WKZV (FM)
{{short description|K-Love radio station in Tybee Island–Savannah, Georgia}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2010}}
{{Infobox radio station
| logo = KLOVE 2014.svg
| logo_size =
| name = WKZV
| city = Tybee Island, Georgia
| area = Savannah, Georgia
Hilton Head, South Carolina
| branding = K-Love
| frequency = 102.1 MHz
| airdate = October 20, 1971 (as WZAT)
| format = Contemporary Christian
| erp = 98,000 watts
| haat = 404.9 meters (1328 ft)
| class = C0
| facility_id = 25549
| callsign_meaning = W K-Love ZaVannah (Z is a substitute for a S)
| former_callsigns = WZAT (1971–2019)
| affiliations = K-Love
| owner = Educational Media Foundation
| licensee =
| sister_stations =
| webcast = [http://www.klove.com/listen/player/ Listen Live]
| website = [http://www.klove.com/ klove.com]
}}
WKZV (102.1 MHz) is a non-commercial Christian FM radio station licensed to Tybee Island, Georgia. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation, and serves the Savannah metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located west of the city in unincorporated Chatham County.
History
On October 20, 1971, WZAT signed on.[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1972/B-1%20YB%201972%20All-11.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1972 page B-55] It was a completely automated Top 40/CHR station except for the locally popular "Breakfast With Burl" program, which was live. Airstaff was gradually added the rest of the day. Between a strong AM station, AM 1400 WSGA, and a slightly lighter top 40 station, FM 95.5 WSGF, a real format war ensued. By 1986, 95SGF had become AOR/CR outlet WIXV, and in 1982, AM 1400 moved out of the format as younger listeners preferred FM radio. In the 1980s to early-1990s, "Z102" was the dominant (and often only) Top 40 station in Savannah. Stations like 99.7 WHTK, Kiss 98.7, Wave 97, and Blu 92 all tried and (mostly) failed in taking on the popular Z102.
In August 1993, the station was sold and flipped to modern rock as "WZAT (or later, Z102) - Savannah's Rock and Roll Radio." Phoenix Media Partners sold the station to Cumulus in 1997. Upon the sale to Cumulus, the station repositioned as Top 40. The station has since been Top 40 and Top 40/Hot AC hybrid twice since then. It flipped to Hot AC on March 11, 2008. The next day, the station revealed its new name and positioner, which was "Mix 102-1 - The Best Mix of Music." On October 1, 2010 WZAT began stunting with sports highlights in preparation of a new format. On October 4, 2010, 102.1 became a sports talk station carrying ESPN Radio. On January 2, 2013, 102.1 switched to CBS Sports Radio, since Cumulus owns an interest in the network.
On August 15, 2014, WZAT flipped to a country music format branded as Nash Icon 102.1. As part of the company's Nash FM brand, the Nash Icon format is designed to be a slightly older country sound, with an emphasis on music by veteran country acts alongside newer hit songs. WZAT was, along with co-owned W255CJ Atlanta, one of the first two stations to adopt the format.{{cite news|title=Oldies 98.9 becomes older-skewing country NASH Icon 98.9|url=http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2014/08/15/oldies-98-9-becomes-older-skewing-country-nash-icons-98-9/|access-date=16 August 2014|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|agency=Cox Media Group|date=15 August 2014}}{{cite web|title=Nash Icons launches across the country|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/89681/cumulus-prepping-nash-icons-format-launch/|website=Radio Insight|date=15 August 2014 |access-date=16 August 2014}}{{cite magazine|title=Wanted for Radio: More Country Greats|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-615/6099350/nash-icons-country-music-label-big-machine-cumulus|magazine=Billboard|access-date=16 August 2014}}
On March 24, 2017, after stunting with songs with the word "sound" in their names, WZAT returned to Hot AC as "102.1 The Sound". Positioning itself between WAEV and WYKZ, the move brings the frequency close to its longtime heritage as Z102. The syndicated "Bert Show" was added for morning & "The Adam Bomb Show" for afternoons drive time.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/117122/102-1-sound-launches-savannah/ "102.1 The Sound" Launches in Savannah]
On February 13, 2019, Cumulus Media announced it would sell six stations, including WZAT, to the Educational Media Foundation for $103.5 million. Following the consummation of the sale on May 31, 2019, the station flipped to their K-Love network. With the change, WZAT changed its call letters to WKZV on June 5, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/174511/cumulus-sells-six-to-emf-swaps-with-entercom-in-new-york-indianapolis/|title=Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis|date=2019-02-13|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-13}}{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/177221/emf-sets-new-call-letters-for-cumulus-aloha-acquisitions-wrqx-moves-to/|title=EMF Sets New Call Letters For Cumulus/Aloha Acquisitions; WRQX Moves To…|last=Venta|first=Lance|publisher=radioinsight|date=May 27, 2019|access-date=May 28, 2019}}
Former logo
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{portal|Radio|Georgia (U.S. state)}}
- {{FM station data|25549|WKZV}}
{{K-LOVE}}
{{Savannah Radio}}
{{Religious Radio Stations in Georgia}}
{{coord|32.058|N|81.338|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}
Category:Radio stations established in 1971
Category:1971 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Educational Media Foundation radio stations