Jump to content

Smile FM

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from W244EN)

Smile FM
Programming
FormatReligious; Contemporary Christian
Ownership
OwnerSuperior Communications
History
Founded1996[1]
Links
Webcastwww.smile.fm/streaming/
Websitewww.smile.fm

Smile FM is a network of non-commercial, contemporary Christian radio stations in the state of Michigan owned by Superior Communications, a nonprofit organization. Most programming originates from studios in Williamston (just east of Lansing) and is relayed (with local inserts) by an expanding number of stations throughout the state. The network also has studios in Imlay City, Michigan.

Smile FM was originally two separate networks. The first, The Light, was founded in December 1996, when WLGH in Leroy Township, serving Lansing, signed on.[2] The second, Joy FM, began on December 12, 2000, with WHYT (renamed as WWKM and again as WDTR) in Imlay City. While both played contemporary Christian music, The Light aimed for a younger audience. In June 2004, the two networks were combined to form Smile FM in a "wedding ceremony" conducted at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing.[3][4] The new name eliminated confusion since many other unrelated stations used The Light and Joy FM names.

The network is notable for putting stations on the air at a low cost. They lease existing towers and manufacture some of their own equipment. Unlike many Christian stations, they play music with only a few short breaks for weather, news, announcements, and features. Smile FM has also pioneered the use of new technology to help distribute and customize its programming, including developing an emergency weather notification system that is faster and more reliable than the required EAS system (which they also operate).

The licenses for the stations are split between four subsidiaries: Superior Communications, Michigan Community Radio, Northland Community Broadcasters and Smile FM.

In January 2008, Smile FM established WWKM (now WDTR) Imlay City as the flagship of an experimental Smile FM Praise network playing Christian contemporary worship music. Previously, the station had broadcast traditional Christian music and hymns. The Smile FM Praise experiment was ended in 2009 and plans made to move that station to the northern suburbs of Detroit.

The owners have often recycled the call letters of famous Michigan stations of the past for their stations. WDTR (now WRCJ), WHYT (now WDVD), and WVMV (now WDZH) were once used by Detroit stations. WTAC (now WSNL) was the leading top 40 station in Flint during the 1960s (and, ironically, a pioneering contemporary Christian station during the 1980s). WKPK was used by a popular top 40 station of the 1980s and 1990s in northern Michigan (now WSRT). WAIR was an oldies station in northern Michigan (now WFDX) and the calls were also used for a construction permit for a station in Honor (now WSRJ). WWKM was a now-defunct station in Harrison (and Smile FM's 88.5 FM station in the Alpena area, WSFP, once bore the calls of WWKM's sister station WKKM, which is now WTWS in Houghton Lake).

Others were named for the original formats of the stations. WLGH and WTLI were The Light. All of the stations beginning with WJ were in or scheduled to be in the Joy FM network. All call letters beginning with WDT (WDTE, WDTP, and WDTR) serve portions of the Detroit metropolitan area.

Smile FM Network Stations

[edit]

The combined footprint of Smile FM's stations covers most of Michigan's densely populated area (though much of West Michigan relies on translators).

Stations owned and operated by Smile FM include:

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseFIDERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
KOYH 95.5 FMElaine, Arkansas1904306,00085 m (279 ft)ALMS
WLGH 88.1 FMLeroy Township, Ingham County, Michigan784606,700174 m (571 ft)B1LMS
WSMF 88.1 FMMonroe, Michigan892771,20041 m (135 ft)ALMS
WHYT 88.1 FMGoodland Township, Michigan84187400177 m (581 ft)ALMS
WEJC 88.3 FMWhite Star, Michigan6402155,000114 m (374 ft)C1LMS
WKPK 88.3 FMMichigamme, Michigan9224115,000252 m (827 ft)C2LMS
WSMZ-FM 88.3 FMCrystal Valley, Michigan1755661,500200 m (656 ft)ALMS
WDTE 88.3 FMGrosse Pointe Shores, Michigan1750935,50050 m (164 ft)ALMS
WJOM 88.5 FMEagle, Michigan1217944,300[nb 1]40 m (131 ft)ALMS
WSIS 88.7 FMRiverside, Michigan7416476,000117 m (384 ft)B1LMS
WDTR 88.9 FMImlay City, Michigan926353,20061 m (200 ft)ALMS
WTLI 89.3 FMBear Creek Township, Michigan8447950,000312 m (1,024 ft)C1LMS
WSMB 89.3 FMHarbor Beach, Michigan17524912,000145 m (476 ft)C3LMS
WDTP 89.5 FMHuron Charter Township, Michigan17630270095 m (312 ft)ALMS
WJOJ 89.7 FMRust Township, Michigan8866731,000143 m (469 ft)C2LMS
WTAC 89.7 FMBurton, Michigan8804015,000110 m (361 ft)B1LMS
WSLI-FM 90.9 FMBelding, Michigan9144611,50073 m (240 ft)B1LMS
WJOG 91.3 FMGood Hart, Michigan1217766,000209.2 m (686 ft)C2LMS
WVMV 91.5 FMChina Township, Michigan1762151,05075 m (246 ft)ALMS
WAIR 104.9 FMLake City, Michigan923452,800149 m (489 ft)ALMS
WJOH 91.5 FMRaco, Michigan1217955,500100 m (328 ft)ALMS
WYOR 88.5 FMRepublic, Ohio17421310032 m (105 ft)ALMS

Translators

[edit]

Translators rebroadcasting Smile FM include:

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseFIDERP (W)HAATClassFCC infoNotes
W242BH 96.3 FMMarshall, Michigan14524117032.1 m (105 ft)DLMSrepeats WLGH; serves Battle Creek
W246CW 97.1 FMLong Lake Township, Michigan15828310260.8 m (856 ft)DLMSrepeats WTLI; serves Traverse City
W247CU 97.3 FMFort Gratiot, Michigan1570542583 m (272 ft)DLMSrepeats WVMV; serves Port Huron
W262AF 100.3 FMParchment, Michigan783873852.5 m (172 ft)DLMSrepeats WSIS; serves Kalamazoo
W273CI 102.5 FMGrand Haven, Michigan148894250191 m (627 ft)DLMSrepeats WSMZ-FM; serves Muskegon
W280EL 103.9 FMYates, Michigan15635710119.3 m (391 ft)DLMSrepeats WVMV; serves northern Metro Detroit suburbs
W286CI 105.1 FMSaginaw, Michigan14316125049 m (161 ft)DLMSrepeats WEJC
W299CB 107.7 FMManistee, Michigan1531831998 m (322 ft)DLMSrepeats WSMZ-FM
W272DG 102.3 FMPittsfield Township, Michigan1571191998 m (322 ft)DLMSrepeats WTAC; serves Ann Arbor
W244EN 96.7 FMLapeer, Michigan157076250276.5 m (907 ft)DLMSrepeats WTAC; serves Flint
W260CQ 99.9 FMPlainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan15853810126 m (413 ft)DLMSrepeats WSLI-FM; serves Grand Rapids
WLHT 95.7 FMGrand Rapids, Michigan3745740,000147 m (482 ft)BLMSuses HD2 subchannel, repeats WSLI-FM

As of 2026, Smile FM has expanded coverage beyond Michigan, with at least one signal in the following states: Ohio (WYOR), Arkansas (KOYR), Florida (WKFA-FM), Kansas (KSNS), Mississippi (KOYH, licensed Elaine Arkansas), and Tennessee (WOWE).[5]

Future stations

[edit]

On October 6, 2022, it was announced that Smile FM has filed a $60,000 deal to purchase WGVU (1480 AM) in Grand Rapids from Grand Valley State University.[6] The station, along with WGVS (850 AM) in Muskegon, originally carried an oldies radio format until January 7, 2022, when both stations closed down.[7] Smile FM had already acquired WGVS effective June 28, 2022, for $25,000.

Explanatory notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ WJOM currently holds a construction permit to increase to 25,000 watts.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Demske, Kristyne E. "Smile! It's a new radio station", St. Clair Shores Sentinel. May 16, 2012. p. 3A.
  2. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000. Broadcasting & Cable. 2000. p. D-227. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ Austerman, Mike. "June 2004 News and Notes", Michiguide.com. June 30, 2004. Retrieved December 20, 2021.[dead link]
  4. ↑ "Josh Strickland Exits Townsquare/Lansing To Join Smile FM Radio Network". All Access. June 19, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  5. ↑ "About > Stations | Smile FM - Michigan's Positive Hits ÂŪ". smile.fm. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Deal Digest: New Owners for Adams Radio, TelevisaUnivision Sells in San Juan".
  7. ↑ Venta, Lance (December 29, 2021). "WGVU To Shut Down Real Oldies 1480/850". RadioInsight. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smile_FM&oldid=1364063020#Translators"