History
KWIL signed on the air on January 14, 1941.[5] It originally was powered at 250 watts, broadcasting on a frequency of 1240 kHz.[6] The station was owned and operated by the Central Willamette Broadcasting Company.[6] KWIL was a network affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System.
On October 15, 1947, KWIL added an FM sister station, KWIL-FM at 101.7 MHz.[7] Management saw little chance of making the station profitable and it was taken off the air on August 21, 1956.[8]
In 1953, KWIL changed frequencies to 790 kHz. The lower dial position allowed its signal to expand; it increased its power to 1,000 watts but also had to use a directional antenna with different daytime and nighttime coverage patterns.[9]
KWIL was acquired by Larry Gordon's Albany Radio Corporation on July 1, 1957.[1] KWIL added a new FM station to its facilities. The second KWIL-FM began broadcasting at 107.9 MHz in 1969. Today, that station is co-owned WHPE, with a Christian Contemporary format.
Christian broadcaster Integrity Media acquired KWIL and KHPE in 1980. Integrity Media changed its name to Extra Mile Media, Inc., in 2005.[4]
