum oriented rock station that aired some programming fromABC/Satellite Music Network's "Z Rock" network (though not an official "Z-Rock" affiliate). The station becameWMJA ("Magic") with aclassic hits format in 1995, and then adopted its current calls and format in 1999 (possibly in tribute to formerDetroit album-rock station WLLZ 98.7 FM, now alternative rock stationWDZH).
WILZ's format was formerly simulcast on then-sister stationWYLZ (100.9 FM) (nowWLUN), licensed toPinconning, Michigan. WYLZ has broadcast a variety of different formats since signing on in 1983. 104.5 and 100.9 together were known as "Wheelz 104.5 and 101" from 1999 to 2007.
In June 2007, WYLZ was sold byCitadel Broadcasting (along with nine other stations) to The Last Bastion Station Trust, LLC, as part ofABC Radio's absorption into Citadel. Upon ending the simulcast, WYLZ switched to a satellite-fedcountry format ("Mainstream Country" fromDial Global) under the "Thunder Country" moniker. Despite the programming changes, WYLZ continued to air play-by-play ofGreat Lakes Loons baseball during the summer of 2007. In the winter of 2008, the Great Lakes Loons finally took over ownership and changed the station to sports radio under new callsWLUN. Citadel retained WILZ until its merger with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[4]