WDRV
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|
| City | Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Chicago market / Northern Illinois |
| Branding | The Drive |
| Slogan | The Soundtrack of Our Lives |
| Frequency | |
| First air date | 1955 (as WNIB) |
| Format | Classic rock |
| Audience share | 3.1 (Holiday 2016, Nielsen Audio[1]) |
| ERP | 8,300 watts |
| HAAT | 363 meters |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 49552 |
| Callsign meaning | Derived from "DRiVe" |
| Former callsigns | WNIB (1955 to March 15, 2001) |
| Owner | Hubbard Radio |
| Sister stations | WTMX, WSHE-FM |
| Webcast | playerservices |
| Website | 97.1 The Drive |
WDRV (97.1 FM "The Drive") is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois. The station is owned by Hubbard Radio, and simulcasts on WWDV (96.9 FM). "The Drive" programs a broad-based classic rock format called "Timeless rock."
WDRV now broadcasts in HD digital radio, with its normal format located at 97.1 HD1, while it airs Deep Tracks" (deeper album cuts) on 97.1 HD2. The main WDRV feed also streams on the Internet at wdrv.com, but Internet streaming of the "Deep Tracks" feed was discontinued in October 2013, due to its popularity.
WDRV has studios located in the John Hancock Center, and its transmitter is located atop the Aon Center.
The 97.1 frequency signed on in 1955 as WNIB (NIB = Northern Illinois Broadcasting, original owner), playing classical music. Later, the company purchased the station WKZN at 96.9 FM in Zion, changing the call letters to WNIZ and serving as a simulcast for communities north of Chicago. The stations were sold in 2000 to Bonneville International, which changed the station to its current format on February 12, 2001.
WNIB then became WDRV on April 2, 2001. It began as a classic hits format, but has slowly evolved into a broad-based classic rock format at the same time when former sister WLUP-FM was sold to Emmis and changed to a mainstream rock'n roll rock'n roll format in 2005. Many of The Drive's personalities have had long histories at other Chicago radio stations. The on-air staff includes morning host Byrd, Susan Wiencek with morning news and traffic, Bob Stroud (middays), Steve Seaver (afternoons), Phil Manicki (evenings), and Greg Easterling (overnights). Current weekend personalities include Allie Ellison, Jim Foster, Don Nelson, Tim Spencer, Saturday Morning Stars, and Mitchell "Marc" Vernon.
On Saturday nights, "The Deep End with Nick Michaels" is aired. On Sunday mornings, Bob Stroud hosts his famous Rock & Roll Roots show, which debuted in 1980 at WMET. Steve Downes' nationally syndicated show, "The Classics", is aired every Sunday night.
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Wikipedia