WEZL
{{for|the Richmond, Virginia radio station that held the call sign WEZL from 1958 to 1961|WNRN (AM)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WEZL
| logo = WEZL.webp
| city = Charleston, South Carolina
| area = Charleston metropolitan area and South Carolina Lowcountry
| branding = 103.5 WEZL
| frequency = 103.5 MHz {{HD Radio}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1970|10|5|p=y}}
| format = Country
| subchannels =
| erp = 100,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|201|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = C1
| facility_id = 2441
| coordinates = {{coord|32|49|4.00|N| 79|50|9.00|W|region:US-SC_type:landmark}}
| callsign_meaning = WEaZeL for weasel, its original mascot.
| former_callsigns =
| affiliations = Premiere Networks
| sister_stations = WRFQ, WSCC-FM, WXLY
| owner = iHeartMedia, Inc.
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| webcast = [http://www.iheart.com/live/wezl-the-weasel-2061/?autoplay=true Listen Live]
| website = [http://www.wezlfm.com wezlfm.com]
| licensing_authority = FCC
}}
WEZL (103.5 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Charleston, South Carolina, and serving the Lowcountry. It broadcasts a country music radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. WEZL carries two nationally syndicated programs: The Bobby Bones Show on weekday mornings and After Midnite with Granger Smith, heard overnights. The radio studios and offices are on Houston Northcutt Boulevard in Mount Pleasant.
WEZL has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for non-grandfathered FM stations. The transmitter is off Venning Road in Mount Pleasant, amid the towers for other Charleston-area FM and TV stations.[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Wezl&nav=home Radio-Locator.com/WEZL] WEZL broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 digital subchannel formerly carried iHeartRadio's soft adult contemporary music service, known as "The Breeze." The HD2 subchannel has since been turned off.
History
On {{Start date and age|October 5, 1970}}, WEZL first signed on the air.[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1971/Section-B-Radio-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1971-11.pdf Information] from Broadcasting Yearbook 1971 page B-184 It was owned by the Fine Arts Broadcasting with studios on Church Street. In its early days, it had an effective radiated power of 25,900 watts. It started with an easy listening format, represented by the EZ in its call sign.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1972/B%20Radio%20YB%201972%20All-10.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1972 page B-187. Retrieved March 15, 2024] After a couple of years, it flipped to country music. But it kept the same call letters, now pronouncing them as "Weasel."
The Weasel Morning Show consisted of longtime radio personalities TJ Phillips, Gary Griffin and Ric Rush. TJ, Gary and Ric were consistently the top rated morning show in Charleston. Griffin retired in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120918/PC05/120919228 |title=WEZL-FM co-host signs off after nearly 38 years on air in Charleston area - Post and Courier |website=www.postandcourier.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622023501/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120918/PC05/120919228 |archive-date=2015-06-22}} Phillips and Rush continued as the morning hosts before being moved to afternoons to make way for the syndicated Bobby Bones Show airing weekday mornings from Nashville.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wezl.com/onair/tj-ric-4130/tj-ric-are-moving-to-afternoons-13124647/|title = Find 103.5 WEZL's Friday Live On-Air Schedule}}
WEZL has been a country station in the Charleston market since {{Start date and age|1972}}. In 2007, it started competing with Citadel Broadcasting's country station, WIWF 96.9 FM. WIWF later switched to classic hits. Currently WEZL's country competition is 92.5 WCKN, owned by Saga Communications.
"The Weasel" had the number one morning show for years prior to the arrival of Mike Tyler in January 1999. Tyler, Griffin and Janet Walsh fell to number 5 but regained the top spot in Fall 1999.{{cite news|url=http://www.animaux.net/stern/charleston.html|title=The Weasel, Z 93 back on top in ratings|work=Post and Courier|date=2000-03-02|access-date=2010-07-08}} In the 2000s, the station stopped calling itself "The Weasel" most of the time, instead simply using its dial position and call letters.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.wezl.com/main.html WEZL official website]
- {{FM station data|2441|WEZL}}
{{Charleston SC Radio}}
{{Country Radio Stations in South Carolina}}
{{The Bobby Bones Show}}
{{IHeartMedia}}
Category:Country radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1999