WFRL

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title: "WFRL" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["classic-country-radio-stations-in-the-united-states", "radio-stations-in-illinois", "radio-stations-established-in-1947", "1947-establishments-in-illinois", "freeport,-illinois"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFRL" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox radio station"]

FieldValue
nameWFRL
logoWFRL Iron Country 104.3 1570 logo.png
cityFreeport, Illinois
countryUS
areaStephenson County, Illinois
brandingIron Country 104.3 and 1570
frequency1570 kHz
translator
airdateOctober 28, 1947
formatClassic country
power
classB
facility_id63135
licensing_authorityFCC
coordinates
callsign_meaning"What Freeport Really Likes"
ownerBig Radio
sister_stationsWFPS, WEKZ, WBGR-FM, WQLF, WGEZ, WBEL, WWHG
webcast
website
::

| name = WFRL | logo = WFRL Iron Country 104.3 1570 logo.png | city = Freeport, Illinois | country = US | area = Stephenson County, Illinois | branding = Iron Country 104.3 and 1570 | frequency = 1570 kHz | translator = | repeater = | airdate = October 28, 1947 | format = Classic country | power = | haat = | class = B | facility_id = 63135 | licensing_authority = FCC | coordinates = | callsign_meaning = "What Freeport Really Likes" | former_callsigns = | affiliations = | owner = Big Radio | licensee = | sister_stations = WFPS, WEKZ, WBGR-FM, WQLF, WGEZ, WBEL, WWHG | webcast = | website =

WFRL (1570 AM) is a radio station licensed to Freeport, Illinois. WFRL airs a classic country format and is owned by Big Radio. Its studios and transmitter are at 834 North Tower Road, northeast of Freeport.

The station features local news, plus farm and local high school sports programming. WFRL operates 24 hours a day, but at one time was licensed as a daytime only station. WFRL is also rebroadcast on translator station W282CT 104.3 FM in Freeport.

History

WFRL began broadcasting October 28, 1947, on 1570 kHz, running 1,000 during daytime hours only. The station was licensed to Freeport Broadcasting Company, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Vincent S. Barker. Barker built the station's transmitter in his basement during World War II.

In 1959, the station was sold to Triad Television Corp for $275,000. In 1964, the station's power was increased to 5,000 watts. On April 11, 1965, its sister station, WFRL-FM, began broadcasting on 98.5. WFRL-FM is now WXXQ.

The station aired a country music format until June 1977 and flipped to a top 40 format with the change of ownership. In 1977, the station was sold to Bradford-Ross Associates, along with WFRL-FM, for $475,000. In 1980, the station was sold to Illinois Broadcasting, along with WXXQ, for $975,000. In 1980, the station had adopted a country music format. In 1983, the station was sold to a partnership of C.R. Griggs, James D. McQuality and Larry S. Ward. In 1985, the station was sold to Freeport Radio Associates, along with WXXQ, for $1 million.

By 1989, the station had adopted an adult contemporary format, and the station had begun nighttime operations, running 500 watts. In 1991, the station was sold to Stateline Broadcasting, along with WXXQ, for $900,000. In 1993, the station added talk programming. In 1995, the station was sold to Connoisseur Communications, along with WXXQ, for $2.3 million. By 1996, talk programming had replaced all music on the station. In 1996, the station was sold to Eveningstar Media Group for $245,000. The station temporarily simulcast 1440 WROK while the sale was pending.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/WFRL1570.png" caption="Former logo"] ::

In 1998, the station adopted an adult standards format. In 2005, the station was sold to Maverick Media. In 2006, the station was sold to Green County Broadcasting, along with 92.1 WFPS, for $1,475,000. In 2010, the station was an affiliate of the short lived "Hit Parade Radio" oldies network, which featured DJs Larry Lujack and Wink Martindale. After the network's shutdown, WFRL retained the oldies format with local personalities. In 2017, WFRL switched to a classic country format.

WFRL was granted a modification in August 2022 to change its signal from directional to non-directional and reduce power to 1,000 watts daytime and 210 watts nighttime. This took effect as of August 2023.

Translator

| call1 = W282CT | freq1 = 104.3 | watts1 = 250 | class1 = D | fid1 = 202101 | city1 = Freeport, Illinois | coord1 =

References

References

  1. "WFRL Founder V. S. Barker Dies Thursday", ''[[Freeport Journal-Standard]]''. July 25, 1975. p. 10.
  2. (November 10, 1947). "WFRL in Freeport Begins Operations on 1570 kc".
  3. [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=52706 History Cards for WFRL], fcc.gov. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  4. Ghrist, John R. (1996). ''Valley Voices: A Radio History''. Crossroads Communications. p. 493-494.
  5. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1959/1959-08-10-BC.pdf Ownership Changes]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]]''. August 10, 1959. p. 93. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  6. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/C-1-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1978]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]]. 1978. p. C-65. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  7. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-02-07.pdf Changing Hands]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]]''. February 7, 1977. p. 76. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  8. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/1980-11-24-BC.pdf Changing Hands]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]]''. November 24, 1980. p. 60. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  9. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1983/B-Radio-Ala-Mt-1983-YB.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting/Cablecasting]]. 1983. p. B-73. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  10. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-11-07.pdf Ownership changes]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]]''. November 7, 1983. p. 83. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  11. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-02-18.pdf Changing Hands]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]]''. February 18, 1985. p. 79-80. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  12. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1989/B-1%20Radio%20Ala%20to%20Mont%201989-5.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1989]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable]]. 1989. p. B-92. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  13. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1991/RR-1991-09-06.pdf Transactions]", ''[[Radio & Records]]''. September 6, 1991. p. 9. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  14. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/IDX/IDX/M-Street-1993-05-OCR-Page-0023.pdf Format Changes]", ''The M-Street Journal''. Vol. 10, No. 21. May 26, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  15. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1995/RR-1995-08-25.pdf Transactions]", ''[[Radio & Records]]''. August 25, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  16. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/IDX/IDX/M-Street-1996-05-OCR-Page-0029.pdf Format Changes]", ''The M-Street Journal''. Vol. 13, No. 21. May 22, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  17. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-05-24.pdf Transactions]", ''[[Radio & Records]]''. May 24, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  18. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/IDX/IDX/M-Street-1996-10-OCR-Page-0001.pdf Format Changes]", ''The M-Street Journal''. Vol. 13, No. 40. October 2, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  19. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/IDX/IDX/M-Street-1998-10-OCR-Page-0033.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", ''The M-Street Journal''. Vol. 15, No. 43. October 28, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  20. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2005/RR-2005-03-11.pdf Deal of the Week]", ''[[Radio & Records]]''. March 11, 2005. p. 9. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  21. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180915124759/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101109598&qnum=5040&copynum=1&exhcnum=1 Asset Sale Agreement], fcc.gov. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  22. "[http://www.northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news0610.html Broadcasting News-June 2010]", Upper Midwest Broadcasting. June 7, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  23. "[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/638-hit-parade-radios-parade-is-over Hit Parade Radio's Parade Is Over]", ''Chicagoland Radio and Media''. June 4, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2018.

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classic-country-radio-stations-in-the-united-statesradio-stations-in-illinoisradio-stations-established-in-19471947-establishments-in-illinoisfreeport,-illinois