KWIL
Radio station in Albany, Oregon, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KWIL (790 AM, "KWIL For Christ") is a commercial radio station licensed to Albany, Oregon, United States, and serving the Willamette Valley with a Christian format.[3][4] Owned by Extra Mile Media, Inc., studios and transmitter are located on Santiam Highway SE (U.S. Route 20).
| |
| Broadcast area | Willamette Valley |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 790 kHz |
| Branding | KWIL For Christ |
| Programming | |
| Format | Christian radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Extra Mile Media, Inc. |
| KHPE | |
| History | |
First air date | January 14, 1941[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 |
| Translator | 96.9 K245DI (Albany) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | kwilforchrist.com |
Programming is also heard on 250-watt FM translator K245DI at 96.9 MHz in Albany.
History
KWIL signed on the air on January 14, 1941.[5] It originally was powered at 250 watts, broadcasting on a frequency of 1240 kHz.[6] The station was owned and operated by the Central Willamette Broadcasting Company.[6] 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.[7] Management saw little chance of making the station profitable and it was taken off the air on August 21, 1956.[8]
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 also had to use a directional antenna with different daytime and nighttime coverage patterns.[9]
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.[4]
Previous logo
(KWIL's logo under previous "The Word" branding)