WSPL
WSPL (1250 AM) is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Streator, Illinois. The station is owned by Studstill Media and the broadcast license is held by Mendota Broadcasting, Inc.
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| Broadcast area | La Salle/Peru, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1250 kHz |
| Branding | 1250 WSPL |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Full Service/ Adult standards |
| Affiliations | Cumulus Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WALS, WBZG, WGLC-FM, WIVQ, WSTQ, WYYS | |
| History | |
First air date | September 26, 1953 (as WIZZ)[1] |
Former call signs | WIZZ (1953-2001)[2] |
Call sign meaning | Where Streator People Listen |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 63535 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 500 watts (day) 64 watts (night) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°09′30″N 88°50′13″W |
| Translator(s) | 98.5 W253BX (Streator) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wsplradio.com |
The station, established in 1953 as "WIZZ", was assigned the call sign "WSPL" by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on January 5, 2001.[1][2]
Programming

WSPL airs an adult standards format.[3][4] WSPL previously broadcast a news/talk radio format.[5] Local programming on WSPL includes a morning drive show, and sports with Illinois Hall of Fame Broadcaster "Big Al" Hauessler, along with a tradio show called The Swap Shop. Sports broadcasts include Streator Township High School football and, up until recently, simulcasts of Chicago White Sox baseball and Chicago Bulls basketball.[6]
On January 24, 2023, it was announced that Studstill Media had sold WSPL, along with its sister stations, to Shaw Media in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for a total of $1.8 million. The sale is presently under FCC review with anticipation of being completed later in the year.[7]
Alumni
"Cousin Ed" Nowotarski hosted "Polka Party", a live polka music program, on WSPL for 34 years before retiring from broadcasting in November 2001.[8] Nowotarski died in January 2004.[9]
References
- "Directory of AM and FM Stations and Market Data for the United States". 1955 Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1955. p. 133.
- "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Media Bureau. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- "", AM 1250 WSPL. Accessed March 17, 2022
- WSPL Arbitron Station Information Profile, Nielsen Audio. Accessed November 19, 2015
- "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- "On-Air Personalities". WSPL AM 1250. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- Shaw Local News Network. "Studstill announces sale of 8 radio stations to Shaw Media". Shaw Local. Shaw Media Local.
- "Cousin Ed's last 'Polka Party'". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, IL. November 9, 2001. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- "Cousin Ed remembered for music". The Daily Times. Ottawa, IL. January 20, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
External links
- WSPL official website
- WSPL in the FCC AM station database
- WSPL on Radio-Locator
- WSPL in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W253BX in the FCC FM station database
- W253BX on Radio-Locator
