WSPD
Encyclopedia
WSPD — branded The Talk of Toledo - 1370 WSPD — is a news
-talk
radio station
licensed to Toledo, Ohio
. WSPD broadcasts on a full-time basis with 5,000 watts, including a directional signal pattern at night. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications
.
WSPD's studios are located in downtown Toledo at Superior and Lafayette Avenues, and their transmitter is located on Oregon Road near Wales Road in Northwood
. The transmitter site still contains a small DJ booth - reportedly the original broadcast studio - and features three unique free-standing towers.
Current programming on WSPD features local hosts Fred LeFebvre, Brian Wilson and Fritz Wenzel, in addition to syndicated programs such as The Rush Limbaugh Show
, The Sean Hannity Show
, The Glenn Beck Program, Coast to Coast AM
and The Mutual Fund Show with Adam Bold
. WSPD is affiliated with Fox News Radio
, which provides live top-of-the-hour newscasts, actualities, and breaking national news coverage.
WSPD was the flagship of Storer Broadcasting until 1980, when it was spun off to "WSPD, Inc." Toledo Broadcasting Inc. acquired the station in 1986; eventually it would be sold to Jacor, and most recently, to Clear Channel
. In the early 1990s, WSPD transitioned from a full-service adult contemporary/MOR station to its current news/talk format - mainly with a conservative
focus - and became known as "News Radio 1370 WSPD." The station went by the slogan "News/Talk 1370" from late 2005 until the winter of 2011, and is now merely known as "1370 WSPD".
The WSPD call letters were once shared with TV channel 13, when both were commonly owned by Storer Broadcasting. The TV station's call letters changed to WTVG
in 1980 when the radio stations were sold off to Wood Broadcasting, and Storer Broadcasting retained control of the TV station.
WSPD has been the flagship station of University of Toledo
football and men's basketball since the mid-1960s, heading a network of five affiliate stations across Ohio and Michigan as of August 2011. The station is also the chief Northwest Ohio affiliate of Cleveland Indians
baseball. WSPD carries all weeknight and weekend Indians games that do not conflict with U-T broadcasts. Weekday afternoon games are heard on sister station WCWA
.
Although only 5,000 watts it had enormous influence in the Toledo market due to unusually high ratings. Some on-air alumni of WSPD include: Connie Desmond
, Art Barrie, Jim Ubelhart, Jeanne Overton, Bob Seybold, Randy Huston, Bob Martz, Don Edwards, Neal Carmean, Chuck Parmelee, Ed Hunter, Jerry Keil, Eddie Kootz, Frank Venner, Jack Mitchell, Deborah Boyce, Rich Hoffer, Jerry Anderson, Larry Weseman, Art Edgerton, Lou Hebert, Mike Stanley, Ron Tindall, Paul W. Smith
, Jim (Ted) Bayer, Doug Bermick, Lee Conklin, Bill Stewart, Pat Brogan, Dave Macy, Lee Kirk, Sean Baligian
, Scott Sloan, Mark Standriff, Ted Dalaku, Jim Donkel, Kent Slocum, Dick Scott, Bill Nordstrom, Scott Sloan, Paul Stowers, Bob Frantz
and Denny Schaffer
.
WSPD was also instrumental in the very early show business days of Toledo-native Teresa Brewer
, who sang on the radio station as a child in the 1930s. Deborah Boyce hosted the first, nightly, evening drive-time jazz show in the country on AM radio from 1977-1979.
In 2007, long-time station engineer Bill Rossini brought WSPD into the digital-age with the introduction of (hybrid) digital "HD Radio" (IBOC) broadcasting over WSPD (during daylight hours). On September 14, 2007, WSPD began 24-hour hybrid digital radio broadcasting. WSPD formerly broadcast in AM Stereo
in the 1980s, into the 1990s.
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
-talk
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...
licensed to Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. WSPD broadcasts on a full-time basis with 5,000 watts, including a directional signal pattern at night. The station is currently owned by 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...
.
WSPD's studios are located in downtown Toledo at Superior and Lafayette Avenues, and their transmitter is located on Oregon Road near Wales Road in Northwood
Northwood, Ohio
Northwood is a city in Wood County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,471 at the 2000 census.-History:Northwood was originally Ross Township. It was the northernmost township in Wood County from its establishment on April 18, 1874 until December 1, 1962. Farms, gardens, orchards, and...
. The transmitter site still contains a small DJ booth - reportedly the original broadcast studio - and features three unique free-standing towers.
Current programming on WSPD features local hosts Fred LeFebvre, Brian Wilson and Fritz Wenzel, in addition to syndicated programs such as 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...
, The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show is a talk radio show hosted by Sean Hannity on Citadel Media and Premiere Radio Networks. The program is broadcast live every weekday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m...
, The Glenn Beck Program, 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...
and The Mutual Fund Show with Adam Bold
Adam Bold
Adam Bold is an American author and businessman. He is the founder and minority shareholder of The Mutual Fund Store, and host of The Mutual Fund Show, a national weekly talk radio show focused on actively managed mutual fund investments...
. WSPD is affiliated with Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio is an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel.- History :In 2003, Fox News began syndicating one minute radio updates to radio stations via syndication service Westwood One. On June 1, 2005, Fox News Radio employed 60 people and provided five minute newscasts at the top...
, which provides live top-of-the-hour newscasts, actualities, and breaking national news coverage.
History
WSPD is Toledo's longest running radio station, originally started on-air as WTAL in April 1921. It would be purchased by the nascent Storer Communications in January of 1928, and was renamed WSPD. The call letters came from "Speedene Oil," a brand of gasoline that Storer Communications' founders, George B. Storer and brother-in-law J. Harold Ryan, owned and marketed. For decades, WSPD was commonly known as "Speedy 1370". Some locals still refer to the station as "Speedy" although that nickname is no longer officially used on the air (recently, traffic reports on WSPD were renamed "Speedy Traffic," a nod to the heritage slogan).WSPD was the flagship of Storer Broadcasting until 1980, when it was spun off to "WSPD, Inc." Toledo Broadcasting Inc. acquired the station in 1986; eventually it would be sold to Jacor, and most recently, to Clear Channel
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...
. In the early 1990s, WSPD transitioned from a full-service adult contemporary/MOR station to its current news/talk format - mainly with a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
focus - and became known as "News Radio 1370 WSPD." The station went by the slogan "News/Talk 1370" from late 2005 until the winter of 2011, and is now merely known as "1370 WSPD".
The WSPD call letters were once shared with TV channel 13, when both were commonly owned by Storer Broadcasting. The TV station's call letters changed to WTVG
WTVG
This is about the TV station in Toledo, Ohio for the former WTVG-TV in Newark, New Jersey see WFUT-DT.WTVG, channel 13, is the ABC-affiliated television station for Northwest Ohio and licensed in Toledo, Ohio. WTVG's studios and offices are located in Toledo and its transmitter is located in...
in 1980 when the radio stations were sold off to Wood Broadcasting, and Storer Broadcasting retained control of the TV station.
WSPD has been the flagship station of University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
football and men's basketball since the mid-1960s, heading a network of five affiliate stations across Ohio and Michigan as of August 2011. The station is also the chief Northwest Ohio affiliate of Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
baseball. WSPD carries all weeknight and weekend Indians games that do not conflict with U-T broadcasts. Weekday afternoon games are heard on sister station WCWA
WCWA
WCWA is a radio station licensed to and serving Toledo, Ohio. It is the second-oldest radio station in Toledo, and during AM radio's heyday it was a close second in popularity to WSPD-AM for many years.-History:...
.
Although only 5,000 watts it had enormous influence in the Toledo market due to unusually high ratings. Some on-air alumni of WSPD include: Connie Desmond
Connie Desmond
Cornelius "Connie" Desmond was an American Major League Baseball radio broadcaster, primarily for the Brooklyn Dodgers.Desmond began hiscareer in 1932 as the voice of the minor league Toledo Mud Hens...
, Art Barrie, Jim Ubelhart, Jeanne Overton, Bob Seybold, Randy Huston, Bob Martz, Don Edwards, Neal Carmean, Chuck Parmelee, Ed Hunter, Jerry Keil, Eddie Kootz, Frank Venner, Jack Mitchell, Deborah Boyce, Rich Hoffer, Jerry Anderson, Larry Weseman, Art Edgerton, Lou Hebert, Mike Stanley, Ron Tindall, Paul W. Smith
Paul W. Smith
Paul W. Smith is the morning drive-time host at Detroit, Michigan's WJR radio. As a clear-channel station on 760 AM, WJR can be heard throughout the Midwest, and Smith's program is known throughout the region...
, Jim (Ted) Bayer, Doug Bermick, Lee Conklin, Bill Stewart, Pat Brogan, Dave Macy, Lee Kirk, Sean Baligian
Sean Baligian
Sean Baligian is a sports radio broadcaster who was on the Detroit sports airwaves, for WDFN and WJR. He is a native of Livonia, Michigan and graduated from Livonia Stevenson High School.-Radio career:...
, Scott Sloan, Mark Standriff, Ted Dalaku, Jim Donkel, Kent Slocum, Dick Scott, Bill Nordstrom, Scott Sloan, Paul Stowers, Bob Frantz
Bob Frantz
Bob Frantz is an American talk radio host, TV personality, and sportswriter. He can currently be heard on WTAM AM 1100 in Cleveland, Ohio. As of September 10, 2011, he also hosts a weekly crime solving program on WKYC channel 3 in Cleveland...
and Denny Schaffer
Denny Schaffer
Denny Schaffer is a radio talk show host based in Atlanta. He currently hosts a new morning show on WRNO-FM in New Orleans. He previously hosted an evening show on WGKA/920 in Atlanta from 9 - 11 pm which WGKA moved to 8- 10 pm a few months before Denny was offered his current gig in New...
.
WSPD was also instrumental in the very early show business days of Toledo-native Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer was an American pop singer whose style incorporated elements of country, jazz, R&B, musicals and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950s, recording nearly 600 songs. Born Theresa Breuer in Toledo, Ohio, Brewer died of a neuromuscular...
, who sang on the radio station as a child in the 1930s. Deborah Boyce hosted the first, nightly, evening drive-time jazz show in the country on AM radio from 1977-1979.
In 2007, long-time station engineer Bill Rossini brought WSPD into the digital-age with the introduction of (hybrid) digital "HD Radio" (IBOC) broadcasting over WSPD (during daylight hours). On September 14, 2007, WSPD began 24-hour hybrid digital radio broadcasting. WSPD formerly broadcast in AM Stereo
AM stereo
AM stereo is a term given to a series of mutually incompatible techniques for wireless radio broadcasting stereo audio in the AM band in a manner that is compatible with standard AM receivers...
in the 1980s, into the 1990s.