WFUZ (1240 kHz) is an AM radio station in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It simulcasts the classic rock radio format of WEZX in Scranton, filling in the gaps in WEZX's signal outside Lackawanna County. It is owned by Times-Shamrock Communications of Scranton.
History
WFUZ is the oldest radio station in northeast Pennsylvania, founded as WBAX on April 29, 1922[3] by John H. Stenger Jr. WFUZ is also the fifth-oldest station in Pennsylvania.[3] WBAX originally broadcast on a frequency of 833 kHz, the common local broadcast frequency used in 1922.[4] By 1925, the station changed frequency to 1170 kHz. In 1928, WBAX changed frequencies to 1200 kHz, which it shared with Wilkes-Barre's other station, WBRE.[5] The time-sharing arrangement between WBAX and WBRE ceased by 1930 when WBAX moved to 1210 kHz and WBRE moved to 1310 kHz. WBAX stayed at 1210 kHz until the great nationwide frequency reassignment mandated by the Federal government took place in 1941 moving the station to its current dial position of 1240 kHz.[6] WBAX was an affiliate of the Mutual radio network during its early history[7] and for a period of time in the 1970s and 1980s was owned by Merv Griffin Group Radio.
In 1994, the Lynett family of Scranton, publishers of The Scranton Times (now The Times-Tribune), bought WBAX and turned it into a full simulcast of WEJL. Although WEJL's daytime signal decently covers Wilkes-Barre, much of the southern part of the market (for instance, Hazleton) gets only a grade B signal due to the area's rugged terrain. At night, WEJL must power down to 32 watts, effectively limiting its nighttime coverage to Lackawanna County.
The station changed its call sign to WQFM on October 1, 2018, then to WFUZ on December 28, 2020.
As of December 2021, WFUZ switched to a simulcast of classic rock-formatted WEZX 106.9 FM Scranton.
References
- ^ "AM Station WFUZ - FCC Public Inspection File".
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WFUZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ a b United States Pioneer Broadcast Service Stations: Oldest Surviving Broadcasting Stations in the United States
- ^ U. S. Radio Stations as of June 30, 1923
- ^ U. S. Radio Stations as of June 30, 1928
- ^ U. S. AM Stations as of 1942
- ^ AM Network-Affiliated AM Radio Stations, 1949
External links
- FCC History Cards for WFUZ (covering 1927-1981 as WBAX)
- WFUZ official website
- WFUZ in the FCC AM station database
- WFUZ in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W241BB in the FCC FM station database
- W241BB at FCCdata.org
- W295CV in the FCC FM station database
- W295CV at FCCdata.org