WPIT
Encyclopedia
WPIT is a hybrid conservative talk
/religious
radio station
based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. The station is licensed to Pennsylvania Media Associates, Inc which is wholly owned by Salem Communications Holding Corporation which is in turn owned by Salem Communications Corporation
. The transmitter power is 5,000 watt
s during the day and 24 watts at night.
The station's antenna system uses a single tower that results in an omnidirectional
signal pattern. According to the Antenna Structure Registration database, the tower is 99 m (324.8 ft) tall. The transmitter site is located near Millvale, Pennsylvania
.
up until 1993, when both stations were sold to Salem.
WPIT's studios were once located on Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh. A neon sign reading "WPIT DIAL 730" hung outside their former location for years after they had moved out, well into the early 1980s. The station moved to Gateway Towers in downtown Pittsburgh around 1980, next door to the KDKA
and KDKA-TV
home of One Gateway Center.
WPIT has had only two managers in its long history. Michael Komichak, who also built the station back in 1947 and did much of its engineering work, and Chuck Gratner, who assumed control of WPIT-AM and FM after both were sold to Salem. During the switch over to the new manager, old policies against atheist guests were lifted and Richard Dawkins
has even appeared on air. Once the sale to Salem was complete, the operations of WPIT and its FM sister, WORD-FM
moved up to Seven Parkway Center in Greentree, just outside of the Pittsburgh city limits.
In recent years, WPIT has added some secular conservative talk programming to its lineup (like Dr. Laura, Michael Medved
, and Hugh Hewitt
), but religious programming continues to fill most of the station's hours. For many years, WPIT has also aired foreign-language and ethnic programming on weekends.
The station also airs Robert Morris University
football, men's basketball, select women's basketball games. Red Zone Media also broadcasts North Hills School District
football games on WPIT.
The station is known as "73 WPIT"
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...
/religious
Religious broadcasting
Religious broadcasting refers to broadcasting by religious organizations, usually with a religious message. Many religious organizations have long recorded content such as sermons and lectures, and have moved into distributing content on their Internet websites.While this article emphasises...
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...
based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. The station is licensed to Pennsylvania Media Associates, Inc which is wholly owned by Salem Communications Holding Corporation which is in turn owned by Salem Communications Corporation
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
. The transmitter power is 5,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s during the day and 24 watts at night.
The station's antenna system uses a single tower that results in an omnidirectional
Omnidirectional
Omnidirectional refers to the notion of existing in every direction. Omnidirectional devices include:* Omnidirectional antenna, an antenna that radiates equally in all directions* VHF omnidirectional range, a type of radio navigation system for aircraft...
signal pattern. According to the Antenna Structure Registration database, the tower is 99 m (324.8 ft) tall. The transmitter site is located near Millvale, Pennsylvania
Millvale, Pennsylvania
Millvale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Allegheny River, opposite Pittsburgh. In the past, it had iron manufactures, saw works, stone works, lumber mills, breweries, etc. In 1900, the number of people residing here totaled 6,736; in 1910, 7,861; and in 1940, 7,811...
.
History
WPIT, which signed on the air in 1947, has been a religious station for most of its life, and at one time was a simulcast of its FM sister stationWORD-FM
WORD-FM is a Christian talk radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by Salem Communications, the station broadcasts on 101.5 MHz, with an ERP of 48 kW. Its transmitter is located in Reserve Township, Pennsylvania.- History :...
up until 1993, when both stations were sold to Salem.
WPIT's studios were once located on Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh. A neon sign reading "WPIT DIAL 730" hung outside their former location for years after they had moved out, well into the early 1980s. The station moved to Gateway Towers in downtown Pittsburgh around 1980, next door to the KDKA
KDKA (AM)
KDKA is a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Created by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation on November 2, 1920, it is one of the world's first modern radio stations , a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations, although it has claimed to be the first in...
and KDKA-TV
KDKA-TV
KDKA-TV, channel 2, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. KDKA-TV broadcasts from a transmitter located in the Perry North neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and its studios are located in downtown Pittsburgh at Gateway Center....
home of One Gateway Center.
WPIT has had only two managers in its long history. Michael Komichak, who also built the station back in 1947 and did much of its engineering work, and Chuck Gratner, who assumed control of WPIT-AM and FM after both were sold to Salem. During the switch over to the new manager, old policies against atheist guests were lifted and Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
has even appeared on air. Once the sale to Salem was complete, the operations of WPIT and its FM sister, WORD-FM
WORD-FM
WORD-FM is a Christian talk radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by Salem Communications, the station broadcasts on 101.5 MHz, with an ERP of 48 kW. Its transmitter is located in Reserve Township, Pennsylvania.- History :...
moved up to Seven Parkway Center in Greentree, just outside of the Pittsburgh city limits.
In recent years, WPIT has added some secular conservative talk programming to its lineup (like Dr. Laura, Michael Medved
Michael Medved
Michael Medved is an American radio host, author, political commentator and film critic. His Seattle, Washington-based nationally syndicated talk show, The Michael Medved Show, airs throughout the U.S...
, and Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt is an American radio talk show host with the Salem Radio Network, lawyer, academic, and author. An outspoken Republican, evangelical Christian, he comments on society, politics, and media bias in the United States. Hewitt is also a law professor at Chapman University School of Law.-...
), but religious programming continues to fill most of the station's hours. For many years, WPIT has also aired foreign-language and ethnic programming on weekends.
The station also airs Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
football, men's basketball, select women's basketball games. Red Zone Media also broadcasts North Hills School District
North Hills School District
The North Hills School District, located in Northern Allegheny County, is a suburb of the city of Pittsburgh. The district comprises Ross Township and West View Borough ~ a area with a population of nearly 40,000....
football games on WPIT.
The station is known as "73 WPIT"