WOAI (AM)
Encyclopedia
WOAI is a San Antonio, Texas
, news
/talk
formatted radio station
operating with 50,000 Watts non-directional day and night from a transmitter site near Marion, Texas
. Current owner and operator San Antonio based Clear Channel Communications
acquired the station in 1975 which founded the now worldwide owner of radio stations. WOAI-AM is also the flagship station for Clear Channel radio.
WOAI, a Fox News Radio
affiliate, is consistently the highest rated AM news/talk formatted radio station in Texas. WOAI's local news operation, features market veterans Jim Forsyth and Michael Main. Market legend Bob Guthrie, who was a WOAI news anchor for 52 years, retired in 2009.
WOAI is also the flagship station for the San Antonio Spurs
radio network. Other sports programming includes University of Texas Football and the Dallas Cowboys
radio network.
WOAI radio and former sister station WOAI-TV
heavily cross promote each other by sharing staff and resources such as news and weather reporters and sports commentators.
WOAI is known as the "50,000 Watt Blowtorch" of South Texas, because of its unlimited FCC clear channel classification. Like the handful of other clear channel AM stations (not to be confused with WOAI's parent company Clear Channel Communications), WOAI can be heard all over North and Central America after sunset. In the daytime WOAI covers most of central and south Texas.
For historic documentation and photos, see http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/WOAI_San_Antonio_Texas
WOAI Radio and Television are among the few stations west of the Mississippi River
whose call sign begins with "W." This designation was "grandfathered" when the federal government issued regulations requiring radio stations west of the Mississippi River to start with "K," and stations east of the Mississippi to begin with "W." WOAI Radio and Television are currently the westernmost stations to have "W" callsigns.
In 1941, WOAI was moved to clear channel 1200 kHz. This meant that WOAI was the only high power non-directional station that could be licensed on its frequency (1200 kHz) in the United States. In fact, from the 1950s through the 1980s, it was the only station licensed to 1200 kHz in the United States. This was part of an early federal emergency plan similar to today's Emergency Alert System
.
Over the years WOAI's news operation developed into a well-respected institution with listeners and broadcasters.
In 1949, WOAI-TV
came on the air on San Antonio's TV channel 4. Co-owned WOAI radio began a shift back to music programming as the soap operas transitioned to television.
In 1975, San Antonio businessmen L. Lowry Mays
and BJ "Red" McCombs
founded Clear Channel Communications by acquiring the WOAI radio from AVCO Broadcasting after already acquiring easy listening KEEZ 97.3 FM (now KAJA) in 1972. The TV station was sold to United Stations which later changed the call sign to KMOL-TV.
In the late 70's, 1200 WOAI phased out music programming. In 1979, KEEZ became WOAI-FM (not the original WOAI-FM) until the birth of Country Music
station KAJA-FM "KJ*97" in 1981.
Through the 1980s, WOAI-AM relied more on its newsroom and focused on local and national news, local talk shows and agricultural reports. WOAI also began including sports telecasts especially after acquiring the radio contract for all San Antonio Spurs
NBA games.
In 1998, San Antonio based Clear Channel Communications acquired the parent company of Premiere Radio Networks
, syndicator of national talk shows such as Rush Limbaugh
, Dr. Laura, Jim Rome Show and Coast to Coast AM
. Rush and Laura had already been airing in San Antonio on market competitor, KTSA
. These two shows were then moved to WOAI shortly after the acquisition. Dr. Laura has since been moved off of WOAI and the Jim Rome Show is now heard on WOAI sister station KTKR
760 kHz in San Antonio. WOAI news anchor Bob Guthrie celebrated 50 years on the radio station in 2006.
WOAI's daily national talk show programming is now effectively the Clear Channel slate of hosts: Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck
, Sean Hannity
, and Coast to Coast AM. Joe Pagliarulo
is the host of The Joe Pags Show, which runs weekdays during afternoon drive beginning at 5pm(CT).
In 2001, Clear Channel Communications acquired KMOL-TV San Antonio from Chris-Craft Industries. In December 2002, Clear Channel was granted a permit from the FCC to change the TV station's legal call sign back WOAI-TV.
The WOAI radio studios consists of a control room, talk show studio, news anchor booth, traffic center, and newsroom. WOAI shares studio facility with sister stations KAJA
, KTKR
, KXXM
, KQXT, KRPT
and KZEP.
Saturdays
Sundays
News Reporters
Sports Team
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, news
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
/talk
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...
formatted radio station
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...
operating with 50,000 Watts non-directional day and night from a transmitter site near Marion, Texas
Marion, Texas
Marion is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,099 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The city is named in for Marion Dove, whose grandfather, Joshua W...
. Current owner and operator San Antonio based Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
acquired the station in 1975 which founded the now worldwide owner of radio stations. WOAI-AM is also the flagship station for Clear Channel radio.
WOAI, a Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio is an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel.- History :In 2003, Fox News began syndicating one minute radio updates to radio stations via syndication service Westwood One. On June 1, 2005, Fox News Radio employed 60 people and provided five minute newscasts at the top...
affiliate, is consistently the highest rated AM news/talk formatted radio station in Texas. WOAI's local news operation, features market veterans Jim Forsyth and Michael Main. Market legend Bob Guthrie, who was a WOAI news anchor for 52 years, retired in 2009.
WOAI is also the flagship station for the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
radio network. Other sports programming includes University of Texas Football and the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
radio network.
WOAI radio and former sister station WOAI-TV
WOAI-TV
WOAI-TV, virtual channel 4 , is the NBC affiliate television station serving the San Antonio, Texas metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Elmendorf, Texas, with its studios located in downtown San Antonio....
heavily cross promote each other by sharing staff and resources such as news and weather reporters and sports commentators.
WOAI is known as the "50,000 Watt Blowtorch" of South Texas, because of its unlimited FCC clear channel classification. Like the handful of other clear channel AM stations (not to be confused with WOAI's parent company Clear Channel Communications), WOAI can be heard all over North and Central America after sunset. In the daytime WOAI covers most of central and south Texas.
History
WOAI first signed on the air in 1922 on 1190 kHz in San Antonio with only 500 Watts. Over the next several years WOAI was issued permits by the FCC to move the transmitter site and increase its power from 500 to 1000, 2000, 5000 and finally 50,000 Watts in 1930. In the 1930s WOAI's programming evolved from musical performances to news and agricultural information breaks in between soap operas.For historic documentation and photos, see http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/WOAI_San_Antonio_Texas
WOAI Radio and Television are among the few stations west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
whose call sign begins with "W." This designation was "grandfathered" when the federal government issued regulations requiring radio stations west of the Mississippi River to start with "K," and stations east of the Mississippi to begin with "W." WOAI Radio and Television are currently the westernmost stations to have "W" callsigns.
In 1941, WOAI was moved to clear channel 1200 kHz. This meant that WOAI was the only high power non-directional station that could be licensed on its frequency (1200 kHz) in the United States. In fact, from the 1950s through the 1980s, it was the only station licensed to 1200 kHz in the United States. This was part of an early federal emergency plan similar to today's Emergency Alert System
Emergency Alert System
The Emergency Alert System is a national warning system in the United States put into place on January 1, 1997, when it superseded the Emergency Broadcast System , which itself had superseded the CONELRAD System...
.
Over the years WOAI's news operation developed into a well-respected institution with listeners and broadcasters.
In 1949, WOAI-TV
WOAI-TV
WOAI-TV, virtual channel 4 , is the NBC affiliate television station serving the San Antonio, Texas metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Elmendorf, Texas, with its studios located in downtown San Antonio....
came on the air on San Antonio's TV channel 4. Co-owned WOAI radio began a shift back to music programming as the soap operas transitioned to television.
In 1975, San Antonio businessmen L. Lowry Mays
Lowry Mays
Lester Lowry Mays is the founder and current chairman of Clear Channel Communications.-Early years:Lester Lowry Mays was born on July 24, 1935 in Harris County, Texas, USA to Lester T. Mays and Mary Virginia Lowry. Mays attended the A&M College of Texas , where he received a B.S. in petroleum...
and BJ "Red" McCombs
Red McCombs
Billy Joe "Red" McCombs is the founder of the Red McCombs Automotive Group, a co-founder of Clear Channel Communications, a former owner of the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Vikings, and the namesake of the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin...
founded Clear Channel Communications by acquiring the WOAI radio from AVCO Broadcasting after already acquiring easy listening KEEZ 97.3 FM (now KAJA) in 1972. The TV station was sold to United Stations which later changed the call sign to KMOL-TV.
In the late 70's, 1200 WOAI phased out music programming. In 1979, KEEZ became WOAI-FM (not the original WOAI-FM) until the birth of 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...
station KAJA-FM "KJ*97" in 1981.
Through the 1980s, WOAI-AM relied more on its newsroom and focused on local and national news, local talk shows and agricultural reports. WOAI also began including sports telecasts especially after acquiring the radio contract for all San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
NBA games.
In 1998, San Antonio based Clear Channel Communications acquired the parent company of Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
, syndicator of national talk shows such as Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, Dr. Laura, Jim Rome Show and Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
. Rush and Laura had already been airing in San Antonio on market competitor, KTSA
KTSA
KTSA is a News-Talk formatted radio station in San Antonio, Texas. The weekday schedule offers 10 hours of local talk, hosted by Trey Ware , Jack Riccardi , and Sean Rima . KTSA also carries all three hours of "The Dave Ramsey Show" live . Evening and overnight hours include programming from...
. These two shows were then moved to WOAI shortly after the acquisition. Dr. Laura has since been moved off of WOAI and the Jim Rome Show is now heard on WOAI sister station KTKR
KTKR
KTKR is an all-sports radio station serving the San Antonio, Texas, USA area. KTKR, more popularly known as "Ticket 760", is owned by Clear Channel Communications as a sister station to, among others, heritage station WOAI....
760 kHz in San Antonio. WOAI news anchor Bob Guthrie celebrated 50 years on the radio station in 2006.
WOAI's daily national talk show programming is now effectively the Clear Channel slate of hosts: Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
, and Coast to Coast AM. Joe Pagliarulo
Joe Pagliarulo
Joe "Pags" Pagliarulo is an American, conservative TV/radio talk show host. He serves as morning drive host on The 950/KPRC Houston and afternoon host at Clear Channel's flagship talk radio station WOAI 1200 in San Antonio. Pagliarulo works with Program Director Peter Bolger, who previously worked...
is the host of The Joe Pags Show, which runs weekdays during afternoon drive beginning at 5pm(CT).
In 2001, Clear Channel Communications acquired KMOL-TV San Antonio from Chris-Craft Industries. In December 2002, Clear Channel was granted a permit from the FCC to change the TV station's legal call sign back WOAI-TV.
Studios
6222 N.W. Interstate 10, San Antonio, TX 78201The WOAI radio studios consists of a control room, talk show studio, news anchor booth, traffic center, and newsroom. WOAI shares studio facility with sister stations KAJA
KAJA (FM)
KAJA San Antonio, "KJ97" is a Country Music station owned by Clear Channel Communications.-History:The station was founded in 1951 as KEEZ and owned by Charles Balthrope. It was sold to San Antonio Broadcasting Company in 1975. SABC was owned by Lowry Mays, BJ Red McCombs, and a Paul Schaffer...
, KTKR
KTKR
KTKR is an all-sports radio station serving the San Antonio, Texas, USA area. KTKR, more popularly known as "Ticket 760", is owned by Clear Channel Communications as a sister station to, among others, heritage station WOAI....
, KXXM
KXXM
KXXM San Antonio, "Mix 96.1" is a Top 40 station owned by Clear Channel Communications.-History:September 3, 1998 at 5:00 pm Urban Adult Contemporary 961 KSJL becomes the all new Mix 96.1 KSJL FM as a rock-based CHR a couple of weeks later the call letter would change to KXXM. The first song...
, KQXT, KRPT
KRPT
KRPT is a radio station broadcasting a talk radio format. Licensed to Devine, Texas, USA, the station serves the San Antonio area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications....
and KZEP.
Shows
Weekdays- San Antonio's First News with Charlie Parker
- The Glenn Beck Program
- Rush LimbaughRush LimbaughRush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
- Sean HannitySean HannitySean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
- Joe PagliaruloJoe PagliaruloJoe "Pags" Pagliarulo is an American, conservative TV/radio talk show host. He serves as morning drive host on The 950/KPRC Houston and afternoon host at Clear Channel's flagship talk radio station WOAI 1200 in San Antonio. Pagliarulo works with Program Director Peter Bolger, who previously worked...
("Joe Pags" for short)
- Michael Berry
- Coast to Coast AMCoast to Coast AMCoast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
Saturdays
- The WOAI Home & Garden Show with David Rodriguez and Bill Rohde
- The Mutual Fund Show with Adam BoldAdam BoldAdam Bold is an American author and businessman. He is the founder and minority shareholder of The Mutual Fund Store, and host of The Mutual Fund Show, a national weekly talk radio show focused on actively managed mutual fund investments...
- The Car Guy Show with Jerry Reynolds
- Under the Hood with Tim Merryman
- KM Builders Home Remodeling Show
- WOAI/Exit Slater Real Estate Show
- The Tech GuyThe Tech GuyThe Tech Guy is a US-wide syndicated radio show, hosted by Leo Laporte formerly of TechTV and now TWiT.tv fame. The show, which was first exclusively broadcast on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles, California, was picked up for syndication by Premiere Radio Networks in February 2007...
with Leo LaporteLeo LaporteLéo Gordon Laporte is an Emmy Award winning, American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur. A former resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he now lives in Petaluma, California with his wife Jennifer and two children, Abby and Henry.... - The Mike McConnell Show
Sundays
- The Jesus Christ Show
- Kim Komando
- Rush Limbaugh's Week In Review
- Sean Hannity's Encore
- The Bill Cunningham Show
Sports
- San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
Basketball - Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
Football - University of Texas Football
News
Anchors- Stan Kelly
- Charity McCurdy
- Cari Laque
- Morgan Montalvo
News Reporters
- Jim Forsyth (News Director)
- Michael Main (Managing Editor)
- Michael Board
- Steve Soliz
- Bud Little
- Berit Mason
Sports Team
- Mike Taylor (Host of Spurs post game "React")
Management
- Matt Martin, President and Market Manager
- Peter Bolger (Director of AM Programming)
- Jim Forsyth (News Director)
Former Staff
- Barclay Russell
- Jay Howard
- Jack Riccardi
- Chris Duel
- Carl Wiglesworth
- Bill McReynolds
- Henry Guerra
- George Jennings
- Pat Rogers
- John Rooke
- Alan Dale
- Paul Ihander
- Eliza Sonneland
- Ed Chandler
- Michael Snell
- Jenna Rush (traffic)
- Lauri Pearson (traffic)