WLYV
Encyclopedia
WLYV, "Reedemer Radio," is an AM radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station operates on the AM radio frequency of 1450 kHz and airs Catholic programming for the Northeast/East Central Indiana region. It was purchased by Fort Wayne Catholic Radio Inc. in 2005.
WLYV has a rich history since its beginnings in 1948. Prior to becoming WLYV, the station was assigned the call letters WANE and was the radio companion of channel 15 television. In the mid-1960s, the radio station was purchased by Sheppard Broadcasting of Grand Rapids, Michigan
. Following the purchase by Sheppard, the station changed call letters (to become closely related to Sheppard's WLAV
in Grand Rapids) and on January 1, 1966 changed formats to become Fort Wayne's first Top 40 station.
The results were dramatic and immediate. Within a few months WLYV was the second-highest rated station in Fort Wayne. (Prior to the format switch, the old WANE was so low in listener rankings that two distant stations...CKLW in Windsor
/Detroit
and WLS-AM in Chicago...had higher ratings in Fort Wayne.)
The success continued for several years under Program Director Bob Hamilton and high energy personalities like Phil Gardner, Jay Walker, Shotgun Lenny Harrison (Chuck Martin)and local favorite Ted Hatch. It was WLYV's relatively low power output (1,000 watts) and the appearance of a more tightly formatted Top 40 station in town (WMEE
) lead to WLYV's demise as a Top 40 icon. By 1974, 1450 W-L-Y-V "The Lyv (Live) One" was forced to change formats again and became "Lively Country
." This change turned out to be successul for the station.
WLYV's low power became an issue again, however, within several years when WMEE
switched its call letters and rock format to FM, leaving the 1380 AM frequency...and its 5,000-watt operating power...open for something new. It became WQHK, aired a country format, and, within a short time, WLYV was left in the dust.
Several people who were later to become broadcast giants were part of the WLYV staff during the station's heyday as a Top 40 station. Afternoon personality Ron White was later to become one of radio's foremost programming consultants. Personality Ron Morgan left Fort Wayne for Detroit and then made the move to Saint Louis where he became one of that city's icons for several decades. Within five years of leaving WLYV, mid-day personality Jim Reese changed his on-air name to Grant Hudson and, based in Detroit (CKLW
and WWJ-AM), became one of broadcast journalism's true legends, famous for his highly stylized writing and delivery. Morning personality Skinny Bobby Harper
left Fort Wayne for Atlanta, where he spent the rest of his life and, because of his antics, became one of the best-known broadcasters ever to hit Georgia. Bobby was the "real-life" model for the "Dr. Johnny Fever
" character on TV's "WKRP in Cincinnati
."
Golfer Jack Nicklaus owned WLYV for a number of years and lived through several format flips with it. Christian Broadcast Systems Ltd. based in Flint, MI (formerly Midwest Broadcasting) owned it afterwards with a gospel format before the 2005 sale to Fort Wayne Catholic Radio.
WLYV has a rich history since its beginnings in 1948. Prior to becoming WLYV, the station was assigned the call letters WANE and was the radio companion of channel 15 television. In the mid-1960s, the radio station was purchased by Sheppard Broadcasting of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. Following the purchase by Sheppard, the station changed call letters (to become closely related to Sheppard's WLAV
WBBL
WJRW is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format in Grand Rapids, Michigan. WJRW is branded as NEWSTALK 1340 WJRW, West Michigan's LIVE & LOCAL Leader...
in Grand Rapids) and on January 1, 1966 changed formats to become Fort Wayne's first Top 40 station.
The results were dramatic and immediate. Within a few months WLYV was the second-highest rated station in Fort Wayne. (Prior to the format switch, the old WANE was so low in listener rankings that two distant stations...CKLW in Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
/Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and WLS-AM in Chicago...had higher ratings in Fort Wayne.)
The success continued for several years under Program Director Bob Hamilton and high energy personalities like Phil Gardner, Jay Walker, Shotgun Lenny Harrison (Chuck Martin)and local favorite Ted Hatch. It was WLYV's relatively low power output (1,000 watts) and the appearance of a more tightly formatted Top 40 station in town (WMEE
WKJG
WKJG is a radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station, owned by Federated Media, is Fort Wayne's ESPN Radio affiliate.-History:...
) lead to WLYV's demise as a Top 40 icon. By 1974, 1450 W-L-Y-V "The Lyv (Live) One" was forced to change formats again and became "Lively Country
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...
." This change turned out to be successul for the station.
WLYV's low power became an issue again, however, within several years when WMEE
WMEE
WMEE is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. The station serves the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. The station is currently owned by Federated Media.-History:...
switched its call letters and rock format to FM, leaving the 1380 AM frequency...and its 5,000-watt operating power...open for something new. It became WQHK, aired a country format, and, within a short time, WLYV was left in the dust.
Several people who were later to become broadcast giants were part of the WLYV staff during the station's heyday as a Top 40 station. Afternoon personality Ron White was later to become one of radio's foremost programming consultants. Personality Ron Morgan left Fort Wayne for Detroit and then made the move to Saint Louis where he became one of that city's icons for several decades. Within five years of leaving WLYV, mid-day personality Jim Reese changed his on-air name to Grant Hudson and, based in Detroit (CKLW
CKLW
CKLW is a 50,000 watt AM radio station broadcasting on 800 kHz and located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and serving Windsor and Detroit. Additionally, its signal can be heard as far west as Belding, Michigan; as far east as Batavia, New York; as far south as Edgewood, Kentucky; and as far...
and WWJ-AM), became one of broadcast journalism's true legends, famous for his highly stylized writing and delivery. Morning personality Skinny Bobby Harper
Skinny Bobby Harper
Skinny Bobby Harper was a Canadian radio and video DJ. First making it big in Cincinnati, Ohio at WSAI , he moved to Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1960s and joined the staff of WQXI radio, where WKRP in Cincinnati creator Hugh Wilson used him as inspiration for the sitcom's off-the-wall character Dr...
left Fort Wayne for Atlanta, where he spent the rest of his life and, because of his antics, became one of the best-known broadcasters ever to hit Georgia. Bobby was the "real-life" model for the "Dr. Johnny Fever
Dr. Johnny Fever
Dr. Johnny Fever is an off-the-wall character and disc jockey on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. He was inspired by Atlanta DJ Skinny Bobby Harper...
" character on TV's "WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
."
Golfer Jack Nicklaus owned WLYV for a number of years and lived through several format flips with it. Christian Broadcast Systems Ltd. based in Flint, MI (formerly Midwest Broadcasting) owned it afterwards with a gospel format before the 2005 sale to Fort Wayne Catholic Radio.