WION (AM)


WION is a full-service radio station in Ionia, Michigan, United States, featuring a mix of locally programmed music, news, and sports. 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.

History

WION began broadcasting on February 1, 1953. It originally operated during daytime hours only, running 500 watts. Its power was increased to 5,000 watts in 1962.
In 2009, the AM signal was upgraded to change the daytime coverage area from a directional pattern aimed north, to a non-directional signal. In 2009, the station added an FM translator on 92.7 MHz purchased from Horizon Christian Fellowship, which changed frequencies from its original 103.7. The translator moved to the station's studios on Haynor Road Ionia. The translator covers all of Ionia County on 92.7.
WION began online streaming of its programming on February 1, 2013 on the 60th anniversary of the station. The source of the feed is the actual "over the air" AM stereo signal from a Carver-brand AM stereo receiver. A second translator was added in Lowell, Michigan in March 2019 on 100.3 FM.