WBTI
Encyclopedia
WBTI is an Adult Top 40 radio station
in Lexington, Michigan
. It broadcasts on 96.9 MHz with 3,000 watts and is owned by Radio First
. This is the third owner in the station's 15-year history.
WBTI's transmitter is located south of Lexington off Gardener Line Road in Sanilac County
.
format and the moniker "B96.9, The Killer Bee". Though licensed to Lexington, almost a half hour north of Port Huron, the station maintained its studios and offices in downtown Port Huron, where it would compete with WPHM, WHLS
, WSAQ
, WIFN
, and WGRT
.
However, Martz's ownership of the station would be brief, as the station was sold to Hanson Communications, licensee of WPHM
, for $325,000 the following year. Satisfied with the Top 40 format already on the air, Hanson Communications opted to leave it alone at first, but the station shifted in the summer of 2002 to a hot adult contemporary format, which it maintained until recently.
Station management has been clever in recent years with their on-air legal ID's, doing their best to keep "WBTI-FM Lexington" to the bare minimum (once per hour per FCC regulations) and using "WBTI Port Huron" several times per hour.
In keeping with an ongoing trend among Hot AC radio stations across the United States, WBTI has recently dropped most '80s and '90s music from rotation and transitioned to an Adult Top 40 sound, reimaging from The Best of the '80s, '90s and Today to Today's Hit Music. This is a return to the station's roots, as it featured such a format throughout the 1990s and until 2002. The change helps differentiate the station more distinctly from rival mainstream AC stations WGRT
, CFGX-FM
and WTGV-FM
.
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...
in Lexington, Michigan
Lexington, Michigan
Lexington is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Lexington Township.-Geography:...
. It broadcasts on 96.9 MHz with 3,000 watts and is owned by Radio First
Radio First
Radio First is the owner of five radio stations in St. Clair and Sanilac Counties. Radio First primarily serves listeners in the Thumb area of Michigan and Southwestern Ontario. Radio First's offices and studios are all located at 808 Huron Avenue, Port Huron, Michigan...
. This is the third owner in the station's 15-year history.
WBTI's transmitter is located south of Lexington off Gardener Line Road in Sanilac County
Sanilac County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-19* M-25* M-46* M-53* M-81* M-90-History:Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandot chief named Sanilac. See List of Michigan county name etymologies....
.
History
WBTI first went on the air in July of 1991, owned by Timothy D. Martz of Martz Communications. Martz was a broadcaster with ambitions of purchasing or building a series of American radio stations with the intent of providing quality radio that would also be of value to Canadian citizens. The station boasted a CHRContemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format and the moniker "B96.9, The Killer Bee". Though licensed to Lexington, almost a half hour north of Port Huron, the station maintained its studios and offices in downtown Port Huron, where it would compete with WPHM, WHLS
WHLS
WHLS is an Oldies radio station in Port Huron, Michigan on AM 1450. This station broadcasts from the same tower as sister station WSAQ with 1,000 watts of power. Since 2000 WHLS has simulcasted its programming on 1590 WHLX Marine City. On air they are known as AM 1450 & 1590, WHLS. Both stations...
, WSAQ
WSAQ
WSAQ is a country music radio station in Port Huron, Michigan known as Q Country 107. It began broadcasting August 7, 1964 on 107.1 MHz with 6,000 watts, and remains the same today . It broadcasts from the same site as AM 1450 WHLS. Q-Country plays modern country music along with some...
, WIFN
WHLX
WHLX is an American radio station, licensed to Marine City, Michigan at 1590 kHz on the AM dial, with a power output of 1,000 watts day, 102 watts night. The station is currently a simulcast of 1450 WHLS in Port Huron...
, and WGRT
WGRT
WGRT is an adult contemporary radio station in Port Huron, Michigan. It is owned by Port Huron Family Radio and broadcasts with a power of 3,000 watts. WGRT signed on in October 1991. The station airs a satellite-delivered AC format from Citadel Media.WGRT can be received in the Port Huron vicinity...
.
However, Martz's ownership of the station would be brief, as the station was sold to Hanson Communications, licensee of WPHM
WPHM
WPHM is a news, talk and sports radio station in Port Huron, Michigan that broadcasts on AM 1380 with 5,000 watts. WPHM is owned by Radio First. The station includes programming from Dr. Joy Browne, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Dave Ramsey, and local morning show host Paul Miller...
, for $325,000 the following year. Satisfied with the Top 40 format already on the air, Hanson Communications opted to leave it alone at first, but the station shifted in the summer of 2002 to a hot adult contemporary format, which it maintained until recently.
Station management has been clever in recent years with their on-air legal ID's, doing their best to keep "WBTI-FM Lexington" to the bare minimum (once per hour per FCC regulations) and using "WBTI Port Huron" several times per hour.
In keeping with an ongoing trend among Hot AC radio stations across the United States, WBTI has recently dropped most '80s and '90s music from rotation and transitioned to an Adult Top 40 sound, reimaging from The Best of the '80s, '90s and Today to Today's Hit Music. This is a return to the station's roots, as it featured such a format throughout the 1990s and until 2002. The change helps differentiate the station more distinctly from rival mainstream AC stations WGRT
WGRT
WGRT is an adult contemporary radio station in Port Huron, Michigan. It is owned by Port Huron Family Radio and broadcasts with a power of 3,000 watts. WGRT signed on in October 1991. The station airs a satellite-delivered AC format from Citadel Media.WGRT can be received in the Port Huron vicinity...
, CFGX-FM
CFGX-FM
CFGX-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 99.9 FM in Sarnia, Ontario. The station broadcasts a soft adult contemporary format with the brand name The Fox.CFGX-FM can be heard in the eastern parts of Michigan...
and WTGV-FM
WTGV-FM
WTGV-FM is a radio station broadcasting a soft adult contemporary format, serving Sandusky and the Thumb and Blue Water area of Michigan. WTGV is owned and operated by Sanilac Broadcasting....
.