WCFL (FM)

The station was first licensed May 24, 1962.[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=80499 History Cards for WCFL], fcc.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2018. Its original call sign was WRMI-FM, which stood for Radio Morris Illinois. It largely simulcast WCSJ (1550 AM), its sister station.

In the 1960s and 1970s, WRMI-FM and WCSJ had a middle of the road (MOR) format.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1972/B-1%20YB%201972%20All-11.pdf 1972 Broadcasting Yearbook], Broadcasting, 1972. p. B-65. Retrieved July 14, 2018.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1977/C-1%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201977.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1977], Broadcasting, 1977. p. C-65. Retrieved July 14, 2018. In 1977 the station's call sign was changed to WCSJ-FM to match 1550 AM; the two stations continued to simulcast.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1979/C-1%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201979-12.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1979], Broadcasting, 1979. p. C-68. Retrieved July 14, 2018.

By 1983, the stations were airing a country music format.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1983/B-Radio-Ala-Mt-1983-YB.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983], Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1983. p. B-76. Retrieved July 14, 2018. In 1988, 104.7 FM separated its programming from 1550 AM and changed its call letters to WUEZ-FM. As WUEZ-FM, the station aired an easy listening format.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1989/B-1%20Radio%20Ala%20to%20Mont%201989-5.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook '89], Broadcasting & Cable, 1989. p. B-95. Retrieved July 14, 2018.Feder, Robert. "Radio's new WCFL will return to oldies". Chicago Sun Times. April 16, 1990 The station was automated, playing quarter-hour sweeps of mostly instrumental cover versions of popular adult songs along with some soft vocals.

In 1990, the station changed its call sign to WCFL and adopted an oldies format with the branding "Super CFL". It used slogans and jingles which harkened back to the Top 40 days of WCFL (1000 AM), when it was popular among teens. The original WCFL-FM air staff included Gary Rivers, Bob Zak, Tom Kapsalis, Don Beno, and Jeff Andrews. WCFL played the hits of 1965 to 1979, with the goal of capturing the sound of the original WCFL.Steele, Jeffrey. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/05/30/cfl-still-the-rebel-the-2nd-time-around/ 'CFL Still The Rebel The 2nd Time Around]", Chicago Tribune, May 30, 1993. Retrieved July 14, 2018.

The oldies format lasted until January 1994, when the station began simulcasting the soft AC programming of WCSJ."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1994-01.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 11 No. 1. January 5, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved July 14, 2018. At that point, its owners were looking to sell WCFL.

In late 1993, the station was sold to the Illinois District Council of the Assemblies of God.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140117225656/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=186208 Application Search Details] fcc.gov. June 16, 1993. Accessed September 1, 2012"[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1993-10.pdf Proposed Station Transfers]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 10 No. 43. October 26, 1993. p. 6. Retrieved July 14, 2018. In February 1994, the station went silent while the sale was being finalized."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1994-02.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 11 No. 6. February 9, 1994. p. 1. Retrieved July 14, 2018. WCFL adopted its present contemporary Christian music format in May 1994.{{cite web |url=http://www.wcfl.com:80/about/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020806200713/http://www.wcfl.com/about/index.html |title=About WCFL |publisher=WCFL |archive-date=August 6, 2002 |access-date=July 14, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}"[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1994-05.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 11 No. 20. May 18, 1994. p. 1. Retrieved July 14, 2018. By 2003, the station was simulcasting WBGL full-time.{{cite web |url=http://www.wcfl.com:80/welcome.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030301091335/http://www.wcfl.com/welcome.html |title=About WCFL |publisher=WBGL |archive-date=March 1, 2003 |access-date=July 14, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

In a complaint filed with the Federal Communications Commission in 2017, WCFL claimed that its signal has been subjected to co-channel interference from translator W284DA, which relays WRDZ. The translator is operated by Polnet Communications Ltd. of Chicago.{{cite news |url=http://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/0002/wcfl-asks-fcc-to-shut-down-chicago-translator/339820 |title=WCFL Asks FCC to Shut Down Chicago Translator |work=Radio World |last=Vernon |first=Tom |date=June 8, 2017 |access-date=June 8, 2017}}

In August 2019, the Illinois Bible Institute reached an agreement to sell the entire WBGL/WCIC New Life Media Network (including WCFL) to the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. The university owns and operates Northwestern Media, a network of Contemporary Christian stations and another network of Christian talk and teaching stations. The sale price was $9,901,558.34."[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/179462/northwestern-media-acquires-wbgl-wcic-in-illinois/ Northwestern Media Acquires WBGL/WCIC In Illinois]", Radio Insight. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019."[http://www.hisair.net/northwestern-media-makes-huge-aquisition/ U. of Northwestern Buys 13 Stations From Illinois Bible Institute]", HisAir.net. August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019."[https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/188458/northwestern-media-moves-to-buy-new-life-media Northwestern Media Moves to Buy New Life Media]", All Access Music Group. August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019."[http://www.insideradio.com/free/u-of-northwestern-buys-stations-from-illinois-bible-institute/article_cd683e04-b820-11e9-933a-c3cf360139c1.html U. of Northwestern Buys 13 Stations From Illinois Bible Institute]", Inside Radio. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019. While the station remains Contemporary Christian, the format and programming are overseen by the University of Northwestern - St. Paul, based in Minneapolis.

{{reflist}}

• [http://wbgl.org/ 91.7 WBGL] - official website
• [http://www.idcag.org/Media_radio.cfm New Life Media network] - sister station info
• {{FM station data|28304|WCFL}}

{{Joliet-Morris-Crete Radio}}

{{LaSalle-Peru Radio}}

{{Religious Radio Stations in Illinois}}

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Category:Assemblies of God

Category:Contemporary Christian radio stations in the United States

Category:1962 establishments in Illinois

Category:Radio stations established in 1962

Category:Pentecostalism in the United States

Category:Northwestern Media

CFL (FM)