WVIV-FM (93.5

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...

) is a Spanish radio station licensed to Lemont, Illinois, serving the

Chicago metropolitan area The Chicago metropolitan area, also referred to as Chicagoland, is the largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the Midwest, containing the City of Chicago along with its surrounding suburbs and satellite cities. ...

. It is owned by

TelevisaUnivision TelevisaUnivision (formerly known as Univision Communications) is a Mexican-American media company headquartered in Miami and Mexico City that owns American Spanish language broadcast network Univision and free-to-air channels in Mexico such as ...

. The station is a part of TelevisaUnivision's Uforia Audio Network brand. The station's studios are located at 625 North Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, and the transmitter is atop the Oakbrook Terrace Tower in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. WVIV is also the affiliate station for the Chicago Bears team.

History

WAJP

The station began broadcasting April 17, 1960, and originally held the call sign WAJP. The station was owned by Alfred J. Pohlers and Mary Jane Pohlers, and its call sign was based on Alfred J. Pohlers' initials.Ghrist, John R. (1996). ''Valley Voices: A Radio History''. Crossroads Communications. p. 164-166. WAJP aired a beautiful music format, along with polka shows and other specialty programming blocks.
1976 Broadcasting Yearbook
',

Broadcasting Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

, 1976. p. C-60. Retrieved January 12, 2019.Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands
, '' Chicago Tribune Magazine''. March 4, 1979. p. 35. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1985
', Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1985. p. B-83. Retrieved January 12, 2019. WAJP was originally licensed to

Joliet, Illinois Joliet ( ) is a city in Will County, Illinois, Will and Kendall County, Illinois, Kendall counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County, Illinois, Will County. It had a population of ...

, and its studios and transmitter was located on Ruby Street in Joliet. The station had an ERP of 1,000 watts at a HAAT of . In 1972, the station's ERP was increased to 3,000 watts and its HAAT was increased to .

WJTW

In 1985, the station was sold to New Horizons Communications for $450,000. Shortly after the station was sold, its call sign was changed to WJTW and it adopted an

adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

format. The station continued to air an adult contemporary format until 2003.
Chicagoland Radio Waves
', MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994
',

Broadcasting & Cable ''Broadcasting & Cable'' (''B&C'', or ''Broadcasting+Cable'') was a telecommunications industry monthly trade magazine and, later, news website published by Future US. Founded in 1931 as ''Broadcasting'', subsequent mergers, acquisitions and ...

, 1994. p. B-114. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999
',

, 1999. p. D-137. Retrieved January 13, 2019. As an adult contemporary station, it was branded "Lite Hits", "Lucky 93.5", and finally "Star 93.5". In 1995, the station was sold to Barden Broadcasting for 800,000. In 1998, the station was sold to Pride Communications. Later that year, the station's transmitter was moved to the east side of Joliet, near U.S. 6 and Draper Ave., and its HAAT was increased to . In 2000, the station was sold to NextMedia Group.

Spanish language formats

In 2003, Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation purchased the station for $32 million. The station's call sign was changed to WVIX and it adopted a Spanish hits format branded "Viva", simulcasting 103.1 WVIV-FM in Highland Park, Illinois.Radio Active
, '' Airplay Monitor''. October 3, 2003. p. 3. Retrieved January 13, 2019. Shortly thereafter, the station's transmitter was moved to Lockport, Illinois, near I-355 and 151st Street, and its ERP was increased to 6,000 watts at . In July 2005, WVIV-FM/WVIX flipped formats to Hurban as "La Kalle".Univision rebranding WVIV in Chicago
, ''Radio & Television Business Report''. November 30, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2019. In 2009, the WVIV-FM/WVIX simulcast adopted a Spanish oldies format branded "Recuerdo 103.1/93.5". Feder, Robert.
FM news war could break out with Newsradio simulcast
, '' Time Out Chicago''. June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2019. In 2011, the station's city of license was changed to Lemont, Illinois. On July 1, 2011, the WVIV-FM/WVIX simulcast changed their format back to Hurban, branded as "La Kalle 103.1/93.5" after the format moved from WPPN 106.7 FM, which flipped to Spanish AC as "Pasion 106.7". On December 12, 2011, the WVIV-FM/WVIX simulcast was rebranded as "Maxima 103.1/93.5", as its format shifted towards Spanish CHR.Mixed Results for Hispanic Radio as Overall Dollars Tumble in Chicago
, Hispanic Market Overview. January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2019. The station's branding would later be changed to "Latino Mix 103.1/93.5".Venta, Lance.
Univision Sells Chicago FM
, ''Radio Insight''. May 25, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2019. On May 25, 2017, Univision announced that 103.1 would break off the simulcast and be sold to Polish National Alliance for $5.5 million.Jacobson, Adam.
Univision Spins A Suburban Chicago FM
, ''Radio & Television Business Report''. May 25, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2019. A condition of the sale was 93.5 WVIX completing its move to the Oakbrook Terrace Tower, where it would operate with an ERP of 3.5 kW at an HAAT of . Shortly after the announcement of 103.1's sale, 93.5 completed its move to Oakbrook Terrace.Application Search Details - BLH-20170523AAS
fcc.gov. Retrieved January 13, 2019. On June 16, 2017, WVIV-FM and WVIX swapped calls.

References

External links

* {{Univision Communications VIV-FM Univision Radio Network stations Radio stations established in 1960 1960 establishments in Illinois VIV-FM Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States Latin rhythmic radio stations Lemont, Illinois Joliet, Illinois