WTMA

For the test with the same acronym, see Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude.
WTMA
City Charleston, South Carolina
Broadcast area Charleston
Branding News-Talk 1250 AM WTMA
Slogan The Lowcountry's Big Talker
Frequency 1250 kHz
First air date June 1939
Format News/Talk
Power 5,000 watts daytime
1,000 watts nighttime
Class B
Callsign meaning Where Talk Means Action.
Affiliations ABC News
Owner Cumulus Media
(Radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
Sister stations WSSX, WIWF, WWWZ
Website WTMA.com

WTMA (branded as 1250 WTMA: The Big Talker) is an AM radio station serving the Charleston market area with a News/Talk format. This station operates on AM frequency 1250 kHz and is under ownership of Cumulus Media.

History

WTMA began its broadcasting activities on June 16, 1939 as an NBC affiliate and is the Charleston, SC area's second oldest AM radio station, and of those two, the only one to maintain its current call letters. From the early 1960s through 1981 it broadcast a Top 40 format but like many other AM Top 40 stations switched to an adult contemporary format until 1986 when FM became more popular. It tried a couple different formats including an R&B-flavored oldies format and country music until on June 1, 1989 it switched to a news/talk radio format. WTMA has since then maintained its news/talk format, as a Citadel Broadcasting Owned and Operated station, from Westwood One and its own local team.

In May 1999, WTMA lost Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura to newcomer WSCC. Still, the station jumped from 13th to 7th in the morning and from 16th to 12th with 25-54 listeners. Program director Jason Wilmot said WTMA was still the number one station for news.[1]

Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[2]

Syndicated talk programming on the station includes Herman Cain, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, John Batchelor, Red Eye Radio and Clark Howard.

WTMA broadcasts with 5,000 non-directional watts of power during the day, 1,000 directional watts of power at night. The station streams its programing through its website, WTMA.com as well as through iHeart Radio and free smartphone apps.

References

  1. ↑ Lipman, Lisa (1999-11-11). "Stern becomes No. 1 morning radio show". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  2. ↑ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 32°49′21″N 79°58′49″W / 32.82250°N 79.98028°W / 32.82250; -79.98028

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