WTEM
Broadcast area | Washington metropolitan area |
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Frequency | 980 kHz |
Branding | The Team 980 |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Sports radio |
Affiliations | |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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History | |
First air date | August 1, 1923 |
Former call signs |
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Former frequencies |
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Call sign meaning | "Team" |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 25105 |
Class | B |
Power |
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Transmitter coordinates | 38°57′43″N 76°58′24″W / 38.96194°N 76.97333°W |
Repeater(s) | 106.7 WJFK-HD2 (Manassas) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live (via Audacy) |
Website | www |
WTEM (980
History
WRC era
The station was originally licensed in April 1923 as WRC—the
WRC was a charter
RCA/NBC later launched WNBW television (channel 4, now
News and talk
WRC switched to an
The AM's former Top 40 format was moved to WRC-FM and later evolved into a
NBC sold WRC to
Two weeks prior to swapping call signs and formats, in February 1998, WWRC dropped its talk radio format for a financial news and talk format, one that would last over to a second dial position move to
SportsTalk Radio 570 - The Team
Before moving to 980 kHz, WTEM was known as Sports Radio 570 - The Team and on the frequency of 570 kHz. It previously had been used by
At the beginning, Paul Harris hosted the morning show between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
However, the ratings of WTEM struggled in the beginning. Harris was quickly replaced by Bruce Murray and Bob Berger in late 1992. WTEM introduced the syndicated Imus in the Morning on July 19, 1993, to replace Murray and Berger in the 6–10 a.m. morning slot. For cost-cutting reasons, WTEM canceled Kiley and the Coach, and shows hosted by Phil Wood (8 p.m. to midnight) and Rob Weingarten (midnight to 6 a.m.) at the end of 1994.[7] After Kiley and the Coach was canceled, WTEM tried several afternoon-drive shows before it settled on Kornheiser live between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and then replayed between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to boost the afternoon drive-time ratings until the show moved to ESPN Radio in January 1998. After his contract not renewed by WMAL, Ken Beatrice and his show, Sports Call, moved to WTEM in late 1995.
When The Tony Kornheiser Show launched in 1992, because Tony needed to focus on writing his "Style" column in the Washington Post weekly, he usually did not host the show on Thursdays. Usually Andy Pollin, the Sports Director at WTEM, would guest-host Tony's show on Thursdays. Between November 1995 and December 1996, Warner Wolf was named the guest host of The Tony Kornheiser Show on Thursdays until he moved to New York as a sports anchor on WCBS-TV.[8] Tony started to host on Thursdays when he was on ESPN Radio.
When The Tony Kornheiser Show was on hiatus between November 14, 1997, and January 5, 1998, WTEM filled the 10 a.m.-1 p.m. slot with Kevin Kiley and the 4–7 p.m. slot with comedian Chuck Booms and Scott Linn. Booms joined WTEM as part of a stunt revolving the Comedy Central show Comics on Delivery, where viewers were asked write in and enlist the aid of comedians to help them get through experiences from daily life. Because of on-air wildness and inexperience, Booms was later paired with the experienced Kiley.
When The Tony Kornheiser Show on
SportsTalk 980
On March 9, 1998, WTEM and WWRC swapped dial positions, with WTEM moving to the stronger 980 frequency.[9] After the move, WTEM was branded as SportsTalk 980. The lineups on March 9, 1998, are Imus in the Morning (6–10 a.m.), The Doc and Al Show (10 a.m.–1 p.m.), The Tony Kornheiser Show on ESPN Radio (1–4 p.m.), Kevin Kiley and Chuck Booms (4–7 p.m.) and Ken Beatrice's Sports Call (7–10 p.m.).
Because of poor ratings, Kiley and Booms were canceled on November 13, 1998, which happened to be Friday.
When
After the 1999
On September 13, 1999, ESPN Radio moved The Tony Kornheiser Show to his favorite 10 a.m.–1 p.m. slot to make room for The Dan Patrick Show. WTEM accommodated the move by moving The John Thompson Show to 3–5 p.m., reducing The Jim Rome Show to 2 hours and creating a new program called The Sports Reporters hosted by Andy Pollin between 5–7 p.m.
After the new lineup announced, Jim Rome voiced his displeasure on the air, attacked Kornheiser and demanded WTEM to get his third hour back. In The Sports Reporters, Steve Czaban began as a news anchor. Later on, Czaban became the co-host with Andy Pollin.
On April 20, 2000, veteran sports talk personality Ken Beatrice retired.[11] His show, Sports Call, was replaced by Steve Czaban in the 7 p.m.-10 p.m. slot.
On April 9, 2001, WTEM became a secondary
On May 23, 2002, WTEM celebrated its tenth anniversary as a sports talk station with a special Sports Reporters show starting at 5 p.m.
From December 2003 until January 2005, WWRC, by this point on the 1260 kHz frequency, carried a complementary sports/talk format as "SportsTalk 1260." WWRC carried the majority of Fox Sports Radio's lineup, simulcast WTEM's afternoon programming, and picked up Jim Rome in its entirety, enabling WTEM to become an exclusive ESPN Radio outlet (save for Czaban's syndicated program).
In December 2005, the station's studios were moved from Bethesda, Maryland, to 1801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, to consolidate Clear Channel's Washington operation.
Because of
In early June 2006, The Brian Mitchell Show changed again. Bram Weinstein left WTEM and was replaced by Kevin Sheehan.
Starting February 12, 2007, The Brian Mitchell Show moved to the 10 a.m.–1 p.m. slot, The John Thompson Show moved to the 1 p.m.–4 p.m. slot and The Sports Reporters with Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban filled in the 4 p.m.–7 p.m. slot.[14]
On April 30, 2007, Doc Walker went solo and hosted The Doc Walker Show from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
On May 26, 2007, Phil Wood returned to WTEM, and hosted a weekly baseball show from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.[17] Then, on October 22, 2007, The Dan Patrick Show, syndicated by the Content Factory, was back on WTEM in the 11 a.m.–1 p.m. slot as a tape delay show, replacing Feldman and Maloney. Both hosts were dropped following the merger of WTEM with Triple X ESPN Radio.
Triple X ESPN Radio
In 2006, WBZS-FM (92.7 FM, Prince Frederick, Maryland), along with sister stations WBPS-FM (94.3 FM, Warrenton, Virginia) and WKDL (730 AM, Alexandria, Virginia), were sold to Red Zebra Broadcasting—a company controlled by Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. On July 17, 2006, the two FM stations' Spanish oldies format ended to make way for ESPN Radio. The three stations became known as WWXT, WWXX, and WXTR, and the stations were collectively promoted as Triple X ESPN Radio. The new trimulcast cleared most of ESPN Radio's weekday programming, as well as a local show hosted by former Redskin John Riggins.
Red Zebra Broadcasting then purchased WTEM, WTNT (570 AM, Gaithersburg, Maryland) and WWRC (1260 AM, Washington) from Clear Channel in a deal announced in 2008.[18] WTEM became the new flagship of the Triple X ESPN Radio network, while WXTR became the Washington outlet for ESPN Deportes. The deal also marked the return of Redskins football to WTEM; as mentioned above it had fronted the Redskins radio network from 1992 to 1994 while it was on 570 AM.
ESPN 980
When WTEM merged with Triple X ESPN Radio, the last hour of
Due to the new contract with ESPN Radio that guaranteed a full clearance for Mike and Mike in the Morning, Steve Czaban's morning show on Fox Sports Radio was dropped. That show, however, continued to be produced from WTEM's studios until Fox Sports Radio canceled the program in December 2009.
On September 8, 2009, The Tony Kornheiser Show returned to WTEM in the 10am-noon slot, dropping Cowherd's show entirely.
Red Zebra flipped WTNT (570 AM) from its conservative talk format to sports/talk to "SportsTalk 570" on September 20, 2010, running the ESPN Radio network feed all day as a complement to WTEM. The station changed call signs to WSPZ on October 18, 2010, after Red Zebra sold WXTR to Metro Radio. WSPZ was the primary Washington-area affiliate of the Virginia Cavaliers radio network and acted as a backup station in the case of any play-by-play scheduling conflicts with WTEM.
Red Zebra sold off all of its radio properties in 2017-18. WWXT went to Urban One on April 20, and the station is now WDCJ and runs a simulcast of WMMJ.[20] WWXX was sold to Educational Media Foundation and runs the K-Love contemporary Christian music network as WLZV.[21] WSPZ was also sold to Salem Media Group, and now airs a conservative talk as WWRC. Rights to University of Virginia sports remained with the new WWRC.
On January 31, 2018, WTEM rebranded as The Team 980.[22]
Sale to Urban One, then Entercom
On May 21, 2018, Urban One announced its purchase of WTEM for $4.2 million, pending regulatory approval. As part of the sale, Urban One agreed to a rights deal with the Redskins to maintain the station's relationship with the team.
On June 13, 2019, Cumulus Media announced that ESPN Radio would move to WMAL on July 1, 2019, as that station changed to full-time sports programming.[26][27] Concurrently, WMAL announced it would carry Washington Redskins broadcasts, though WTEM remains the team's flagship station.[28] Following the loss of ESPN Radio, WTEM rejoined Fox Sports Radio, airing its evening, overnight, and weekend lineups, while still featuring local hosts during the day on weekdays.[29]
In September 2019, WTEM added a 250 watt
On November 5, 2020, Urban One announced that it would swap WTEM and three other stations in Philadelphia and St. Louis to
On March 24, 2021, WTEM lost its longtime status as the Washington home of the Baltimore Orioles to WSBN.[32] On September 14, WTEM became the flagship station for the Washington Wizards.[33]
Past local hosts and news reporters
- Rich Ackerman (currently at WFAN and Sirius Satellite Radio)
- Ken Beatrice (deceased)
- 970 WFLA)
- Sporting News Radio)
- John Bisney (WRC)
- Jim Bohannon (WRC - later at Westwood One - died November 12, 2022)
- Camille Bohannan (WRC - currently at AP Radio)
- Chuck Booms
- Tom Braden (WRC - deceased)
- James Brown (currently at CBS Sports)
- Rudy Brewington (WRC)
- Pat Buchanan (WRC - currently at MSNBC)
- Paul Butler (currently at WBOC-TV Salisbury, MD)
- Jerry Coleman (currently at WQLL in Baltimore)
- Rich Cook
- Steve Czaban
- Richard Day (currently at WTOP)
- Don Doke (WRC News)
- Jack Donniger (WRC Sports)
- Dave Feldman
- Earl Forcey (currently at Westwood One)
- Jean Fugett
- Al Galdi
- Rich Gilgallon (currently at KKGX)
- Wendell Goler (WRC - deceased)
- Tina Gulland (WRC federal beat)
- Paul Harris (currently at KMOX)
- John Irving (WRC)
- Scott Jackson (currently at WCMC-FM in Raleigh)
- Kevin Kiley (currently at Westwood One and KSPN in Los Angeles)
- Al Koken
- Tony Kornheiser (Show is now heard on podcast)
- Marge Kumaki (WRC)
- Mitch Levy (currently at KJR (AM) in Seattle)
- Scott Linn
- Mac McGarry (WRC booth announcer extraordinaire - deceased)
- Carol Maloney
- Ira Mellman
- Dan Miller (currently at WJBK-TV in Detroit)
- Brian Mitchell
- Bruce Murray (currently at Sirius Satellite Radio
- Paul Nanos (currently at FOX Sports Radio 1410 in Hartford, CT)
- Kris O'Donnell (currently at WDTN in Dayton, Ohio)
- Donna Penyak (WRC)
- Tony Roberts (WRC Sports)
- Mort Sahl (WRC)
- Willard Scott (WRC "The Joy Boys", top 40 jock in the mid 1970s - died in 2021)
- Kevin Sheehan
- Doug Tracht (aka "The Greaseman") (WRC)
- John Thompson(Deceased)
- Ed Walker (WRC "The Joy Boys" - deceased)
- Rick "Doc" Walker
- Pam Ward (currently at ESPN)
- Mark Weber (later at WTOP, currently Brand Manager at McFarlane Toys)
- Bram Weinstein (Now play-by-play voice of the Washington Commanders)
- Rob Weingarten (currently at KFNS (AM) in St. Louis)
- Warner Wolf (formerly at WABC in New York City)
- Phil Wood (WRC Sports and WTEM - currently at MASN)
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WTEM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Boucheron, Pierre (October 1923). "A New Station at Washington, D.C." Radio Broadcast: 494–495 – via Hathi Trust.
- ^ "WTEM" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
- ^ "WWOR Debuts as MOR" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 550. September 7, 1984. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Roxanne Roberts (May 23, 1992), Whaddaya mean Rypien's a bum!?, The Washington Post.
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (May 27, 1992), WTEM is born babbling, The Washington Post.
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (December 9, 1994), All-sports station's survival requires a team effort, The Washington Post.
- ISBN 0-44652-559-6).
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (March 6, 1998), Watts up next week at WTEM, The Washington Post.
- ^ Frank Ahrens (December 17, 1998), Kiley, Booms fired up, The Washington Post.
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (April 21, 2000), He could talk the talk, The Washington Post.
- ^ Dave Hughes (April 9, 2001). "Hot talk WTNT debuts with Imus in the Morning". dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Dave Hughes (April 27, 2006). "Changes at WTEM". dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Dave Hughes (February 8, 2007). "Sked shifts at 980". dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Dave Hughes (April 30, 2007). "Dave Feldman Gets WTEM Show". dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (May 8, 2007). "Stuck in between stations". washingtonpost.com.
- ^ Dave Hughes (May 21, 2007). "Phil Wood Back To TEM". dcrtv.com News Archive. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2007.
- ^ "Deals," Broadcasting & Cable, June 16, 2008.
- ^ "Radio Ink - The Voice of Radio Revolution". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008.
- ^ Venta, Lance (April 20, 2017). "Radio One Acquires Red Zebra Pair In DC & Richmond; WMMJ To Add Simulcast - RadioInsight". RadioInsight.
- ^ Venta, Lance (May 15, 2017). "EMF Acquires 94.3 WWXX In DC Suburbs". RadioInsight.
- ^ "WTEM Rebrands As The Team 980". RadioInsight. January 31, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ "Urban One Acquires 980 WTEM Washington From Redskins". RadioInsight. May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
- ^ Paras, Matthew. "Dan Snyder sells The Team 980 to Urban One". Washington Times. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ Clarke, Liz (May 21, 2018). "Daniel Snyder sells WTEM-AM [sic], taking Redskins out of radio business". Washington Post.
- ^ "ESPN and Cumulus will launch a new D.C. ESPN Radio station". Awful Announcing. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ "WMAL-A-F/Washington, D.C. To Split Simulcast, AM To Flip To Sports As ESPN 630, The Sports Capitol". All Access. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ Allen, Scott (June 14, 2019). "D.C. is getting a third sports talk radio station with the launch of ESPN 630". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ "WTEM Adds Fox Sports Radio For Nights & Weekends". RadioInsight. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- ^ "News Bites: Univision, Cox Media Group, Tino Cochino, WTEM". Insideradio.com. September 24, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Entercom To Swap Charlotte Stations To Radio One For WPHI, WTEM and St. Louis Duo - RadioInsight". November 5, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "ESPN 630 AM The Sports Capitol Named the Official Washington, D.C. Radio Home of the Baltimore Orioles". ESPN 630 DC. March 24, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
External links
- FCC History Cards for WTEM
- Official website
- WTEM in the FCC AM station database
- WTEM in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- The Great 98
- Aerial view of WTEM studios from Google Local