WJJL

Infobox Radio station
name = WJJL


city = Niagara Falls, New York
area = Buffalo
slogan =
branding = "Old Time Rock & Roll"
frequency = 1440 kHz
repeater =
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format = Oldies
power = 1,000 watts day
55 watts night
erp =
haat =
class = D
facility_id = 39517
coordinates = coord|43|4|43.00|N|79|0|40.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = M. J. Phillips Communications, Inc., Debtor in Possession
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast = no
website = [http://www.wjjl.com wjjl.com]
affiliations =

WJJL (1440 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Oldies format. Licensed to Niagara Falls, New York, USA, the station serves the Buffalo area. The station is currently owned by M. J. Phillips Communications, Inc., Debtor in Possession. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WJJL |title=WJJL Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ] WJJL went on the air in December 1947, and it serves Western New York and Southern Ontario, Canada. WJJL was the first radio station to feature a two-way telephone talk show, Viewpoint.fact|date=July 2008

Until its move to West Seneca, WJJL primarily served the Greater Niagara Falls area. In the station's heyday, it was never a top-notch station (when compared to the big legendary AMs in nearby Buffalo, such as WKBW, WBEN, WEBR, and WGR). However, it was a great launching pad for many future top talents. Current WGN Radio-Chicago VP/General Manager Tom Langmyer worked there as a summer fill-in personality, news reporter and anchor while in college. John Murphy, the current radio voice of the Buffalo Bills, also worked there early in his career, as did long-time WJYE/Buffalo Program Director/Morning Host Joe Chile, and national voiceover artist Jeff Lawrence. Other noted WJJL alumni include WBEN talk show host Tom Bauerle, Tony Magoo, John Jarrett, Bob O'Neil, WKBW-TV Anchor Melanie Pritchard and Citadel Syndicated Midnight Radio Network Talk Host and former WBEN Talk Host Gary McNamara. A studio fire at the station's Niagara Falls headquarters in 1999 necessitated a move out of Niagara Falls and to West Seneca; the station maintains a satellite studio in Wheatfield.

As of 2006, when WWKB went to liberal talk radio, and WHTT became hot adult contemporary, WJJL is the only oldies outlet in all of Western New York, including the Buffalo, Rochester, Jamestown, and Olean markets.

In 2000, WJJL began broadcasting weekly games of the City of Buffalo Public School's Harvard Cup football league. Currently sponsored by Intense Milk, this broadcast features the dynamic voice of Rich Kozak on play-by-play, Hall of Fame Coach Art Serotte, and sideline reporter Dr. John Pluta. The Harvard Cup is traditionally played on Thanksgiving.

The station's owner is M.J. Phillips. A considerable amount of controversy arose in 2007, when a woman who identified herself as "Joann Nicola Lutz Distefano Phillips," an Internet troll who was known for her bizarre screeds on radio message boards, claimed to be the owner of the station, as well as M.J.'s ex-wife, and tried to take over the station's license. The FCC rejected her claim to the station.

References

In 2008 WJJL has the best talk line-up in Wester NY. From 9-10am Viewpoint with Tom Darro, and from 10-11 am The John Restaino Show.

External links

*AM station data|WJJL

Buffalo Radio9-10am Viewpoint Tom Darro10-11am "The John Restaino Show"