WTKK
Encyclopedia
WTKK is a New England
commercial talk radio
station, first broadcast out of Boston on 96.9 FM beginning in 1999. It can be heard in eastern Massachusetts
, the northernmost area of Rhode Island
, southern New Hampshire
, and southern Maine
. Stations on 96.7 in Rochester, New Hampshire
may limit WTKK's potential audience in the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire.
format. In 1966 WXHR was sold to a joint venture of Kaiser Broadcasting
and the Boston Globe and in 1967 became the beautiful music
station WJIB (whose AM successor
operates out of the old Harvey Radio Labs building in Cambridge). After several further ownership changes — first to General Electric
in 1972, then to NBC
in 1983 (three years before the merger between NBC's parent company, RCA
, and GE) and Emmis Communications
in 1988 — it operated as smooth jazz
station WCDJ from 1990 to 1993. After Greater Media
bought the station, the station was converted to country
as WBCS. The station became WKLB-FM in 1996 after the previous WKLB-FM was bought by Greater Media and consolidated with WBCS, with its frequency being converted to WROR-FM
. Smooth jazz returned in 1997 as WSJZ after a format swap with what had been WOAZ (now WCRB
); this was dropped in 1999 in favor of the current format.
The station is still owned and operated by Greater Media to this day, with studios in Dorchester
along with other Greater Media properties.
WTKK's programming includes shows & personalities such as Michael Graham, Michael Smerconish
, John Batchelor
, Ron Insana
(formerly hosted his own nationally syndicated show which WTKK aired, now provides daily business reports directly for the station), Mel Robbins, The Joe & Huggy Show, The Phantom Gourmet and Rick Shaffer's Money Show, and has previously featured talents such as Jay Severin
, Michele McPhee
, Monica Crowley
, David Stein
and Don Imus
.
In April 2007, WTKK management attempted to add Boston Herald columnist and talk-show host Howie Carr
to its lineup, after the station's syndicated morning show Imus in the Morning
was cancelled after Don Imus
' comments about the Rutgers University
Women's Basketball team got him fired by CBS. But Carr's long-time radio-station employer, Entercom-owned WRKO-AM
, blocked that move by exercising a clause in Mr. Carr's contract allowing it to make a matching counter-offer. Carr held out until November 16, 2007, after which point Carr returned to WRKO. On December 3, WTKK resumed broadcasting Imus in the Morning
when it was picked up by WABC
, but over time was locally limited in its broadcast time, ultimately only airing for 2 hours every weekday morning. In January 2011, WTKK dropped Imus from their lineup completely in favor of an extended edition of their late morning team of Jim Braude
and Margery Eagan
.
WTKK fired the controversial Jay Severin
, a host since 1999, in April of 2011 after he said he had slept with female interns at a company he had owned, and defended the practice. He was officially replaced in June 2011 by radio host Doug Meehan. Two months later,
when rival station WXKS-AM hired Severin for afternoon drive, WTKK shuffled its lineup to place
politics-heavy Michael Graham in the 3 p.m. slot. The current lineup is Eagan and Braude, followed
by Meehan late mornings, then syndicated talker Michael Smerconish; Michael Graham, followed by
"Daily Wrap", a business news show, then the syndicated John Batchelor and John & Jeff shows.
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...
commercial 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, first broadcast out of Boston on 96.9 FM beginning in 1999. It can be heard in eastern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the northernmost area of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, southern New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, and southern Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Stations on 96.7 in Rochester, New Hampshire
Rochester, New Hampshire
Rochester is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 29,752. The city includes the villages of East Rochester and Gonic. Rochester is home to Skyhaven Airport and the annual Rochester Fair....
may limit WTKK's potential audience in the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire.
History
The station originated in 1945 as W1XHR (later WXHR), owned by Harvey Radio Laboratories and programmed a classical musicClassical 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...
format. In 1966 WXHR was sold to a joint venture of Kaiser Broadcasting
Kaiser Broadcasting
Kaiser Broadcasting was the name of an entity that owned and operated broadcast television stations in the United States from 1958 to 1977.-History:...
and the Boston Globe and in 1967 became the beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
station WJIB (whose AM successor
WJIB
WJIB is a radio station based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that specializes in Adult Standards and 1950s & 1960s pop music. It is owned by Bob Bittner Broadcasting, with a sister station: WJTO at Bath, Maine...
operates out of the old Harvey Radio Labs building in Cambridge). After several further ownership changes — first to General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
in 1972, then to 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...
in 1983 (three years before the merger between NBC's parent company, 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 GE) and Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications is a media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company owns radio stations and magazines in the United States, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.-History:...
in 1988 — it operated as smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
station WCDJ from 1990 to 1993. After Greater Media
Greater Media
Greater Media, Inc., known as Greater Media, is an American media company that specializes in radio stations. The markets where they own radio stations include Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and the state of New Jersey...
bought the station, the station was converted to country
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...
as WBCS. The station became WKLB-FM in 1996 after the previous WKLB-FM was bought by Greater Media and consolidated with WBCS, with its frequency being converted to WROR-FM
WROR-FM
WROR-FM is a radio station licensed to Framingham, Massachusetts. It broadcasts on 105.7 MHz and serves the Boston market. The station offers a classic hits format, with a timespan of the '60s, '70s and '80s...
. Smooth jazz returned in 1997 as WSJZ after a format swap with what had been WOAZ (now WCRB
WCRB
WCRB is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lowell, Massachusetts and based in the Brighton area of Boston, which serves the Greater Boston area. It broadcasts a classical music format; it existed as a commercial station from the early 1950s until December 2009, and as a listener-supported...
); this was dropped in 1999 in favor of the current format.
The station is still owned and operated by Greater Media to this day, with studios in Dorchester
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
along with other Greater Media properties.
WTKK's programming includes shows & personalities such as Michael Graham, Michael Smerconish
Michael Smerconish
Michael A. Smerconish is an American radio and television personality, newspaper columnist, author and MSNBC Political Analyst. His talk radio show is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at The Big Talker 1210 AM WPHT. He began his full time radio career in 2002...
, John Batchelor
John Batchelor
John Calvin Batchelor is an author and host of The John Batchelor Show radio news magazine. Based at WABC radio in New York for five years from early 2001 to September, 2006; the show was syndicated nationally on the ABC radio network. On October 7, 2007, Batchelor returned to radio on WABC New...
, Ron Insana
Ron Insana
Ron Insana is a reporter for Market Score Board Report with Ron Insana, syndicated by Compass, and a former Senior Analyst at CNBC. He was Managing Director of Insana Capital Partners from inception to collapse. He was the anchor of CNBC's "Street Signs", which aired weekdays during stock market...
(formerly hosted his own nationally syndicated show which WTKK aired, now provides daily business reports directly for the station), Mel Robbins, The Joe & Huggy Show, The Phantom Gourmet and Rick Shaffer's Money Show, and has previously featured talents such as Jay Severin
Jay Severin
Jay Severin, , is an American political talk radio personality. Severin has signed a multi-year contract with Boston's WXKS-AM Talk 1200 as an on-air personality...
, Michele McPhee
Michele McPhee
Michele McPhee is an American author, talk radio host, and newspaper reporter. She currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts.-Career:A native of Boston, Massachusetts, McPhee was named the first female police bureau chief for the New York Daily News, where she worked for nearly 10 years...
, Monica Crowley
Monica Crowley
Monica Crowley is an American conservative radio and television commentator, and author based in New York City. She has her own radio show and is a regular commentator on The McLaughlin Group, a Fox News contributor, and Washington Times columnist.-Education:Crowley holds a B.A. in Political...
, David Stein
David Stein
David Stein may refer to:* David Stein * David Stein...
and Don Imus
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
.
In April 2007, WTKK management attempted to add Boston Herald columnist and talk-show host Howie Carr
Howie Carr
Howard Louis "Howie" Carr, Jr. is an American journalist, author, and conservative radio talk-show host based in Boston with a listening audience rooted in New England.-Radio:...
to its lineup, after the station's syndicated morning show Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
was cancelled after Don Imus
Don Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
' comments about the Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
Women's Basketball team got him fired by CBS. But Carr's long-time radio-station employer, Entercom-owned WRKO-AM
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
, blocked that move by exercising a clause in Mr. Carr's contract allowing it to make a matching counter-offer. Carr held out until November 16, 2007, after which point Carr returned to WRKO. On December 3, WTKK resumed broadcasting Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
when it was picked up by WABC
WABC
WABC may refer to:* WABC , a radio station licensed to New York, New York, United States* WABC-TV, a television station licensed to New York, New York, United States* Classic Gold WABC, a defunct British radio station...
, but over time was locally limited in its broadcast time, ultimately only airing for 2 hours every weekday morning. In January 2011, WTKK dropped Imus from their lineup completely in favor of an extended edition of their late morning team of Jim Braude
Jim Braude
Jim Spencer Braude is a Boston radio and television personality and the co-host of a talk show on 96.9 FM Talk with Margery Eagan. He also hosts Broadside with Jim Braude on New England Cable News....
and Margery Eagan
Margery Eagan
Margery Eagan is a long time columnist with the Boston Herald, a talk radio host, and a frequent guest on CNN, ABC, Fox News, and the Imus in the Morning radio show...
.
WTKK fired the controversial Jay Severin
Jay Severin
Jay Severin, , is an American political talk radio personality. Severin has signed a multi-year contract with Boston's WXKS-AM Talk 1200 as an on-air personality...
, a host since 1999, in April of 2011 after he said he had slept with female interns at a company he had owned, and defended the practice. He was officially replaced in June 2011 by radio host Doug Meehan. Two months later,
when rival station WXKS-AM hired Severin for afternoon drive, WTKK shuffled its lineup to place
politics-heavy Michael Graham in the 3 p.m. slot. The current lineup is Eagan and Braude, followed
by Meehan late mornings, then syndicated talker Michael Smerconish; Michael Graham, followed by
"Daily Wrap", a business news show, then the syndicated John Batchelor and John & Jeff shows.