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WTNT (AM)
Encyclopedia
WTNT—branded AM 730 WTNT—is a news/talk
radio station
licensed to Alexandria, Virginia
and serving the Washington metro area
. It operates with unlimited hours, with 8,000 watt
s during the daytime, and 25 watts in the evening hours. The station is owned and operated by Metro Radio.
Its programming lineup consists solely of Talk Radio Network
offerings, particularly America's Morning News, The Laura Ingraham Show
, America's Radio News Network, The Jerry Doyle Show, The Savage Nation
, The Rusty Humphries Show
and The Phil Hendrie Show
- most of which aired on the previous incarnation of WTNT
on the 570 kHz facility in Bethesda, Maryland
. WTNT serves as a flagship station for America's Morning News, Laura Ingraham and America's Radio News Network.
WTNT's programming is simulcast full-time on WKDL
1250 AM in Warrenton, Virginia
.
market WRMR). In the late 1980s the station changed to a CNN news format, which was soon followed by a business news brokered financial advice format (à la WBZS), which lasted until April 1999.
Then, Mega Communications bought the station and installed a Mexican/tropical music format as "Radio Capital." The call letters changed again in October 2000 to WKDL, call letters that were previously held on what is currently WFED. This format, along with its FM sisters, lasted until the launch of "Triple X" in July 2006. The WXTR calls were installed at this point; the call letters were used in the past on different stations in the Washington area on two different stations (at 104.1 FM and 820 AM).
In addition, Red Zebra planned to acquire WGYS 103.9-FM in Braddock Heights, Maryland
and WGMS 104.1-FM in Waldorf, Maryland
via a recent acquisition with Bonneville International, but called the deal off weeks later.
Media Web site DCRTV.com first reported on July 24, 2010 that WXTR had dropped the Spanish Sports Radio
programming of ESPN Deportes Radio
and switched to a "pop and soul oldies" format, calling itself "Non-Stop Classic Hits, XTRA-AM". WXTR would quickly pick ESPN Deportes Radio
days later. DCRTV.com would again report that on October 9, 2010 that WXTR would drop Spanish Sports Radio for Oldies. WXTR's Spanish radio website and webstream was down as of October 13, 2010. The web site Radio Business Report reported the flip, quoting a station exec as saying the station would fill "a void in the marketplace". WXTR also revived the "XTRA Oldies" nickname, which was used on the FM dial at the 104.1-FM facility. For the short amount of time the format was carried, it was the only AM station broadcasting English-language music on a full-time basis in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area. However, this change lasted only several days, as Red Zebra announced that WXTR would be sold off to Metro Radio that October 18. The WTNT call letters were moved from the 570 kHz facility, which changed to the WSPZ
call letters, and picked up WTNT's previous conservative talk format, which was dropped for sports/talk in early September.
WTNT must power down to 25 watts at night in order to protect clear-channel CKAC in Montreal
, rendering it all but unlistenable at night. In 2006, while it was still WXTR under Snyder's ownership, it sought to boost its power to 28,000 watts in the daytime and 20,000 watts in the night hours. The power boost would have given WXTR coverage comparable to the other major AM stations in the capital.
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 Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
and serving the Washington metro area
Washington Metropolitan Area
The Washington Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area centered on Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The area includes all of the federal district and parts of the U.S...
. It operates with unlimited hours, with 8,000 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 daytime, and 25 watts in the evening hours. The station is owned and operated by Metro Radio.
Its programming lineup consists solely of Talk Radio Network
Talk Radio Network
Talk Radio Network is an American radio network providing talk radio programming, with an emphasis on conservative talk on weekdays and variety/general interest talk radio on weekends. Some of the most recognizable personalities in American radio, such as Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage, are...
offerings, particularly America's Morning News, The Laura Ingraham Show
The Laura Ingraham Show
The Laura Ingraham Show is a three-hour American radio show hosted by conservative commentator Laura Ingraham on Talk Radio Network. , the show is broadcast live on Channel 2, from 9 a.m...
, America's Radio News Network, The Jerry Doyle Show, The Savage Nation
The Savage Nation
The Savage Nation is an American radio show hosted by conservative commentator Michael Savage on Talk Radio Network. His show is heard by 8-10 million listeners a week and syndicated across the U.S. in over 300 markets, making it the 3rd most listened to radio show in the country...
, The Rusty Humphries Show
Rusty Humphries
Ralph E. "Rusty" Humphries is an American radio host, conservative political commentator, and songwriter. Humphries' nationally-syndicated radio show, The Rusty Humphries Show, based in Atlanta, Georgia, airs on over 250 stations through Talk Radio Network.-Career:Humphries has hosted as a...
and The Phil Hendrie Show
The Phil Hendrie Show
The Phil Hendrie Show is a comedy talk radio program. The show is syndicated throughout North America on Talk Radio Network. It is known for outrageous guests, the majority of whom are fictional and voiced live by the host, Phil Hendrie...
- most of which aired on the previous incarnation of WTNT
WSPZ
WSPZ — branded SportsTalk 570 — is a sports radio station licensed to Bethesda, Maryland and serving the Washington metro area. It has a daytime power of 5,000 watts....
on the 570 kHz facility in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. WTNT serves as a flagship station for America's Morning News, Laura Ingraham and America's Radio News Network.
WTNT's programming is simulcast full-time on WKDL
WKDL (AM)
WKDL — branded AM 730 WTNT — is a news/talk radio station licensed to Warrenton, Virginia and serving the western portion of the Washington, D.C. metro area, particularly Fauquier County. It operates with unlimited hours, with 5,000 watts during the daytime, and 32 watts in the evening hours...
1250 AM in Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton is a town in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. It is the county seat of Fauquier County. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two...
.
History
WTNT signed on as WPIK in the 1940s. For many years this station operated as the AM side to country station WXRA 105.9 FM, and for another period as WPKX "Kix Country." For a time 730 simulcasted 105.9's next incarnation, classic rock, as WCXR. For a short while in the mid-1980s, 730 was WCPT and featured a soul oldies format. It was also WRMR with a nostalgia format for a very short while (not to be confused with the Cleveland, OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
market WRMR). In the late 1980s the station changed to a CNN news format, which was soon followed by a business news brokered financial advice format (à la WBZS), which lasted until April 1999.
Braddock Heights, Maryland
Braddock Heights is a census-designated place in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,627 at the 2000 census. Braddock Heights is part of the Middletown, Maryland School District...
and WGMS 104.1-FM in Waldorf, Maryland
Waldorf, Maryland
Waldorf, Maryland is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Charles County, Maryland, United States. It is south-southeast of Washington, D.C. The population of the census-designated area only was 67,752 at the 2010 census...
via a recent acquisition with Bonneville International, but called the deal off weeks later.
Media Web site DCRTV.com first reported on July 24, 2010 that WXTR had dropped the Spanish Sports Radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
programming of ESPN Deportes Radio
ESPN Deportes Radio
ESPN Deportes Radio is a Spanish language sports radio network created and produced by Disney-owned ESPN. Programming includes call-in talk shows and commentary from hosts about a full range of sporting events, including soccer, American football, baseball and boxing.The network has stations in 13...
and switched to a "pop and soul oldies" format, calling itself "Non-Stop Classic Hits, XTRA-AM". WXTR would quickly pick ESPN Deportes Radio
ESPN Deportes Radio
ESPN Deportes Radio is a Spanish language sports radio network created and produced by Disney-owned ESPN. Programming includes call-in talk shows and commentary from hosts about a full range of sporting events, including soccer, American football, baseball and boxing.The network has stations in 13...
days later. DCRTV.com would again report that on October 9, 2010 that WXTR would drop Spanish Sports Radio for Oldies. WXTR's Spanish radio website and webstream was down as of October 13, 2010. The web site Radio Business Report reported the flip, quoting a station exec as saying the station would fill "a void in the marketplace". WXTR also revived the "XTRA Oldies" nickname, which was used on the FM dial at the 104.1-FM facility. For the short amount of time the format was carried, it was the only AM station broadcasting English-language music on a full-time basis in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area. However, this change lasted only several days, as Red Zebra announced that WXTR would be sold off to Metro Radio that October 18. The WTNT call letters were moved from the 570 kHz facility, which changed to the WSPZ
WSPZ
WSPZ — branded SportsTalk 570 — is a sports radio station licensed to Bethesda, Maryland and serving the Washington metro area. It has a daytime power of 5,000 watts....
call letters, and picked up WTNT's previous conservative talk format, which was dropped for sports/talk in early September.
WTNT must power down to 25 watts at night in order to protect clear-channel CKAC in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, rendering it all but unlistenable at night. In 2006, while it was still WXTR under Snyder's ownership, it sought to boost its power to 28,000 watts in the daytime and 20,000 watts in the night hours. The power boost would have given WXTR coverage comparable to the other major AM stations in the capital.