WTAM

Encyclopedia : W : WT : WTA : WTAM

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WTAM is an AM radio station in Cleveland, Ohio broadcasting on 1100 kHz with 50,000 watts. Its transmitter is located at the top of Snowville Road in Brecksville, Ohio. It is a class A clear channel station (formerly Class I-A), sharing the frequency with KFAX (formerly KJBS) in San Francisco, and can be heard, particularly at night, over most of the eastern U.S. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and uses the on-air nickname "The Big One" (borrowed from sister station WLW).

WTAM has a news/talk format, carrying syndicated talk shows hosted by Rush Limbaugh and George Noory (Coast to Coast AM), and local talkers Bill Wills, Bob Frantz, Mike Trivisonno, and Kevin Keane. It has a 24/7 local news department and carries updates and actualities from Fox News Radio, affiliating with the network, along with other Clear Channel talk stations, in August 2005. Despite the cancellation of its fifteen-year affiliation with ABC Radio, the station continues to run ABC's Paul Harvey.

WTAM currently is the flagship station for the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and—along with Clear Channel sister station WMMS—the Cleveland Browns.

History

Early years

WTAM' began broadcast operations on September 26, 1923. It was one of several stations that started between 1922 and 1923 with a call sign assigned sequentially by the Commerce Department with "W" as the first letter and "A" as the third. It was originally owned by S.E. Lawrence and Theodore Willard, in the name of the Willard Storage Battery Company. Initially the station only offered three hours of nightly programming, but soon expanded its on-air lineup. Studios were located in the Willard factory on Taft Avenue at East 131st Street. By June 30, 1924, WTAM was broadcasting with 1000 watts and sharing the 770 kHz frequency with WJAX. [link]

WJAX had signed on earlier in 1922, owned by the Union Trust Co. In 1924 it was known as the "Wave from Lake Erie." Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. purchased WJAX in 1925 and changed to the callsign to WEAR. Finally, Willard Battery purchased WEAR to have control of shared frequency allocation.

WTAM was the first radio station to broadcast coverage of a political convention when it covered the 1924 Republican National Convention at Cleveland's Public Auditorium on June 10-12, 1924. The station's power increased to 2500 watts in 1925 and to 3500 watts in 1926, as the studios moved to the Union Trust Building (now the Huntington Building). By June 30, 1927, WTAM and WEAR broadcast on 750 kHz with WTAM broadcasting with 3500 watts. [link] The January 31, 1928 Radio Service Bulletin of the Commerce Department [link] listed WTAM broadcasting with 3500 watts at night and 5000 watts during the day.

Becoming a clear channel giant

After Willard Battery threatened to close the station, WTAM and WEAR were purchased by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. (now part of FirstEnergy) and the Van Sweringen brothers on May 31, 1928. In a statement announcing the purchase, the new owners declared, "Recognizing the fact that this radio station is a civic asset to the Greater Cleveland district and that the cessation of its operation would be a real loss, the Van Sweringen interests and the Illuminating Co. entered into arrangements to continue it. Every effort will be made to maintain the station on a plane which will make it of maximum value to the community."

When the new Federal Radio Commission instituted General Order 40 after the passage of the Radio Act of 1927, WTAM along with sister station WEAR claimed the clear channel frequency allocated to Cleveland, and on November 11, 1928 they began broadcasting at 1070 kHz with WTAM broadcasting at 50,000 watts. [link] In 1929 the station built two broadcast towers in Brecksville, Ohio, each 200 feet high.

WTAM: The NBC years

With its national prominence as a clear channel giant established, WTAM became a valuable radio property. NBC purchased WTAM on October 16, 1930, and the studios were moved to the Auditorium Building. The station became a major link in the NBC Red Network, contributing some programming to the network. In 1933 Gene Carroll and Glenn Rowling brought their vaudeville humor to radio with the Gene and Glenn show. They became famous for their characters "Jake & Lena," and their program aired nationally six days a week for several years in the 1930s with WTAM originating the program for nationwide broadcast on the NBC Red Network.

NBC began to make substantial investments to station facilities in the 1930s. In 1937 a new tower was built in Brecksville which was 480 feet tall. That tower is still in use today by WTAM and FM stations WAKS and WZAK. [link] In 1937 or 1938, the station moved to 815 Superior Avenue, and the building was renamed the NBC building. (The building is known today as the Superior Building.) On March 29, 1941 with the implementation of NARBA, WTAM moved its broadcast frequency from 1070 to 1100 kHz, maintaining its clear-channel status.

During the 1940s, the station continued to contribute some programming to the NBC radio network. On March 19, 1946 Bob Hope brought his Tuesday night 10 p.m. Pepsodent radio show to Cleveland along with Jerry Colonna, Frances Langford and the Skinnay Ennis Orchestra for a broadcast on the NBC radio network. Guests included Ohio Governor Frank Lausche. Recordings of this program are still available from collectors of old radio programs.

WTAM also broadcast the 1948 World Series games of the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves, with announcers Jim Britt and Mel Allen. In 1951 WTAM originated an NBC Radio Network broadcast of the Cleveland Orchestra.

NBC also expanded its broadcasting interests in Cleveland beyond AM radio. On October 31, 1948, NBC launched a sister television outlet, WNBK, on channel 4. By 1950, sister station WTAM-FM was on the air at 105.7 MHz simulcasting the AM programming.

The broadcast tower for WTAM AM-FM and WNBK was moved to Parma, Ohio in the early 1950s. The AM radio outlet continued to use the Parma tower until 1974 when transmissions were moved back to the original broadcast tower in Brecksville.

KYW: The Westinghouse years

In 1956 NBC persuaded Westinghouse to trade its NBC-affiliated Philadelphia cluster of KYW-AM-FM and WPTZ-TV for NBC's Cleveland cluster. NBC had long wanted to own a station in Philadelphia, the nation's third-largest market at the time. NBC also indicated that it might withdraw its affiliation with all of Westinghouse's stations, including WBZ-TV in Boston, unless Westinghouse consented to the trade, so Westinghouse reluctantly agreed.

Westinghouse wanted to keep the historic KYW callsign, which had been Chicago's oldest radio facility before being transferred to Philadelphia on December 3, 1934. Therefore, on February 13, 1956, the Cleveland stations became KYW AM-FM-TV. The Philadelphia stations became WRCV AM-FM-TV. The WTAM callsign was later picked up by WGLS in Atlanta.

In the early 1960s under Westinghouse ownership KYW became a Top 40 powerhouse with DJs Jim Runyon (the "weeeellll" voice of the Chickenman series), Jim Stagg, Jay Lawrence, Jerry G., and the morning duo of Harry Martin and Specs Howard. Its main Top 40 rival in the Cleveland market was "Color Channel 14" WHK 1420.

WKYC years

Almost immediately after the trade was finalized, Westinghouse complained to the FCC and the Justice Department about NBC's blackmail. On June 19, 1965, after a protracted legal battle, the FCC ordered the swap of stations reversed without NBC realizing any profit on the deal. NBC wanted to retain the "KY" identity of its stations in Cleveland, so it changed the calls to WKYC AM-FM-TV. The "KY" came from KYW—which went back to Philadelphia with Westinghouse—and the "C" standing for Cleveland.

WKYC continued as a Top 40 outlet under NBC ownership with DJs such as Big Jack (Jack Armstrong—real name John Larsch), Chuck Dann, Bill Winters, Jim LaBarbara, Fred Winston, Lee Baby Sims, and Chuck Dunaway. Its main competition in later years was WIXY 1260 "Super Radio". WKYC "Radio 11" was a large record-selling influence as far away as New York City and Miami, Florida.

It remained a Top 40 station until late 1968 when it ended its "more music"–style presentation known as "Power Radio" and reverted, for a short time, to "Heavy 11," playing acid rock. It eventually went back to a more adult-friendly MOR format. Also, former KYW personality Jim Runyon returned to AM 1100 in October 1969, replacing Specs Howard in the morning-drive slot.

WWWE years

In 1972 NBC sold WKYC AM-FM to Ohio Communications, owned by sports franchisor Nick Mileti and broadcaster Tom Embrescia. NBC retained ownership of WKYC-TV until 1990. The AM radio station's call letters were changed to WKYC-AM became WWWE (for Embrescia, though Mileti was 1100's majority owner) and WKYC-FM became WWWM (for Mileti, though Embrescia was 105.7's majority owner) The FM station took the "M105" on-air persona, while the AM station adopted the "3WE" brand. Mileti also owned at the time both the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers; the radio broadcasts for both teams were moved from WERE to WWWE.

Pete Franklin also moved from WERE and took over an evening sports call-in show called Sportsline. The program aired from 7 p.m. to 12 midnight every weeknight, and followed the Indians and Cavaliers games. Franklin became a legend, bragging that his station’s nighttime signal could be heard "over 38 states and half of Canada" (a claim still stated on-air by hosts on WTAM to this day), and he soon developed a listenership throughout the country. Franklin stayed with the station until 1987 when he left for WFAN in New York.

Tragedy struck WWWE in 1973 when morning host Jim Runyon announced his immediate resignation on March 15 due to concerns about his health. Just weeks after resigning, Jim Runyon died of cancer at the age of 42 on April 13. Runyon's memory was honored at a special Cleveland Indians game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium that May 4 with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

During the 1970s and 1980s, ownership of "3WE" changed hands numerous times. In 1977 the station was sold to the Pacific & Southern Co., and it again dropped its NBC network affiliation. In the following years, the station had a succession of owners, including the Gannett Co. (who would later own WKYC-TV), which also owned WDOK at the time. WWWE and WDOK would be sister stations well into the late 1980s. Meanwhile, the station had a new generation of listeners who only knew it as "3WE." In the 1980s, the historic WTAM callsign was being used by the 102.3 facility in Gulfport, Mississippi.

In 1982, the FM outlet WWWM—which passed to separate ownership, and then paired with WBBG (AM)—adopted the nickname "Majic 105.7," took a soft AC format, and changed the call sign to WMJI. (The FM and AM outlets would become affiliated once again in 1998 when WTAM owner Jacor Communications merged with WMJI owner Nationwide Communications.)

Into the 1980s WWWE continued to search for a successful format. By 1981 WWWE dropped its MOR format in favor of country music as "Country 11." Included in this programming change was the move of Pete Franklin to morning drive, with sportscaster Nev Chandler taking Franklin's evening slot. None of these moves were particularly successful, and WWWE quietly returned to a MOR format.

While WWWE settled on a news/talk format in 1985—which it carries to this day—the station continued to go through numerous talent and ownership changes. In 1985, after selling off WJW (AM), Lake Erie Broadcasting (owned by Art Modell and Al Lerner) bought WWWE. The "3WE" slogan was shelved in favor of "Radio 11 WWWE," and several former WJW personalities—including Merle Pollis and Joel Rose—moved to WWWE.

The station was again sold on November 30, 1987 to the Independent Group Ltd. (owned by Tom Embrescia, Tom Wilson and Larry Pollock), and soon regained the "3WE" brand. Popular local "shock jock" Gary Dee hosted the afternoon show, and other personalities such as Fig Newton, "Dancin' Danny Wright", Bob Henderson, Lee Kirk, and Bruce Drennan also held court on "3WE" during this time.

In 1990 WWWE was purchased by Booth American Co. of Detroit, pairing it with then top-rated "Lite Rock 106½" WLTF. WWWE became affiliated with ABC Radio, and its news department was taken to a 24-hour operation. Studios were moved to the Western Reserve Building on West Ninth Street overlooking the Flats. WWWE added both Paul Harvey (dropped from WGAR) and Rush Limbaugh (dropped from WERE) to its schedule. Citing decling ratings and advertising revenue, WWWE declined to renew its long-standing contract with the Cleveland Indians following the 1991 season, and Indians broadcasts moved to WKNR, a fledging all-sports station.

In April 1994, Booth merged with Broadcast Alchemy to form Secret Communications LP, which owned the station through the remainder of its tenure as WWWE. It was at this time Gary Bruce was hired away from WIOD in Miami as program director, and soon began making sweeping changes to the lineup. Two new hosts were brought in from WIOD; first Chuck Meyer for morning drive, followed by "shock jock" Jaz McKay from 9 a.m. to noon.

The former WMMS morning team of "Jeff 'n Flash" (Jeff Kinzbach and Ed "Flash" Ferenc) were reunited in afternoon-drive with "Rock 'n Roll Talk Radio," and Mike Trivisonno (a longtime regular caller to Sportsline that Pete Franklin derided as "Mr.-Know-It-All") became host of Sportsline in the 6 to 9 p.m. slot. Eventually Rich Michaels joined WWWE in May 1995 in the midday slot, and Jaz McKay moved to the 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. slot.

Despite heavy publicity that was brought about by Jaz's arrival, the "shock talk" route was deemed a failure after one year. Gary Bruce and McKay were both fired, and WWWE started the process of its identity again. Unfortunately, the station itself made news on January 23, 1996, when its traffic plane hit a cellular phone tower and crashed in Highland Hills. Traffic reporter James Endsley (who was known on-air as Fred Wesley) and pilot James McVeigh were killed.

Back to WTAM

In 1996, ownership decided that the "3WE" name had too much of a negative image and that a new callsign was needed. The station was temporarily branded as "Newsradio AM 1100" during this time, and in searching for a new "AM"-related callsign, it found that the original call WTAM was available. On July 26, 1996, the station once more became WTAM, forty years after having dropped the call letters. The WWWE call sign was picked up by a 5000 watt daytime station in Atlanta, which, coincidentally, also broadcasts on 1100 kHz.

On April 25, 1997 Jacor Communications announced the purchase of WTAM along with WLTF from Secret communications LP [link]. Then on August 19, Jacor also announced the purchase of WKNR from Cablevision Systems Corp. [link] WKNR had the rights to Cleveland Indians baseball, which Jacor moved to WTAM beginning with the 1998 season. Jacor then was forced to swap WKNR with Capstar Broadcasting’s WTAE in Pittsburgh that August as part of the Justice Department settlement when Jacor purchased Nationwide Communications. [link] WTAE was then quickly spun off to ABC Radio.

As the Indians flagship station, and picking up some popular nationally syndicated talk shows, such as Dr. Laura Schlessinger (who replaced Rich Michaels) and Coast to Coast AM, WTAM began to build—and sustain—an audience. Bill Wills was brought in from sister station WLW in Cincinnati to host a morning drive news show patterned after Wills' show on WLW. Unlikely success was found with Mike Trivisonno when he was moved into the afternoon-drive shift as a lead-in to the Indians and Cavaliers broadcasts. Bruce Drennan, and later Kevin Keane, replaced Trivisonno as host of Sportsline.

In May 1999, Clear Channel Communications completed its $6.5 billion purchase of Jacor and its 454 stations, including WTAM. Studios for all of Clear Channel's Cleveland stations were consolidated into a new facility in Independence, Ohio by July 2002.

The only inconsistent time period for WTAM of late has been the 9 to 11:30 a.m. slot. First, Glenn Beck replaced Dr. Laura Schlessinger following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Glenn Beck was then replaced in March of 2005 with Jerry Springer's mid-morning show from Air America and Clear Channel's Premiere Radio Networks. Finally, on March 10, 2006, WTAM announced that it would replace Jerry Springer with a local call-in talk program hosted by Cleveland native (and former WTAM sportscaster) Bob Frantz, who was mostly recently heard on Clear Channel sister station WSPD in Toledo. Bob's show marked a re-entry into local programming in that slot after a little more than nine years.

Programming

Weekdays

• 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.: Wills and Coleman in the Morning
• 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Bob Frantz
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: The Midday Report with Paul Harvey News (from ABC Radio)
• 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Rush Limbaugh (from Premiere Radio Networks)
• 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Mike Trivisonno
• 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.: Sportsline with Kevin Keane
• 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.: Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (from Premiere Radio Networks)

Sports

• Flagship station for:

*Cleveland Indians baseball

*Cleveland Browns football (shared with sister station WMMS)

*Cleveland Cavaliers basketball

Cleveland affiliate for University of Notre Dame football.

References

[Cleveland Broadcast Radio Archives Project]

External links

• [Query the FCC's AM station database for WTAM]
• [Aerial photo of WTAM transmitter from Google Local]

 

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