Atlanta Radio: Gospel WYZE-AM Goes Silent

WYZE Offices, Transmitter

Another Atlanta AM signal is gone: gospel station WYZE 1480 AM (10 Kw-D, 44 watts-N) went dark this week after 38 years in that format.

According to Rodney Ho at ajc.com, Jacob Bogan, vice president of GHB Broadcasting, said technical issues regarding its signal were to too cost prohibitive to fix. So he chose to shut down for the time being.

He said he will either move location and re-open elsewhere or sell the signal. He said the 2.5 acres they own at 1111 Boulevard SE near the Beltline and the Atlanta Zoo could ultimately sell for a pretty penny.

“It went from being a bad part of town to being one of the best in just five years,” Bogan said. “So that’s a silver lining.”

Bogan said some parties have shown interest in buying the radio license and equipment.

He added that his gospel format made money, even on the AM dial. He sold time to ministers during the day and ran music during the morning and afternoon drive times.

Earlier this year, WMLB 1690 AM shut down due to financial issues.   GHB Broadcasting, created by Bogan’s late father-in-law and jazz afficionado George Buck, owns other radio stations as well.