WION press release of May 1st:

On April 30^th, 2007, The FCC granted WION Radio, Ionia what is known as a “Construction Permit” to change the area covered by the station’s daytime signal.  For most of the station’s 50-plus year history, the signal has been directional to the north.  When WION was purchased in September of 2004, the current owners made a commitment to the area, and have made many improvements. This improvement  in the license of WION will put a more circular signal over the entire area, and bring Portland, Lowell, and Lake Odessa along with more of I-96 into the primary daytime signal of WION. Belding and Greenville will also remain in the strongest signal area.  The “listenable” area is also expected to be improved, with maps provided by the Engineering firm Munn-Reese of Coldwater showing improved reception in areas including Grand Rapids, Lansing, Charlotte , Hastings, St. Johns, and other cities.  

The station will now have 3 years to complete this signal upgrade, and the owners, who you hear regularly on the air, (Jim Carlyle and Jim Aaron) expect to begin building the new transmitting facilities within one year. Existing towers will remain standing, and the signal re-directed through changes made in the transmission equipment.  

WION’s owners have made significant improvements since buying the station in 2004, including a new transmitter, standby generator for full power operation even in power outages, and full 24 hour operation of the station along with better listener-to-station communications through improved technology.  WION is a locally-owned radio station, providing Music, News, Sports, and local information to the Ionia area 24 hours a day, at 1430 on the AM dial.

WION RADIO CURRENT DAYTIME COVERAGE AREA:

WION COVERAGE AREA AFTER SIGNAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: