WZIP
Broadcast areaAkron metro area
Frequency88.1 MHz
BrandingZ88
Programming
FormatRhythmic CHR
Ownership
OwnerUniversity of Akron
History
First air date
December 10, 1962 (1962-12-10)
Former call signs
  • WAUP (1962–89)
  • WZIP-FM (1989)
Call sign meaning
"Akron Zips"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID66613
ClassB
ERP7,500 watts
HAAT250 m (820 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°4′58.1″N 81°38′2.0″W / 41.082806°N 81.633889°W / 41.082806; -81.633889
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewzip.fm

WZIP (88.1 FM) is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to Akron, Ohio, carrying a college radio–programmed rhythmic CHR format known as "Z88". Owned by the University of Akron, the station serves the Akron metro area. WZIP's studios are located in Kolbe Hall on the University of Akron campus, while the station transmitter resides in Copley Township. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WZIP is available online.

The station was established by the university as WAUP in 1962 and has served as a training ground for students in the university's School of Communication throughout its history. After broadcasting primarily educational programming and fine arts fare in its early years, it aired a jazz format from the mid-1970s until the mid-1980s, when it adopted its present hit radio orientation.

History

Even prior to the launch of a dedicated broadcast station, the University of Akron already had decades of involvement with radio programming. In 1927, the Radio Workshop began over station WADC, and university programs aired on various AM and FM stations in the Akron area, as well as WJW in Cleveland.[2] In December 1952, a carrier current station, "WUOA", had opened and was audible on the campus.[3]

On December 8, 1961, the university applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a construction permit to build an FM station to broadcast with an effective radiated power of 2,931 watts. The original application specified 91.5 MHz, but it was amended to specify 88.1 MHz (to be vacated by WKSU at Kent State University), and the FCC approved on March 19, 1962.[4] The antenna was erected in late September,[5] and WAUP ("Akron University Programs") made its debut on December 10, 1962, from studios in Kolbe Hall.[6][7] It originally broadcast for four hours a day with a variety of campus news, taped educational discussions, and fine arts programming.[8] Broadcast time expanded to 50 hours a week by 1969,[9] and by the mid-1970s, the station was airing jazz 13 hours a day during the week.[10]

After the 1970 Kent State shootings, university officials feared the potential takeover of WAUP by "radicals" who might use it to disseminate their messages. As a result, they installed a secret power switch somewhere in Kolbe Hall that could be used to disconnect power to the station's studios in the building were something to happen. A 1996 renovation of the building turned up the switch in a wall panel on the building's second floor.[11]

In 1981, the station was approved by the university to lease space on a new tower in Copley Township that was being built by WEAO television, in which the University of Akron is a member; to compensate for increased height, the power was dropped to 330 watts (with the provision for more if stations in Berea and Bainbridge could be relocated to other frequencies). The improved facility would increase the station's coverage area from an estimated 500,000 to 2 million people and improve the station's reliability by providing a more consistent electrical supply.[12] The reduced power would also reduce cable interference on the campus[12] and save on electricity.[13] In 1984, the university applied for use of a directional antenna at higher power;[14] the station also switched from jazz to a contemporary hit radio format.[15]

In 1989, the university reached an agreement with WZIP, a radio station in Jupiter, Florida, to share the call sign (until that station changed later in the year) and adopt WZIP for itself, in reference to the Zips, the athletics mascot.[16] The move coincided with the activation of the higher-power facility, increasing its coverage area. Bigger changes were also announced in the wake of the new designation: the university ended its decades-long arrangement with commercial station WAKR to air its athletics events, believing that WAKR had higher priorities than its football and basketball contests;[17] in addition, the studios in Guzzetta Hall were expanded.[17]

The university then proceeded to cancel all 22 hours of specialty ethnic programs it had aired on weekends, citing an increased interest by students in the AU communications program.[18] This decision led to some outcry from the programs' producers and listeners; a 242-word letter from Cleveland mayor George Voinovich, expressing that he was "totally amazed and disappointed";[19] and a complaint from a university faculty member asking for action in connection with WZIP's license renewal.[20] The programs resurfaced at the start of 1990 on WAPS, the station of Akron Public Schools.[21] In their stead, the station aired several public affairs programs, one or two hours of international music, and a Sunday "Ziprock Hot 100 Countdown" with university guests.[22] Most Zips athletics events moved back to commercial radio in 1992 when the university joined the Mid-American Conference.[23]

In 1998, WZIP increased its power to 7,500 watts after a multi-year effort, adding Mansfield, Cleveland, and Youngstown to its fringe coverage area; several stations in the region had changed their antenna patterns or frequencies, which allowed for the power increase.[24] It returned to Kolbe Hall as part of a $7.4 million renovation of the building. The station occupied most of the remodeled facility's third floor, with new studios.[25]

A subcarrier of WZIP also provides the region's radio reading service, Seeing Eye Radio, which is owned by the local affiliate of Goodwill Industries. Goodwill acquired the service in 2009 after it became financially insolvent; the university forgave half of a $19,000 debt it was owed for broadcasting the service.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WZIP". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "Glassed-In Rooms, Sound Proofing All Part of AU Radio Workshop". The Akron Buchtelite. November 9, 1962. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  3. ↑ Earlenbaugh, Don (December 12, 1952). "Open U Radio Station Monday: Closed Circuit To Be Heard On Campus". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 35. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ FCC History Cards for WZIP
  5. ↑ "FM Tower Up". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. October 1, 1962. p. 19. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "AU On FM Air In Fall". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. May 20, 1962. p. 35. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "University FM Station On Air, December 10". The Akron Alumnus. January 1963. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  8. ↑ "FM Station At AU On Air Monday". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. December 6, 1962. p. 16. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "WAUP: Gulbis-Baker Named For Top Positions". The Buchtelite. May 9, 1969. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ Redebon, Mike (September 24, 1976). "Cosmic Crazes". The Buchtelite. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  11. ↑ Beck, Tom (May 4, 2000). "Preparing for the worst". The Buchtelite. p. 5. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  12. 1 2 O'Neill, Fenton (November 6, 1981). "New tower will mean more power for WAUP". The Buchtelite. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  13. ↑ Webb, Dennis (July 1, 1982). "New antenna brings savings to WAUP". The Buchtelite. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  14. ↑ Paparese Evans, Diane (June 5, 1984). "Akron U asks for FCC permit to boost radio station's power". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. C3. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Shelley, Laura (September 27, 1984). "WAUP increases watts to 3,500". The Buchtelite. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  16. ↑ "WAUP switches to WZIP". The Buchtelite. June 15, 1989. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Seaburn, John (June 17, 1989). "Akron U sports to be on different station". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. C1, C3. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Dyer, Bob (July 30, 1989). "Weekend programs canceled: AU radio says adios to ethnics". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. G1, G5. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Dyer, Bob (August 20, 1989). "AU offers logical argument on student station". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. E2. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Dyer, Bob (September 10, 1989). "End of ethnic shows draws complaint against Akron U". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. G2. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Dyer, Bob (December 17, 1989). "WMMS' format switch is just truth in advertising". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. H2. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "WZIP introduces line-up of new shows for school year". The Buchtelite. September 7, 1989. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Zips switch radio stations with change in conferences". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. July 2, 1992. p. B5. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ Murphy, Debbie (February 19, 1998). "WZIP-FM pumps more power: FCC, FAA and Canadian government had to approve". The Buchtelite. pp. 1, 3. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  25. ↑ Byard, Katie (May 2, 1998). "All eyes focus on Kolbe Hall". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. B1, B3. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ Biliczky, Carol (September 20, 2009). "Reading service finds buyer: Akron Goodwill purchases radio station for blind, will continue operations". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. B1, B2. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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