WENJ

WENJ
Broadcast areaSouth Jersey
Frequency97.3 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding97.3 ESPN
Programming
FormatSports
Subchannels
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WFPG, WPGG, WPUR, WSJO
History
First air date
February 2, 1962; 62 years ago (1962-02-02) (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
"ESPN New Jersey"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID72981
ClassB
ERP
HAAT142 meters (466 feet)
Transmitter coordinates
39°19′14.3″N 74°46′16.2″W / 39.320639°N 74.771167°W / 39.320639; -74.771167
Translator(s)
  • HD2: 103.3 W277BA (Millville)
  • HD2: 93.9 W230AA (Atlantic City)
  • HD4: 104.1 W281BH (Absecon)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live FM/HD1
Listen Live HD4
Website973espn.com
Rock 104.1 (HD4)

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.

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.[2] In 1988 the station changed their call letters to WBSS-FM, for its branding as "The Boss 97 FM", and become a CHR station.[2] In 1995, WBSS was sold to the owners of WKXW (101.5),[2] which switched the station to a simulcast of WKXW's news/talk and oldies format, with a small amount of local news.[3]

On March 15, 2002, WBSS dropped the simulcast of WKXW in favor of a modern adult contemporary format,[4] with a call change to WIXM (referring to the station's branding of "Mix 97.3") following a few weeks later.[5]

In November 2004, in the wake of sister station WSJO debuting a hot adult contemporary format, WIXM reverted to the WKXW simulcast;[6] two years later, the station was renamed to WXKW.[7]

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;[8] on June 1, the station switched to ESPN Radio as WENJ-FM.[9] 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.

Programming

Play-by-play sports

As of 2023, the station carries Philadelphia Eagles, Flyers and 76ers games and ESPN Radio's college football, MLB (including nationally broadcast Phillies games), NFL (in select weeks) and NBA coverage.

The station also carries game coverage from other networks, including Compass Media, Sports USA Radio Network, Touchdown Radio and Westwood One, mainly for college football, basketball and NFL coverage, the latter on a week-by-week rotational basis for select games (e.g. Sunday afternoon NFL games other than Eagles games).

Translators

The following four translators simulcast the programming of WENJ, WENJ-HD2, or HD4

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info Notes
W298DI 107.5 FM Port Norris, New Jersey 85823 250 57 m (187 ft) D 39°27′31.9″N 75°12′10.5″W / 39.458861°N 75.202917°W / 39.458861; -75.202917 (W298DI) LMS Simulcasts HD1
W277BA 103.3 FM Millville, New Jersey 141526 133 55.3 m (181 ft) D 39°25′20″N 75°1′13″W / 39.42222°N 75.02028°W / 39.42222; -75.02028 (W277BA) LMS Simulcasts HD2
W230AA 93.9 FM Atlantic City 41178 250 95.06 m (312 ft) D 39°22′35.4″N 74°33′42.6″W / 39.376500°N 74.561833°W / 39.376500; -74.561833 (W230AA) LMS Simulcasts HD2
W281BH 104.1 FM Absecon, New Jersey 141576 250 95.06 m (312 ft) D 39°22′35.4″N 74°33′42.6″W / 39.376500°N 74.561833°W / 39.376500; -74.561833 (W281BH) LMS Simulcasts HD4

On May 23, 2019, Townsquare Media launched "Rock 104.1" on WENJ-HD4 and W281BH, broadcasting a classic rock format.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WENJ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ a b c "New Jersey FM Radio History". Radio-History.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2002. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  3. ^ Fybush, Scott (August 25, 2000). "NERW On The Road!". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  4. ^ Fybush, Scott (March 18, 2002). "Millennium Spins it at the Shore". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  5. ^ Fybush, Scott (April 17, 2002). "Saga Buys WXOD/WKBK". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  6. ^ Fybush, Scott (November 8, 2004). "Salty Brine, 1918-2004". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  7. ^ Fybush, Scott (July 3, 2006). "WCRB Move Nears Completion". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  8. ^ Fybush, Scott (May 25, 2009). "On Memorial Day, No On-Air "Rewound"". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  9. ^ "ESPN-FM 97.3 to cover Cape May to Toms River, Atlantc [sic] City to Philadelphia". Gloucester County Times. NJ.com. May 29, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  10. ^ "Townsquare Launches Rock 104.1 Atlantic City".