WPTF
Encyclopedia
WPTF, NewsRadio 680, is a talk radio
station serving the Triangle area of Raleigh
, Durham
, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina
. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group
. Its call letters date back to the former longtime owner of the station, Durham Life Insurance Company, whose motto was "We Protect The Family."
Programs on WPTF include national talk show hosts Dave Ramsey
, Mark Levin
, Phil Hendrie
, and programs such as The Mutual Fund Show with Adam Bold
. In addition, the station also hosts local programming with Brian Freeman, Scott Fitzgerald, Tom Kearney, and afternoon host Bill LuMaye.
From 1977 to 1991, WPTF was sister station to WPTF-TV, the longtime NBC
affiliate in the Triangle. That station is now WRDC, "MyRDC," an affiliate of MyNetworkTV
.
WPTF is the second-most powerful station in North Carolina, as a 50,000-watt class B station. Its signal is non-directional during the day, providing at least grade B coverage as far west as Charlotte
, as far east as Wilmington
and as far north as the Roanoke
suburbs. Its nighttime directional signal can be picked up well south into the Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean and can supposedly be picked up in Venezuela
. However, it is somewhat spotty in parts of Virginia, only 50 miles north.
had the first, WLAC, but it did not last), going on the air September 22, 1924 at 1190 AM, broadcasting at 50 watts. The station was owned and operated by the Wynne Radio Company, owned by William A. Wynne, and the offices and broadcasting facilities were located in the Boone Building next to the Wake County Courthouse. After a year of successful operation, the station had its call letters changed to WRCO, for Wynne Radio Company. On August 19, 1926 the station was authorized to increase its power to 100 watts. Being a more powerful station, they moved their operations to the Sir Walter Hotel. The following year the power was increased to 250 watts. They signed on the air each morning at sunrise and signed off the air at sunset each day. Early in 1927 the station requested from the government 500 watts of power. In June of that year they received word that their request would not be granted, however, they were given authority to move to 1380 on the dial, along with unlimited time on the air.
In 1927, The Durham Life Insurance Company purchased WRCO outright from the Wynne Company and the station's call letters were altered to WPTF. The new owners were given a permit to increase their power to 500 watts and to move to 720 on the dial. New equipment was purchased and the operations were moved to the basement of the old Durham Life building.
Things moved rather rapidly for the new owners. On November 16, 1927, WPTF moved to 550 kilocycles, remaining there until November 1, 1928, when it changed to 680. In 1928, the station was granted another increase in power, this time to 1,000 watts, but was required to sign off at sunset.
Although many attempts were made over the next several years, it wasn't until 1933 that the station increased its power to 5,000 watts. With this authority, WPTF purchased new equipment and moved to Cary, North Carolina
, on US Highway 1.
In June, 1940, WPTF was given authority to operate unlimited hours and a month later was granted a construction permit to install new transmitter equipment and increase its power to 50,000 watts.
Almost a year later on a late spring evening, listeners heard these words from the announcer on duty: "Ladies and Gentlemen, there will be a few moments of silence while engineers switch from WPTF's 5,000 watts transmitter unit and begin operation for the first time with its new 50,000 watts transmitter." Thus on May 24, 1941, WPTF began a new era in broadcasting.
As of 1948, WPTF was an affiliate of NBC Radio. WPTF-FM signed on at 94.5 in 1949 using the tallest of the AM station's three towers off N.C. Highway 54, near the present-day Interstate 40
. The FM station later moved to 94.7. Both stations operated from 410 South Salisbury street in Downtown Raleigh. The tower used by WPTF-FM when it signed on is currently used by WKIX-FM.
By the 1970s, the AM station offered a "full service format with news, talk, and adult contemporary music," and the FM was playing classical music
before switching to album rock and the call letters WQDR-FM
in 1973.
WPTF-TV, a nine-year-old station previously called WRDU-TV when Durham Life bought it, joined the two radio stations at their Highwoods Boulevard studios on the north end of Raleigh.
In 1991, Durham Life sold its broadcasting stations. Don Curtis, who bought all of WQDR, had a "controlling interest" in WPTF.
sports network for more than 40 years until Wolfpack Sports Marketing announced it had signed a ten-year deal to move its flagship to Capitol Broadcasting Company
's WRAL-FM
. NC State athletic officials cited their desire to be on an FM signal with a multi-year contract and the ability to collect more local advertising revenue, conditions that Curtis Media was unwilling to provide. Some Wolfpack fans around the East Coast were unhappy with the move because it cut the audience of Wolfpack sports, especially at night, because of the reduced power.
After the September 2008 death of Jack Boston, Scott Fitzgerald took over North Carolina Morning News (5:30-9:00am).
As of September 15 of 2008, WPTF began streaming Rush Limbaugh as well as the rest of their local and syndicated line up.
Parent Company Curtis Media announced in August, 2009 the acquisiiton of The North Carolina News Network from Capitol Broadcasting Company of Raleigh.
On November 2, 2009, Curtis Media President Phil Zachary said Limbaugh would be leaving WPTF December 31, 2009, after more than 20 years. The show moved to Clear Channel Communications
new news talk station, WRDU, which is now up against WPTF.
In December 2009, Brian Freeman, program director of sister station WSJS in Winston-Salem, took over the same duties at WPTF and became the host of North Carolina's Morning News. Scott Fitzgerald moved to 9 to 11 am as host of his own show and as the host of North Carolina's Evening News from 5 to 7 pm.
The loss of long-time staples Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity has proved challenging for WPTF. Following the move of the conservative programs to "Rush Radio," WPTF's ratings were significantly impacted. In the Winter book, WPTF dropped to a 2.6 rating. That was down from a 6.2 in the Fall book.
Starting with the 2011 Daytona 500
, WPTF began airing NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series racing.
and has covered most major storms ever since.
Because of WPTF's directional nighttime signal, the station assisted the residents of Charleston, South Carolina
after Hurricane Hugo
hit the state in 1989. Most of coastal South Carolina, including the city of Charleston was without power, so local radio stations were knocked off the air. WPTF broadcast emergency information and even won several awards from the state of South Carolina for their assistance.
In 1996, WPTF provided coverage of Hurricane Fran
even though the station was without power for nearly a week. The station and transmitter site ran on generator power, allowing residents in the Triangle and beyond to call in for storm and damage information and find out where to get needed supplies, such as ice, water, and food.
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 serving the Triangle area of Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group is a broadcast media company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The company owns and operates several North Carolina radio stations and four radio networks.-AM:*WPTF 680 AM *WQDR 570 AM...
. Its call letters date back to the former longtime owner of the station, Durham Life Insurance Company, whose motto was "We Protect The Family."
Programs on WPTF include national talk show hosts Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
David L. Ramsey III is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker.Ramsey's syndicated radio program The Dave Ramsey Show is promoted with a tagline that "It's about your life and your money," and it is heard on over 450 radio stations throughout the...
, 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...
, Phil Hendrie
Phil Hendrie
Philip Stephen Hendrie is an American radio personality. He is best known as the host of The Phil Hendrie Show, a comedy talk radio program that is syndicated throughout North America on Talk Radio Network...
, and programs such as The Mutual Fund Show with Adam Bold
Adam Bold
Adam 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...
. In addition, the station also hosts local programming with Brian Freeman, Scott Fitzgerald, Tom Kearney, and afternoon host Bill LuMaye.
From 1977 to 1991, WPTF was sister station to WPTF-TV, the longtime NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate in the Triangle. That station is now WRDC, "MyRDC," an affiliate of MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
.
WPTF is the second-most powerful station in North Carolina, as a 50,000-watt class B station. Its signal is non-directional during the day, providing at least grade B coverage as far west as Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, as far east as Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
and as far north as the Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
suburbs. Its nighttime directional signal can be picked up well south into the Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean and can supposedly be picked up in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. However, it is somewhat spotty in parts of Virginia, only 50 miles north.
Early history
WPTF was originally called WFBQ, and was the second radio station in Raleigh (N. C. StateNorth Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
had the first, WLAC, but it did not last), going on the air September 22, 1924 at 1190 AM, broadcasting at 50 watts. The station was owned and operated by the Wynne Radio Company, owned by William A. Wynne, and the offices and broadcasting facilities were located in the Boone Building next to the Wake County Courthouse. After a year of successful operation, the station had its call letters changed to WRCO, for Wynne Radio Company. On August 19, 1926 the station was authorized to increase its power to 100 watts. Being a more powerful station, they moved their operations to the Sir Walter Hotel. The following year the power was increased to 250 watts. They signed on the air each morning at sunrise and signed off the air at sunset each day. Early in 1927 the station requested from the government 500 watts of power. In June of that year they received word that their request would not be granted, however, they were given authority to move to 1380 on the dial, along with unlimited time on the air.
In 1927, The Durham Life Insurance Company purchased WRCO outright from the Wynne Company and the station's call letters were altered to WPTF. The new owners were given a permit to increase their power to 500 watts and to move to 720 on the dial. New equipment was purchased and the operations were moved to the basement of the old Durham Life building.
Things moved rather rapidly for the new owners. On November 16, 1927, WPTF moved to 550 kilocycles, remaining there until November 1, 1928, when it changed to 680. In 1928, the station was granted another increase in power, this time to 1,000 watts, but was required to sign off at sunset.
Although many attempts were made over the next several years, it wasn't until 1933 that the station increased its power to 5,000 watts. With this authority, WPTF purchased new equipment and moved to Cary, North Carolina
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
, on US Highway 1.
In June, 1940, WPTF was given authority to operate unlimited hours and a month later was granted a construction permit to install new transmitter equipment and increase its power to 50,000 watts.
Almost a year later on a late spring evening, listeners heard these words from the announcer on duty: "Ladies and Gentlemen, there will be a few moments of silence while engineers switch from WPTF's 5,000 watts transmitter unit and begin operation for the first time with its new 50,000 watts transmitter." Thus on May 24, 1941, WPTF began a new era in broadcasting.
As of 1948, WPTF was an affiliate of NBC Radio. WPTF-FM signed on at 94.5 in 1949 using the tallest of the AM station's three towers off N.C. Highway 54, near the present-day Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
. The FM station later moved to 94.7. Both stations operated from 410 South Salisbury street in Downtown Raleigh. The tower used by WPTF-FM when it signed on is currently used by WKIX-FM.
By the 1970s, the AM station offered a "full service format with news, talk, and adult contemporary music," and the FM was playing classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
before switching to album rock and the call letters WQDR-FM
WQDR-FM
WQDR is a radio station in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, broadcasting to the state's central and eastern regions, including the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Wilson, and Goldsboro...
in 1973.
WPTF-TV, a nine-year-old station previously called WRDU-TV when Durham Life bought it, joined the two radio stations at their Highwoods Boulevard studios on the north end of Raleigh.
In 1991, Durham Life sold its broadcasting stations. Don Curtis, who bought all of WQDR, had a "controlling interest" in WPTF.
Recent developments
WPTF had served as the flagship station for the NC State WolfpackNC State Wolfpack
The athletic teams of the North Carolina State University, known as the Wolfpack, compete in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. NC State is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and has won eight national championships: two NCAA championships, two AIAW championships, and four titles...
sports network for more than 40 years until Wolfpack Sports Marketing announced it had signed a ten-year deal to move its flagship to Capitol Broadcasting Company
Capitol Broadcasting Company
Capitol Broadcasting Company is a TV and radio broadcast company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They also own and operate the minor league baseball team, the Durham Bulls.-TV:*WRAL-TV 5...
's WRAL-FM
WRAL-FM
WRAL is an Adult Contemporary music formatted radio station based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Its studios are located on Highwoods Boulevard in Raleigh, along with WCMC-FM, a sports talk station that signed on in October 2005...
. NC State athletic officials cited their desire to be on an FM signal with a multi-year contract and the ability to collect more local advertising revenue, conditions that Curtis Media was unwilling to provide. Some Wolfpack fans around the East Coast were unhappy with the move because it cut the audience of Wolfpack sports, especially at night, because of the reduced power.
After the September 2008 death of Jack Boston, Scott Fitzgerald took over North Carolina Morning News (5:30-9:00am).
As of September 15 of 2008, WPTF began streaming Rush Limbaugh as well as the rest of their local and syndicated line up.
Parent Company Curtis Media announced in August, 2009 the acquisiiton of The North Carolina News Network from Capitol Broadcasting Company of Raleigh.
On November 2, 2009, Curtis Media President Phil Zachary said Limbaugh would be leaving WPTF December 31, 2009, after more than 20 years. The show moved to 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...
new news talk station, WRDU, which is now up against WPTF.
In December 2009, Brian Freeman, program director of sister station WSJS in Winston-Salem, took over the same duties at WPTF and became the host of North Carolina's Morning News. Scott Fitzgerald moved to 9 to 11 am as host of his own show and as the host of North Carolina's Evening News from 5 to 7 pm.
The loss of long-time staples Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity has proved challenging for WPTF. Following the move of the conservative programs to "Rush Radio," WPTF's ratings were significantly impacted. In the Winter book, WPTF dropped to a 2.6 rating. That was down from a 6.2 in the Fall book.
Starting with the 2011 Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, WPTF began airing NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series racing.
Hurricane Coverage
WPTF has historically provided hurricane coverage to residents of the Carolinas. WPTF first provided reports of Hurricane HazelHurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm killed as many as 1,000 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South Carolina, as a Category 4 hurricane...
and has covered most major storms ever since.
Because of WPTF's directional nighttime signal, the station assisted the residents of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
after Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
hit the state in 1989. Most of coastal South Carolina, including the city of Charleston was without power, so local radio stations were knocked off the air. WPTF broadcast emergency information and even won several awards from the state of South Carolina for their assistance.
In 1996, WPTF provided coverage of Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season that made landfall near Cape Fear in North Carolina at Category 3 strength. Throughout the eastern United States, early statistics on Fran reported 27 deaths and $3.2 billion in damage...
even though the station was without power for nearly a week. The station and transmitter site ran on generator power, allowing residents in the Triangle and beyond to call in for storm and damage information and find out where to get needed supplies, such as ice, water, and food.
WPTF on-air staff
WPTF has a storied history developing ultra-conservative personalities. Many of these on-air figures go on to larger markets, or become long-time Raleigh-Durham favorites. Below are some of a few.- Jerry Agar (2000–2005)
- Wally Ausley (1928-1994, deceased)
- Mike Blackman (1972–2009)
- John Wesley Brett
- Jim DeFontes (1999–2004)
- Don Curtis (1991–Present owner, operator)
- Jimmy Dean
- Gary Dornburg ( -1998, deceased)
- Mike Edwards ( -1999)
- Bob Farrington
- Charlie GaddyCharlie GaddyCharlie Gaddy , was a Raleigh, North Carolina television anchorman for WRAL-TV. He anchored the evening news for over 20 years. He retired in 1994.-Biography:...
- Randy Gupton (1998–2003)
- Hap Hansen
- Bob Hazen (2001–2005)
- Marva Hinton (2002–2006)
- Johnny Hood (1970–2001)
- Bob Inskeep
- Patrick Johnson(2007–2010)
- Tom Kearney ( -Present)
- Mitch Kokai (1999–2002)
- Bill LuMaye (2005–2009)
- Donna Mason ( -2003)
- Paul Michaels (2000–Present)
- Kevin Miller (2002–2007)
- Maury O'Dell (1975–2003)
- Mike Raley (1975–Present)
- Kathy Reid
- Tony Riggsbee (1977–2004)
- Bart Ritner (1966–2004)
- Ralph Shaw (2001–2003)
- Brian Shrader (2001–2003)
- Larry Stone
- Dick Storck
- Jeremy Thompson(1997–2005)
- Bryce Wilson (1995–Present*)