WFGL
Encyclopedia
WFGL is a radio station
broadcasting a Christian radio
format and licensed to Fitchburg, Massachusetts
, USA. The station is currently owned by Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa.
included one broadcast tower on Lunenburg Street near the current intersection of John Fitch Highway. The station had a power output of 1,000 watts. Several years later, new studios were constructed in a renovated townhouse at 170 Prichard Street, which was then renamed Broadcast House. A new four-tower transmitter was constructed atop Alpine Hill and the station's dial position was changed to 960 AM.
In 1960, the station was granted a license for FM station WFGM-FM (104.5), which later became WBNE, WFMP and eventually WXLO
. On November 1, 1962, the stations were sold to local businessman George Chatfield who in turn acquired a local newspaper, The Montachusett Review. The AM call letters were changed to WFGL in 1967. WFMP-FM became popular for featuring country music
in the 1970s featuring the legendary Gene LaVerne and Dave Brown. In 1979 both stations were sold to Montachusett Broadcasting. During this time period it featured the on-air talents of Dave Svens, Scott May, Paul Belfay, Greg Vine, Gail Dussault and Al Brodie, among others. WFGL was granted a power increase to 2,500 watts in 1984.
In 1991, the station was renamed to WXLO, and programming was converted to a simulcast of WXLO-FM. Soon afterward, the station went silent; during the silent period, the WFGL callsign was reinstated. The station was then sold, and resumed broadcasting in October 1994 with the current Christian format.
In 2001, the studios moved to their current location in a refurbished brick mill building.
format, once again featuring popular vocalists and instrumentals from the 1930s through 1960s, while also serving as a full service outlet carrying live local sports and news. At this time the station was an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network
.
Currently, WFGL airs Christian teaching programs, and contemporary Praise and Worship music.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
format and licensed to Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
, USA. The station is currently owned by Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa.
History
The station went on the air February 15, 1950 as WFGM at 1580 AM. WFGM's original studios were located on the third floor of a downtown building at the corner of Main and Prichard Streets in Fitchburg. The original transmitterTransmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
included one broadcast tower on Lunenburg Street near the current intersection of John Fitch Highway. The station had a power output of 1,000 watts. Several years later, new studios were constructed in a renovated townhouse at 170 Prichard Street, which was then renamed Broadcast House. A new four-tower transmitter was constructed atop Alpine Hill and the station's dial position was changed to 960 AM.
In 1960, the station was granted a license for FM station WFGM-FM (104.5), which later became WBNE, WFMP and eventually WXLO
WXLO
WXLO is a Hot Adult Contemporary radio station that serves the Worcester, Massachusetts market, broadcasting on the FM band at a frequency of 104.5 MHz. The station is licensed in Fitchburg, Massachusetts to Cumulus Media...
. On November 1, 1962, the stations were sold to local businessman George Chatfield who in turn acquired a local newspaper, The Montachusett Review. The AM call letters were changed to WFGL in 1967. WFMP-FM became popular for featuring country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
in the 1970s featuring the legendary Gene LaVerne and Dave Brown. In 1979 both stations were sold to Montachusett Broadcasting. During this time period it featured the on-air talents of Dave Svens, Scott May, Paul Belfay, Greg Vine, Gail Dussault and Al Brodie, among others. WFGL was granted a power increase to 2,500 watts in 1984.
In 1991, the station was renamed to WXLO, and programming was converted to a simulcast of WXLO-FM. Soon afterward, the station went silent; during the silent period, the WFGL callsign was reinstated. The station was then sold, and resumed broadcasting in October 1994 with the current Christian format.
In 2001, the studios moved to their current location in a refurbished brick mill building.
Programming
Throughout its initial years WFGM and WFGL were considered full service radio stations, providing news and current affairs programming to the Fitchburg area communities. Among the programs carried was Frankly Speaking, a telephone call-in talk program that ran in various forms for over thirty years. The station also broadcast a middle of the road music format, featuring popular vocalists of the time. As did many radio stations, in the 1980s the music format shifted to what became known as Adult Contemporary. The station also featured many popular local personalities including Tal Hood, Ed Broughey, Dick Ziegler and, in the earlier years part-timer Jeff Mitchell. In 1985 the station returned to its musical roots by switching to a traditional pop musicTraditional pop music
Traditional pop or classic pop or standards music denotes, in general, Western popular music that either wholly predates the advent of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, or to any popular music which exists concurrently to rock and roll but originated in a time before the appearance of rock and roll,...
format, once again featuring popular vocalists and instrumentals from the 1930s through 1960s, while also serving as a full service outlet carrying live local sports and news. At this time the station was an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network
CBS Radio Network
The CBS Radio Network provides news, sports and other programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the United States. The network is owned by CBS Corporation, and operated by CBS Radio ....
.
Currently, WFGL airs Christian teaching programs, and contemporary Praise and Worship music.