WZNZ

Infobox Radio station
name = WZNZ


city = Jacksonville, Florida
area = Jacksonville, Florida
branding = "Queen of Peace Radio"
slogan = "Radio for Your Soul!"
frequency = 1460 (kHz)
airdate =
format = Catholic
power = 5,000 watts (unlimited)
class = B
facility_id = 51976
coordinates = coord|30|19|40|N|81|44|49|W
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = WFYV (12/26/87-07/05/92) WZZN (07/05/92-09/01/92)
affiliations =
owner = Queen of Peace Radio, Inc.
licensee =
sister_stations = WQOP
webcast = [http://qopradio.miriamtech.net:8000/live.mp3.m3u Listen Live]
website = http://www.qopradio.com/

WZNZ (1460 AM, "Queen of Peace Radio") is an American radio station licensed to serve Jacksonville, Florida. The station is owned by Queen of Peace Radio, Inc., and broadcasts a Catholic radio format.

History

In the late 1980s WZNZ was affiliated with Z-ROCK, a now-defunct network that aired a "Heavy Metal" music format.Fact|date=July 2008

From 1991 to 1997, WZNZ operated with the call letters WFYV and was a news station, broadcasting CNN programming. Prior to that it simulcast WFYV-FM ("Rock 105").Fact|date=July 2008

In 1996, this station was one of six stations in the Paxson Communications Jacksonville station group. [cite news |work=The Florida Times-Union |title=Paxson Communications Co. Buys Another Jacksonville, Fla., Station |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6385357_ITM |quote=West Palm Beach-based Paxson already owns WPLA/93.3, WROO/107.3, WFSJ-FM/97.9, WNZS (AM)/930 and WZNZ (AM)/1460 in Jacksonville. |date=1996-09-13]

In September 1997, Paxson Jacksonville License, L.P., received a license to operate the station as WZNZ to serve the Jacksonville, Florida area.cite web |title=REPORT NO. 44078 |url=http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Public_Notices/Brdcst_Actions/ac970917.txt |work=FCC Broadcast Actions |accessdate=2008-06-03 |date=1997-09-17] The station was on the air as early as February.cite news |work=Jacksonville Business Journal |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/1997/02/10/story7.html |title=JBJ offers new services to readers |accessdate=2008-06-03 |date=1997-02-07]

As of January 1998, the station was owned or operated by Clear Channel Radiocite news |work=Jacksonville Business Journal |title=Jacksonville radio station changes from talk to rock |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/1998/01/19/daily1.html |date=1998-01-19 |accessdate=2008-06-03]

In 1999, Concord Media, Inc. took over the station from Clear Channel Radio.cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Public_Notices/Brdcst_Actions/ac990624.txt |work=FCC Broadcast Actions |title=Report No. 44515 |accessdate=2008-06-03 |date=1999-06-24]

In 2001, the Concord Media Group-owned switched from a Contemporary Christian music format to a business-talk format.cite news |title=WZNZ debuts business talk format |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2001/01/01/daily16.html |work=Jacksonville Business Journal |date=2001-01-05 |accessdate=2008-06-03]

In 2003, Salem Communications purchased the station from Concord Media Group as part of a four-station deal valued at $9.25 million. [cite news |work=Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News |title=Firm to Buy Four Jacksonville, Fla., Radio Stations |date=2003-02-13 |first=Mark |last=Basch |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7980952_ITM |quote=Salem Communications Corp. filed an application Monday with the Federal Communications Commission to acquire WBGB (106.5 FM), WJGR (1320 AM), WZAZ (1400 AM) and WZNZ (1460 AM) for $9.25 million.] It retained the existing format.cite news |work=Jacksonville Business Journal |title=Radio Market Shifting |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2003/08/25/daily21.html |last=Stuart |first=Devan |date=2003-08-27 |accessdate=2008-06-03] It switched to a sports talk format known as "Rumble 1460". [cite news |work=Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News |title=Jacksonville, Fla., to Gain Third Sports Radio Station |date=2003-04-17 |first=Mark |last=Basch |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6089012_ITM |quote= Jacksonville already has WFXJ (930 AM), a Fox Sports affiliate owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc., and WZNZ (1460 AM), an ESPN affiliate.] As sports talk station, WZNZ aired Jacksonville University baseball games as well as "Mike and Mike in the Mornings," "The Real Deal Show," "The Dan Patrick Show," and "The Frank Frangie Show." [cite news |date=2005-03-10 |work=CBS College Sports |url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/031005abq.html |title=Baseball to Air on ESPN 1460 and 1320, The Patriot |quote=Jacksonville University has signed a contract with Salem Communications to broadcast more than 25 Dolphins baseball games live on Jacksonville's ESPN 1460 (WZNZ) and AM 1320, The Patriot (WJGR), during the 2005 season. The broadcast schedule includes 26 regular-season games, in addition to all Atlantic Sun Conference and NCAA postseason action. [...] ESPN 1460 was also home to Mike and Mike in the Mornings, The Real Deal Show, The Dan Patrick Show, and The Frank Frangie Show.]

In December 2006, Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting purchased the station as part of a three-station deal valued at $2.8 million. [cite news |work=Business Wire |title=Salem Communications Agrees to Sell Radio Stations in Jacksonville, Fla. |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-151566445.html |quote=Salem Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:SALM), a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider and magazine publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values, today announced it has entered into an agreement to sell WZAZ (1400 AM), WJGR (1320 AM) and WZNZ (1460 AM) serving the Jacksonville, Florida market to Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corporation for $2.8 million. |date=2006-09-18] cite news |work=Jacksonville Business Journal |title=Host and station a match made in heaven |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2007/08/06/story4.html |last=Witkowski |first=Rachel |date=2007-08-03 |accessdate=2008-06-03] and referred to its programming as "The River of Life". The programming consisted of a mixture of local and syndicated religious oriented programming. [cite news |work=Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, FL) |title=Cox Radio to move AM offerings to WBGB-FM |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-151721179.html |quote=The other two stations Chesapeake bought -- WZAZ (1400 AM) and WZNZ (1460 AM) -- will not see major changes, Hoot said. |first=Timothy J. |last=Gibbons |date=2006-09-21] The station remained an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves radio network, a Major League Baseball affiliation that was leftover from the days when the station was a sports radio station. As of July 2008, the former website is still available ( [http://www.1460theriver.com 1460theriver.com] ).

WZNZ broadcast religious programming from April 2007 to January 2008, and prior to that it was a sports station affiliated with ESPN sports radio. It had a mix of local and national sports talk shows during this period.Fact|date=July 2008

As of January 2008, the station was operated by Andy Johnson.cite web |url=http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2008/01/jacksonville-gets-progressive.html |title=Jacksonville gets progressive |accessdate=2008-06-03] Failed verification|date=July 2008 It broadcasts a mix of liberal, moderate, and conservative talk shows and is affiliated with CBS. It is also affiliated with national talk show hosts Ed Schultz (Jones Radio Network), Thom Hartmann (Air America Radio), and Lou Dobbs (United Stations). It also airs various Westwood One programs, including "Morning In America" with Jim Bohannon, "The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas", and "Beatle Brunch".Fact|date=July 2008

In May 2008, the transfer of the license from Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting to Queen of Peace Radio, Inc. was announced in accordance with FCC regulations.cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2008/db0508/DOC-282000A2.txt |title=REPORT NO. 26732 |work=FCC Broadcast Applications |date=2008-05-08 |accessdate=2008-06-03] The assignment of license was approved on July 14, 2008, and the deal was consummated on July 29, 2008. [cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BAL-20080505ACE) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1252979 |date=2008-07-29]

Until July 30, 2008, WZNZ was a "progressive" talk show format station, carrying a mix of syndicated and local programming. [http://radiotime.com/station/s_24396/WZNZ.aspx WZNZ] , Radio Time, accessed 2008-06-03]

WZNZ featured live, local issues-driven talk programming in the Jacksonville radio market. It served as a community sounding board with hosts such as Andy Johnson, a local talk radio fixture who has been on the air in the market for twenty years. Other hosts such as Dave Siebert, Ramon Day, Joe Lyles, Ed Banker, and Paul Porter were also featured in the daily weekday broadcast lineup, and the topics of discussion varied from local issues to national interests.

WZNZ was also home to unique music programs, especially during the weekends. All shows are locally produced in-house and include "Americana Saturday Night" with host Big Cosmo, "Progressive Roots" featuring politically driven folk music of the past and present hosted by Ken Connors and Ce Ce Sevrin, and "I, The Indie Music Show", hosted by John Maycumber, which was an eclectic mix of punk and electronica. Failed verification|date=July 2008

On July 30, 2008, most of the news and talk programming moved to sister station WBOB after the sale of the station to Queen of Peace Radio was consummated on July 29, 2008.

References

External links

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