KWIL
| Broadcast area | Willamette Valley |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 790 kHz |
| Branding | KWIL For Christ |
| Programming | |
| Format | Christian talk and teaching |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Extra Mile Media, Inc. |
| KHPE | |
| History | |
First air date | January 14, 1941 (at 1240)[1] |
Former frequencies | 1240 kHz (1941–1953) |
Call sign meaning | Willamette Valley |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 837 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 1,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°37′54″N 123°00′57″W / 44.63167°N 123.01583°W |
| Translator(s) | 96.9 K245DI (Albany) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kwilforchrist.com |
KWIL (790 AM, "KWIL For Christ") is a commercial radio station licensed to Albany, Oregon, and serving the Willamette Valley. It broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format and is owned by Extra Mile Media, Inc. The studios and transmitter are on Santiam Highway SE (U.S. Route 20).[3]
KWIL is powered at 1,000 watts. To protect other stations on 790 AM from interference, it uses a directional antenna with a three-tower array. The signal covers several Oregon communities including Albany, Corvallis and Lebanon. Programming is also heard on 250-watt FM translator K245DI at 96.9 MHz in Albany.
Programming
KWIL broadcasts a religious radio format including Christian ministry, religious education, and Bible teaching programs.[4][5] National religious leaders heard on KWIL include Greg Laurie, Adrian Rogers, Jim Daly, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, Alistair Begg, Chuck Swindoll, Rick Warren and J. Vernon McGee.
KWIL uses a brokered programming plan, where hosts buy time on the station and may use their programs to seek donations to their ministries.
History
KWIL signed on the air on January 14, 1941.[6] It originally was powered at 250 watts, broadcasting on a frequency of 1240 kHz.[7] The station was owned and operated by the Central Willamette Broadcasting Company.[7] KWIL was a network affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System.
On October 15, 1947, KWIL added an FM sister station, KWIL-FM at 101.7 MHz.[8] But few people owned FM receivers in that era. Management saw little chance of making the station profitable and it was taken off the air on August 21, 1956.[9]
In 1953, KWIL changed frequencies to 790 kHz. The lower dial position allowed its signal to expand. It increased its power to 1,000 watts. But it also had to use a directional antenna with different daytime and nighttime coverage patterns.[10]
KWIL was acquired by Larry Gordon's Albany Radio Corporation on July 1, 1957.[1] KWIL added a new FM station to its facilities. The second KWIL-FM began broadcasting at 107.9 MHz in 1969. Today, that station is co-owned WHPE, with a Christian Contemporary format.
Christian broadcaster Integrity Media acquired KWIL and KHPE in 1980. Integrity Media changed its name to Extra Mile Media, Inc., in 2005.[5]
Previous logo
(KWIL's logo under previous "The Word" branding)
References
- ^ a b "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada". Broadcasting Yearbook 1979. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1979. p. C-179.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KWIL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/KWIL
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
- ^ a b "Sale of Eugene's KEED planned". Christian News Northwest. February 4, 2005.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-171. Retrieved Nov. 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "Directory of Standard Broadcasting Stations of the United States". 1944 Broadcasting-Telecasting Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1944. p. 142.
- ^ "KWIL-FM Albany, Oregon Commences Broadcasting" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 27, 1947. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ "Existing FM Stations" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 27, 1956. p. 116. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Directory of the AM and FM stations of the United States". 1954 Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1954. p. 264.
External links
- FCC History Cards for KWIL
- KWIL official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 837 (KWIL) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KWIL in Nielsen Audio's AM station database