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WTRX (AM)
Encyclopedia
WTRX is an American
radio station
broadcasting a sports radio
format in Flint, Michigan
. It is the Flint affiliate
for the Detroit Tigers
, the Detroit Lions
, the Detroit Red Wings
, the Detroit Pistons
, and the Michigan Wolverines
, as well as ESPN Radio
.
The station first began broadcasting in 1947 under the WBBC call sign and was a popular Top 40 station in the 1960s and early 1970s, going by the name "Trix." Around 1975, WTRX migrated from Top 40 to adult contemporary and continued with that format until 1989, when it became an affiliate of Satellite Music Network
's Z-Rock format as WDLZ. The station subsequently failed, largely due to the downward spiral in the local economy and the migration of many AM stations in the area to non-music formats. The station was also the Flint-area home of American Top 40
until 1986, the year eventual sister station WIOG
, which had been the Tri-Cities AT40 affiliate at the time, moved to its present frequency of 102.5 and took over AT40 affiilation for the Flint area.
After a period of silence after WDLZ went off the air in 1990, WTRX came back on the air with its legendary call sign restored, but with no original programming. WTRX spent the first few years simulcasting Bay City station WMAX (AM)
's all-sports format until it established its own all-sports programming. The station became what it is today in 1996.
Cumulus Media purchased WTRX in 2011. It is expected to relocate its studios and offices to either Champagne Drive in Saginaw
(due to the station also being heard throughout the Tri-Cities) or to 6317 Taylor Drive in Mundy Township
in the near future. In addition to its Flint sister stations mentioned on the infobox and WIOG, WTRX's other sister stations are WHNN
, WKQZ
and WYLZ, all licensed to the Tri-Cities; of the three, only WHNN also serves the Flint area.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
broadcasting a 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...
format in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. It is the Flint affiliate
Affiliate
An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity.- Corporate structure :A corporation may be referred to as an affiliate of another when it is related to it but not strictly controlled by it, as with a subsidiary relationship, or when it is desired to avoid...
for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, and the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
, as well as ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
.
The station first began broadcasting in 1947 under the WBBC call sign and was a popular Top 40 station in the 1960s and early 1970s, going by the name "Trix." Around 1975, WTRX migrated from Top 40 to adult contemporary and continued with that format until 1989, when it became an affiliate of Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered network to provide complete live 24-hour a day music programming to local stations, under several different formats...
's Z-Rock format as WDLZ. The station subsequently failed, largely due to the downward spiral in the local economy and the migration of many AM stations in the area to non-music formats. The station was also the Flint-area home of American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
until 1986, the year eventual sister station WIOG
WIOG
WIOG is a radio station airing a Top 40 format, licensed to Bay City, Michigan and serving the Greater Tri-Cities areas from a transmitter located northeast of Saginaw...
, which had been the Tri-Cities AT40 affiliate at the time, moved to its present frequency of 102.5 and took over AT40 affiilation for the Flint area.
After a period of silence after WDLZ went off the air in 1990, WTRX came back on the air with its legendary call sign restored, but with no original programming. WTRX spent the first few years simulcasting Bay City station WMAX (AM)
WMAX (AM)
WMAX is a radio station broadcasting a Catholic religious format. It is co-owned with WDEO 990 AM in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and features the same programming from the EWTN Global Catholic Radio network...
's all-sports format until it established its own all-sports programming. The station became what it is today in 1996.
Cumulus Media purchased WTRX in 2011. It is expected to relocate its studios and offices to either Champagne Drive in Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
(due to the station also being heard throughout the Tri-Cities) or to 6317 Taylor Drive in Mundy Township
Mundy Township, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,191 people, 4,876 households, and 3,583 families residing in the township. The population density was 338.8 per square mile . There were 5,047 housing units at an average density of 140.3 per square mile...
in the near future. In addition to its Flint sister stations mentioned on the infobox and WIOG, WTRX's other sister stations are WHNN
WHNN
WHNN is an FM radio station serving the Saginaw-Bay City-Midland area and Flint with its classic hits format. It broadcasts on FM frequency 96.1 and is under ownership of Cumulus Media...
, WKQZ
WKQZ
WKQZ is an active rock radio station at 93.3 on the FM dial serving east-central Michigan, owned by Cumulus Media...
and WYLZ, all licensed to the Tri-Cities; of the three, only WHNN also serves the Flint area.
Sources
- Michiguide.com - WTRX History
- Detroit Lions Official Site - Lions Radio Network
- Detroit Tigers Official Site - Current Radio Affiliates
- Detroit Red Wings Official Site - Current Radio Affiliates
- Detroit Pistons Official Site - Current Radio Affiliates
- U of M Football Official Site - Michigan Football Radio Network
- U of M Men's Basketball Official Site - Michigan Men's Basketball Radio Network