WFLI (1070 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a conservative talk radio format. Licensed to Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, the station serves the Chattanooga metropolitan area. WFLI is owned by Tri-State Radio, Inc.
 | |
| Broadcast area | Chattanooga metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1070 kHz |
| Branding | The Big One WFLI |
| Programming | |
| Format | Conservative talk |
| Affiliations | Fox News Radio Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WKWN, WJTW | |
| History | |
First air date | February 20, 1961[2] |
| Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 72061 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 50,000 watts days 2,500 watts nights |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°02′42.00″N 85°21′44.00″W / 35.0450000°N 85.3622222°W |
| Translator(s) | 96.1 W241AF (Rossville, GA) 100.3 W262DQ (Hixson) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | WFLI Online |
By day, WFLI broadcasts at 50,000 watts, the maximum for commercial AM stations in the U.S. But 1070 AM is a clear channel frequency reserved for KNX Los Angeles. So WFLI must reduce power at night to 2,500 watts to avoid interference. It uses a directional antenna at all times.[4] Programming is also heard on 250 watt FM translator W241AF at 96.1 MHz.[5] (which formerly carried WUSY-HD2) in addition to a second translator for coverage in areas located north of downtown Chattanooga, W262DQ at 100.3 MHz.[6]
History
editOn February 20, 1961, WFLI signed on with 10,000 watts. As a Top 40 station, it competed with the other AM radio stations in the Chattanooga market such as WDXB and WOGA (later WMOC) for the young adult market. The station's power was boosted to 50,000 watts in 1967.
From 1961 to 1980, WFLI was a popular contemporary hits station in the Chattanooga area. It was nicknamed "Jet Fli". The station also held two concerts each year called "WFLI Jet-Fli Spectaculars". These concerts attracted large crowds to Memorial Auditorium. The WFLI Light in the Sky projected a spotlight in the sky, attracting listeners to businesses and events.
By 1979, FM was becoming popular and the new WSKZ (KZ-106) captured most of WFLI's audience. After a two-year switch to a country music format, WFLI switched to a religious format in 1982, branding itself as "The Mid South's Most Powerful AM Gospel Station" with a Southern gospel music format in its later years.[7]
WFLI signed off the air on March 31, 2017, but returned to the air under new management with a talk format in May 2017.[8] On July 10, 2017, a one-day-only 1960s–1970s oldies format honored the station's heritage. It switched back to a talk format by July 11, airing the syndicated programs of Laura Ingraham, Dave Ramsey, Todd Starnes, Eric Metaxas and morning duo Rick & Bubba.[9]
On April 23, 2018, the station returned to a 1960s and 1970s oldies music format featuring live and local DJs. WFLI also began carrying some special features highlighting the station's past through locally-produced programming such as the "Daily Downbeat" show featuring former station alumni from the station's original 'JET FLI' era of the 1960s and 70s along with other notable or retired broadcasters from other area stations from the same era.[10]
In July 2021, WFLI began to naturally-evolve the 1960s and 1970s "oldies" format into a more standard classic hits format, moving the station musically into music centered more in the 1970s and 1980s with some top chart hits from the early- to mid-1990s.[citation needed]
On June 5, 2023, WFLI returned to a conservative talk radio format, which featured the return of the syndicated Rick & Bubba show to mornings, several syndicated conservative talk hosts, and a few of sports talk programs.[11]
WFLI is the flagship station for UTC Chattanooga Mocs athletics, carrying University of Tennessee Chattanooga football and basketball with Learfield Sports.[citation needed]
Translator
edit| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W241AF | 96.1 FM | Rossville, Georgia | 28329 | 250 | 641 m (2,103 ft) | D | 35°0′35.7″N 85°20′36″W / 35.009917°N 85.34333°W | LMS |
| W262DQ | 100.3 FM | Hixson, Tennessee | 203203 | 99 | 92 m (302 ft) | D | 35°15′20.2″N 85°13′33.8″W / 35.255611°N 85.226056°W | LMS |
References
edit- ^ "WFLI Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
- ^ "Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-413. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WFLI". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WFLI
- ^ "W241AF-FM 96.1 MHZ - Rossville, GA".
- ^ "W262DQ-FM 100.3 MHZ - Hixson, TN".
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Winter 2010.
- ^ Jenkins, David (May 26, 2017). "Jenkins perspective: 50,000 watts can't be silenced; WFLI roars back". Hamilton County Herald. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ "WFLI Chattanooga Flips To Talk - RadioInsight". RadioInsight. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ "WFLI Chattanooga Flips To Oldies - RadioInsight". RadioInsight. 24 April 2018.
- ^ Simon, Perry Michael (June 6, 2023). "WFLI/Chattanooga Flips To News-Talk". Allaccess.com. All Access Music Group. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
External links
edit- Facility details for Facility ID 72061 (WFLI) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WFLI in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 28329 (W241AF) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W241AF at FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 203203 (W262DQ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W262DQ at FCCdata.org
- David Carroll's Chattanooga Radio and TV