WNWC (AM)

{{short description|Faith Radio station in Sun Prairie–Madison, Wisconsin}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WNWC

| logo = Faith Radio logo.png

| city = Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

| area = Madison, Wisconsin

| branding = Faith Radio

| airdate =

| frequency = 1190 kHz

| translator = 104.7 W284CW (Madison)

| repeater = 102.5 WNWC-HD2 (Madison)

| format = Christian talk and teaching

| power = 4,800 watts day
21 watts night

| class = D

| facility_id = 17381

| former_callsigns = WERU (1981–1995)
WMAD (1985–1997)

| sister_stations = WNWC-FM

| coordinates = {{coord|43|9|36.00|N|89|12|55.00|W|region:US_type:city}}

| owner = Northwestern Media

| licensee = University of Northwestern - St Paul

| affiliations = Northwestern Media's Faith Radio Network

| webcast =

| website = {{URL|http://myfaithradio.com}}

| licensing_authority= FCC

}}

WNWC (1190 kHz "Faith 1190 WNWC" or "Faith Radio") is an AM radio station in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, owned and operated by University of Northwestern – St. Paul. It is a non-profit, listener-supported radio station relying on donations from the local community throughout the year. It also broadcasts on an FM translator at 104.7 FM, covering Madison, Wisconsin and surrounding areas from a transmitter located south of Sun Prairie.

History

=Early success and financial trouble=

Erin Broadcasting Corporation, owned by Nancy and John McMahon, put the 1190 frequency on the air in Madison as WERU on January 13, 1982.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54162802/|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=January 13, 2020|title=WERU-AM debut is delayed|work=Wisconsin State Journal|page=2}} WERU, a daytime-only station, initially aired an adult standards format{{r|erin}} using the Music of Your Life syndicated format.{{r|quick}} Before signing on, the station scored a major coup when it lured market "morning institution" Jim Mader from WIBA (1310 AM).{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54162649/|access-date=June 25, 2020|page=1|title=Mader to leave WIBA|work=Wisconsin State Journal|date=December 5, 1981}} The company also purchased WMAD (92.1 FM) before WERU signed on.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54162473/|title=Erin purchases WMAD-FM|work=Wisconsin State Journal|date=August 23, 1981|access-date=June 25, 2020|page=7}} The station made an immediate impression in the Madison radio ratings, ranking third in the market in its first book.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54162942/|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=August 24, 1982|title=WERU/AM's big band sound brings quick success|work=The Capital Times|page=31|first=Debra|last=Carr}}

However, the 8.3 posted in its first year would be the high water mark for the frequency, as ratings fell every year in the 1980s after the station's debut.{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Duncan-American-Radio/Duncan-1975-1992/Madison.pdf|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=2004|title=Madison|work=Duncan's American Radio|first=James|last=Duncan|via=World Radio History}} Mader left in 1984 for WNLT (94.9 FM), a move that prompted a breach of contract lawsuit.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54163640/|date=September 10, 1984|page=25|work=The Capital Times|title=WERU sues Mader in contract dispute|access-date=June 25, 2020}}

Erin sold WERU and WMAD to Jay and Loretta Blackburn in 1985{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54163777/|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=January 10, 1985|title=Radio stations to be sold|work=Wisconsin State Journal|page=5}} for $2.4 million.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-01-14.pdf|page=191|work=Broadcasting|title=Changing Hands|date=January 14, 1985|access-date=June 25, 2020}} As part of an engineering overhaul, WERU kept its format but became WMAD, matching the FM.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54164105/|work=The Capital Times|date=March 8, 1985|access-date=June 25, 2020|first=Phil|last=Rosenthal|title=WMAD may rock again}} Ratings continued to slide despite the changes.{{r|duncan}} The Blackburns, however, had more pressing issues of a financial nature, including debts owed to the Internal Revenue Service.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54164584/|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=November 18, 1986|page=2|first=Brooks|last=Egerton|work=The Capital Times|title=WMAD recycles back to ex-owner}} After they could not meet their obligations to the original owners, the McMahons bought back WMAD-AM-FM for one dollar in November 1986.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54164435/|work=Wisconsin State Journal|page=1|title=Former owner to take over WMAD radio|first=Kris|last=Kodrich|date=November 18, 1986|access-date=June 25, 2020}}

=All-news and bank intervention=

In February 1989, WMAD went briefly off air to install new equipment. When it returned, it had shed its three live air staff and instituted a broader oldies format.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54164817/|access-date=June 25, 2020|title=WMAD-AM and listeners adjusting|page=5C|date=February 25, 1989|first=Don|last=Davies|work=Wisconsin State Journal}} Continued low ratings prompted the station to change again that September to the audio of CNN Headline News, with an assortment of weekend specialty shows including an afternoon big band show.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54164940/|date=September 11, 1989|title=WMAD-AM to try all-news format|first=Don|last=Davies|work=Wisconsin State Journal|access-date=June 25, 2020|page=5C}}

After several years, WMAD ran into financial trouble again. In 1991, McMahon surrendered the assets of WMAD-AM-FM to the Bank of Sun Prairie.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165159/|access-date=June 25, 2020|work=Wisconsin State Journal|title=Bank may take over WMAD operation|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165301/ 6B]|first=Patrice|last=Wendling|date=July 26, 1991}} Under the bank's ownership, in January 1992, WMAD returned to its adult standards format under the name "Memories 1190".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165346/|access-date=June 25, 2020|first=Pat|last=Simms|title=Back to basics|work=Wisconsin State Journal|page=1B, 1}} Five months later, however, on June 2, 1992,{{r|shock}} the bank opted to cease operating the stations.{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Lautenschlager|date=October 21, 1992|work=Wisconsin State Journal|page=8B|title=WMAD may return to the air|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165454/|access-date=June 25, 2020}} The move came as a shock to the employees of the two stations, particularly as three new staff had started at WMAD-AM-FM in the ten days preceding the closure, one of them the preceding day.{{r|shock}} One staffer, who called the move by the Bank of Sun Prairie "premeditated murder", claimed that a board member of the institution had compared the pair to a "stock that wasn't performing to our expectations" that they had sold.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1992/RR-1992-06-12.pdf|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=June 12, 1992|work=Radio & Records|title=Street Talk|page=44}} In a statement, the bank said it had only been operating the outlets while it tried to find a buyer.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54171165/|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=June 4, 1992|first=Ed|last=Treleven|work=Wisconsin State Journal|title=Slim chance of WMAD's return|page=1B}}

After the bank took the two stations silent, they were sold twice, first to Allen Shaw in October 1992{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1993/BC-1993-04-26.pdf|access-date=June 25, 2020|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=April 26, 1993|title=Changing Hands|page=54}} and then to Lee Leicinger, part-owner of WIBA-AM-FM; the FM station returned in June 1993,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165498/|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=June 26, 1993|title=WMAD-FM back on the air|first=Ed|last=Treleven|work=Wisconsin State Journal|page=1D}} and a month later, WMAD AM and its standards programming were reactivated.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165618/|title=WMAD back on air|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=July 22, 1993|work=Wisconsin State Journal|page=3F}}

=Point Communications sale and cluster spin-off=

The WIBA and WMAD stations were sold in 1995 to Point Communications, an investment firm from New York; Leicinger continued as manager.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165759/|access-date=June 25, 2020|first=Patricia|last=Simms|work=Wisconsin State Journal|date=April 7, 1995|title=New York firm buys WIBA, WMAD radio|page=8B}} A year later, Point announced its plans to merge with the three stations of Mid-Continent Broadcasting of Wisconsin. The combined firm could own six stations in Madison, and the two groups had seven. WMAD AM was immediately designated to be divested, as the weakest outlet in the combined cluster.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165985/|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54165899/ 2A]|date=March 28, 1996|work=Wisconsin State Journal|title=How will the merger affect what we hear?|first=Lee|last=Hawkins Jr.|access-date=June 25, 2020}} Northwestern College, which had maintained a presence on the FM band in Madison since 1973 with WNWC-FM, submitted an offer to buy the AM frequency.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54166043/|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=October 17, 1996|title=Company may buy WMAD-AM|first=Dave|last=Becker|page=1F|work=Wisconsin State Journal}}

File:WNWC AM 1190 FAITH RADIO.gif

Northwestern's $85,000{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-10-04.pdf|title=Transactions|work=Radio & Records|page=10|date=October 4, 1996|access-date=June 25, 2020}} purchase of WMAD closed on January 2, 1997. The college took over and renamed the station WNWC, initially simulcasting the FM but with plans to institute the Christian talk format heard today.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54166131/|access-date=June 25, 2020|date=February 14, 1997|title=New letters, new sound|work=Wisconsin State Journal|page=1C}}

In 2007, Northwestern filed for and was approved to add nighttime operation to WNWC, using 21 watts.{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101177859&formid=301&fac_num=17381|work=FCC|title= BP - 20070321ABU Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station — WNWC (AM)|date=March 21, 2007|access-date=June 25, 2020}}

Programming

WNWC, like Northwestern's other AM stations, airs its Faith Radio Christian talk and teaching format, which is delivered from Northwestern Media's studio base in Minneapolis. Programs on Faith Radio include Turning Point with David Jeremiah; Focus on the Family; Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey; Insight for Living with Chuck Swindoll; Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram; In Touch with Charles Stanley; and others.{{cite web|url=http://myfaithradio.com/programs|title=Programs|work=Faith Radio|access-date=June 25, 2020}}