WAZL (AM)

WAZL
Broadcast areaScranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton
Frequency730 kHz
BrandingRitmo FM
Programming
Language(s)Spanish
FormatTropical music
Ownership
OwnerGeos Communications
WGMA, WGMF, WGMF-FM, WGMM
History
First air date
February 1947; 77 years ago (1947-02) (as WHWL)
Former call signs
  • WHWL (1947–1958)
  • WNAK (1958–2010)
  • WZMF (2010–2018)
  • WGMF (2018–2023)
Call sign meaning
"parked" call sign; see WGMA
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID59757
ClassD
Power
  • 1,000 watts day
  • 12 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
41°13′9″N 75°59′15″W / 41.21917°N 75.98750°W / 41.21917; -75.98750
Translator(s)See § Translators
Links
Public license information
Websiteritmo.fm

WAZL (730 kHz) is an AM radio station licensed to the city of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and serves the Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Hazleton radio markets with a tropical music format, switching from adult standards and Tropical and Spanish language adult contemporary and classic hits formats[2] in October 2023.[3][4]

WAZL broadcasts on a frequency of 730 kHz with 1,000 watts of power during the daytime with a non-directional antenna. During the nighttime hours, the station must reduce its power to 12 watts. The power reduction at nighttime is required by rules set by the Federal Communications Commission in order to avoid interference from CKAC, a Canadian Class A radio station also on 730 kHz. WAZL also broadcasts at a frequency of 94.9 MHz with 250 watts of power from a site atop Bald Mtn near Keyser Valley/Scranton, Pennsylvania, which covers Scranton, Old Forge, Avoca, Dickson City, Pittston, and Jessup, Pennsylvania. WAZL also broadcasts at a frequency of 95.3 MHz with 99 watts of power from a site atop Penobscot Mountain near Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, which covers Wilkes-Barre, Mountain Top, Wyoming, Nanticoke, Dallas, West Pittston, and Kingston, Pennsylvania. WAZL also broadcasts at a frequency of 99.5 MHz with 55 watts of power from a site in Hazleton Heights PA atop the 1490 tower near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, which covers Hazleton, Freeland, Drums, West Hazleton, and Conyngham, Pennsylvania.

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WAZL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "More 'Caliente' For Northeast Pennsylvania". Hispanic Market Weekly (Coral Gables, Florida). Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  3. ^ "In Brief: WNAK going Spanish". Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania). Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  4. ^ Scott Schaffer. "Radio Stations Broadcasting in Spanish". WNEP-TV (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania). Retrieved October 15, 2007.