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{{Short description|Sports radio station in Akron, Ohio}}
{{Other uses|Warf (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = December 2019}}{{Infobox radio station
| name = WARF
| logo = WARF Gambler.jpg
| logo_size = 200px
| city = [[Akron, Ohio]]
| country = US
| area = {{ubl|[[Akron metro area]]|[[Greater Cleveland]]}}
| branding = Fox Sports 1350 The Gambler
| frequency = {{Frequency|1350|[[Hertz#SI multiples|kHz]]}} ([[HD Radio]])
| founded = {{start date|1925|02|22}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1925|04|08|p=y|br=yes}}
| language = [[English language|English]]
| format = [[Sports radio]]
| power = {{val|5000|u=[[watt]]s|fmt=commas}} (unlimited)
| class = B
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| facility_id = 49951
| coordinates = {{coord|41|10|5.00|N|81|30|45.00|W|region:US-OH_type:landmark_source:FCC}}
| callsign_meaning = "Akron Radio Free" (former progressive talk branding)
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WADC (1925–1965)|WSLR (1965–1994)|WTOU (1994–2005)}}
| affiliations = {{ubl|[[Fox Sports Radio]]|[[Vegas Stats & Information Network|VSiN]]|[[Cleveland Guardians]] {{small|(Spanish)}}|[[Cleveland Monsters]]|[[Cleveland State Vikings]]}}
| owner = [[iHeartMedia]]
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| sister_stations = {{hlist|[[WAKS]] ([[WAKS-HD2|HD2]])|[[WGAR-FM]]|[[WHLK]]|[[WMJI]]|[[WMMS]] ([[WMMS-HD2|HD2]])|[[WTAM]]}}
| webcast = {{iHeartRadio|fox-sports-1350-3455}}
| website = {{URL|foxsports1350thegambler.iheart.com}}
}}

'''WARF''' (1350 [[AM broadcasting|AM]]) is a commercial [[Radio broadcasting|radio station]] licensed to [[Akron, Ohio]], known as "Fox Sports 1350 The Gambler" and carrying a [[Sports radio|sports]] format. Owned by [[iHeartMedia]], WARF serves the [[Greater Cleveland]] and [[Akron metropolitan area|Akron metro area]]s as an affiliate of [[Fox Sports Radio]] and [[Vegas Stats & Information Network|VSiN]]. The station also carries play-by-play of the [[Cleveland Monsters]] and [[Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball]],<ref name = "Monsters" /> and Spanish broadcasts of [[Cleveland Guardians]] home games.

Originally WADC, the station is the oldest surviving radio station in Akron, founded and owned by Allen T. Simmons. A charter affiliate of the [[CBS News Radio|CBS Radio Network]], WADC was a key station in the network up to the early 1960s. Becoming WSLR in 1965, the station became one of the earliest [[country music]] stations in the region, and remained as such until switching to [[urban contemporary]] as WTOU in 1994. WTOU retained their [[call sign]] after becoming an [[ESPN Radio]] affiliate in 1999 and a [[Fox Sports Radio]] affiliate in 2001, but changed to the current WARF calls in 2005 during a two-year stretch as [[Progressive talk radio|progressive talk]]. Having returned to a sports format in 2007, and resuming its Fox Sports affiliation in 2009, WARF was reoriented to the Cleveland [[media market]] in 2020 with the addition of [[Vegas Stats & Information Network|VSiN]] [[sports betting]]-related programming.

WARF's studios are located in the [[William Taylor & Son|Six Six Eight Building]] in [[Downtown Cleveland|Downtown Cleveland's]] [[Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex|Gateway District]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2021/03/iheart-radio-moves-offices-studios-from.html|title=NEOtrans: iHeartMedia moves offices, studios from suburbs to downtown|first=Ken|last=Prendergast|date=March 22, 2021}}</ref> while the station [[transmitter]] resides in [[Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio|Cuyahoga Falls]]. In addition to a standard [[analog transmission]], WARF broadcasts a digital signal through the [[HD Radio]] [[in-band on-channel]] standard,<ref>http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=73 HD Radio Guide for Akron</ref> and streams online via [[iHeartRadio]].

==History==
===Beginnings===
The Akron Automobile Association established a [[List of temporary broadcasting stations in the United States|temporary station]] named WADC for a February 1925 [[auto show]] at the Central Garage,<ref>"Radio Opens Auto Show at Akron", ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'', February 22, 1925, page 9.</ref> with a [[transmitter]] built by the Willard Storage Battery Co. of Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 21, 1925|title=More Than 200 Cars On Display as Auto Show Opens|page=22|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder|Knight Newspapers]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84056403/more-than-200-cars-on-display-as-auto/|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> W. F. Jones, head of the show's sponsor, the Automobile Dealers' Company, insisted for the station's establishment to help broadcast the show's events to a larger audience.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|last=Schetter|first=Clyde E.|date=December 31, 1927|title=Akron Radio Prospects Are Good|page=16|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder|Knight Newspapers]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84057881/akron-radio-prospects-are-good/|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> After the show ended, Jones tried to get a permanent station launched; failing to find enough investor support, Allen T. Simmons—owner of the Allen Theater—obtained a permanent license which was granted on March 23, 1925.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763060&view=1up&seq=70 "New Stations: Broadcasting Stations"], ''Radio Service Bulletin'', April 1, 1925, page 4.</ref> W. F. Jones would eventually purchase Cleveland station WDBK in July 1927<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 15, 1927|title=W. F. Jones Planning Akron Radio Station|page=1|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder|Knight Newspapers]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84057187/w-f-jones-planning-akron-radio-station/|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> and moved it to Akron as [[WFJC]],<ref name=":7" /> only to have it moved back to Cleveland in 1930 as [[WHKW|WGAR (AM)]] via a two-station consolidation.<ref name="WFJCSale">{{Cite news|date=September 20, 1930|title=See Sale Of WFJC As Network Move|page=3|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder|Knight Newspapers]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83347009/see-sale-of-wfjc-as-network-move/|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

A slogan — "Watch Akron Develop Commerce"<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Short-Wave/Archive-Callbook-IDX/IDX/20s-30s/Call-Book-1925-Fall-OCR-Page-0020.pdf "WADC entry"], ''Citizens Radio Call Book'', Fall 1925, page 14.</ref> — matching the call letters was adopted, which was soon slightly modified to "Watch Akron Develop Commercially".<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Short-Wave/Archive-Callbook-IDX/IDX/20s-30s/Call-Book-1928-Nov-OCR-Page-0018.pdf "WADC entry"], ''Citizens Radio Call Book'', November 1928, page 16.</ref> (Allen's 1965 obituary stated that the station's slogan was "Watch Akron Deliver Cars",<ref>"Radio Pioneer A. T. Simmons Dies", ''Akron Beacon Journal'', September 22, 1965, page A2.</ref> although an ''Akron Beacon'' columnist later noted that "Several readers... reported that it actually meant 'Watch Akron Develop Commercially'".)<ref>"Good Afternoon", column by Fran Murphey, ''Akron Beacon Journal'', October 13, 1982, page B2.</ref> WADC was the second radio station in Akron (after WOE which went on the air on April 27, 1922, but was off the air in July 1923).<ref>
Price, Mark J. "[http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ABJB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EBC6C37B1158922&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D1C2ED46ABD2E15 On the Air Akron's First Radio Station Crackled to Life in 1922]", ''Akron Beacon Journal'', April 30, 2001, p. D6. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.</ref> Regular broadcasts began on April 8, 1925, from studios in the Portage Hotel.<ref>
"[http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ABJB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EEE603AE748CCEF&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D1C2ED46ABD2E15 This Week]", ''Akron Beacon Journal'', September 30, 2001, p. A15. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Failor|first=Ralph|date=April 8, 1925|title=City broadcasts on air tonight, station to open|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84058515/city-broadcasts-on-air-tonight-station/ 18]|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder|Knight Newspapers]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84058458/city-broadcasts-on-air-tonight-station/|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> The station originally broadcast at 1160&nbsp;kHz with 100 watts,<ref>
[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3221813&view=1up&seq=232 U. S. Radio Stations as of June 30, 1925], from U.S. Department of Commerce publication. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.</ref> but its signal increased to 500 watts by 1926.<ref>
[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3221813&view=1up&seq=395 U. S. Radio Stations as of June 30, 1926], from U.S. Department of Commerce publication. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.</ref>

WADC was a charter member of the [[CBS Radio Network]], being one of the 16 stations that aired the first CBS network program on September 18, 1927.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/radiodigest192611922radi#page/n633/mode/1up "Columbia Broadcasting System: Radio Stations"] (advertisement), ''Radio Digest'', September 1927, page 20.</ref> The station soon opened new studios in [[Tallmadge, Ohio|Tallmadge]] and increased its power to 5,000 watts.  Its frequency jumped around from 1160 to 1010 to 1260, and to 1320 after the [[Federal Radio Commission|FRC]]'s [[General Order 40]] went into effect on November 11, 1928.  On March 29, 1941, it moved to 1350&nbsp;kHz as part of the [[North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement|NARBA]] frequency shifts.

As the CBS affiliate during the 1930s and 1940s, WADC was the leading Akron radio station, rivaled later only by [[WAKR]] after it took to the air in 1940. Akron had no [[NBC]] Red affiliate, since [[WTAM]]'s signal from Cleveland covered the area.  WADC's success was symbolized by the two-story art-deco WADC Building, which was completed on May 6, 1949, and became a local landmark on the southeast corner of Main and Mill Streets in downtown Akron. The entire second floor of the building was occupied by the station's studios and offices.

==="Whistler" 1350===
[[file:Whistler 1350.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Logo used during the "Whistler 1350" era]]
WADC was sold in late 1964 to Welcome Radio, Inc. headed by Cleveland lawyer Harrison Fuerst.  In January 1965, the station became WSLR, known as "Whistler 1350". It brought a [[country music]] format to the area, with morning host Jaybird Drennan. Jaybird died on December 10, 2006.  On August 22, 1984, Welcome Radio sold WSLR to OBC Broadcasting, Inc., headed by Richard A. Nicoletti.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dyer |first=Bob |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ABJB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EDF14982E3A5DE6&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D1C2ED46ABD2E15 |title=Only 2 of 8 Radio Stations Still Locally Owned |work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |date=December 28, 1986 |page=C2 |access-date=January 1, 2007}}</ref> Faced with competition from [[WQMX]] in Akron, along with [[WGAR-FM]] in Cleveland and [[WQXK]] in [[Youngstown, Ohio|Youngstown]], WSLR dropped its country format.

===Post "Whistler"===
On September 1, 1994, the station adopted an [[urban contemporary]] format delivered by [[Cumulus Media Networks|ABC Radio]] called "[[The Touch (radio network)|The Touch]]",<ref>Heldenfels, R.D. "[http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ABJB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EE74337E8DAAACC&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D1C2ED46ABD2E15 WSLR Drops Country, Adds Urban 'Touch' New Adult Music Format Starts at Akron Radio Station]", ''Akron Beacon Journal'', September 1, 1994, p. D1. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.</ref> and it switched to call letters WTOU on September 29.

In October 1999, the station switched to a sports talk format.  It first carried programming from [[ESPN Radio]] and kept the WTOU calls but dropped "The Touch" nickname and instead went by "1350AM ESPN - Akron's Sports Network". WTOU and sister station {{nowrap|[[WAKS#WKDD (96.5 FM)|WKDD (96.5 FM)]]}} were sold by OBC Broadcasting to Clear Channel Communications (now [[iHeartMedia]]) on August 15, 2000.<ref>Feran, Tom. "[http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_docid=0F80DB16A59BADAC&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=NaN&p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated4&p_nbid=Y65Q5AIYMTE2ODY0NDE2OC43MzE4Nzc6MTo2Om5jZGNwbA Akron Stations Change Owner in Radio Swap]", ''The Plain Dealer'', March 18, 2000, p. B2. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.</ref><ref>Feran, Tom. "[http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_docid=0F80DBC3B5767DCE&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=NaN&p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated4&p_nbid=Y65Q5AIYMTE2ODY0NDE2OC43MzE4Nzc6MTo2Om5jZGNwbA Final Sale of Stations Paves Way for Merger]", ''The Plain Dealer'', August 28, 2000, p. E7. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.</ref> On September 18, 2001, months after the sale to Clear Channel, WTOU then flipped to [[Fox Sports Radio]], branded as "Fox Sports 1350". The networks' offerings at the time also included [[Tony Bruno]] and "Kiley & Booms", co-hosted by Cleveland Heights native Chuck Booms (who broadcast on his end from Clear Channel's Cleveland facilities in [[Independence, Ohio]]). WTOU also became the Akron-Canton affiliate for ''[[The Jim Rome Show]]'', and became the home station for the Akron Aeros for the 2002 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/akron/news/gcs-69575520|title=Akron RubberDucks Renew Partnership with Fox Sports 1350, WARF-AM|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]|language=en|access-date=2020-01-01}}</ref>

[[file:Radio Free Ohio.jpg|thumb|175px|WARF logo from 2005 to 2007, used during its time as a progressive talk station.<br>The former "Radio Free" slogan is the origin of  the station's call letters.]]
The sports talk format was dropped on June 2, 2005, and the station switched to a liberal talk radio format (albeit with no [[Air America (radio network)|Air America]] programming at first), changing its call letters to WARF.<ref>O'Connor, Clint. "[http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CPDB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10B71F3ABA2E35F8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D1C2ED46ABD2E15 Format flipping bounces listeners around AM dial]", ''The Plain Dealer'', July 16, 2005, p. E7. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.</ref> Branded as "Radio Free Ohio", WARF carried [[Al Franken]] and [[Randi Rhodes]] from Air America Radio, and [[Ed Schultz]] and [[Stephanie Miller]] from Jones Radio. WARF also held the distinction of being the only station in the country to carry [[Bill Press]]'s radio show when it debuted on June 27, 2005, until [[KRXA]] picked up the show on August 22. On February 13, 2006, veteran radio personality [[Joe Finan]] (long heard on rival talk station [[WNIR (FM)|WNIR]]) began a locally produced talk show 11:00&nbsp;a.m. to 1:00&nbsp;p.m. weekdays. Finan was released from WARF that October 27, and died that December 20.

WARF changed back to a sports format on March 30, 2007; branded "Sports Radio 1350", becoming an affiliate for Sporting News Radio. Its [[logo]] used a blue-and-gold color scheme, a nod to the [[University of Akron]]. In June 2009, WARF reverted back to [[Fox Sports Radio]] programming.

===Shifting focus to Cleveland===
On January 27, 2020, WARF rebranded as "Fox Sports 1350 The Gambler", as it added programming from the [[Vegas Stats & Information Network]] (VSiN) related to [[sports betting]]. The accompanying press release also formally repositioned WARF as a Cleveland market station, billing itself as ''Cleveland's Fox Sports 1350'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1350thegambler.iheart.com/|title=Fox Sports 1350 The Gambler - All Bets Are On|website=Fox Sports 1350 The Gambler}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheartmedia.com/stations?market=CLEVELAND-OH|title=Cleveland Stations &#124; iHeartMedia Stations &#124; iHeartMedia|website=www.iheartmedia.com}}</ref> though the station's [[city of license]] assignment to [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]] and [[transmitter]] site in [[Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio|Cuyahoga Falls]] remained unchanged.<ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/183826/warf-gambling-on-a-new-focus/ WARF Relaunches as The Gambler] Radioinsight - January 27, 2020</ref><ref name = "WARF">[http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/01/fox-sports-am-1350-rebranded-as-the-gambler-shifts-focus-to-sports-wagering.html Fox Sports 1350 rebranded as "The Gambler" - Cleveland.com] ([[Plain Dealer]])</ref>

On March 21, 2021, WARF announced plans to move to a new combined studio/office facility at the [[William Taylor & Son|Six Six Eight Building]] in [[Downtown Cleveland]], utilizing [[cloud storage]] technology. The relocation process completed in July 2022.

==Current programming==
===Regular schedule===
[[Fox Sports Radio]] programming airs the bulk of the day (both during the week and on weekends - including the morning drive show featuring former [[Cleveland Browns]] quarterback [[Brady Quinn]]) with programming from [[VSiN]] also featured (early evenings and weekends).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportsradio1350.iheart.com/schedule/|title=Fox Sports 1350 Live On-Air Schedule - The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon, The Ben Maller Show & more|website=Fox Sports 1350|access-date=2020-01-01}}</ref><ref name="WARF" />

===Play by play===
WARF serves as the radio home of the [[Cleveland Monsters]] of the [[American Hockey League]] (AHL),<ref name = "Monsters">{{Cite web|url=https://www.clevelandmonsters.com/news/detail/monsters-announce-multi-year-extension-of-radio-broadcast-agreement|title=Monsters Announce Multi-Year Extension of Radio Broadcast Agreement &#124; Cleveland Monsters|first=Cleveland|last=Monsters|website=www.clevelandmonsters.com}}</ref> and the flagship station for [[Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball]] (with any Vikings games that conflict with the Monsters sliding over to sister station [[WTAM]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wtam.iheart.com/content/2021-10-27-cleveland-state-teams-up-with-iheartmedia-to-broadcast-vikings-games/|title=Cleveland State Teams Up With iHeartMedia To Broadcast Vikings Games|website=Newsradio WTAM 1100}}</ref>

Though primarily an English language station, WARF also airs Spanish broadcasts of [[Cleveland Guardians]] home games, complimenting the coverage on sister stations/Guardians flagships WTAM and [[WMMS]] 100.7 FM.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Noga |first1=Joe |title=Los Guardians radio broadcasts in Spanish expand to all 81 home games this season |url=https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2024/04/los-guardians-radio-broadcasts-expand-to-all-81-home-games-this-season.html#:~:text=Cleveland's%20Rafa%20Hernández-Brito%2C%20the,provide%20analysis%20for%20select%20games. |website=Cleveland.com ([[The Plain Dealer]]) |date=April 5, 2024 |access-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://foxsports1350thegambler.iheart.com}}
{{AM station data|49951|WARF}}
*{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=67038 |title= FCC History Cards for WARF|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}} <!--Converted from {{FCC letter}}-->

{{Cleveland Radio}}
{{Sports Radio Stations in Ohio}}
{{Fox Sports Radio stations}}
{{IHeartMedia}}
{{Cleveland Monsters}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1925 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:IHeartMedia radio stations]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1925]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Cleveland|ARF]]
[[Category:Sports radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Fox Sports Radio stations]]