WPNA-FM

WPNA-FM (103.1 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Evanston, Illinois, and serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It is owned by The Polish National Alliance, through licensee Alliance Radio, LLC. It airs a mix of Polish and International contemporary hits.

WPNA-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 6,000 watts. The transmitter is atop the Bank One Building in Evanston.

History MOR era The construction permit for the 103.1 FM frequency was issued to North Suburban Radio on November 23, 1960, bearing the call sign WHPK (soon changed to WNSH-FM). The station's transmitter was located in Deerfield, Illinois, with an ERP of 1,000 watts at a HAAT of , and its community of license was Highland Park, Illinois. By the time the station came on the air, its call sign was changed to WEEF-FM.

The station began broadcasting August 15, 1963,1971 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1971. p. B-64. Retrieved January 11, 2019. simulcasting with AM 1430 WEEF.Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 337-339. WEEF's call sign stood for "Eli E. Fink", the station's original owner.Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved January 11, 2019."Changing hands", Broadcasting. January 8, 1968. p. 44. Retrieved January 11, 2019. Both stations aired a middle-of-the-road (MOR) format.Duston, Anne. "Vet Windy City MOR Station to Progressive", Billboard. July 29, 1972. pp. 16, 35. Retrieved January 10, 2019."Stations By Format", Billboard. October 16, 1965. p. 62. Retrieved January 11, 2019. In December 1967, both stations were sold to Unique Radio for $350,000."For the Record", Broadcasting. January 15, 1968. p. 81. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

Progressive rock era In July 1972, both stations changed formats to progressive rock. Among the air personalities during this time were Ed Walker, Dale Scott, Lori Rhinegold, Paul Knutson, and Mike Megaris. Both stations were sold to Vanguard Communications for $290,000 in spring of 1973, and the station's call sign was changed to WVVX-FM."Ownership changes", Broadcasting. February 12, 1973. p. 90. Retrieved January 11, 2019. In 1975, the station's ERP was increased to 3,000 watts and its HAAT was increased to .

Brokered programming By 1977, the station had adopted a brokered ethnic format, airing a high amount of German language programming.1977 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1977. p. C-64. Retrieved January 11, 2019. In autumn 1977, the station was sold to Universal Broadcasting for $183,750."Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. August 1, 1977. p. 30. Retrieved January 11, 2019.Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1981, Broadcasting & Cable, 1981. p. C-71. Retrieved January 11, 2019.Kening, Dan. "Narrowcasters", Chicago Tribune. June 4, 1991. Retrieved January 11, 2019.Hart, Marla. "Heavy Metal In a Heady Mix", Chicago Tribune. May 3, 1992. Retrieved January 11, 2019. By 1979 the station was primarily airing oldies music, along with some religious and ethnic programming."Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

In 1982, the station's transmitter was moved to Highland Park, Illinois, and its HAAT was increased to .Public Notice Comment – BPH-19790718AE, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2019.Public Notice Comment – BLH-19820922AI, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2019.

Throughout the 1980s and until 1998, the station aired brokered ethnic programming, along with a few religious programs.Chicago Radio Guide. Vol. 1, No. 1. May 1985. p. 3. Retrieved January 11, 2019."Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 10, No. 5. February 3, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved January 11, 2019."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 5. February 4, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved January 11, 2019. On May 11, 1985, the station began airing the heavy metal/hard rock program Real Precious Metal overnights.Brogan, Daniel. "Meek Radio Signal Inherits Heavy-Metal Beat", Chicago Tribune. May 29, 1986. Retrieved January 11, 2019. The station continued airing Real Precious Metal until 1993, when the program moved to 107.9 WYSY.

In 1992, the station was sold to Douglas Broadcasting for $3.7 million."Ownership Changes", Broadcasting & Cable. May 4, 1992. p. 78. Retrieved January 11, 2019.Public Notice Comment – BTCH-19920124HY, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

Big City Radio ownership In 1997, WVVX was sold to Big City Radio for $9.5 million."Special Report", Broadcasting & Cable. February 2, 1998. pp. 53 & 56. Retrieved January 11, 2019.Hart, Marla. "Changing channels: WVVX is WXXY. Why? Because...", Chicago Tribune. March 22, 1998. Retrieved January 11, 2019. Big City Radio also purchased another station on 103.1, WJDK in Morris, Illinois (now WCSJ-FM). In February 1998, the station's call sign was changed to WXXY, and the two stations adopted a rhythmic oldies format known as "Chicago's Heart and Soul".

In 1999, the station's transmitter was moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois, and its ERP was increased to 6,000 watts at a HAAT of .Federal Communications Commission FM Broadcast Station Construction Permit, fcc.gov. June 30, 1999. Retrieved January 12, 2019.Federal Communications Commission FM Broadcast Station License, fcc.gov. August 18, 1999. Retrieved January 12, 2019.Application Search Details – BLH-19990730KB, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2019

Citing difficulties in competing with WUBT "103.5 The Beat", which had recently switched to a rhythmic oldies format, the station changed formats on August 6, 1999."Big City /Chicago Drops 'Soul' For '80s", Radio & Records. August 13, 1999. pp. 3 & 20. Retrieved January 11, 2019."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 16, No. 32. August 11, 1999. p. 1. Retrieved January 11, 2019. WXXY and WYXX adopted an 1980s hits format as "The Eighties Channel", with the station patterned on high-energy CHR stations of the 1980s. The first song was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles."WXXY/WYXX Become 'The 80's Channel', Format Change Archive. Retrieved February 13, 2019. The station featured longtime Chicago area radio personalities including Robert Murphy, Fred Winston, and Mark Zander.

Spanish language era In November 2000, Chicago's 94.7 FM adopted a 1980s music format as WZZN "The Zone", which prompted WXXY to change formats."Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 02. January 10, 2001. p. 6. Retrieved January 11, 2019.Rodkin, Dennis. "Who Can it Be Now?", Chicago Tribune. April 22, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2019. On January 29, 2001, after playing "Never Say Goodbye" by Bon Jovi, WXXY/WYXX adopted a Spanish hits format, branded as "Viva 103.1".WXXY Becomes Viva 103.1"Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 05. January 31, 2001. p. 2. Retrieved January 11, 2019.Devine, Cathy (2002). The M Street Radio Directory. Eleventh Edition. p. 192. Retrieved January 12, 2019. The station's simulcast with 103.1 WYXX in Morris was ended by January 2003, with WYXX adopting a dance hits format as "Party 103.1"."Formats You'll Flip Over", Radio & Records. January 17, 2003. p. 21. Retrieved January 12, 2019. On January 12, 2003, WXXY began to be simulcast on AM 1200 WLXX.Feder, Robert. "Loose lips earn B96 warning from Arbitron", Chicago Sun-Times. January 14, 2003. p. 45. On January 16, WXXY's call sign was changed to WVIV-FM, while 1200 WLXX's call sign was changed to WVIV.Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2019. The simulcast on AM 1200 ended in October 2003.Feder, Robert. "Univision Radio stations to shift talk, add music", Chicago Sun-Times. October 16, 2003. p. 61.

In summer 2003, the station was sold to Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation for $32.9 million."Big City to Sell Chicago FM Directly to HBC", Radio & Records. May 16, 2003. pp. 4 & 6. Retrieved January 12, 2019.Application Search Details – BALH-20030505ABG, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2019.Public Notice Comment – BALH-20030505ABG, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2019. Shortly thereafter, Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation purchased adult-contemporary station WJTW 93.5 ("Star 93.5") in Joliet and it began simulcasting WVIV-FM, with its call sign being changed to WVIX."HBC Scores Again in Chicago", Radio & Records. May 9, 2003. p. 4. Retrieved January 12, 2019."Radio Active", Airplay Monitor. October 3, 2003. p. 3. Retrieved January 12, 2019.Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2019.

In July 2005, WVIV-FM/WVIX flipped formats to Hurban as "La Kalle".Devine, Cathy (2006). The Radio Book 2006–2007. Eleventh Edition. p. 200. Retrieved January 12, 2019."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.

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.Venta, Lance. "La Kalle to Go Away in Chicago Again", Radio Insight. April 12, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2019."Changes Come To Chicago's Univision Radio Stations", Chicagoland Radio and Media. March 24, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2019."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".Feder, Robert. "Univision Chicago Radio sports unbeatable play-by-play lineup", Robert Feder. August 10, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2019.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 133 meters. On June 16, WVIV-FM and WVIX swapped calls.

WPNA-FM The acquisition by The Polish National Alliance was consummated on August 31, and the station changed its call sign from WVIX to WPNA-FM.Application Search Details – BALH-20170524ABF, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2019. The station began airing a mix of Polish and international contemporary hits.Venta, Lance. "Polish CHR Launches in Suburban Chicago", Radio Insight. September 1, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2019.About, WPNA. Retrieved January 12, 2019. In 2021, the station's transmitter was moved to Evanston."License To Cover for FM Application", fcc.gov. October 27, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2026. In 2025, the community of license was changed to Evanston."FCC Applications – Polskie Radio WPNA 103.1 FM – Chicago", WPNA-FM. October 1, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2026.

References

External links

WXXY (The Eighties Channel) Tribute Page