WENJ
WENJ (97.3 FM) is a radio station that airs a sports radio format, licensed to Millville. Its transmitter is located in Corbin City, New Jersey, where it shares a tower with WRTQ. The station is affiliated with ESPN Radio. Its studios are in Northfield, New Jersey.
 | |
| City | Millville, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | South Jersey |
| Frequency | 97.3 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 97.3 ESPN |
| Slogan | South Jersey's Sports Radio South Jersey's Classic Rock (HD4) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Subchannels |
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| Affiliations | ESPN Radio Compass Media Networks Fútbol de Primera Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Townsquare Media (Townsquare Media Atlantic City II License, LLC) |
| WFPG, WPGG, WPUR, WSJO | |
| History | |
First air date | February 2, 1962 (as WMVB-FM) |
Former call signs | WMVB-FM (1962-1988) WBSS-FM (1988-2002) WIXM (2002-2006) WXKW (2006-2009) WENJ-FM (2009-2012) |
Call sign meaning | W ESPN New Jersey |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 72981 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts (analog) 2,000 watts (digital) |
| HAAT | 142 meters (466 feet) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°19′14.30″N 74°46′16.20″W |
| Translator(s) |
|
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live FM/HD1 Listen Live HD4 |
| Website | 973espn.com Rock 104.1 |
History
WENJ first signed on February 2, 1962 as WMVB-FM, an FM sister station to WMVB (1440), airing an easy listening format; through the 1970s, the station began to evolve to an adult contemporary format.[1] In 1988 the station changed their call letters to WBSS a.k.a. "The New Boss 97 FM Stopless Music...For Shore!" and become South Jersey's 1st ever CHR station.[1] In 1995, WBSS was sold to the owners of WKXW (101.5),[1] which switched the station to a simulcast of WKXW's news/talk and oldies format, with a small amount of local news.[2]
On March 15, 2002, WBSS dropped the simulcast of WKXW in favor of a modern adult contemporary format,[3] with a call change to WIXM (referring to the station's branding of "Mix 97.3") following a few weeks later.[4]
In November 2004, in the wake of sister station WSJO debuting a hot adult contemporary format, WIXM reverted to the WKXW simulcast;[5] two years later, the station was renamed to WXKW.[6]
In May 2009, WKXW began to remove references to having a simulcast partner for South Jersey from its promotions, indicating a planned format change for WXKW;[7] on June 1, the station switched to ESPN Radio as WENJ-FM.[8] The sports format had previously been heard in the market on WENJ, which switched to ESPN Deportes Radio after a brief period of simulcasting. The station simulcast again on that station from January 2, 2011 to October 15, 2012.
On October 31, 2012, the station dropped the -FM suffix.
On May 23, 2019, Townsquare Media launched Rock 104.1 on WENJ-HD4 and on simulcast translator W281BH in Atlantic City broadcasting a classic rock format.[9]
Play-by-play sports
As of 2020, the station carries Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers games, Rutgers Scarlet Knights football, ESPN Radio's MLB and NBA coverage as well as Compass Media Networks', ESPN Radio's and Westwood One's NFL coverage and the latter's college football, The Masters and NCAA March Madness coverage. From 2005-2010, it carried Sports USA's NFL coverage on Sunday afternoons.
References
- "New Jersey FM Radio History". Radio-History.com. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- Fybush, Scott (August 25, 2000). "NERW On The Road!". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- Fybush, Scott (March 18, 2002). "Millennium Spins it at the Shore". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- Fybush, Scott (April 17, 2002). "Saga Buys WXOD/WKBK". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- Fybush, Scott (November 8, 2004). "Salty Brine, 1918-2004". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- Fybush, Scott (July 3, 2006). "WCRB Move Nears Completion". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- Fybush, Scott (May 25, 2009). "On Memorial Day, No On-Air "Rewound"". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- "ESPN-FM 97.3 to cover Cape May to Toms River, Atlantc City to Philadelphia". Gloucester County Times. NJ.com. May 29, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
- https://radioinsight.com/headlines/177059/townsquare-launches-rock-104-1-atlantic-city/