WCTO
Encyclopedia
WCTO is a radio station
based in Easton
. WCTO is owned by Cumulus Media
and serves the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania
.
The station offers a country music
format, playing country music from the 1980s through to the present. Being part of the Eagles Radio Network, WCTO broadcasts all Philadelphia Eagles
games.
Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, WLEV 96.1 continued as an adult contemporary station with no dramatic changes. More personality was added in the late 1980s and, by the 1990s, the station bordered on being a Hot AC station. But the texture of the station was consistent.
In 1995, the station was sold, along with WEST, to Citadel Broadcasting
. Still, the format remained Adult Contemporary. In 1997, Citadel acquired WFMZ FM, which by then had a format that was evolving to be musically closer to WLEV. In 1997, it was decided that there was no need for two Sky AC stations in the Lehigh Valley, so they combined aspects of the Sky AC formats from both stations and moved the WLEV call letters and format and some of the air staff to 100.7 that July.
96.1 became Cat Country WCTO and played a country music format. As a country music station, the station achieves some very high ratings. It has a live air staff almost full-time and focuses on country hits of the 1980s, 1990s and current music. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
Sweeper wise, the station started to use John Willyard in 1997. the station still uses him to this day.
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...
based in Easton
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
. WCTO is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
and serves the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
The station offers a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format, playing country music from the 1980s through to the present. Being part of the Eagles Radio Network, WCTO broadcasts all Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
games.
History
96.1 FM began in 1947 as WEST-FM on 96.1. For decades, the station simulcast WEST's Middle Of The Road Popular Music format. In 1973, though, 96.1 became WLEV and began offering a Soft Rock/Adult Contemporary format that was very automated. They played the softer rock hits of the 1960s and 1970s, along with a lot of current music. They were known as "Hit Parade Music" at one point. The station was owned by Sound Media and then by Telemedia Group.Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, WLEV 96.1 continued as an adult contemporary station with no dramatic changes. More personality was added in the late 1980s and, by the 1990s, the station bordered on being a Hot AC station. But the texture of the station was consistent.
In 1995, the station was sold, along with WEST, to Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
. Still, the format remained Adult Contemporary. In 1997, Citadel acquired WFMZ FM, which by then had a format that was evolving to be musically closer to WLEV. In 1997, it was decided that there was no need for two Sky AC stations in the Lehigh Valley, so they combined aspects of the Sky AC formats from both stations and moved the WLEV call letters and format and some of the air staff to 100.7 that July.
96.1 became Cat Country WCTO and played a country music format. As a country music station, the station achieves some very high ratings. It has a live air staff almost full-time and focuses on country hits of the 1980s, 1990s and current music. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
Jingles and sweepers
From the beginning of 2000, WCTO used Reelworld custom packages, and continues to do so. Starting on May 17, 2009, the station dropped all RW packages minus their 06 package, and started to air a brand new jingle service at that time, Reelworld One Country. As of Januarry 1, 2011, The station uses the entire back service witch includes the entire back catalog.Sweeper wise, the station started to use John Willyard in 1997. the station still uses him to this day.