History WNWV

1 history

1.1 years
1.2 z rock
1.3 wave (1987–2009)
1.4 v 107.3
1.5 wave (2011–present)
1.6 hd programming

history
early years

the station began weol-fm, simulcasting programming on station weol through 1950s , of 1960s. fm installations established adjunct outlet around same time weol s 1948 sign-on. 1960, weol-fm started separate programming on weekdays formula 107, playing mixture of automated classical music , pop standards 2pm until 10pm weekdays, while both weol , weol-fm played sterophonic hi-lites 9pm 11pm on sundays. weol-fm assumed separate identity on december 8, 1965 wbea, automated beautiful music , easy listening format aimed toward elyria, city of license. many of area s top broadcast talents made stop @ wbea , weol in careers, including dick conrad, jeff baxter, david mark, ronnie barrett, ron penfound, jim mehrling, rick martyn, bob tayek, , others. easy listening segued top 40 wbea b-107 in 1980s.

z rock

from january 1 until november 15, 1987, station carried callsign wczr , operated z rock heavy metal rock format. format originated satellite music network (later absorbed abc radio) in dallas, texas, , wczr second station have picked up. wczr gained cult following in cleveland area, other rock stations did not devote playlists heavy metal. however, lackluster ratings , spread of smooth jazz format precipitated format change less year later.

the wave (1987–2009)

the station changed callsign wnwv, rebranded wave, began airing new-age format via 24/7 satellite service metromedia, , increased broadcast target area include entire cleveland market. changes patterned after ktwv in los angeles, owned metromedia. wnwv sister station weol continued focus on lorain county. until december 17, 2011, wnwv still shared studios weol in downtown elyria, while wnwv had separate sales office , staff located in suburban rocky river. first operations director chris daniels eicher, hosted morning news, , threw switch jettisoned z-rock format , brought in wave. first song played after switch if love set them free sting (also first song played ktwv s debut 9 months earlier).

the station did alter on-air nickname several times. around 1990, wnwv dropped wave satellite format lineup of local hosts, , briefly renamed cleveland s cool fm: 107-3 wnwv slogan smooth jazz, fresh hits before assuming longtime nickname , logo in 1994. airstaff remarkably stable throughout rest of decade, broadcasters b.j. hart, dan steinberg, richard greer, tom murphy, lisa danevich, frank macek (now @ wkyc), grace roberts (now again @ wnwv), harvey zay, joan kelly, starr d avril, mike kessler (who remained aaa format under name mike gallagher), michelle chase, mark ribbins, brian cruise, sandy bennett, larry adams, sarah greer, cody brooks, mark mcquire, mark sanders, al pawlowski (now @ wkyc , sto), kathy gudell, tracey brich murphy, jen kaminski, greg yocum, tammy frizzel, pat allen, desiray mccray (now @ wdok), nathan pope, carmen kennedy, lisa jeffries, andrea morris , carolyn carr gracing airwaves. programmers included steve hibbard, bernie kimble , angie handa, went angie calli on-air, syndicated personalities ramsey lewis , dave koz.

in 2003, wnwv became first station in cleveland market broadcast in new hd digital format - 1 of handful in country make initial switch. wclv, licensed nearby lorain, aimed @ cleveland market, second.

throughout history station had been owned elyria-lorain broadcasting co. on may 15, 1958, elyria-lorain broadcasting co. purchased lorain county printing , publishing company, making wholly owned subsidiary. lcp&p owns elyria chronicle-telegram , medina gazette; in effect forming radio/newspaper duopoly. arrangement lasted until wnwv s sale rubber city radio group, long grandfathered fcc legislation prohibit such arrangements.

under wave smooth jazz format, wnwv two-time national association of broadcasters marconi award winner jazz station of year (1995, 2001).

v 107.3

on december 21, 2009, announced the wave change smooth jazz format after 22-year run.the station cited nationwide downturn smooth jazz format reason change, despite the wave being perennially strong ratings performer in cleveland. format officially dropped after midnight on december 28, 2009. after stunt of clock ticking 12 hours, wnwv switched adult album alternative format featuring mix of alternative , classic rock @ noon same day, radio retaliation thievery corporation. however, smooth jazz format continued run on station s hd2 subchannel, , online. after format change, mark ribbins assumed title of program director , served afternoon host, released october. point, wnwv hd-2 played music without on-air personalities, mike gallagher voicing top-of-the-hour station identification.

wnwv preferred brand boom! 107.3 tribute departed local radio announcer len boom goldberg. this, however, matched closely copyrighted brand of cbs radio. result, wnwv opted 107.3 cleveland before settling on v 107.3. while v 107.3, lineup featured holdover morning host mike gallagher (kessler), midday host ravenna miceli, afternoon host/program director ric rocco bennett, , evening host/music director brad hanson. weekend programming included acoustic café rob reinhart, house of blues radio hour elwood blues (dan aykroyd in character) , new music show brad hanson , ric rocco bennett. inner sanctum, showcase of local music, ran sunday nights september–december 2011.

the wave (2011–present)

on october 13, 2011, wnwv owner elyria-lorain broadcasting co. announced plans sell station akron, ohio-based rubber city radio group, inc. $6.5 million. deal completed december 16 @ 5:00 p.m., rubber city radio group formally announcing return station s prior branding wave, updated smooth ac format on january 4, 2012 (in music style similar san diego outlet kifm); however, wnwv switched bit earlier expected @ 8:30 p.m. on january 3.

hd programming

the smooth jazz format continued time on hd2 digital subchannel wave classics; of january 2013, wnwv no longer broadcasting hd2 subchannel.