WYZE
Encyclopedia
WYZE is an AM broadcasting
station licensed to the city of Atlanta, Georgia
broadcasting on the frequency of 1480 kHz with 5,000 Watt
s of power during daytime hours, and only 44 Watt
s of power during nighttime hours with a non-directional antenna
pattern. The station is owned by WYZE Radio, Inc. and carries primarily Gospel
oriented music and talk
programming serving the Atlanta radio market.
. The Atlanta Journal newspaper, which owned WSB (AM)
, had difficulty choosing programming to be carried on WSB (AM)
between the Red Network and the Blue Network
set up by NBC
radio. Thus, the Atlanta Journal established WAGA AM
to carry the Blue Network
while WSB (AM)
carried programming from the Red Network. WAGA AM
was known as "Atlanta's Wave of Welcome", the on-air slogan used during the station's early days. The station's studios were located in the Western Union Building (current location of Telecom Tower SW corner of Marietta Street and Forsyth Street) in downtown Atlanta
. WAGA's former AM
transmitter was located at Sugar Creek, three miles from the center of Atlanta
. By 1942, the WAGA callsigns were moved on to 590 kHz.
radio format popular during the 1950s. Fay Fueller hosted a romantic music show consisting of poetry and music in 1958. During the year 1968, the station switched from a Country music
format to Country
/Gospel
. The station aired a "Town and Country" radio format by 1970. During the early 1970s the station flipped to an all-news radio
format for a time, one of the first in the Atlanta radio market. Despite using the same frequency, WYZE has no connection to the original WAGA, which has now become WDWD
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
station licensed to the city of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
broadcasting on the frequency of 1480 kHz with 5,000 Watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s of power during daytime hours, and only 44 Watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s of power during nighttime hours with a non-directional antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
pattern. The station is owned by WYZE Radio, Inc. and carries primarily Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
oriented music and talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
programming serving the Atlanta radio market.
Early History (as WAGA AM)
The station has its origins back to its sign on date of August 1, 1937 as WAGA AMAM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
. The Atlanta Journal newspaper, which owned WSB (AM)
WSB (AM)
WSB — branded AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB — is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting a news/talk format. The station transmits with 50,000 watts of nondirectional power day and night, enjoying clear-channel status on its broadcast frequency according to the U.S...
, had difficulty choosing programming to be carried on WSB (AM)
WSB (AM)
WSB — branded AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB — is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting a news/talk format. The station transmits with 50,000 watts of nondirectional power day and night, enjoying clear-channel status on its broadcast frequency according to the U.S...
between the Red Network and the Blue Network
Blue Network
The Blue Network, and its immediate predecessor, the NBC Blue Network, were the on-air names of an American radio production and distribution service from 1927 to 1945...
set up by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio. Thus, the Atlanta Journal established WAGA AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
to carry the Blue Network
Blue Network
The Blue Network, and its immediate predecessor, the NBC Blue Network, were the on-air names of an American radio production and distribution service from 1927 to 1945...
while WSB (AM)
WSB (AM)
WSB — branded AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB — is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting a news/talk format. The station transmits with 50,000 watts of nondirectional power day and night, enjoying clear-channel status on its broadcast frequency according to the U.S...
carried programming from the Red Network. WAGA AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
was known as "Atlanta's Wave of Welcome", the on-air slogan used during the station's early days. The station's studios were located in the Western Union Building (current location of Telecom Tower SW corner of Marietta Street and Forsyth Street) in downtown Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. WAGA's former AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
transmitter was located at Sugar Creek, three miles from the center of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. By 1942, the WAGA callsigns were moved on to 590 kHz.
Later History (as WYZE)
By 1958, WYZE had picked up where WAGA left off at 1480 kHz broadcasting during daytime hours with what appears to be an Adult StandardsAdult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
radio format popular during the 1950s. Fay Fueller hosted a romantic music show consisting of poetry and music in 1958. During the year 1968, the station switched from a 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...
format to 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...
/Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
. The station aired a "Town and Country" radio format by 1970. During the early 1970s the station flipped to an all-news radio
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
format for a time, one of the first in the Atlanta radio market. Despite using the same frequency, WYZE has no connection to the original WAGA, which has now become WDWD