WION

WION (1430 AM, "I-1430") is a radio station broadcasting what the radio-industry terms "full service" (a mix of locally programmed Music, News, and Sports) format to the Ionia, Michigan area. The completion of an FCC construction permit project in 2009 provided an upgrade in which the daytime coverage was switched from a Directional pattern to the North, to a Non-directional signal, thus providing better signal for a larger stretch of I-96 and towns to the East, South, and West. 2009 brought the purchase of an FM translator license. In 2010, WION changed the translator frequency and moved it from Clyde Road, Ionia to the studio's location on Haynor Road, Ionia. This allowed the FM translator to be upgraded in power, enough to cover all of Ionia county 24/7 on 92.7 FM. The AM signal was unaffected and is still used for long-distance listening. Only in recent FCC history have AM stations been allowed to own and operate FM translators for their stations, and there are not many AM stations operating them; WION is one of only a handful such stations in Michigan. WION's AM signal can be heard as far East as Flint, Michigan, as far South as Tekonsha, Michigan and as far North as Marion, Michigan. WION transmits in C-QUAM AM stereo.