WZRL

{{short description|Urban contemporary radio station in Indianapolis}}

{{for|the Newton Grove, South Carolina, radio station that held the call sign WZRL at 90.7 FM from 2006 to 2007|WYBJ}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WZRL

| logo = WZRL Real98.3 logo.png

| logo_upright = .8

| city = Plainfield, Indiana

| country = US

| area = Indianapolis metropolitan area

| frequency = {{frequency|98.3|MHz}} {{HD Radio}}

| branding = Real 98-3

| language = English

| format = Urban contemporary

| affiliations = Premiere Networks

| owner = iHeartMedia

| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC

| sister_stations = {{hlist|WFBQ|WNDE|WOLT|W248AW}}

| airdate = {{start date and age|1964|8|16|p=y}}

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WJMK (1964–1974)|WART-FM (1974–1980)|WXIR (1980–2003)|WRDZ-FM (2003–2015)|WUBG (2015–2016)}}

| callsign_meaning = "Real"

| licensing_authority = FCC

| facility_id = 54705

| class = A

| erp = {{val|3000|u=watts|fmt=commas}}

| haat = {{convert|91|m|ft|sp=us}}

| coordinates = {{coord|39|45|33|N| 86|22|30|W|region:US-IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| webcast = {{iHeartRadio|6944}}

| website = {{URL|https://real983.iheart.com/}}

}}

WZRL (98.3 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Plainfield, Indiana, serving the Indianapolis metropolitan area. It broadcasts an urban contemporary format and is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. The WZRL broadcast license is held by iHM Licenses, LLC.{{cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WZRL |title=WZRL Facility Record |work=Federal Communications Commission }} WZRL carries The Breakfast Club morning drive time show from co-owned WWPR-FM in New York City. The studios are located on Fall Creek Road on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

WZRL has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 3,000 watts, and broadcasts from a tower in Avon. It broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format.http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=41 HD Radio Guide for Indianapolis

History

=Early years (1964–1980)=

In 1964, James Thomas Barlow was interested in building a radio station in the Indianapolis media market.{{cite web |url=http://www.barlowgenealogy.com/Germanna/enoch.html |title=Descendants of Enoch Barlow |publisher=Barlow Genealogy |access-date=November 8, 2013}} In March of that year, he received a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission to build a 3,000-watt radio station in Plainfield.{{cite web |url=http://indystar.newspapers.com/newspage/105457554/ |title=The Indianapolis Star |date=March 20, 1964 |access-date=November 4, 2015 |page=10}}

On August 16, 1964, the station signed on as WJMK. It broadcast a variety.{{cite web |url=http://indianaradio.net/stations/54705.html |title=WUBG |publisher=The Indiana Radio Archive |access-date=November 8, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://indystar.newspapers.com/newspage/105355557/ |title=The Indianapolis Star |date=August 13, 1964 |access-date=November 4, 2015 |page=16}} It was the first station in Hendricks County. In August 1964, it was one of the four FM stations in the Indianapolis area that broadcast in stereo.{{cite web |url=http://indystar.newspapers.com/newspage/105361142/ |title=The Indianapolis Star |date=August 31, 1964 |access-date=November 4, 2015 |page=25}}

In 1974, the station was sold to A&R Broadcasting, Inc. and changed its call sign to WART-FM.

=Christian (1980–2003)=

In 1980, A&R Broadcasting sold the station to Radio One Five Hundred Inc. (the owner of WBRI) for $500,000.{{cite web |url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/1980-05-26-BC.pdf |title=Broadcasting |date=May 26, 1980 |access-date=July 19, 2015 |page=41}} The new owners changed its format to Christian radio.{{cite book | editor1-last=Bodenhamer | editor1-first=David | editor2-last=Barrows | editor2-first=Robert | title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis | year=1994 | publisher=Indiana University Press | location=Bloomington, Indiana | pages=1392–1393 | isbn=0-253-31222-1 | id={{LCC|F534.1357E63}}}} On December 15, it changed the call sign to WXIR.{{cite web |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=54705&Callsign=WZRL |title=WZRL Call Sign History |work=Federal Communications Commission}}

=Radio Disney (2003–2015)=

Image:WRDZ-FM Radio Disney 98.3.png

On March 5, 2003, WXIR was sold to ABC Radio (a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) for $5.75 million.{{cite web|title=Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=100632668&qnum=5040©num=1&exhcnum=1|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=July 19, 2015|date=May 5, 2003}}{{cite news |first=Andrea Muirragui |last=Davis |work=Indianapolis Business Journal |title=Can Mickey sell ads? Radio Disney targets Indy, but advertisers might balk at its young demographic |url= |date=June 2, 2003 |access-date=}}{{cite news |first=Chris |last=O'Malley |work=Indianapolis Business Journal |title=Fishers to get Christian station as radio format grows in Indy |url=http://www.ibj.com/fishers-to-get-christian-radio-station-as-format-grows-in-indy/PARAMS/article/45713 |date=January 24, 2014 |access-date=June 29, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.indianaradio.net/archive/031803.html |title=Indiana RadioWatch: March 18, 2003 |publisher=The Indiana Radio Archive |date=March 18, 2003 |access-date=July 19, 2015}} The application{{cite web|title=Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=632668&Service=FM&Form_id=314&Facility_id=54705|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=July 19, 2015|date=March 20, 2003}} was accepted for Filing on March 20, and approved by the Federal Communications Commission on May 6.{{cite web|title=Assignment of License|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=632668|work=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=July 19, 2015|date=May 6, 2003}} The sale was consummated on July 1, and the station became the Radio Disney affiliate for the Indianapolis metropolitan area.{{cite news |work=Main Street Marketing & Promotion |title=The Main Street Communicator Network |url=http://www.main-st.net/tattlers/030703.pdf |date=July 4, 2003 |access-date=July 19, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2003/RR-2003-05-30.pdf |title=Radio & Records |date=May 30, 2003 |access-date=July 19, 2015 |page=21 (p. 23 on PDF)}} On August 19, Disney changed the call sign to WRDZ-FM.

In 2004, WRDZ-FM started to broadcast in the HD Radio format{{cite web |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1035116 |title=WRDZ-FM Digital Notification |work=Federal Communications Commission }} and since then, is licensed to broadcast under that format.{{cite web |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/sta_det.pl?Facility_id=54705 |title=FCC status page for WZRL |work=Federal Communications Commission}}

On August 13, 2014, it was announced that Radio Disney planned to sell all of its remaining owned-and-operated stations (including WRDZ-FM and with the lone exception of KDIS in Los Angeles) to focus on the network's programming, co-branded events, and digital outlets.{{cite news |first=Anthony |last=Schoettle |work=Indianapolis Business Journal |title=Demise of Radio Disney causing static; local station in play |url=http://www.ibj.com/articles/49162-demise-of-radio-disney-causing-static-local-station-in-play |date=August 23, 2014 |access-date=September 9, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Lafayette|first=Jon|title=Exclusive: Radio Disney Moving Off Air to Digital|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/exclusive-radio-disney-moving-air-digital/133166|access-date=August 13, 2014|date=August 13, 2014|website=Broadcasting & Cable}}{{cite magazine|title=Radio Disney to Sell the Majority of Its Stations|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6214509/radio-disney-to-sell-the-majority-of-its-stations|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 13, 2014|date=August 13, 2014|first=Phil|last=Gallo}} Disney originally planned to temporarily shut down the stations in question on September 26.{{cite web |url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/89717/radio-disney-to-sell-all-but-one-station/ |title=Radio Disney To Sell All But One Station |date=August 13, 2014 |access-date=August 13, 2014 |last=Venta |first=Lance |website=RadioInsight}} However, Disney changed their plans at the last minute, and all stations would remain on the air, continuing to broadcast Radio Disney programming until each were sold.{{cite web|title=NERW Extra: No Signoffs for Disney AMs|url=http://www.fybush.com/nerw-20140926/|website=Northeast Radio Watch |date=September 26, 2014 |access-date=September 27, 2014 |first=Scott |last=Fybush}}

=Country (2015–2016)=

As of April 2015, rumors abounded online that iHeartMedia would buy the station, the last remaining FM station in Radio Disney's portfolio, and flip it to Country as "Big 98.3", matching similar stations in Pittsburgh and Chicago under the branding. These rumors only heated up as the company registered the domain Big983Indy.com the same month.{{cite web |url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/92679/iheart-buying-disney-fm/ |title=Big 98.3 Indianapolis Debuts |date=July 17, 2015 |access-date=July 17, 2015 |last=Venta |first=Lance |website=RadioInsight}} The rumors were confirmed on May 29, on that day, Radio Disney Group (the Disney subsidiary that held the station's license) filed an application to sell WRDZ-FM to iHeartMedia's Capstar TX LLC.{{cite web|title=Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1677592&Service=FM&Form_id=314&Facility_id=54705|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=May 29, 2015|date=May 29, 2015}} iHeartMedia bought WRDZ-FM (and KWDZ) for $1.95 million and planned to operate the station under a local marketing agreement (which did not happen).{{cite web|title=Local Programming and Marketing Agreement|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101677592&qnum=5160©num=1&exhcnum=1|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=May 29, 2015|date=May 29, 2015}}{{cite web |work=Country Aircheck |title=iHeartMedia To Acquire Indianapolis Station |url=https://www.countryaircheck.com/art/34475 |access-date=July 18, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/indy-adds-third-country-station/article_1ce86b10-2f1e-11e5-bac4-27f6d72abfdc.html |title=Indy Adds Third Country Station. |publisher=Inside Radio |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015}} The sale was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on July 14.{{cite web|title=Assignment of License|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1677592|work=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=July 15, 2015|date=July 14, 2015}} The transaction was completed on July 17.{{cite web|title=Consummation Notice|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1683333&Service=FM&Form_id=905&Facility_id=54705|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=July 20, 2015|date=July 20, 2015}} and the call sign were changed to WUBG.

On July 17, at 4:00 p.m., the station flipped to the country music, initiating a three-way battle with WFMS and WLHK.{{cite news |first=Mason |last=King |work=Indianapolis Business Journal |title=New country station rambling toward Indy airwaves |url=http://www.ibj.com/articles/53428-new-country-station-rambling-toward-indy-airwaves |date=June 1, 2015 |access-date=June 1, 2015}}{{cite news |work=Indianapolis Business Journal |title=Indy market's third country radio station debuts |url=http://www.ibj.com/articles/54094-indy-markets-third-country-radio-station-debuts |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2015}}{{cite web |work=Country Aircheck |title=iHeartMedia Flips WRDZ/Indianapolis To Country |url=https://www.countryaircheck.com/art/38385 |access-date=July 21, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.radioink.com/article.asp?id=2952322&spid=24698 |title=Indy Gains 3rd Country Station |publisher=Radio Ink |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818074152/http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2952322&spid=24698 |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} Since September, WUBG aired the Premiere Networks' syndicated program Bobby Bones Show in morning drive.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/Big983/posts/939820099432247 |title=Big 98.3 (official Facebook account) |publisher=Facebook |date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=September 6, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Twitter: Bobby Bones Show (verified account)|url=https://twitter.com/bobbybonesshow/status/641194541056299009|date=September 8, 2015|access-date=September 8, 2015}} Some websites specializing in media reported that the program was originally scheduled to begin airing on August 16. Despite its best efforts, WUBG failed to take many listeners away from either WLHK or WFMS; in the September 2016 Nielsen Audio ratings report (its last as "Big"), WUBG had just a 1.0 share of the market, relatively minute compared to WFMS’ 6.0 and WLHK's 4.7.

=Urban (2016–present)=

On October 2, 2016, WUBG began stunting with a promotion liner about a change coming the next day at noon on a continuous loop. At the promised time, WUBG flipped to urban, branded as "Real 98-3", taking direct aim at WHHH. "Real" launched with 10,000 'joints' in a row, with the first song being "For Free" by DJ Khaled and Drake. iHeartMedia had applied for the callsign WZRL for the station on the 2nd; the callsign change was implemented two days later on the 4th. The station began airing The Breakfast Club in mornings starting November 3, other on-air personalities are to be announced.[https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/108511/big-98-3-gone-as-a-real-change-comes-to-indianapolis/ Real 98.3 Brings an Urban Battle to Indianapolis][http://formatchange.com/wubg-becomes-real-98-3/ WUBG Becomes Real 98.3]

Programming

In the beginnings, the station (as WJMK) broadcast music and news, with time given to sports and local affairs. The hour of programming was from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays and from 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

From July 1, 2003, until July 17, 2015, WZRL (as WRDZ-FM) carried programming from the Radio Disney network, which broadcast a contemporary hit radio music format{{cite web|url=http://www.disneyabctv.com/division/index_radio.shtml |title=Radio Disney |work=Disney–ABC Television Group – Corporate & Press Information |access-date=July 18, 2015 |via=Wayback Machine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009011939/http://www.disneyabctv.com/division/index_radio.shtml |archive-date=October 9, 2014}} except weekdays at noon (12:00–1:00 p.m.) when the format changed to children's music.{{cite web |url=http://www.radioink.com/article.asp?id=2107270&spid=24698 |title=Radio Disney Set to Debut Format for Kids 2-7 |publisher=Radio Ink |date=February 10, 2011 |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813090915/http://www.radioink.com/article.asp?id=2107270&spid=24698 |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}} In addition, WRDZ-FM locally produced a public affair show called Kids Concern Show, which aired at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings.{{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Matt |url=http://www.uwci.org/news/radio-disney-kids-concern-show-features-united-way |title=Radio Disney show features United Way |work=United Way of Central Indiana |date=January 8, 2014 |access-date=August 12, 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/indyhumane/posts/10153683750430521 |title=Humane Society of Indianapolis (official Facebook account) |publisher=Facebook |date=January 3, 2014 |access-date=August 12, 2014}} As of 2014, WRDZ-FM was the last Radio Disney station broadcasting on FM.

References

External links

{{officialwebsite|https://real983.iheart.com/|Real 98-3}}
[http://indianaradio.net/stations/54705.html The Indiana Radio Archive - WUBG]
{{FM station data|54705|WZRL}}
{{REC US|1=54705|2=WZRL}}

Category:1964 establishments in Indiana

Category:IHeartMedia radio stations

Category:Radio stations established in 1964

ZRL

Category:Urban contemporary radio stations in the United States