WNTP
Encyclopedia
WNTP 990 is a politically conservative
talk radio
station which serves the Philadelphia area. It is owned by Salem Communications
, along with a number of similar channels in various markets. Some of those whose programs are run by WNTP include Michael Medved
, Dennis Prager
, Dennis Miller
, Michael Savage
, Mike Gallagher
, and Bill Bennett
. Its transmitters are located in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
.
, Bill Wright Sr., and others. The original call letters stood for "I Believe in God" for the station's original religious format when founded in the 1920s by St. Paul's Episcopal Church, though as "Wibbage", the call became best known for, and most associated with, rock 'n' roll programming.
In September 1966, WFIL
moved to a Top 40 format and before long passed Wibbage (hampered by a poor suburban nighttime signal) in the ratings. WIBG soldiered on as a Top 40 station through most of the first half of the 1970s, including radio greats John Landecker
, and "Long" John Wade, although they tried progressive rock for a time early in the decade. At mid-decade the station tried a more adult contemporary approach, with sports talk at night for a time and even two years (1975 and 1976) as the flagship station for Philadelphia Phillies
baseball. In 1977 management decided that the WIBG image was no longer an asset, and the call letters were changed to WZZD.
The station began to call itself "Wizzard 100", and adopted a heavily researched Top 40 format. Listeners did not respond, and the format was changed to disco, which did not fare much better. In 1980 the station was sold to Christian broadcaster Communicom, which began airing contemporary Christian music and Christian teaching and features similar to sister station (and another former top 40 station) 970 WWDJ in Hackensack, New Jersey
. But by then, the call letters WIBG
had already been reassigned and the WZZD calls was retained. WZZD played music about half the day and Christian programs and features during the other half of the day.
The WZZD antenna was redesigned in 1986 to reduce the number of towers and greatly improve coverage to the north and west, a change that if it had been made in the 1960s may have improved the success of WIBG in its battle with WFIL.
In 1994 Communicom sold WZZD to Salem Media. Under Salem WZZD kept the Christian music and teaching format initially. But by the late 1990s Music was cut back to a couple hours a day. By 2002 WZZD ran nearly all teaching and almost no music at all.
In 2004 WZZD and WFIL's features and programs were merged onto WFIL as WZZD dropped the Christian format in favor of conservative news-talk, changing its call letters to WNTP. Beginning in 2006, WNTP became the flagship station for the Saint Joseph's University
Hawks college basketball radio network, as well as airing college sports of Penn State University, Drexel University
, and the University of Pennsylvania
for the Philadelphia audience.
In 2007 WNTP again redesigned and modified its daytime antenna, which has even further improved its signal in the suburban counties of Pennsylvania.
WNTP's weekday program lineup includes Salem talk show hosts Bill Bennett
from 6:00AM – 9:00AM, Mike Gallagher
from 9:00AM – 12:00PM, Dennis Prager
from 12:00PM – 3:00PM, Michael Medved
from 3:00PM – 6:00PM, and Hugh Hewitt
from 6:00PM – 9:00PM. The station carries non-Salem hosts from 9PM to 5AM (the schedule is available at the station's website), and from 5:00AM – 6:00AM The Wall Street Journal Morning Report.
On the weekends, WNTP carries brokered infomercials and 'best of' broadcasts from the weekday talk shows.
The station has carried Citadel's Mark Levin
and Talk Radio Network
's Laura Ingraham
in the past.
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station which serves the Philadelphia area. It is owned by Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
, along with a number of similar channels in various markets. Some of those whose programs are run by WNTP include Michael Medved
Michael Medved
Michael Medved is an American radio host, author, political commentator and film critic. His Seattle, Washington-based nationally syndicated talk show, The Michael Medved Show, airs throughout the U.S...
, Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager is an American syndicated radio talk show host, syndicated columnist, author, and public speaker. He is noted for his conservative political and social views emanating from conservative Judeo-Christian values. He holds that there is an "American Trinity" of essential principles,...
, Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
, Michael Savage
Michael Savage (commentator)
Michael Savage is a conservative American radio host, author, and political commentator. He is the host of The Savage Nation, a nationally syndicated talk show that airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network...
, Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagheris an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Gallagher Show, a nationally-syndicated radio program that airs throughout the United States on Salem Radio Network and is also a FOX News Channel Contributor and guest host...
, and Bill Bennett
William Bennett
William John "Bill" Bennett is an American conservative pundit, politician, and political theorist. He served as United States Secretary of Education from 1985 to 1988. He also held the post of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under George H. W...
. Its transmitters are located in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
Lafayette Hill is a small unincorporated community in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.Lafayette Hill is located just west of Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill neighborhood, and south of Plymouth Meeting...
.
History
For many years, 990 was known as WIBG , and had great success in the ratings playing Top 40 music in the 1950s and early 1960s with popular hosts including Joe Niagara (The Rockin' Bird), Hy LitHy Lit
Hyman Aaron "Hy" Lit was an American DJ based in the Philadelphia area from the 1950s until 2005. In his 50 year career, Hy Lit broadcast from WIBG-AM, WDAS/WDAS-FM, WKBS-TV, WIFI, WSNI/WPGR, KPOL, WKXW, among many others. His last station was WOGL, where he broadcast from 1989 until his...
, Bill Wright Sr., and others. The original call letters stood for "I Believe in God" for the station's original religious format when founded in the 1920s by St. Paul's Episcopal Church, though as "Wibbage", the call became best known for, and most associated with, rock 'n' roll programming.
In September 1966, WFIL
WFIL
WFIL is a radio station and a former television station serving the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its transmitter is located in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania....
moved to a Top 40 format and before long passed Wibbage (hampered by a poor suburban nighttime signal) in the ratings. WIBG soldiered on as a Top 40 station through most of the first half of the 1970s, including radio greats John Landecker
John Landecker
John Records Landecker is a Top40/Oldies disc jockey best known for creating "Boogie Check," "Americana Panorama," and satirical songs and bits based on current events such as "Make a Date with the Watergate," and "Press My Conference." He currently hosts a TKO Radio Networks syndicated weekend...
, and "Long" John Wade, although they tried progressive rock for a time early in the decade. At mid-decade the station tried a more adult contemporary approach, with sports talk at night for a time and even two years (1975 and 1976) as the flagship station for Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
baseball. In 1977 management decided that the WIBG image was no longer an asset, and the call letters were changed to WZZD.
The station began to call itself "Wizzard 100", and adopted a heavily researched Top 40 format. Listeners did not respond, and the format was changed to disco, which did not fare much better. In 1980 the station was sold to Christian broadcaster Communicom, which began airing contemporary Christian music and Christian teaching and features similar to sister station (and another former top 40 station) 970 WWDJ in Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
. But by then, the call letters WIBG
WIBG
WIBG is a talk radio station from Ocean City, New Jersey. These call letters were previously used in Philadelphia for a pioneering rock 'n' roll station now called WNTP....
had already been reassigned and the WZZD calls was retained. WZZD played music about half the day and Christian programs and features during the other half of the day.
The WZZD antenna was redesigned in 1986 to reduce the number of towers and greatly improve coverage to the north and west, a change that if it had been made in the 1960s may have improved the success of WIBG in its battle with WFIL.
In 1994 Communicom sold WZZD to Salem Media. Under Salem WZZD kept the Christian music and teaching format initially. But by the late 1990s Music was cut back to a couple hours a day. By 2002 WZZD ran nearly all teaching and almost no music at all.
In 2004 WZZD and WFIL's features and programs were merged onto WFIL as WZZD dropped the Christian format in favor of conservative news-talk, changing its call letters to WNTP. Beginning in 2006, WNTP became the flagship station for the Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
Hawks college basketball radio network, as well as airing college sports of Penn State University, Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
for the Philadelphia audience.
In 2007 WNTP again redesigned and modified its daytime antenna, which has even further improved its signal in the suburban counties of Pennsylvania.
WNTP's weekday program lineup includes Salem talk show hosts Bill Bennett
Bill Bennett
William Richards Bennett, PC, OBC , commonly known as Bill Bennett, was the 27th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia 1975–1986. He is a son of the former Premier, W. A. C. Bennett. He was a 3rd cousin, twice removed, of R.B...
from 6:00AM – 9:00AM, Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagheris an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Gallagher Show, a nationally-syndicated radio program that airs throughout the United States on Salem Radio Network and is also a FOX News Channel Contributor and guest host...
from 9:00AM – 12:00PM, Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager is an American syndicated radio talk show host, syndicated columnist, author, and public speaker. He is noted for his conservative political and social views emanating from conservative Judeo-Christian values. He holds that there is an "American Trinity" of essential principles,...
from 12:00PM – 3:00PM, Michael Medved
Michael Medved
Michael Medved is an American radio host, author, political commentator and film critic. His Seattle, Washington-based nationally syndicated talk show, The Michael Medved Show, airs throughout the U.S...
from 3:00PM – 6:00PM, and Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt is an American radio talk show host with the Salem Radio Network, lawyer, academic, and author. An outspoken Republican, evangelical Christian, he comments on society, politics, and media bias in the United States. Hewitt is also a law professor at Chapman University School of Law.-...
from 6:00PM – 9:00PM. The station carries non-Salem hosts from 9PM to 5AM (the schedule is available at the station's website), and from 5:00AM – 6:00AM The Wall Street Journal Morning Report.
On the weekends, WNTP carries brokered infomercials and 'best of' broadcasts from the weekday talk shows.
The station has carried Citadel's Mark Levin
Mark Levin
Mark Reed Levin is a lawyer, author and the host of American syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show. Levin served in the cabinet of President Ronald Reagan and was a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese...
and Talk Radio Network
Talk Radio Network
Talk Radio Network is an American radio network providing talk radio programming, with an emphasis on conservative talk on weekdays and variety/general interest talk radio on weekends. Some of the most recognizable personalities in American radio, such as Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage, are...
's Laura Ingraham
Laura Ingraham
Laura Anne Ingraham is an American radio host, author, and conservative political commentator. Her nationally syndicated talk show, The Laura Ingraham Show, airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network...
in the past.