WBYS

WBYS (1560 kHz) is an AM radio station licensed for Canton, Illinois.

WBYS

Canton, Illinois
Broadcast area	Fulton, Tazewell, Mason Counties in Central Illinois
Frequency	1560 kHz
Programming
Format	Full-service country
Affiliations	ABC Radio News
Ownership
Owner	Matt Moore and Brent Lee (Spoon River Media, LLC)
Sister stations	WPZA
History
First air date	October 5, 1947
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	22898
Class	D
Power	250 watts day 18 watts night
Transmitter coordinates	40°32′40.1″N 90°01′15.4″W (NAD83)
Translator(s)	93.7 MHz W229BZ (Canton) 94.1 MHz (W231EC)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Website	www.1560wbys.com

In September 2013, a 250-watt low-power FM translator (W229BZ) was leased and added as a simulcast of WBYS on the FM dial at 93.7 FM.

In March 2021, WBYS AM and sister station WCDD FM (107.9 CD Country), merged programming and content, and the FM simulcast was moved to translator 94.1 FM (W231EC). The station rebranded to "94.1 BYS" Country hits from today and yesterday. While the ag news/talk format was retained, WBYS AM and 94.1 W231EC began broadcasting country music upon the sale of WCDD FM to the Educational Media Foundation in 2021. WCDD then flipped to Air1 worship and the call letters were changed to WPZA-FM.

The station broadcasts St. Louis Cardinal baseball. WBYS also carries the Chicago Bulls, University of Illinois football and basketball, and high school football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

History

WBYS began broadcasting October 5, 1947, on 1560 kHz with 250 W power (daytime only). It was owned by Fulton County Broadcasting Company. Broadcasting magazine reported that more than 3,500 people attended an open house in the station's new building.^[2]