WNIL
| City of license | Niles, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
Daytime Nighttime |
| Branding | 1290 The Fan |
| Frequency | 1290 kHz |
| First air date | 1956 |
| Format | Sports |
| Power |
500 watts (Daytime) 44 watts (Nighttime) |
| Class | D |
| Callsign meaning | Niles, Michigan |
| Affiliations | Fox Sports Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Regional Radio Sports Network |
| Owner | Federated Media |
| Sister stations | WAOR |
| Website | WNIL Online |
WNIL (1290 The Fan) is an AM radio station located in Niles, Michigan and broadcasting to the Niles-Buchanan region airing a sports radio format. It broadcasts on AM frequency 1290 kHz and is under ownership of Federated Media.
History
WNIL began its broadcasting activities in 1956 under an unknown format but in 1964, it was notable when Tommy James & the Shondells recorded their hit "Hanky Panky" (it was a summer hit in 1966 and the studio was located at Sycamore and 5th Street). In the 1990s, it dropped its music format in favor of sports radio programming. Shortly in 1999, the sports format is switched to an all-Oldies station from Jones Radio Networks' Good Time Oldies satellite feed. In June 1999, the FCC approved a license transfer from its original owner Niles Broadcasting to Pathfinder Communications (now Federated Media) along with sister station WAOR.
Less than a year later, WNIL changed affiliations to ABC Radio's "Memories/Unforgettable Favorites" (a soft rock/AC and oldies hybrid) and ran that feed even throughout the merger with "Stardust" and the name change to Timeless Classics/Timeless Favorites. When 2007 began, local newscasts and talk programs were discontinued, making it an all music station. However, in March 2007, the Timeless radio format is dropped in favor of the now syndicated talk programming. As of October, 2010, the format had previously gone to a Christian Radio theme, being described on its website www.1290wnil.com as "The Mighty 1290 - Spirited Talk Radio", focusing on "Faith, and Family Values".
In the summer of 2012, WNIL, along with sister station WAOR (now at 95.7 FM Nappanee, Indiana), switched once again to a sports format. Most programming comes from Fox Sports Radio, except for the Jim Rome show from CBS Sports Radio.
References
External links
- Query the FCC's AM station database for WNIL
- Radio-Locator Information on WNIL
- Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for WNIL
Coordinates: 41°49′22″N 86°17′03″W / 41.82278°N 86.28417°W
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