WZTK
Encyclopedia
WZTK is a news/talk
radio station
in Burlington, North Carolina
. It serves the Triad and Triangle areas, which includes cities such as Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville. In addition the signal goes well north of Danville, Virginia
. The outlet, which is owned by Curtis Media Group
, claims to have the largest FM radio signal in all of North Carolina, operating with an ERP of 100 kw. The reason for that FM radio signal claim comes from Curtis Media, due to the population covered by the station's signal. The transmitter is located on Bass Mountain in the Cane Creek Mountains
in Alamance County
.
in Burlington, North Carolina
. After moving to 101.1, the station became easy listening
WNCB. Starting in 1978, WPCM was "Country
101" radio station.
During the 1990s, the station paired up with WKIX
in Goldsboro, North Carolina
and targeted listeners in the Raleigh
market. At one point, the call letters were changed to WKXU. For a time, this station played classic country
.
WZTK morphed into its current news/talk incarnation on July 6, 2004. The first live voices heard on the "new" station were those of Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire, who are still in place. Previously, the station had been a country music station, calling itself Kix 101.1. WZTK's sister AM station WPCM (920 kilohertz), previously known as WBBB, simulcasted the FM's talk programming until the summer of 2005, when it went back to its previous beach/oldies format.
is broadcast on the hour 24/7. Listeners hear a variety of talk shows including Michael Savage
, Alan Colmes, as well as financial advice from Clark Howard
, and local/state issues. Their morning drive-time show "Brad and Britt" is a local hit with regular impersonations of Dan Rather, Rick Dees, Dr. Phil, J. Strom Thurmond and Rush Limbaugh.
FM Talk 101.1 is not a 24 hour news/talk station; in fact, the station offers smooth jazz
on the weekends. WZTK was an affiliate of Jones Radio Networks
's Smooth Jazz
satellite-delivered format until the format was discontinued on September 30, 2008. Smooth jazz continues to air on WZTK without announcers, with the music programming still provided by Jones Radio/Dial Global
.
The station is also an affiliate of the Carolina Panthers
Radio Network and carries Wake Forest University
football and men's basketball.
The smooth jazz format has enjoyed success as a part-time offering in North Carolina, and it was once used as a full-time format on two Raleigh stations that carried the "Wind" moniker, although not at the same time. WMAG
in Greensboro
and WBAV
in Charlotte
also use the smooth jazz format on the weekends.
On February 14, 2007, WZTK's parent company, Curtis Media, closed a purchase of WSJS, WMFR, and WSJS's simulcast partner WSML. This gave Curtis a monopoly on the news/talk format in the Triad (and for all practical purposes, in the Triangle, as well) until WPTI
and WRDU switched to the format in January 2010. Both WMFR and WSML joined newly-acquired WCOG
to form Triad Sports Radio later that year.
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...
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...
in Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
. It serves the Triad and Triangle areas, which includes cities such as Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville. In addition the signal goes well north of Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
. The outlet, which 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...
, claims to have the largest FM radio signal in all of North Carolina, operating with an ERP of 100 kw. The reason for that FM radio signal claim comes from Curtis Media, due to the population covered by the station's signal. The transmitter is located on Bass Mountain in the Cane Creek Mountains
Cane Creek Mountains
Cane Creek Mountains is a small mountain range that lies south of Burlington, North Carolina. The range covers an area including Alamance County, Guilford County, Randolph County, and Chatham County in North Carolina.-Formation:...
in Alamance County
Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
History
WBBB-FM signed on at 101.3 in the late 1940s as a sister station to WBBBWPCM
WPCM is a radio station broadcasting a Oldies format. Licensed to Burlington-Graham, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Carolina Radio Group, Inc..-History:...
in Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
. After moving to 101.1, the station became easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
WNCB. Starting in 1978, WPCM was "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...
101" radio station.
During the 1990s, the station paired up with WKIX
WYMY
WYMY "96.9 La Ley" is a Spanish language radio station licensed to Goldsboro, North Carolina, which is east of the Raleigh-Durham Triangle. It plays a contemporary hit radio format...
in Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro is a city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 37,597 at the 2008 census estimate. It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nearby town of Waynesboro was founded in 1787 and Goldsboro was...
and targeted listeners in the 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...
market. At one point, the call letters were changed to WKXU. For a time, this station played classic country
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
.
WZTK morphed into its current news/talk incarnation on July 6, 2004. The first live voices heard on the "new" station were those of Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire, who are still in place. Previously, the station had been a country music station, calling itself Kix 101.1. WZTK's sister AM station WPCM (920 kilohertz), previously known as WBBB, simulcasted the FM's talk programming until the summer of 2005, when it went back to its previous beach/oldies format.
Programming
ABC News RadioABC News Radio
ABC News Radio is the radio service of ABC News, a division of the ABC Television Network. Formerly known as ABC Radio News, ABC News Radio feeds, through Cumulus Media Networks, newscasts on the hour to its more than 2,000 affiliates...
is broadcast on the hour 24/7. Listeners hear a variety of talk shows including Michael Savage
Michael Savage (commentator)
Michael Savage is a conservative American radio host, author, and political commentator. He is the host of The Savage Nation, a nationally syndicated talk show that airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network...
, Alan Colmes, as well as financial advice from Clark Howard
Clark Howard
Clark Howard , is a popular U.S. talk radio host of the nationally syndicated consumer advocate program The Clark Howard Show. The show covers consumer and financial news, with advice on how to spend less, save more and avoid rip-offs...
, and local/state issues. Their morning drive-time show "Brad and Britt" is a local hit with regular impersonations of Dan Rather, Rick Dees, Dr. Phil, J. Strom Thurmond and Rush Limbaugh.
FM Talk 101.1 is not a 24 hour news/talk station; in fact, the station offers 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 ....
on the weekends. WZTK was an affiliate of Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
's Smooth Jazz
Smooth Jazz (radio network)
Smooth Jazz was a 24-hour music network produced by Jones Radio Networks. Its playlist consisted mostly of contemporary smooth jazz music from artists such as Boney James, Joe Sample, Kenny G., The Rippingtons, David Benoit and a dozen more artists...
satellite-delivered format until the format was discontinued on September 30, 2008. Smooth jazz continues to air on WZTK without announcers, with the music programming still provided by Jones Radio/Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
.
The station is also an affiliate of the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
Radio Network and carries Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
football and men's basketball.
The smooth jazz format has enjoyed success as a part-time offering in North Carolina, and it was once used as a full-time format on two Raleigh stations that carried the "Wind" moniker, although not at the same time. WMAG
WMAG
WMAG is an adult contemporary music formatted radio station licensed to High Point, North Carolina and serves the Piedmont Triad region, including Greensboro and Winston-Salem...
in Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
and WBAV
WBAV
WBAV-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Gastonia, North Carolina and serving the Charlotte market on 101.9FM. Syndicated programs include Steve Harvey in mornings, and Michael Baisden in afternoons...
in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
also use the smooth jazz format on the weekends.
On February 14, 2007, WZTK's parent company, Curtis Media, closed a purchase of WSJS, WMFR, and WSJS's simulcast partner WSML. This gave Curtis a monopoly on the news/talk format in the Triad (and for all practical purposes, in the Triangle, as well) until WPTI
WPTI
WRKA is a radio station broadcasting a Classic Country music format. Licensed to Louisville, Kentucky, USA, the station serves the greater Louisville area. The station is currently owned by Cox Radio, Inc.-History:...
and WRDU switched to the format in January 2010. Both WMFR and WSML joined newly-acquired WCOG
WCOG
WCOG is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format. Licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, the station serves the Piedmont Triad area. The station is currently owned by Curtis Media Group and features programming from ESPN Radio.-History:WCOG went on the air in 1947. Throughout the...
to form Triad Sports Radio later that year.