WTIC (AM)
Encyclopedia
WTIC is a 50,000-watt
radio station
operating out of Hartford, Connecticut
, broadcasting news and talk radio. Its signal, located at 1080 kHz, can be picked up throughout southern New England
by day and over several states as well as parts of Canada
by night. It is currently operated by CBS Radio
.
WTIC, a class A station on a clear channel, is known for its historic time tone
, which is a broadcast of the Morse code
letter "V" every hour on the hour since 1943. This makes it one of the oldest continuously broadcasting radio time tones in the world. WTIC employs a GPS master clock system that fires the custom-built time-tone generator shortly before the top of the hour, timed such that the final tone of the sequence occurs precisely on the hour, and listeners have been setting their watches to WTIC for many years. The notes of the sequence were pitched to mimic the famous opening sequence of Beethoven
's Fifth Symphony
, whose "short-short-short-long" rhythm matches that of the Morse code letter "V". The Morse code letter "V" for Victory was selected during the height of WWII
.
Originally founded in 1925 and transmitting on 500 watts for the first 4 years (the 1929 program announcing the retirement of the transmitter is not only known to survive, but also available online), WTIC began 50,000 watt operation on August 2, 1929 making it one of the very first few stations in the world to achieve that power level. The transmitter, affectionately referred to as "old number one" was the very first 50,000 watt transmitter ever manufactured by RCA
and has serial number 001. This RCA 50 transmitter was the first high power commercial transmitter to use 100-kilowatt tubes, the first to use mercury-vapor type rectifiers throughout, and the first capable of true 100 percent modulation of its full rated 50-kilowatt carrier output.
Perhaps WTIC's best-known personality was Bob Steele
, who started with the station in 1936 and stayed with WTIC for his entire sixty-six year career, ending only with his death on December 6, 2002 at the age of 91. Steele continued to broadcast a Monday-Saturday morning show for WTIC for fifty-five years, scaling back to Saturdays only after September 1991; by the time of his last broadcast in November 2002, he was only heard on the first Saturday morning of every month. Despite WTIC's various format changes over the years, Steele's show (which featured musical standards, novelty songs, silly jokes, and a regular "Word of the Day" segment - even long after WTIC itself had abandoned music for a focus on news/talk) remained virtually unchanged throughout its entire run, making it perhaps the longest-running radio program in history to have never undergone a significant format change.
The station continues to enjoy strong popularity. However, In December 2008 the station made major programming changes. Co-host Diane Smith was dropped from the morning show she hosted with Ray Dunaway, which covers local affairs from a relatively moderate perspective.The Libertarian edged "Sound Off Connecticut" hosted by conservative Jim Vicevich
had an hour added to the show. The station continued to carry Rush Limbaugh
at midday, but the afternoon drive personality, vocal liberal, Colin McEnroe
, was laid off and his timeslot replaced with a three hour local and national news roundup. The afternoon time slot was given to former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland
in September 2010. The station airs a sports show in the early evening which usually is a warm up to Red Sox baseball or UConn Huskies basketball. The station is also the broadcast home for the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League
WTIC's call letters stand for the station's original owners, the Travelers Insurance Corporation; however, the station no longer has any affiliation with that company.
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
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 out of Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, broadcasting news and talk radio. Its signal, located at 1080 kHz, can be picked up throughout southern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
by day and over several states as well as parts of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by night. It is currently operated by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
.
WTIC, a class A station on a clear channel, is known for its historic time tone
Radio clock
A radio clock or radio-controlled clock is a clock that is synchronized by a time code bit stream transmitted by a radio transmitter connected to a time standard such as an atomic clock...
, which is a broadcast of the Morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
letter "V" every hour on the hour since 1943. This makes it one of the oldest continuously broadcasting radio time tones in the world. WTIC employs a GPS master clock system that fires the custom-built time-tone generator shortly before the top of the hour, timed such that the final tone of the sequence occurs precisely on the hour, and listeners have been setting their watches to WTIC for many years. The notes of the sequence were pitched to mimic the famous opening sequence of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's Fifth Symphony
Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1804–08. This symphony is one of the most popular and best-known compositions in all of classical music, and one of the most often played symphonies. It comprises four movements: an opening sonata, an andante, and a fast...
, whose "short-short-short-long" rhythm matches that of the Morse code letter "V". The Morse code letter "V" for Victory was selected during the height of WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Originally founded in 1925 and transmitting on 500 watts for the first 4 years (the 1929 program announcing the retirement of the transmitter is not only known to survive, but also available online), WTIC began 50,000 watt operation on August 2, 1929 making it one of the very first few stations in the world to achieve that power level. The transmitter, affectionately referred to as "old number one" was the very first 50,000 watt transmitter ever manufactured by RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
and has serial number 001. This RCA 50 transmitter was the first high power commercial transmitter to use 100-kilowatt tubes, the first to use mercury-vapor type rectifiers throughout, and the first capable of true 100 percent modulation of its full rated 50-kilowatt carrier output.
Perhaps WTIC's best-known personality was Bob Steele
Bob Steele (broadcaster)
Robert Lee "Bob" Steele was an American radio personality. He was with WTIC Radio in Hartford, Connecticut for more than 66 years, and dominated the morning radio scene in Southern New England for most of that time....
, who started with the station in 1936 and stayed with WTIC for his entire sixty-six year career, ending only with his death on December 6, 2002 at the age of 91. Steele continued to broadcast a Monday-Saturday morning show for WTIC for fifty-five years, scaling back to Saturdays only after September 1991; by the time of his last broadcast in November 2002, he was only heard on the first Saturday morning of every month. Despite WTIC's various format changes over the years, Steele's show (which featured musical standards, novelty songs, silly jokes, and a regular "Word of the Day" segment - even long after WTIC itself had abandoned music for a focus on news/talk) remained virtually unchanged throughout its entire run, making it perhaps the longest-running radio program in history to have never undergone a significant format change.
The station continues to enjoy strong popularity. However, In December 2008 the station made major programming changes. Co-host Diane Smith was dropped from the morning show she hosted with Ray Dunaway, which covers local affairs from a relatively moderate perspective.The Libertarian edged "Sound Off Connecticut" hosted by conservative Jim Vicevich
Jim Vicevich
Jim "Buddy" Vicevich is an American talk radio host based in Hartford, Connecticut. His show Sound Off Connecticut deals with local, as well as national, topics ranging from politics, economics and social issues, to movies and music...
had an hour added to the show. The station continued to carry 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...
at midday, but the afternoon drive personality, vocal liberal, Colin McEnroe
Colin McEnroe
Colin McEnroe is an American columnist and radio personality. He currently hosts on Connecticut Public Radio, writes for The Hartford Courant, and hosts a blog, , on the Courant's website.-Early life and education:...
, was laid off and his timeslot replaced with a three hour local and national news roundup. The afternoon time slot was given to former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland
John G. Rowland
John Grosvenor Rowland was the 86th Governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004; he is a member of the Republican Party. He is married to Patty Rowland, his second wife, and the couple have five children between them...
in September 2010. The station airs a sports show in the early evening which usually is a warm up to Red Sox baseball or UConn Huskies basketball. The station is also the broadcast home for the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
WTIC's call letters stand for the station's original owners, the Travelers Insurance Corporation; however, the station no longer has any affiliation with that company.
External links
- WTIC.com
- Northeast Airchecks, with an aircheck of their switch to 50,000 watts in 1929
- Goldenage-WTIC.org In the late 1960s, with declining listenership at night, WTIC management decided that there was a market for long-form shows that could be packaged and sold to sponsors. Two of those shows were "The Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands." They were broadcast monthly through the mid 1970's, and can be heard here, thanks to a project created by former WTIC personality, Dick Bertel, and former WTIC engineer, Bob Scherago. Check this site regularly as we are adding to the collection of old WTIC programs.
- WTIC Alumni website A site that was created by Bill Clede and carried on by David Kaplan featuring pictures, audio, information and trivia about the old WTIC AM/FM/TV before its sale by the Travelers in 1974.