WDZ [SEP] licensed to broadcast to
WDZ
WDZ (1050 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Decatur, Illinois. It broadcasts a sports radio format. WDZ is owned by the Neuhoff Corporation, which also owns four other local radio stations, WCZQ, WDZQ, WSOY and WSOY-FM. Studios and offices are located on North Water Street and the transmitter is near St. Louis Bridge Road.
WDZ calls itself the oldest radio station in Illinois, starting as an experimental agricultural station in 1917 (although WBBM in Chicago traces its history to
Tuscola, Illinois. The original call sign was 9JR and the original intent of the station was to broadcast grain prices, making it the first radio station to do so. The station later started mixing some music in with the agricultural reports. In January, 1922, the call letters WDZ were assigned to the station.
The radio station's power was increased to 1000 watts in 1939 with a new tower. During that time, WDZ aired remote broadcasts that were unique for a rural station. The station started the use