WTAR
Broadcast area | Hampton Roads |
---|---|
Frequency | 850 kHz |
Branding | 96.5 The Coast |
Programming | |
Format | Adult album alternative |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
Former call signs | WCAV (1947-1954) WRAP (1954-1987) WNIS (1987-1997) |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 60472 |
Class | B |
Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 37°3′36.0″N 76°41′26.0″W / 37.060000°N 76.690556°W |
Translator(s) | See § Translators |
Repeater(s) | 106.1 WUSH-HD2 (Poquoson) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | thecoast |
WTAR (850
The
WTAR programming is also heard on
History
WCAV
The station, originally WCAV, began broadcasting in 1952, transmitting on 860 kHz.
WRAP
In 1954, owners of another Norfolk radio station, WRAP on 1050 kHz, acquired WCAV, moving it to 850 kHz and changing its call letters to WRAP and adopting a black-oriented format. On this new frequency, WRAP programming could broadcast around the clock. The daytime power was increased to 5,000 watts and the nighttime power to 1,000 watts.
WNIS
In 1987, WNIS on AM 1350 was acquired by local cable TV company Clinton Cablevision (later Sinclair Telecable).[8] The new owner flipped the format to talk. A swap was made with AM 1350, which moved the WNIS call sign to this station, and transferred the WRAP call letters, with its associated black-oriented format, to AM 1350.[9]
WNIS, meaning "News and Information Station", picked up programming from ABC Talkradio, NBC Talknet and the Mutual Broadcasting System's Larry King Show.
WTAR
On July 15, 1997, WNIS and its
WTAR flipped from talk radio to an all-sports format on February 5, 2006.
On September 1, 2022, WTAR dropped its sports format and began stunting with a loop of Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" (as well as construction sound effects). (However, on September 3, WTAR broke from the stunt to air a University of Virginia football game against Richmond; the 96.5 translators remained on the stunt during that time.) On September 6, WTAR and its translators flipped to hot adult contemporary, branded as "96.5 Lucy FM", modeled after its sister station in Austin, Texas. The 850 AM signal continues to break away from "Lucy FM" programming for the University of Virginia broadcasts.[14]
Until September 1, 2022, the station aired a
On March 20, 2023, WTAR flipped to adult album alternative, branded as "96.5 The Coast". The flip returns the "Coast" branding to the market for the first time since WKOC's flip in 2003.[15]
Translators
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT |
Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W243DJ | 96.5 FM | Norfolk, Virginia | 141072 | 120 | 131 m (430 ft) | D | 36°49′44″N 76°12′26″W / 36.82889°N 76.20722°W | LMS |
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT |
Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W243EK | 96.5 FM | Hampton, Virginia | 203167 | 165 | 119 m (390 ft) | D | 37°4′42″N 76°26′47″W / 37.07833°N 76.44639°W | LMS |
Previous logo
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WTAR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ "WTAR Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ^ WTAR.com/contact
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WTAR
- ^ a b Vintage 96.5 Quickly Gives Way to WTAR Simulcast Radioinsight - September 15, 2017
- ^ "Directory of AM and FM Stations and Market Data For The United States: Virginia: Norfolk", Broadcasting Yearbook (1957 edition), page 268.
- ^ "Page D-247" Broadcasting Yearbook (1991 edition), page D-247.
- ^ "For The Record: Call Letters", Broadcasting, November 9, 1987, page 96.
- ^ Call Sign History (Facility ID: 4671)
- ^ Call Sign History (Facility ID: 60472)
- ^ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States: Virginia: Norfolk", Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook (2007 edition), page D-533.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/W243DJ
- ^ Lucy is Home in Norfolk Radioinsight - September 6, 2022
- ^ The Coast Returns to Norfolk With AAA Radioinsight - March 20, 2023
External links
- WTAR in the FCC AM station database
- WTAR in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for WTAR (covering 1947-1981 as WCAV / WRAP)
- W243EK in the FCC FM station database
- W243EK at FCCdata.org