WDWS-FM

WDWS-FM
Arcola, Illinois;
Broadcast area	Champaign-Urbana
Frequency	107.9 MHz
Branding	107.9 The Rooster
Programming
Format	Country
Affiliations	Westwood One
Ownership
Owner	Community Media Group, Inc.; (Champaign Multimedia Group, LLC);
Sister stations	WDWS, WHMS-FM
History
First air date	September 6, 1991; 33 years ago (as WZNX)
Former call signs	WZNX (1991–1994); WKJR (1994–1997); WEXT (1997–2008); WUIL (2008–2013); WKIO (2013-2024)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	57469
Class	A
ERP	3,600 watts
HAAT	130 meters (430 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	39°52′43.00″N 88°11′51.00″W / 39.8786111°N 88.1975000°W
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	107.9 The Rooster Online

WDWS-FM (107.9 FM, "107.9 The Rooster") is a commercial radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Arcola, Illinois, the station is owned by The News-Gazette, and serves the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area.^[2]

History

On September 6, 1991; 33 years ago (1991-09-06), the station signed on the air. The original call sign was WZNX. It changed its call sign to WKJR on November 1, 1994. On May 5, 1997, the station again changed its call sign to WXET before finally changing them to WUIL on May 7, 2008, upon its switch to a rhythmic contemporary format from hot adult contemporary.^[3]

Pendleton Broadcasting signed a LMA deal with owner Champaign Partners to operate Top 40/Rhythmic WUIL (107.9 JAMZ). The long-term deal started May 1, 2009 and carries an option to buy the station from Champaign Partners for $1.5 million.

In June 2010, WUIL was sold to the News-Gazette, which also owns WDWS and WHMS. The station relaunched as "U-Rock 107.9", playing various rock formats. The switch was made with station General Manager Mike Haile's introduction of "Ladies and Gentlemen...rock and roll." The station had a popular contest where it allowed listeners to submit and air their "Perfect Ten" rock songs. The station then played these selections on Thursdays.

In March 2013, WUIL applied to change its call sign to WKIO, signaling a format change.^[4]

On March 26, 2013, WUIL changed formats from rock to classic hits, branded as "Classic Hits 107.9" under the new WKIO call sign.^[5]

In early 2023, WKIO conducted a listener survey and added more recent music (Smashing Pumpkins, etc.) to its standard playlist and in response to "more music, less talk," replacing the popular The Bob and Tom Show with The Ashley and Brad Show in the daily morning slot.^[6]

On June 1, 2024, after Champaign Multimedia Group completed their acquisition of Neuhoff Media's Decatur stations, the WKIO callsign would move to the Neuhoff-acquired former WCZQ on 105.5 FM, with 107.9 taking on new callsign WDWS-FM; on June 18, the branding and part of the format would make its official move to said frequency, shifting to a classic rock format with the move, with the two stations temporarily simulcasting as a means of transition. Upon the completion of the move the station was expected by several radio news outlets to flip to a simulcast of AM sister station WDWS, a move seemingly confirmed with the callsign change.^[7]

On July 5, 2024, WDWS-FM ended its simulcast with WKIO and instead launched a country music format, branded as "107.9 The Rooster".^[8]