WRTT-FM

WRTT-FM
City Huntsville, Alabama
Broadcast area Tennessee Valley
Branding "Rocket 95-1"
Slogan "The Rock of the Valley"
Frequency 95.1 FM MHz
First air date October 6, 1960 (as WNDA)
Format Active rock
ERP 12,000 watts
HAAT 277 meters (909 ft)
Class C2
Facility ID 71462
Transmitter coordinates 34°47′53″N 86°38′24″W / 34.79806°N 86.64000°W / 34.79806; -86.64000
Callsign meaning "Rocket"[1]
Former callsigns WNDA (1960-2000)[2]
Former frequencies 92.9 MHz (1960-1964)[3]
Owner Black Crow Media Group
(BCA Radio LLC)
Sister stations WAHR, WLOR
Webcast WRTT Webstream
Website WRTT Online

WRTT-FM (95.1 FM, "Rocket 95.1") is an American commercial radio station licensed to serve the community of Huntsville, Alabama. The station, established in 1960, is currently owned by the Black Crow Media Group and the license is held by BCA Radio LLC. (A transfer to Southern Stone Communications, LLC, is pending consummation.) Black Crow Media Group owns two other Huntsville stations, WAHR and WLOR.

Programming

WRTT-FM focuses on active rock releases since 1990, supporting various subgenres such as mainstream rock, grunge rock, and the like. More recently, though, it has begun to rotate in songs from the classic rock canon, to widen its appeal to somewhat older listeners.

After seven years in mornings on WRTT-FM, The Rick and Bubba Show began airing on crosstown WQRV starting January 2, 2008.[4] The syndicated hosts were replaced on WRTT-FM as of December 3, 2007, by radio personalities Jerome "Fish" Fisher and Ken Harron.[5]

These two were replaced sometime in 2010 by Jimbo and Casio who currently run the morning show. [6]

History

WHBS-FM

The 95.1 frequency was home to the first FM radio station in Huntsville as "WHBS-FM", which began broadcasting December 21, 1947.[7] It was mainly a simulcast of WHBS (1490 AM) which was owned by The Huntsville Times. WHBS-AM moved to 1550 AM and increased power to 5,000day/500night watts in 1952. (they were 1000day/250night on 1490 AM) The FM station broadcast from a transmitter near Bankhead Parkway/Tollgate Road until around 1957 with 10,000 watts. The station had about a 150-mile coverage area with a good antenna. The AM station was sold to Smith Broadcasting in 1958 and became WAAY radio (now licensed as "WLOR".)

WNDA

On October 8, 1960, a new radio station licensed as "WNDA" began broadcasting with 3,100 watts of effective radiated power on a frequency of 92.9 megahertz. Under the ownership of Hughey Broadcasting Company, WNDA served Huntsville and surrounding communities with an easy listening music format.[8] In 1964, the station shifted to the current 95.1 MHz frequency.[3]

On May 1, 1970, WNDA was purchased by Wells Broadcasting Company, Inc., and its format shifted from easy listening to Christian spirituals and teaching programs.[9] This format would endure on WNDA for nearly 30 years.

WRTT-FM

In January 2000, Wells Broadcasting Company, Inc., agreed to sell WNDA to a company called STG Media, LLC.[10] The FCC approved the deal on March 7, 2000, and the transaction was consummated on May 1, 2000. While the sale was in progress, the station's call sign was changed to "WRTT-FM". The station dropped its longtime Christian radio format in favor of a classic rock format branded as "Rocket 95.1".[11]

In November 2001, due to a proposed refinancing of its parent company, STG Media, LLC, applied to the FCC to transfer the licenses of WAHR, WLOR, and WRTT-FM to Black Crow Media Group subsidiary BCA Media, LLC.[12] Just two days later, another application was filed to shift the licenses to BCA Radio, LLC.[13] The FCC approved the moves on November 15, 2001, and the consummation of the transaction occurred on November 19, 2001.[12]

In January 2010, Black Crow Media Group and its subsidiaries filed for "Chapter 11" bankruptcy, seeking to reorganize rather than be broken up. Their filing with the FCC notified the Commission of the involuntary transfer of the license from BCA Radio, LLC, to an entity known as BCA Radio, LLC, Debtor-In-Possession.[14]

In November 2011, Black Crow Media Group announced that it was reorganizing its radio holdings and consolidating the four subsidiaries acting as debtors in possession (including BCA Radio, LLC) into a new company named Southern Stone Communications, LLC. The FCC approved the transfer on December 19, 2011.[15] Transfer of the license is pending formal consummation of the transaction.

References

  1. ↑ Nelson, Bob (2008-10-18). "Call Letter Origins". The Broadcast Archive. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". 1965 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1965. p. B-6.
  4. ↑ "WRTT-FM reels in 'Fish' for a.m.". The Huntsville Times. December 3, 2007.
  5. ↑ "WDRM-FM still king of area radio". The Huntsville Times. December 9, 2007.
  6. ↑ http://therocket951.com/?page_id=4
  7. ↑ "Two New FM Stations Go on Air in Alabama" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 5, 1948. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". 1963 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1963. p. B-6.
  9. ↑ "Facilities of Radio: Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada". Broadcasting Yearbook 1978. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1978. p. C-5.
  10. ↑ "Application Search Details (BALH-20000118ABD)". FCC Media Bureau. May 1, 2000. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  11. ↑ Welch, Chris (July 16, 2000). "Radio mining the 'old is gold' vein". The Huntsville Times. p. S39.
  12. 1 2 "Application Search Details (BALH-20011113AAJ)". FCC Media Bureau. November 19, 2001. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Application Search Details (BALH-20011113AAN)". FCC Media Bureau. November 15, 2001. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Application Search Details (BALH-20100114ABW)". FCC Media Bureau. January 21, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Application Search Details (BALH-20111208DMM)". FCC Media Bureau. December 19, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
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