WGBT
Encyclopedia
WPTI is an talk
radio station
serving the Piedmont Triad
area of the United States
, covering the Greensboro
-Winston Salem
-High Point
metropolitan area. The Clear Channel Communications
station's community of license is Eden, North Carolina
. Its transmitter is located in Madison, North Carolina
.
WPTI carries Rush Limbaugh
, Glenn Beck
, Sean Hannity
, Jason Lewis
, The Schnitt Show and Coast to Coast AM
, along with the morning show from co-owned WRDU in Raleigh
, and other programming.
. In 1984 the station increased power to 100,000 watts and became a country music
station called WWWI "I-95". Later the name was changed to "I-94.5". In 1986 the letters were switched to WKLM when the station became beautiful music
"Classy 94.5". Later, when the station had moved to Greensboro
, the name changed to WWMY "My 94.5", though the format remained the same. WWMY switched to MOR in 1990, later changing to the new call letters WMKG and the name "Magic Lite" when WMAG
began providing the station's programming. In 1992, WMKG became WNEU "New Country 94.5", later changing its name to "Cat Country".
In 1994, the station became WXRA "94.5 the Rock Alternative", playing modern rock
. Later in the 90s, the station began playing a mix of old and new rock and called itself "the rock station". Around New Year's Day
2001 WXRA became WWCC, a classic-leaning country music
station, but the ratings weren't there and in 2003 WWCC became WGBT and flipped to a Rhythmic Top 40 format.
On Thursday, February 16, 2006, WGBT switched to an all-Spanish language
format, La Preciosa, playing music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. As such, WGBT became The Triad's first FM Spanish-language radio station (the 2nd in North Carolina). This made the fourth distinctly different radio format in five years to be broadcast on the 94.5 frequency in the Greensboro market.
announced that its WSJS
/WSML
news talk simulcast would no longer carry The Rush Limbaugh Show
after December 31, 2009. On December 31, 2009, WGBT became a talk station known as "Rush Radio 94.5" under new calls WPTI. The station stunted
with weekend-long continuous replays of The Rush Limbaugh Week in Review
through New Year's weekend (much as WRNO
did in April 2008). The Glenn Beck Program
and a local show called the Morning Rush hosted by Bill Flynn and Pamela Furr debuted January 4.
On July 26, 2010, Sean Hannity
moved to WPTI.
In November 2010, the station canceled The Morning Rush with Flynn and Pamela Furr. After Christmas of 2010, Dmitri Vassilaros began hosting the morning show. In 2011, WPTI replaced Vassilaros with K.C. O'Dea and Carmen Conners of WRDU, and moved The Schnitt Show from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M., putting Jason Lewis
in the 6 P.M. slot.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
serving the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
area of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, covering the Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
-Winston Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
-High Point
High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
metropolitan area. The Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
station's community of license is Eden, North Carolina
Eden, North Carolina
Eden is a city in Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,908 at the 2000 census. The city was incorporated in 1967 through the consolidation of three separate towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper....
. Its transmitter is located in Madison, North Carolina
Madison, North Carolina
Madison is a town located in Rockingham County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,262. It is home to the corporate headquarters of Remington Arms.-Schools:...
.
WPTI carries Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
, Jason Lewis
Jason Lewis (radio host)
Jason Lewis is an American radio talk show host and political commentator. His show is currently syndicated nationally on the Genesis Communications Network. His radio show was previously broadcast locally for 10 years on KSTP in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota, until Lewis...
, The Schnitt Show and Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
, along with the morning show from co-owned WRDU in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, and other programming.
History
The station was WLOE-FM, WEAF and then WSRQ in Eden, North CarolinaEden, North Carolina
Eden is a city in Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,908 at the 2000 census. The city was incorporated in 1967 through the consolidation of three separate towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper....
. In 1984 the station increased power to 100,000 watts and became a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station called WWWI "I-95". Later the name was changed to "I-94.5". In 1986 the letters were switched to WKLM when the station became beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
"Classy 94.5". Later, when the station had moved to Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, the name changed to WWMY "My 94.5", though the format remained the same. WWMY switched to MOR in 1990, later changing to the new call letters WMKG and the name "Magic Lite" when WMAG
WMAG
WMAG is an adult contemporary music formatted radio station licensed to High Point, North Carolina and serves the Piedmont Triad region, including Greensboro and Winston-Salem...
began providing the station's programming. In 1992, WMKG became WNEU "New Country 94.5", later changing its name to "Cat Country".
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
. Later in the 90s, the station began playing a mix of old and new rock and called itself "the rock station". Around New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
2001 WXRA became WWCC, a classic-leaning country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station, but the ratings weren't there and in 2003 WWCC became WGBT and flipped to a Rhythmic Top 40 format.
On Thursday, February 16, 2006, WGBT switched to an all-Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
format, La Preciosa, playing music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. As such, WGBT became The Triad's first FM Spanish-language radio station (the 2nd in North Carolina). This made the fourth distinctly different radio format in five years to be broadcast on the 94.5 frequency in the Greensboro market.
WPTI today
Curtis Media GroupCurtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group is a broadcast media company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The company owns and operates several North Carolina radio stations and four radio networks.-AM:*WPTF 680 AM *WQDR 570 AM...
announced that its WSJS
WSJS
WSJS is a radio station based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that broadcasts at 600 AM. It has a news/talk radio format and its slogan is "The Triad's News Radio", where "Triad" refers to the Piedmont Triad.-Programming:...
/WSML
WSML
WSML is located in Graham, North Carolina and broadcasts at 1200 AM. The station is part of a sports trimulcast with WCOG from Greensboro and WMFR from High Point. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group. Studios are located in downtown Graham.-History:...
news talk simulcast would no longer carry The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
after December 31, 2009. On December 31, 2009, WGBT became a talk station known as "Rush Radio 94.5" under new calls WPTI. The station stunted
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
with weekend-long continuous replays of The Rush Limbaugh Week in Review
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
through New Year's weekend (much as WRNO
WRNO-FM
WRNO-FM is an Interactive Talk formatted radio station serving New Orleans, Louisiana. The Clear Channel Communications station broadcasts at 99.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kilowatts.-History:...
did in April 2008). The Glenn Beck Program
Glenn Beck Program
The Glenn Beck Program is an American talk radio show hosted by commentator Glenn Beck on Premiere Radio Networks. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs...
and a local show called the Morning Rush hosted by Bill Flynn and Pamela Furr debuted January 4.
On July 26, 2010, Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
moved to WPTI.
In November 2010, the station canceled The Morning Rush with Flynn and Pamela Furr. After Christmas of 2010, Dmitri Vassilaros began hosting the morning show. In 2011, WPTI replaced Vassilaros with K.C. O'Dea and Carmen Conners of WRDU, and moved The Schnitt Show from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M., putting Jason Lewis
Jason Lewis (radio host)
Jason Lewis is an American radio talk show host and political commentator. His show is currently syndicated nationally on the Genesis Communications Network. His radio show was previously broadcast locally for 10 years on KSTP in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota, until Lewis...
in the 6 P.M. slot.