WWTH
Encyclopedia
WWTH and WHAK (960 AM), Thunder Country, are a pair of radio station
s broadcasting a country music
format to northeastern lower Michigan
. Additionally, the group has a translator, W231BF, (94.1 FM, Alpena, Michigan
). The stations' on-air imaging does not mention the AM frequency at all and names the Alpena frequency first - "Thunder Country 94.1 and 100.7."
"Thunder Country" broadcasts the "Hot Country" (known on-air as "Today's New Hit Country") satellite feed from Dial Global
. It competes with WATZ-FM in Alpena and WKJC
in Tawas City
for the country-music audience on Michigan's "Sunrise Side."
WWTH 100.7 FM Oscoda was originally WCLS "Sunny 100-dot-7," airing a satellite-fed adult contemporary format from Jones Radio. For a time, WCLS simulcast its programming on 93.9 FM WCLX in Mio
, which is now WAVC
. In 1998, WCLS was sold from Spectrum Communications to Ives Broadcasting, which also owned WHSB
107.7 FM in Alpena at the time, and became "Kix 100.7," a satellite-fed country station. After only about a year, "Kix" reverted back to the "Sunny" satellite AC format.
The second incarnation of "Sunny 100-dot-7" continued until 2004, when the station went silent; it briefly returned to the air simulcasting 99.9 WHAK-FM
and then 107.7 WHSB before going silent again. In December 2004, Edwards Communications acquired WCLS along with WHSB and WHAK-AM/FM, and in April 2005, the "Thunder Country" format debuted on 100.7 FM (which sported the new calls WWTH) and 960 AM WHAK. Originally the station was chiefly locally automated with some local announcers, but the station soon went with the "CD Country" satellite format from Jones Radio Networks
(since absorbed into Dial Global's Hot Country format).
WWTH's translator in Alpena, 94.1 W231BF, was granted its construction permit in June 2004.
AM 960 WHAK was formerly a standalone full service adult contemporary/MOR station serving Rogers City and Presque Isle County. By 1999, the station was airing a mostly automated gold-based country format, still as a standalone. WHAK went off the air in November 2000 and returned almost a year later with talk programming, mainly from the Michigan Talk Radio Network, dubbing itself "Your Information Source in the North." This continued until the station became a simulcast of the new "Thunder Country" in April 2005.
The WHAK calls, which continue on both AM 960 and WHAK-FM
99.9 (an oldies station known as "The Wave"), stand for the station's original owner, Harvey A. Klann.
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...
s broadcasting 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...
format to northeastern lower Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Additionally, the group has a translator, W231BF, (94.1 FM, Alpena, Michigan
Alpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census...
). The stations' on-air imaging does not mention the AM frequency at all and names the Alpena frequency first - "Thunder Country 94.1 and 100.7."
"Thunder Country" broadcasts the "Hot Country" (known on-air as "Today's New Hit Country") satellite feed from Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
. It competes with WATZ-FM in Alpena and WKJC
WKJC
WKJC is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Tawas City, Michigan, United States, it first began broadcasting in 1980 at 103.9. WKJC is locally programmed....
in Tawas City
Tawas City, Michigan
Tawas City is a city along Lake Huron in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,005. It is the county seat of Iosco County...
for the country-music audience on Michigan's "Sunrise Side."
WWTH 100.7 FM Oscoda was originally WCLS "Sunny 100-dot-7," airing a satellite-fed adult contemporary format from Jones Radio. For a time, WCLS simulcast its programming on 93.9 FM WCLX in Mio
Mio, Michigan
Mio is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Oscoda County and is situated along the boundary between Mentor Township on the east and Big Creek Township on the west....
, which is now WAVC
WMKC
WMKC is a radio station licensed to Indian River, Michigan. It airs a country music format called Big Country 102.9. WMKD 105.5 in Pickford airs mostly the same programming as WMKC, but IDs separately as "Big Country 105.5." These stations are all owned by Northern Star...
. In 1998, WCLS was sold from Spectrum Communications to Ives Broadcasting, which also owned WHSB
WHSB
WHSB is a 100,000 watt radio station licensed to Alpena, Michigan broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format...
107.7 FM in Alpena at the time, and became "Kix 100.7," a satellite-fed country station. After only about a year, "Kix" reverted back to the "Sunny" satellite AC format.
The second incarnation of "Sunny 100-dot-7" continued until 2004, when the station went silent; it briefly returned to the air simulcasting 99.9 WHAK-FM
WHAK-FM
WHAK-FM is a radio station licensed to Rogers City, Michigan. It serves the Alpena, Cheboygan and Mackinaw City areas. It broadcasts an oldies music format featuring hits of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s...
and then 107.7 WHSB before going silent again. In December 2004, Edwards Communications acquired WCLS along with WHSB and WHAK-AM/FM, and in April 2005, the "Thunder Country" format debuted on 100.7 FM (which sported the new calls WWTH) and 960 AM WHAK. Originally the station was chiefly locally automated with some local announcers, but the station soon went with the "CD Country" satellite format from Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
(since absorbed into Dial Global's Hot Country format).
WWTH's translator in Alpena, 94.1 W231BF, was granted its construction permit in June 2004.
AM 960 WHAK was formerly a standalone full service adult contemporary/MOR station serving Rogers City and Presque Isle County. By 1999, the station was airing a mostly automated gold-based country format, still as a standalone. WHAK went off the air in November 2000 and returned almost a year later with talk programming, mainly from the Michigan Talk Radio Network, dubbing itself "Your Information Source in the North." This continued until the station became a simulcast of the new "Thunder Country" in April 2005.
The WHAK calls, which continue on both AM 960 and WHAK-FM
WHAK-FM
WHAK-FM is a radio station licensed to Rogers City, Michigan. It serves the Alpena, Cheboygan and Mackinaw City areas. It broadcasts an oldies music format featuring hits of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s...
99.9 (an oldies station known as "The Wave"), stand for the station's original owner, Harvey A. Klann.