WATQ
 | |
| |
Broadcast area | Eau Claire–Chippewa Falls |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 106.7 MHz |
| Branding | Moose Country 106.7 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic country |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBIZ, WBIZ-FM, WMEQ, WMEQ-FM, WQRB | |
| History | |
First air date | November 5, 1992 |
Former call signs | WVXD (1992–1997) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| 36357 | |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 35,000 watts |
| HAAT | 178 m (584 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 45°11′4.00″N 91°43′52.00″W / 45.1844444°N 91.7311111°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | moose106.com |
WATQ (106.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format. Licensed to Chetek, Wisconsin, United States, the station serves the Eau Claire area. The station is currently owned by iHeartMedia, Inc..[2]
History
[edit]The construction permit application for a new FM station on 106.7 MHz at Chetek was filed with the Federal Communications Commission on September 27, 1991, and was granted on September 18, 1992.[3] The permit was originally associated with the FCC application identifier 910927MB, and the call sign WVXD was assigned on November 5, 1992.[4] The permit grant was challenged by Red Cedar Broadcasting; the FCC denied Red Cedar's application for review of a staff decision that had denied Red Cedar's informal objection and granted Lake Shore Communications of Chetek's application for WVXD(FM).[5]
The unbuilt station changed hands during the 1990s. The M Street Journal reported a proposed transfer of WVXD's construction permit from Lake Shore Communications of Chetek, Inc., to Chetek Broadcasting Co., Inc.; FCC records list that assignment application as filed November 20, 1995, and granted April 19, 1996.[6][3] Chetek Broadcasting also pursued engineering changes to the construction permit, including 1996 filings involving changes to effective radiated power, antenna and transmitter location.[7] Later in 1996, The M Street Journal reported that Chetek Broadcasting Company, Inc., and Bloomer Broadcasting Company, Inc., became Phillips Broadcasting Company, Inc.; FCC records list the related assignment application as filed October 10, 1996, and granted October 23, 1996.[8][3]
The station changed call signs from WVXD to WATQ on February 14, 1997.[4] Phillips Broadcasting filed the station's license-to-cover application on June 2, 1997, and the FCC granted the license on September 3, 1997.[4][3] By 1999, radio trade publications described WATQ as a classic country station using the "Moose" identity.[9][10]
In April 1999, Cumulus Media agreed to acquire Phillips Broadcasting's Eau Claire-market stations for $14.8 million. The group included WATQ, WQRB, WBIZ, WBIZ-FM, WMEQ and WMEQ-FM. Cumulus began operating the stations under a local marketing agreement while awaiting FCC approval.[11] In 2000, Cumulus' Eau Claire stations were included in an exchange with Clear Channel Communications. The FCC's Clear Channel/AMFM merger order listed WATQ as being assigned from Cumulus Licensing Corp. to Capstar TX L.P. under file number BALH-20000501AAT.[12][13]
WATQ continued as part of Clear Channel's Eau Claire cluster. In 2002, Northpine reported that WATQ's studio was co-located with Clear Channel's other Eau Claire stations.[14] Clear Channel's radio business was renamed iHeartMedia in 2014.[15] FCC public notices show later corporate filings involving WATQ, including a 2020 assignment from Capstar TX, LLC to iHM Licenses, LLC and a 2024 transfer of control within iHeartMedia.[16][17]
As of 2026, WATQ is licensed to Chetek, Wisconsin, as a Class C2 FM station on 106.7 MHz and is branded "Moose Country 106.7", airing a classic country format.[4][18]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WATQ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ↑ "WATQ Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- 1 2 3 4 "FCCInfo Application Search Results: WATQ, Facility ID 36357". FCCInfo.com. Capitol Airspace Group. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "FCCInfo Results: WATQ(FM), Chetek, Wisconsin". FCCInfo.com. Capitol Airspace Group. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Chetek, WI". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ "The M Street Journal" (PDF). M Street Corporation. December 6, 1995. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ↑ "Broadcasting & Cable" (PDF). October 28, 1996. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ↑ "The M Street Journal" (PDF). M Street Corporation. October 30, 1996. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ↑ "The M Street Journal" (PDF). M Street Corporation. April 28, 1999. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ↑ "Airplay Monitor" (PDF). April 16, 1999. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ↑ Ellis, Jon (April 1999). "Broadcasting News—April 1999". Northpine. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ Ellis, Jon (May 2000). "Broadcasting News—May 2000". Northpine. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Applications of AMFM, Inc. and Clear Channel Communications, Inc. for Consent to Transfer Control of and Assign Broadcast Station Licenses and Permits; FCC 00-296" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. August 24, 2000. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ Ellis, Jon (October 2002). "Broadcasting News—October 2002". Northpine. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Clear Channel Becomes iHeartMedia". iHeartMedia. September 16, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Broadcast Applications" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. October 22, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Broadcast Actions" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. August 19, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Moose Country 106.7". iHeartMedia. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 36357 (WATQ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WATQ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
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