WFRL

WFRL began broadcasting October 28, 1947, on 1570 kHz, running 1,000 during daytime hours only.{{cite magazine|title=WFRL in Freeport Begins Operations on 1570 kc|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-11-10-BC.pdf|magazine=Broadcasting|date=November 10, 1947|access-date=September 14, 2018}}[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=52706 History Cards for WFRL], fcc.gov. Retrieved September 14, 2018. The station was licensed to Freeport Broadcasting Company, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Vincent S. Barker.Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 493-494. Barker built the station's transmitter in his basement during World War II.

In 1959, the station was sold to Triad Television Corp for $275,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1959/1959-08-10-BC.pdf Ownership Changes]", Broadcasting. August 10, 1959. p. 93. Retrieved September 14, 2018. In 1964, the station's power was increased to 5,000 watts. On April 11, 1965, its sister station, WFRL-FM, began broadcasting on 98.5. WFRL-FM is now WXXQ.

The station aired a country music format until June 1977 and flipped to a top 40 format with the change of ownership.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/C-1-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1978], Broadcasting. 1978. p. C-65. Retrieved September 14, 2018. In 1977, the station was sold to Bradford-Ross Associates, along with WFRL-FM, for $475,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-02-07.pdf Changing Hands]", Broadcasting. February 7, 1977. p. 76. Retrieved September 14, 2018. In 1980, the station was sold to Illinois Broadcasting, along with WXXQ, for $975,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/1980-11-24-BC.pdf Changing Hands]", Broadcasting. November 24, 1980. p. 60. Retrieved September 14, 2018. In 1980, the station had adopted 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-73. Retrieved September 14, 2018. In 1983, the station was sold to a partnership of C.R. Griggs, James D. McQuality and Larry S. Ward."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-11-07.pdf Ownership changes]", Broadcasting. November 7, 1983. p. 83. Retrieved September 14, 2018. In 1985, the station was sold to Freeport Radio Associates, along with WXXQ, for $1 million."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-02-18.pdf Changing Hands]", Broadcasting. February 18, 1985. p. 79-80. Retrieved September 14, 2018.

By 1989, the station had adopted an adult contemporary format, and the station had begun nighttime operations, running 500 watts.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1989/B-1%20Radio%20Ala%20to%20Mont%201989-5.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1989], Broadcasting & Cable. 1989. p. B-92. Retrieved September 14, 2018. In 1991, the station was sold to Stateline Broadcasting, along with WXXQ, for $900,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1991/RR-1991-09-06.pdf Transactions]", Radio & Records. September 6, 1991. p. 9. Retrieved September 14, 2018. In 1993, the station added talk programming."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/IDX/IDX/M-Street-1993-05-OCR-Page-0023.pdf Format Changes]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 10, No. 21. May 26, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2018. In 1995, the station was sold to Connoisseur Communications, along with WXXQ, for $2.3 million."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1995/RR-1995-08-25.pdf Transactions]", Radio & Records. August 25, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved September 15, 2018. By 1996, talk programming had replaced all music on the station."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/IDX/IDX/M-Street-1996-05-OCR-Page-0029.pdf Format Changes]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 13, No. 21. May 22, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2018. In 1996, the station was sold to Eveningstar Media Group for $245,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-05-24.pdf Transactions]", Radio & Records. May 24, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved September 15, 2018. The station temporarily simulcast 1440 WROK while the sale was pending."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/IDX/IDX/M-Street-1996-10-OCR-Page-0001.pdf Format Changes]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 13, No. 40. October 2, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2018.

File:WFRL1570.png

In 1998, the station adopted an adult standards format."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/IDX/IDX/M-Street-1998-10-OCR-Page-0033.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 43. October 28, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2018. In 2005, the station was sold to Maverick Media."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2005/RR-2005-03-11.pdf Deal of the Week]", Radio & Records. March 11, 2005. p. 9. Retrieved September 15, 2018. In 2006, the station was sold to Green County Broadcasting, along with 92.1 WFPS, for $1,475,000.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180915124759/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101109598&qnum=5040©num=1&exhcnum=1 Asset Sale Agreement], fcc.gov. Retrieved September 15, 2018. In 2010, the station was an affiliate of the short lived "Hit Parade Radio" oldies network, which featured DJs Larry Lujack and Wink Martindale."[http://www.northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news0610.html Broadcasting News-June 2010]", Upper Midwest Broadcasting. June 7, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2018."[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/638-hit-parade-radios-parade-is-over Hit Parade Radio's Parade Is Over]", Chicagoland Radio and Media. June 4, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2018. After the network's shutdown, WFRL retained the oldies format with local personalities. In 2017, WFRL switched to a classic country format.

WFRL was granted a modification in August 2022 to change its signal from directional to non-directional and reduce power to 1,000 watts daytime and 210 watts nighttime. This took effect as of August 2023.

{{RadioTranslators

| call1 = W282CT

| freq1 = 104.3

| watts1 = 250

| class1 = D

| fid1 = 202101

| city1 = Freeport, Illinois

| coord1 = {{coord|42|18|46|N|89|35|36|W|type:landmark_region:US-IL|name=W282CT}}

}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.bigradio.fm}}

{{AM station data|63135|WFRL}}

{{Country Radio Stations in Illinois}}

Category:Classic country radio stations in the United States

FRL

Category:Radio stations established in 1947

Category:1947 establishments in Illinois

Category:Freeport, Illinois