WTVN
Encyclopedia
WTVN is a full-service AM radio station in Columbus, Ohio
located at 610 kHz. It has news, talk, and sports programs, is the dominant AM station in the Columbus
market and is consistently rated either #1 or #2 (to WNCI
's #1) by Arbitron
. WTVN is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications
.
Although WTVN only uses 5kW
of power during the day, the station can be heard as far away as Indianapolis
, Fort Wayne
, Detroit
, and Cleveland
. At night, the signal is directionalized to protect co-channel stations in Kansas City, Philadelphia, Miami, etc. The extra power is radiated over central Columbus—however outlying suburbs in the direction of the nulls will experience a degraded signal.
There were plans to improve WTVN's signal by adding a new antenna array and increasing power to 50 kW, but these plans fell through when zoning problems could not be resolved. Ultimately, WTVN tried to claim the right to build new towers as a "public utility" but lost in court on May 12, 2002.
At one time, when WTVN still aired music programming, the station broadcast using C-QUAM
AM Stereo. The stereo equipment was installed in 1988 but it was not until 1992 that the station operated in full stereo. Analog stereo transmissions ended many years ago. WTVN began broadcasting in HD-Radio in June 2005.
The former WTVN-TV now operates as WSYX
. The former WTVN-FM now operates as WLVQ
. Neither is owned by Clear Channel.
WAIU was a charter member of the CBS Radio Network
, being one of the 16 stations that aired the first CBS network program on September 18, 1927. The call letters were again changed in the late 1930s, this time to WHKC (to go with those of then commonly owned station WHK
in Cleveland).
In the middle-1940's, WHKC (still at 640 kHz) obtained the frequency of WCLE, 610 kHz in Cleveland, Ohio, which operated daytime only, forming 610 WHKC. A directional antenna system was installed near Columbus. This allowed WHKC to go to full-time operation. The 640 frequency was then assigned to new arrival WHKK in Akron, Ohio (which corresponded with Akron station WJW moving to Cleveland). Operation on 640 Kc was limited to San Francisco sunset because of the superior propagation at low AM frequencies. The station adopted its current WTVN call letters in the early 1950s.
) in Columbus, which at the time was the tallest building in the city. Various radio facilities were located at the top of the skyscraper. American Insurance Union later became part of Nationwide Insurance, owner of Nationwide Communications
- former parent company of WNCI
, which is a current sister station to WTVN.
in the U.S.,
with conservative
syndicated talk hosts Rush Limbaugh
and Sean Hannity
. The local talk radio hosts are Bob Conners
in the early morning and John Corby in the afternoon. The format of the local shows usually consists of simple day-to-day "topics" in which listeners are encouraged to call to discuss their viewpoints or experiences.
The station also airs other syndicated programming, including Glenn Beck
, Mark Levin
, Mike McConnell, The Mutual Fund Show with Adam Bold
, and Coast to Coast AM
with George Noory
.
with weather talent from WBNS (Channel 10)
., Metro Weather, based out of Valley Stream, New York, provided weather reports 24 hours, including Pagano during Bob Conners'
morning show. Despite his remote location, Pagano interacted with Connors frequently, often sharing experiences from family dinners and opinions on various "reality" TV shows. Pagano and Metro Weather now provide on-air weather forecasts in Columbus for WODB 107.9 FM.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
located at 610 kHz. It has news, talk, and sports programs, is the dominant AM station in the Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
market and is consistently rated either #1 or #2 (to WNCI
WNCI
WNCI is a radio station in Columbus, Ohio. Its official print brand identifier is WNCI 97.9 in a purple oval, while the station is known on-air as 97.9 WNCI...
's #1) by Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
. WTVN is currently owned by 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...
.
Although WTVN only uses 5kW
Kw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
of power during the day, the station can be heard as far away as Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. At night, the signal is directionalized to protect co-channel stations in Kansas City, Philadelphia, Miami, etc. The extra power is radiated over central Columbus—however outlying suburbs in the direction of the nulls will experience a degraded signal.
There were plans to improve WTVN's signal by adding a new antenna array and increasing power to 50 kW, but these plans fell through when zoning problems could not be resolved. Ultimately, WTVN tried to claim the right to build new towers as a "public utility" but lost in court on May 12, 2002.
At one time, when WTVN still aired music programming, the station broadcast using C-QUAM
C-QUAM
C-QUAM is the method of AM stereo broadcasting used in Canada, the United States and most other countries. It was invented in 1977 by Norman Parker, Francis Hilbert, and Yoshio Sakaie, and published in an IEEE journal....
AM Stereo. The stereo equipment was installed in 1988 but it was not until 1992 that the station operated in full stereo. Analog stereo transmissions ended many years ago. WTVN began broadcasting in HD-Radio in June 2005.
The former WTVN-TV now operates as WSYX
WSYX
WSYX, channel 6, is an ABC-affiliated television station located in Columbus, Ohio. WSYX is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which also operates Fox affiliate WTTE through a local marketing agreement...
. The former WTVN-FM now operates as WLVQ
WLVQ
WLVQ is an FM radio station in Columbus, Ohio, United States, broadcasting on 96.3 MHz. Its brand identifier is Ohio's Best Rock, QFM 96. WLVQ is currently owned by Wilks Broadcasting and plays classic rock...
. Neither is owned by Clear Channel.
History
WTVN originally started as WBAV, operating as a daytime station at 640 kHz on April 29, 1922. The call letters were later changed to WAIU, which stood for American Insurance Union.WAIU was a charter member of the CBS Radio Network
CBS Radio Network
The CBS Radio Network provides news, sports and other programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the United States. The network is owned by CBS Corporation, and operated by CBS Radio ....
, being one of the 16 stations that aired the first CBS network program on September 18, 1927. The call letters were again changed in the late 1930s, this time to WHKC (to go with those of then commonly owned station WHK
WHK (AM)
WHK is the oldest radio station in Ohio, and 15th oldest in the country still broadcasting. WHK is currently owned by Salem Communications and broadcasts on 1420 kHz with a news/talk format with programming provided by the Salem Radio Network, as well as being the Cleveland affiliate for The...
in Cleveland).
In the middle-1940's, WHKC (still at 640 kHz) obtained the frequency of WCLE, 610 kHz in Cleveland, Ohio, which operated daytime only, forming 610 WHKC. A directional antenna system was installed near Columbus. This allowed WHKC to go to full-time operation. The 640 frequency was then assigned to new arrival WHKK in Akron, Ohio (which corresponded with Akron station WJW moving to Cleveland). Operation on 640 Kc was limited to San Francisco sunset because of the superior propagation at low AM frequencies. The station adopted its current WTVN call letters in the early 1950s.
Building
American Insurance Union owned the AIU Building (now the LeVeque TowerLeVeque Tower
The LeVeque Tower is a 47-story Art Deco-style building in Columbus, Ohio. Located at 50 West Broad Street, it was the tallest building in Columbus from 1927 until 1974 when the Rhodes State Office Tower was completed. The LeVeque Tower is tall, which at the time of its completion made it the...
) in Columbus, which at the time was the tallest building in the city. Various radio facilities were located at the top of the skyscraper. American Insurance Union later became part of Nationwide Insurance, owner of Nationwide Communications
Nationwide Communications
Nationwide Communications Inc. was a media subsidiary of the Nationwide Insurance Company, which operated from 1946 until 1997. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide Communications owned and operated a variety of radio and television stations across the United States until it sold off all its radio...
- former parent company of WNCI
WNCI
WNCI is a radio station in Columbus, Ohio. Its official print brand identifier is WNCI 97.9 in a purple oval, while the station is known on-air as 97.9 WNCI...
, which is a current sister station to WTVN.
Programming
WTVN features highly successful stars of talk radioTalk 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...
in the U.S.,
with conservative
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...
syndicated talk hosts 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...
and 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,...
. The local talk radio hosts are Bob Conners
Bob Conners
Bob Conners is an American radio personality on Columbus, Ohio's 610 WTVN. He has been on the air in Columbus for over forty years. Because his morning show has been around for so long, Conners is known as "The Morning Monarch." Other hosts on the station often refer to him simply as "BC".-Bob...
in the early morning and John Corby in the afternoon. The format of the local shows usually consists of simple day-to-day "topics" in which listeners are encouraged to call to discuss their viewpoints or experiences.
The station also airs other syndicated programming, including 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...
, 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...
, Mike McConnell, 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...
, 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...
with George Noory
George Noory
George Ralph Noory is a Lebanese-American radio talk show host.As of 2010, he is the weekday host of the late-night radio talk show Coast to Coast AM. He is heard across the United States and Canada on many AM and FM stations as well as on XM Satellite Radio. His show is one of the most listened...
.
Personnel
The station also replaced Pat Pagano and the meteorologists at Metro Weather ServiceMetro Weather Service
Metro Weather Service, Inc. is a small business specializing in weather forecasting. It is based in Valley Stream, New York but has clients across North America...
with weather talent from WBNS (Channel 10)
WBNS-TV
WBNS-TV, channel 10, is a television station in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The station is an affiliate of the CBS Television Network and is owned by the Dispatch Broadcast Group, a subsidiary of the Columbus Dispatch, along with WBNS radio...
., Metro Weather, based out of Valley Stream, New York, provided weather reports 24 hours, including Pagano during Bob Conners'
Bob Conners
Bob Conners is an American radio personality on Columbus, Ohio's 610 WTVN. He has been on the air in Columbus for over forty years. Because his morning show has been around for so long, Conners is known as "The Morning Monarch." Other hosts on the station often refer to him simply as "BC".-Bob...
morning show. Despite his remote location, Pagano interacted with Connors frequently, often sharing experiences from family dinners and opinions on various "reality" TV shows. Pagano and Metro Weather now provide on-air weather forecasts in Columbus for WODB 107.9 FM.