Cumulus Media Networks

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"ABC Radio Network" redirects here. For other uses, see ABC Radio.
Cumulus Media Networks
TypeRadio network
Country
United States
AvailabilityNational
Owner
  • (NBC) Blue Network:
  • RCA: (1927–1943)
  • The Blue Network Co.: (1943–1945)
  • ABC Radio Network:
  • ABC, Inc.: (1945–1953)
  • American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres: (1953–1965-1986)
  • Capital Cities/ABC Inc.: (1986–1996)
    Disney–ABC Television Group(The Walt Disney Company) (1996–2007)
    Citadel Broadcasting: (2007–2009)
    Citadel Media:
    Citadel Broadcasting: (2009–2011)
    Cumulus Media Networks:
    Cumulus Media: (2011–2014)
Launch date
January 1, 1927; 94 years ago (January 1, 1927)
DissolvedDecember 2013; 7 years ago (December 2013) (Taken over by Westwood One)
Former names
  • WJZ proto-network (1921–1927)
  • NBC Blue Network (1927–1942)
  • Blue Network(1942–1945)
  • ABC Radio Networks (1945–2009)
  • Citadel Media (2009–2011)
Official website
westwoodone.com

Cumulus Media Networks was an American radio network owned and operated by Cumulus Media. From 2011 until its merger with Westwood One, it controlled many of the radio assets formerly belonging to the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), which was broken up in 2007; Cumulus owned the portion of the network that was purchased by Citadel Broadcasting that year.

The network adopted its final name in September 2011, following Cumulus's acquisition of Citadel; prior to this, it had been known as Citadel Media Networks since April 2009, after licensing the "ABC Radio Networks" name from The Walt Disney Company for nearly two years. ABC now operates a revived ABC Radio Network that owns no stations but produces mostly short-form audio content.

It was also (as ABC Radio Networks) the penultimate of the major radio networks to still be owned by its original founding company until 2007, CBS Radio being the last. Mutual Broadcasting Network was dissolved in 1999, and then NBC Radio Network, after selling all of its stations in 1988, followed suit in 2004.

Prominent hosts carried by Cumulus Media Networks included Don Imus, Geraldo Rivera, Mike Huckabee, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, Jim Brickman, Adam Bomb, Kix Brooks (American Country Countdown), and Tom Kent.

History[]

Cumulus Media Networks had its origins in an early network set up by WJZ (now WABC) in New York City which provided programs to other stations over Western Union lines.

WJZ/NBC Blue Network[]

Main article: Blue Network

WJZ (which is not related to the Baltimore TV station that currently uses those call letters), originally owned by Westinghouse and its informal network were absorbed into the National Broadcasting Company in 1927. To the parent company Radio Corporation of America, WJZ and affiliates were known as the Blue Network while New York station WEAF (later WNBC and now WFAN) and its affiliates (also absorbed into NBC) were known as the "Red Network." On the air, both were identified as "NBC, the National Broadcasting Company;" the distinctions between the two networks were, beyond staff and advertisers, mostly a matter of the more popular and established programming appearing on NBC Red.

Both NBC networks were owned by RCA; following a Federal Communications Commission investigation into the network's influence over advertising, strict ownership rules were introduced in 1941. RCA was compelled to sell one network and three local stations.

ABC Radio[]

Former ABC Radio Networks Logo used until 2009

RCA put an asking price of $8 million on the Blue network; after two years on the market, it was sold in 1943 to businessman Edward J. Noble, owner of Life Savers candy and the Rexall Drug store chain, for the asking price. After Noble took over, the network identified itself on-air as "The Blue Network." It was officially renamed the American Broadcasting Company, Inc. in June 1945 after the company bought the rights to the name from (what would later become) Storer Broadcasting.

With about 65 affiliates, ABC began with few of the big names and popular shows the other networks offered, so counter-programming became an ABC specialty. Industry policy had been to forbid taped or pre-recorded programs; ABC lured some big-name stars by adapting the tape technology developed in World War II. To add to its programming, ABC bought stations KECA (now KABC) in Los Angeles and WXYZ (now WXYT) in Detroit, the latter home and originator of many popular serials such as The Lone Ranger.

Financially unable to match the larger networks, ABC merged with United Paramount Theaters early in 1953.[1] Through the 1950s, network radio declined in popularity, and ABC radio gradually became more oriented to its local stations, especially its two pop-music powerhouses, New York's WABC (formerly WJZ) and Chicago's WLS (which was owned and operated by the Prairie Farmer in a time-share arrangement with ABC-owned WENR until both stations merged in 1954; ABC acquired the Farmer's minority stake in 1959).

Some network programs held on into the television era: Don McNeill's Breakfast Club, one of the first and longest-running morning shows in the country, hosted by Don McNeill, ran from 1933 to 1968. Other long-running ABC programs included the National Barn Dance, running from 1924 to 1960, and Paul Harvey's daily commentary, which ran from 1951 until his death in 2009.[2] In 1958, ABC collaborated with its sister television network to produce the first national stereophonic sound broadcasts, when it simulcast The Plymouth Show (one of two shows hosted by Lawrence Welk at the time); the TV side broadcast one audio channel and the radio side broadcast the other in synchronization; viewers had to tune into both devices to achieve the stereophonic effect.

John F. Kennedy assassination bulletin[]

ABC Radio broadcast the first nationwide report of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was shot in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas at 18:30 UTC on November 22, 1963 and ABC Radio's Don Gardiner anchored the network's initial bulletin at 18:36:50 UTC, minutes before any other radio or television network did the same.

A surviving aircheck from New York shortwave station WRUL includes the first ABC Radio bulletin. Gardiner interrupts Doris Day's recording of "Hooray for Hollywood" to tell listeners at 13:36:50 EST (UTC−5):

We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin from ABC Radio. Here is a special bulletin from Dallas, Texas: three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade today in downtown Dallas, Texas. This is ABC Radio. To repeat: in Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade today. The president now making a two-day speaking tour of Texas. We're going to stand by for more details on the incident in Dallas. Stay tuned to your ABC station for further details. Now we return you to your regular program.[3]

ABC Radio Networks[]

Network News aired Ad/minute $ Launched Ended
  • American Contemporary Network
  • (originally to be called
  • American Personality Network)[4]
 :55-:60 $2,500 January 1, 1968 [5]
American Information Network varies $1,500
American Entertainment Network $1,250
American FM Network :15-:20 $650
ABC Rock Radio Network :45 N/A January 4, 1982
ABC Direction Radio Network
ABC Talk Radio 1980s 1980s
ESPN Radio January 1, 1992
Radio Disney November 18, 1996 April 14, 2021
Urban Advantage Network (UAN) January 1, 2001

Ralph Beaudin, group vice president, ABC Radio came up with the idea of splitting ABC Radio Network into four different networks. He felt that there was more product than stations could broadcast, causing a sale issue. The four separate networks would allow advertisers to better market to their preferred audience. Paul Harvey and the Breakfast Club were designated as Entertainment network features.[5] Before the split, ABC obtained a waiver of the FCC's "Chain Broadcasting" rule on December 29, 1967, which had forced the sale of the Blue network in 1943. Though each of the four new networks were carried on the same 5 kHz telco line (3.5 in some cities), the move allowed ABC to have as many as four affiliates in one city – a major competitive advantage and a dramatic turning point in the history of network radio.[citation needed] However, the FCC insisted that there be no overlap of any ABC network broadcast in a single market, and the network required affiliates to get approval before any delayed broadcast of network programming.[6] The new networks were launched on January 1, 1968.[5]

Two additional networks, ABC Rock Network and ABC Direction Network were added on January 4, 1982. ABC Rock's anchor affiliate was WPLJ in New York City and had many Album-oriented rock formatted station move from American FM Network with a total of 40 affiliates. Executives in charge of ABC Rock at launch were vice president Tom Plant and program director Denise Oliver. The Direction Network was under ABC Entertainment Network's executive's charge and was for adult (25-45) formats stations and started with 57 affiliates.[7]

ABC Radio acquired Watermark Inc., best known as the syndicator of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem and American Country Countdown with Bob Kingsley, in 1982. Kasem left ABC in 1988, reclaiming the American Top 40 name from ABC in 1998, and selling the AT40 brand to AMFM Radio Networks (later absorbed intro Premiere Radio Networks). Kingsley left ABC in 2005 and 'ACC' continues to air as part of the ABC stable with Kix Brooks as host since 2006. Dick Bartley joined the network in 1991 with the AT40 spinoff American Gold and his live Saturday night call-in oldies show, before leaving at the end of March 2009.

ABC launched a foray into talk radio with ABC Talk Radio (similar to rival NBC's Talknet) in the 1980s. Among its most notable hosts were Tom Snyder and Barry Farber. However, the rising popularity of conservative political talk radio, fueled by The Rush Limbaugh Show, led to the network's demise. After Snyder's retirement in 1992, ABC ostensibly filled the slot with Leslie Marshall, at the time the youngest syndicated host ever, but most major affiliates instead picked up Limbaugh. The network was shut down shortly thereafter, though one program from that network, Bob Brinker's Moneytalk is now in its twenty-fifth year nationwide.

ABC acquired the Satellite Music Network, the first satellite-delivered music radio network, and its nine channels of programming in 1989. The division continues to operate semi-autonomously as Cumulus Music Radio at Cumulus's Dallas-Fort Worth cluster.

ESPN Radio Network was formed in September 1991 by both ESPN, Inc. and Capital Cities/ABC, Inc.'s ABC Radio Networks[8] and launched as Sports Radio ESPN on January 1, 1992.[9] Radio Disney was test launched in November 1996 in four markets by ABC Radio Networks with a Los Angeles station added on August 26, 1997.[10]

The ABCRadio.com logo used on 22 ABC O&O stations' Web sites before merger with Citadel Broadcasting

ABC again began building a talk network, this time with an emphasis on political talk, in 2001. Among the first hosts heard on the new ABC talk network were Sam Donaldson of ABC News television, Sean Hannity of WABC, Larry Elder of KABC, and John Batchelor of WABC. Donaldson left his show after a short time. Mark Levin was added in 2005 and eventually replaced Elder in 2007, and Mark Davis of WBAP had a brief syndication run on the network in 2005. Hannity has been the most successful, displacing Laura Schlessinger as the most popular host in the time slot within a few years (especially on the East Coast); the network shared the program with Premiere Radio Networks from 2008 to 2013 before Premiere took over the program entirely beginning in 2014.

Sale to Citadel[]

In 2005, ABC began to explore the sale of its radio division. The two leading competitors for the purchase of the network, which included twenty-two of ABC Radio's top stations, as well as ABC's talk and music networks, were Bala Cynwyd-based Entercom Communications and Forstmann Little & Company's Citadel Broadcasting unit. Citadel was chosen as the top bidder and the deal to purchase the stations and the network was struck in February 2006.[11] The deal did not include Radio Disney, ESPN Radio (or its Spanish counterpart ESPN Deportes Radio), any of the five ESPN Radio stations (or the myriad of Radio Disney stations) Disney owned at the time, or any of ABC's television assets (the ABC name, which also remained in Disney's hands, would be licensed to Citadel for two years). Disney's ABC News unit will also still produce ABC News Radio programming for distribution by Citadel.[12] Despite the change in ownership, Citadel Media still lists "ESPN Radio" & "ESPN Deportes" as part of its advertising sales family.[13] The acquisition of ABC Radio by Citadel Broadcasting was officially completed on June 12, 2007 [14] and the "ABC Radio Networks" logo was licensed from Disney until April 2, 2009.

Shortly after the announcement of the ABC/Citadel merger, the "FM" network was reactivated. It now provides an hourly two-minute newscast, similar in format to when the network formerly operated. Those newscasts carry the on-air brand "ABC News Now."[15]

Citadel Media[]

Logo as Citadel Media, used from April 2009 through September 2011

On April 2, 2009, the staff at Citadel Broadcasting changed the branding of this network from ABC Radio to "Citadel Media" to reflect on its current ownership of a major radio network. However, "ABC News"; and its programming/satellite format listings would remain.[16]

Cumulus Media[]

Cumulus Media absorbed all the assets of Citadel Broadcasting, including Citadel Media in September 2011, and the name change to "Cumulus Media Networks" immediately took effect upon acquisition.[17] Previously, Citadel turned down previous acquisition offers months after emerging from bankruptcy.

On August 29, 2013, Cumulus Broadcasting purchased Dial Global (Westwood One as of September 4). Cumulus paid $260 million in cash for this programming syndication service, part of which has paid off Dial's debt before it was folded into this network service. Cumulus funded the sale by making a pair of station deals with Townsquare Media.[18]

On July 31, 2014, Cumulus acquired the rights to CNN’s content to distribute to radio stations (the company had held CNN radio rights since its acquisition of Dial Global, but CNN had not produced any radio content since April 2012). The content will be distributed by its newly acquired WestwoodOne network and allow stations to implement the content under their own branding. As an example Cumulus stated that its "Nash" branded Country stations would run the content under the Nash News name.[19] The programming deal started on January 1, 2015 when its broadcasting rights to ABC's news division expired. ABC relaunched an entirely new ABC Radio network (known as ABC Audio as of 2019).[20] ABC Audio renewed an affiliation with the Cumulus stations in 2020.[21]

The merger of Cumulus Media Networks into Westwood One was completed in mid-2015.[22]

Programming[]

The following programs, previously on Cumulus Media Networks, can be heard on Westwood One.

Cumulus Media Radio Network[]

Weekdays[]

  • Imus in the Morning
  • The Herman Cain Show
  • The Mark Levin Show
  • The Savage Nation
  • The John Batchelor Show
  • Red Eye Radio

Other[]

  • Moneytalk with Bob Brinker
  • Larry Kudlow
  • America's Most Wanted (short form feature)
  • Focus on the Family daily commentary (short form feature)
  • Radio Perez with Perez Hilton (short form feature)

Country music (Nash FM)[]

  • America's Morning Show with Blair Garner
  • Nash Nights Live with Shawn Parr
  • American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
  • Kickin' It with Kix
  • Country Weekly On Air with Lisa Manning (short-form feature)

Music[]

Satellite formats[]

In 1989, ABC Radio Networks acquired The Satellite Music Network which originally started in Chicago. To this day, the division, known as "Westwood One Music Radio" (formerly "Citadel Music Radio" and "ABC Music Radio"), provides 10 satellite-driven formats to affiliate stations, mostly in small & mid-size markets and on major market HD Radio subchannels. However they can also be used on some major market stations as alternative or permanent programming. They could operate their stations virtually unmanned with nothing more than a computer and a satellite hookup offering major market talent that some radio stations could never afford. The "clock" included options for a 2-, 3-, or 5-minute newscasts at the top of the hour, followed by other holes for local spots. While some of the programming is live (some is done by voice tracking), DJ's had to avoid references to the weather or anything else that would not be appropriate in many time zones (time reports, for instance, were given only in minutes before or after "the hour"). An 800-line was eventually added, allowing the live DJ's to take phoned in requests. Cumulus Media Networks's 24-hour-music formats before CMN's closure included:

Network Name Format Additional Notes (if any)
Triangle-red.svg Best Country Today Country Formerly known as "Country Coast to Coast", "Best Country Around", "Best Country Today". Discontinued in 2014 after merger with Westwood One.
Triangle-purple.svg The Christmas Channel Christmas Music Available the day before Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day.
Triangle-red.svg Classic Rock Classic Rock Formerly "The Classic Rock Experience". Discontinued in 2014 after merger with Westwood One.
Triangle-red.svg Classic Hits Classic hits from 1960s to 1980s Formerly "Pure Gold" and "Oldies Radio". Merged with WestwoodOne counterpart in 2014, some staff retained.
Triangle-red.svg Hits & Favorites Adult Contemporary Formerly known as "Starstation". Discontinued in 2014 after merger with Westwood One.
Triangle-blue.svg Real Country Traditional Country
Triangle-blue.svg The Rhythm Contemporary R&B Previously known as Classic Hip-Hop and R&B.
Triangle-red.svg Today's Best Hits Hot Adult Contemporary Also known as "ABC Hot AC" (formerly identified on air as "Best Hits, Best Variety"). Discontinued in 2014 after merger with Westwood One.
Triangle-blue.svg The Touch Urban Adult Contemporary Briefly rebranded as "MyFavStation" in January 2010, formerly known as "Heart & Soul"
Triangle-blue.svg Good Time Oldies Oldies/classic hits Revived 2014.

Other network holding(s)[]

Network Name Format Notes
Triangle-blue.svg CBS Sports Radio Sports Produced in conjunction with CBS Radio.
Triangle-blue.svg Nash FM Hot country Only syndicated to Cumulus O&O's; some programs syndicated outside the network.
Triangle-blue.svg Nash Icon Traditional/mainstream country Joint venture with Big Machine Records.

Triangle-blue.svg = Active on terrestrial radio affiliates through Westwood One.
Triangle-purple.svg = Active on a seasonal basis.
Triangle-red.svg = Discontinued.

Former network properties of ABC Radio/Citadel Media/Cumulus Media Networks[]

Network Name Format Fate of Network
ABC News & Talk News/Talk Discontinued since September 24, 2007.
ABC News Now All-news radio Reacquired by Disney in relaunch of ABC Radio Network on January 1, 2015. Originally called "ABC FM News".
ESPN Radio Sports/Talk Retained by Disney in ABC Radio sale, although Cumulus still does advertising sales for the network.
ESPN Deportes Radio Spanish Sports/Talk Retained by Disney in ABC Radio sale, although Cumulus still does advertising sales for the network.
Jack FM Variety/Adult Hits Spun off to Dial Global. Ironically, Cumulus acquired DG and renamed it as Westwood One.
The Nerve Active Rock Ceased operations in 2013.
Radio Disney Children's Radio Retained by Disney in ABC Radio sale. Discontinued most terrestrial affiliates in 2015.
Rejoice! Musical Soul Food Urban Contemporary Gospel Spun off to Urban Choice Media.
Timeless Oldies/Standards Discontinued since February 13, 2010.
Unforgettable Favorites MOR Merged into "Timeless" format. Feed still active as seasonal Christmas Channel.
Z Rock Active Rock Discontinued since December 31, 1996.
True Oldies Channel Oldies Discontinued since June 29, 2014 on Cumulus but retained by Scott Shannon.

Stations[]

From the very beginning of its broadcast days until the 2007 sale of the original ABC Radio, Inc. to Citadel Broadcasting and then subsequently to Cumulus Media, and again until 2015, when Radio Disney discontinued terrestrial broadcast service—with the exception of KDIS in Los Angeles, Disney/ABC owned and/or operated several radio stations in numerous markets, big and small. ABC also owned and operated several radio formats and networks, mostly during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Today, only a limited number of mostly ESPN Radio stations are still owned or operated by Disney directly.

Current Stations[]

Market Station Format Notes
New York City WEPN 1050 Sports Talk ESPN Radio O&O
WEPN-FM 98.7 Sports Talk ESPN Radio affiliate owned by Emmis Communications
Operated by Disney under a Local Marketing Agreement
Los Angeles KSPN 710 Sports Talk ESPN Radio O&O
KRDC (AM) 1110 Country Radio Disney O&O
Serves as the originating broadcast source for the network
Chicago WMVP 1000 Sports Talk ESPN Radio O&O
Dallas - Fort Worth KESN 103.3 Sports Talk ESPN Radio affiliate operated by Cumulus Media under LMA
Disney owns and licenses the station

Former Stations[]

Notes[]

  • † Stations listed by their call letters at the time they were sold.
  • ♦ Stations built and/or signed on by Disney or ABC.
  • ♠ Stations acquired by ABC with its merger with Capital Cities in 1986.
  • ¤ Stations sold off with the sale of the original ABC Radio, Inc. to Citadel Broadcasting in 2007.
  • ♣ Stations sold with the discontinuation of terrestrial service by Radio Disney in 2014-2015 to focus on digital broadcasting.

AM Stations[]

Market Station† Years Owned Current Owner Current Format Notes
New York City WABC 770 ¤ 1945-2007 Cumulus Media News/Talk Was a flagship station for ABC AM along with KABC Los
Angeles, KGO San Francisco and WXYZ (now WXYT)
Detroit.
WQEW 1560 ♣ 1998-2015 Family Radio Christian Talk Family Radio O&O as WFME
Los Angeles KABC 790 ¤ 1945-2007 Cumulus Media News/Talk Was a flagship station for ABC AM along with WABC New
York, KGO San Francisco and WXYZ (now WXYT)
Detroit.
Chicago WLS 890 ¤ 1954-2007 Cumulus Media Talk Founded by Sears, Roebuck & Co., was an ABC affiliate
station since 1945. Hence the call letters standing for
"World's Largest Store", Sears.
WRDZ 1300 ♣ 1998-2015 Polnet Communications Polish One of two Radio Disney O&Os in the Chicago market.
The other, being WPJX. The call letters stand for "Radio
DIS(Z)ney".
WPJX 1500 1998-2002 Polnet Communications Spanish One of two Radio Disney O&Os in the
Chicago market. The other, being WRDZ.
San Francisco KSFO 560 ¤ 1994-2007 Cumulus Media News/Talk The letters KSFO is also the IATA code for
San Francisco International Airport.
KGO 810 ¤ 1945-2007 Cumulus Media Talk Was founded and originally owned by General Electric,
which founded RCA, which in turn founded NBC. Was
also a flagship station for ABC AM along with WABC
New York, KABC Los Angeles and WXYZ (now WXYT)
Detroit.
KMKY 1310 ♣ 1997-2015 Akal Broadcasting Ethnic/Bilingual The station carries a mix of Hindi and Punjabi
programming. The call letters come from Disney's
official mascot, MicKeY Mouse.
Dallas - Fort Worth KMKI 620 ♣ 1997-2015 Salem Media Group Spanish Christian Now known as Radio Luz KTNO. Previously, it was a Bloomberg Radio affiliate station as KEXB.
WBAP 820 ♠ ¤ 1986-2007 Cumulus Media News/Talk Previously owned by Capital Cities since 1974,
and simulcasts on KPLX 99.5 FM HD2.
Houston - Galveston KMIC 1590 ♣ 1999-2015 DAIJ Media, LLC Bollywood Music The call letters come from Disney's official mascot,
MICkey Mouse.
Washington, DC WMAL 630 ¤ 1977-2007 Cumulus Media News/Talk Simulcast on WMAL-FM 105.9 until July 1, 2019
Atlanta WDWD 590 ♠ ♣ 1986-2015 Salem Media Group Christian Talk Previously owned by Capital Cities for a short time
in 1985 leading up to its merger with ABC in 1986.
The call letters are simply Walt Disney's initials, twice.
Atlantic City WOND 1400 1950-1987 Longport Media News/Talk
Philadelphia WWJZ 640 ♣ 1999-2015 Relevant Radio Catholic Talk Relevant Radio O&O
Boston WMKI 1260 ♣ 2000-2015 Salem Media Group Conservative Talk Current call letters: WBIX
Miami - Fort Lauderdale WMYM 990 ♣ 1999-2015 Actualidad Radio Group News/Talk The call letters come from Disney's official mascot,
MickeY Mouse.
Detroit - Windsor WJR 760 ♠ ¤ 1986-2007 Cumulus Media News/Talk/Sports Previously owned by Capital Cities since 1964,
and simulcasts on WDVD 96.3 FM HD2.
WFDF 910 ♣ 2002-2015 Adell Broadcasting Christian Talk The station was originally in the Flint radio market
before moving to Detroit in 2006.
WXYZ 1270 1946-1984 Entercom Sports Talk CBS Sports Radio O&O as WXYT, was also a flagship
station for ABC AM along with WABC New York, KABC
Los Angeles, WLS Chicago and KGO San Francisco.
Seattle - Tacoma KKDZ 1250 ♣ 1998-2015 Akal Broadcasting Corporation Ethnic/Multilingual The station carries a mix of Hindi, Punjabi and English
programming. The call letters translate to the word
"KIDS(Z)".
Phoenix KMIK 1580 ♣ 1998-2015 CRC Broadcasting Company, Inc. Sports Radio Now with Sports radio at this time with the call
letters KQFN.
Minneapolis - St. Paul KDIZ 1440 ♣ 1986-2015 Salem Media Group Business Talk Part of the Wall Street Business Network as KYCR
Denver KDDZ 1690 ♦ ♣ 1999-2015 Salem Media Group Business Talk Current call letters: KDMT
Tampa - St. Petersburg WWMI 1380 ♣ 1998-2015 Salem Media Group Business Talk Part of the Wall Street Business Network
St. Louis WSDZ 1260 ♣ 1998-2015 Salem Media Group Conservative Talk The call letters come from "St. Louis" and
"DIS(Z)ney".
Portland - Salem - Vancouver, OR/WA KDZR 1640 ♦ ♣ 2001-2015 Salem Media Group Conservative Talk The call letters stand for "DIS(Z)ney Radio".
Charlotte WGFY 1480 ♣ 1998-2015 Charlotte Advent
Media Corporation 		Christian Talk LifeTalk Radio network affiliate
San Antonio KRDY 1160 ♣ 2003-2014 Salem Media Group Spanish Christian Talk The call letters stand for "Radio DisneY", before
the station was sold.
Pittsburgh WWCS 540 2005-2010 Birach Broadcasting Sports Talk SB Nation Radio affiliate. Disney/ABC never owned
the station but operated it under a Local Marketing
Agreement. Birach has since taken complete outright
control of the station.
WDDZ 1250 ♣ 1999-2015 Salem Media Group Conservative Talk Current call letters: WPGP
KQV 1410 1957-1974 Calvary, Inc. News
Sacramento KIID 1470 ♣ 2001-2015 Punjabi American Media Punjabi Part of a trimulcast with KOBO 1450 AM in
Yuba City and KWRU 1300 AM in Fresno.
Salt Lake City KWDZ 910 ♣ 2003-2015 Defunct Defunct The station was taken off the air in 2017 with its license
cancelled and subsequently deleted by the Federal
Communications Commission in 2018. The call letters
stood for "Walt DI(Y)S(Z)ney".
Orlando WDYZ 990 ♣ 2001-2015 Salem Media Group Contemporary
Christian 		A Spanish Christian Contemporary station, the
call letters stood for "DI(Y)S(Z)ney". The station became WTLN in 2019.
Cleveland WWMK 1260 ♣ 1998-2014 St. Peter the Rock
Media, Inc. 		Catholic Talk EWTN Radio network affiliate as WCCR
Milwaukee WKSH 1640 ♣ 2002-2014 Relevant Radio Catholic Talk Relevant Radio O&O as WSJP
Providence - New Bedford WDDZ 550 2001-2010 Relevant Radio Catholic Talk Relevant Radio O&O as WSJW
WPRO 630 ♠ 1986-1993 Cumulus Media News/Talk Previously owned by Capital Cities since 1959.
Simulcasts on co-owned 99.7 WEAN-FM.
Norfolk WHKT 1650 ♦ 2002-2010 Chesapeake-Portsmouth
Broadcasting Corporation 		Conservative Talk
Greensboro - Winston-Salem WCOG 1320 2005-2010 Curtis Media Group Sports Talk ESPN Radio network affiliate. Also part of a trimulcast
with WSML 1200 AM in Graham and WMFR 1230 AM in
High Point.
West Palm Beach WMNE 1600 2000-2010 Caribbean Media Group Ethnic Current call letters: WPOM
Jacksonville WBWL 600 2002-2010 Chesapeake-Portsmouth
Broadcasting Corporation 		Talk Current call letters: WBOB
New Orleans WBYU 1450 2002-2012 Defunct Defunct The station was taken off the air in 2011 with its license
cancelled and subsequently deleted by the Federal
Communications Commission in 2012.
Hartford - New Haven WDZK 1550 2000-2010 Blount Communications Christian Talk Current call letters: WSDK
Richmond, VA WDZY 1290 ♣ 2000-2014 Richmond Christian Radio Conservative Talk The station broadcasts with a Conservative talk format
with a Christian perspective. The call letters stand for
"DIS(Z)ney".
Louisville, KY WDRD 680 2002-2010 UB Louisville, LLC Sports Talk ESPN Radio network affiliate as WHBE,
also simulcasting on 105.7 WHBE-FM.
Tulsa KMUS 1380 2004-2011 Radio Las Americas, LLC Spanish The call letters come from Disney's official mascot,
Mickey MoUSe.
Albany - Schenectady - Troy, NY WDDY 1460 ♣ 2002-2014 Pax et Bonum, Inc. Catholic Talk EWTN Radio network affiliate as WOPG,
simulcasting 89.9 WOPG-FM.
Albuquerque - Santa Fe KALY 1240 2002-2012 KD Radio, Inc. Oldies Current call letters: KDSK, simulcasting with 92.7
KDSK-FM. The station also operates translator
K225CH 92.9 FM in Rio Rancho.
Toledo, OH WFRO 900 2001-2004 Defunct Defunct WFRO was taken off the air to allow WFDF to move
into Detroit and increase broadcast power. WSNQ,
also on 900 in Gaylord, Michigan, was also taken
off the air for the same reason.
Wichita - Hutchinson, KS KQAM 1480 2002-2010 Steckline Communications News/Talk Operates a translator station, K273CX
102.5 FM, also in Wichita.

FM Stations[]

Market Station† Years Owned Current Owner Current Format Notes
New York City WPLJ 95.5 ♦ ¤ 1948-2007 Educational Media Foundation Contemporary Christian Was a flagship station for ABC FM originally as WJZ-FM along with
KECA-FM (now KLOS) Los Angeles, WENR-FM (now WLS-FM)
Chicago and WXYZ-FM (now WRIF) Detroit.
Now an affiliate of K-Love.
Los Angeles KLOS 95.5 ♦ ¤ 1947-2007 Meruelo Group Album Rock Was a flagship station for ABC FM originally as KECA-FM along with
WJZ-FM (now WPLJ) New York, WENR-FM (now WLS-FM) Chicago
and WXYZ-FM (now WRIF) Detroit.
Chicago WLS-FM 94.7 ♦ ¤ 1948-2007 Cumulus Media Classic Hits Was a flagship station for ABC FM originally as WENR-FM along with
WJZ-FM (now WPLJ) New York, KECA-FM (now KLOS) Los Angeles
and WXYZ-FM (now WRIF) Detroit.
Dallas - Fort Worth KSCS 96.3 ♠ ¤ 1986-2007 Cumulus Media Country Previously owned by Capital Cities since 1974.
KTYS 96.7 ¤ 1998-2007 Cumulus Media Sports Talk SB Nation Radio affiliate as KTCK-FM, also simulcasting
KTCK 1310 AM.
Houston - Galveston KHMX 96.5 1967-1979 Entercom Hot AC
Washington, DC WJZW 105.9 ¤ 1997-2007 Cumulus Media News/Talk Simulcast of WMAL 630 AM as WMAL-FM until July 1, 2019
WRQX 107.3 ¤ 1977-2007 Educational Media Group Contemporary Christian Now an affiliate of K-Love as WLVW.
Atlanta WKHX-FM 101.5 ♠ ¤ 1986-2007 Cumulus Media Country Previously owned by Capital Cities since 1981.
WYAY 106.7 ¤ 1995-2007 Educational Media Foundation Contemporary Christian Now an affiliate of K-Love as WAKL.
Detroit - Windsor WDRQ 93.1 ¤ 1997-2007 Cumulus Media Country Acquired from Viacom as part of its departure from the
radio business.
WDVD 96.3 ♠ ¤ 1986-2007 Cumulus Media Hot AC Previously owned by Capital Cities since 1964, originally
acquired as WJR-FM.
WRIF 101.1 ♦ 1948-1986 Beasley Broadcast Group Active Rock Was a flagship station for ABC FM originally as WXYZ-FM along with
WJZ-FM (now WPLJ) New York, KECA-FM (now KLOS) Los Angeles
and WENR-FM (now WLS-FM) Chicago.
Minneapolis - St. Paul KQRS-FM 92.5 ¤ 1986-2007 Cumulus Media Classic Rock
KXXR 93.7 ¤ 1994-2007 Cumulus Media Active Rock
WGVX 105.1 ¤ 1997-2007 Cumulus Media Classic Hip-Hop Part of a trimulcast with WGVY 105.3 (now WRXP) in Cambridge
and WGVZ 105.7 (now WWWM-FM) in Eden Prairie.
Pittsburgh WDVE 102.5 1962-1974 iHeartMedia Mainstream Rock
Indianapolis WRDZ-FM 98.3 ♣ 2003-2015 iHeartMedia Mainstream Urban Was the last remaining Radio Disney O&O on the FM dial, before
being sold to iHeartMedia. Shortly thereafter, the call letters were
changed to WUBG and then to the current WZRL.
Providence - New Bedford WPRO-FM 92.3 ♠ 1986-1993 Cumulus Media Top 40 Previously owned by Capital Cities since 1959.
Little Rock - Pine Bluff KDIS-FM 99.5 ♣ 2003-2014 Salem Media Group Christian Talk The letters stood for "DISney", which were also shared
with KDIS 1110 AM in Los Angeles, despite different
owners.

References[]

  1. ^ The New York Times, February 10, 1953
  2. ^ "The History of WLS Radio!". www.wlshistory.com.
  3. ^ JFK Assassination: First Radio Network Bulletin on YouTube
  4. ^ "ABC REVAMPS FOR 4 FORMATS" (PDF). Billboard. September 2, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "600 stations set for new ABC" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 1, 1968. pp. 42–44. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  6. ^ "ABC Radio plans get FCC's qualified OK" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 1, 1968. pp. 44–45. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  7. ^ "New Lineups For ABC Networks" (PDF). Billboard. January 16, 1982. p. 21. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  8. ^ "ESPN, ABC Planning to Form Sports Radio Network in 1992". Lso Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 5, 1991. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  9. ^ Zumoff, Marc; Negin, Max (June 20, 2014). Total Sportscasting: Performance, Production, and Career Development. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1317906766. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  10. ^ Hochman, Steve (August 27, 1997). "Radio Disney Makes L.A. Debut". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  11. ^ "Citadel to Buy Most of Disney Radio Assets," The Wall Street Journal, February 6, 2006.
  12. ^ "ABC Radio to Merge with Citadel Broadcasting." Official press release. February 6, 2006.
  13. ^ List of radio services Archived August 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from CitadelMediaNetworks.com
  14. ^ "Disney and Citadel Announce Completion of ABC Radio Merger" Official Press Release. June 12, 2007
  15. ^ "ABC News Now Home Page". www.abcfmnews.com.
  16. ^ ABC Radio Networks Changes Name To Citadel Media - Citadel Media (released April 2, 2009)
  17. ^ "Cumulus will be digesting Citadel fast, once it takes over in late Q3". Radio-Info.com. March 14, 2011. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011.
  18. ^ Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official - Radio Insight (released August 30, 2013)
  19. ^ Cumulus/WestwoodOne To Establish CNN Powered News Service Radio Insight (Published July 31, 2014)
  20. ^ ABC Radio to Expand Operations Radio Insight (Published August 7, 2014)
  21. ^ https://radioinsight.com/headlines/200832/abc-audio-announces-addition-of-124-new-cumulus-affiliates/
  22. ^ "A 'Significant Number' Of People Laid Off At Westwood One". allaccess.com.
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