WXTG (AM)

WXTG (1490 kHz "The Tide") is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Hampton, Virginia and serving Hampton Roads, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and Virginia Beach. WXTG is owned and operated by Davis Media, LLC.[2] WXTG 1490, along with co-owned 102.1 WXTG-FM, 107.9 WBQK, 92.3 WTYD and FM translator 101.9 W270DA, all simulcast an adult album alternative radio format. A local staff previously supplied Virginia news, while much of the day, the stations carry the Bloomberg Radio business news network, with world and national news coming from CBS Radio News.

WXTG
CityHampton, Virginia
Broadcast areaHampton Roads
Frequency1490 kHz
Branding92.3 & 102.1 The Tide
SloganHometown Radio, Handpicked Music
Programming
FormatAdult album alternative (WTYD simulcast)
Ownership
OwnerDavis Media, LLC
Sister stationsWBQK, WTYD, WXTG-FM
History
First air date1948 (as WVEC at 1050)
Former call signsWVEC (1948–1978)
WWDE (1978–1981)
WPEX (1981–1992)
WOJY (1992–1997)
WBYM (1997–2003)
WLRT (2003–2007)[1]
Former frequencies1050 kHz (1948–1951)[1]
Call sign meaningW X The Game (for former sports format)
Technical information
Facility ID25917
ClassC
Power970 watts day and night
Transmitter coordinates37°1′50.0″N 76°22′32.0″W
Translator(s)101.9 W270DA (Hampton)
Links
WebcastListen live
WebsiteWXTG Online

History

WVEC and WWDE

The station signed on as WVEC in 1948.[3] It broadcast at 1050 kilocycles and was owned by the Peninsula Broadcasting Company. WVEC was a daytimer, powered at 250 watts and required to go off the air at night. In 1953, the station launched a television station, Channel 13 WVEC-TV.

The station moved to full time broadcasting by switching to 1490 kHz. The station was later sold and changed its call sign to WWDE, paired with 101.3 WWDE-FM. Several format changes followed over the years, from Big Band music to Oldies. In the 1990s, the station played the "Music of Your Life" adult standards format and adopted WBYM call letters.

WBYM

In the late 1990s, the station was purchased by Hampton Radio II, Inc., co-owned with the "Anna's Pizza" restaurant chain. It changed to classic country as "Classic Hit Country 1490 The Goldmine."[4] The station was the only one in the region to continue online streaming when all others stopped because of royalty disputes with copyrighted music.

On several occasions, the classic country format saw the station make the top 20 in the Arbitron ratings for Hampton Roads. Listeners in foreign countries could hear the station via streaming.

WLRT

It became WLRT in late 2003. WLRT flipped to a sports radio format, adding Washington Redskins and NASCAR coverage. It hosted several fundraising radiothons lasting over 72 hours to help victims of Hurricane Isabel, hosted continuously by morning disc jockey Chuck Hall. WLRT later switched to a hybrid talk radio, country music and sports format.[5]

WXTG

On July 30, 2013, Red Zebra sold WXTG and sister station WXTG-FM to Williamsburg-based Davis Media, LLC for $1.2 million. Davis Media, LLC owns WTYD and WBQK. The sale to Davis Media was consummated on April 7, 2014. On August 1, 2013, sister station WXTG-FM broke from its simulcast of WXTG to simulcast new sister station WTYD. WXTG continued to carry a sports format under the branding "1490 The Game" until April 14, 2014, when WXTG switched to simulcasting WTYD.

On August 1, 2015, WXTG reverted to the Classic Country, Talk and Sports hybrid format that aired on the station prior to 2007.[6] The station again carries "The Outlaw" branding.[6] The syndicated "Imus in the Morning" show was carried during the morning drive time.[7]

Davis Media, LLC began the process of selling WXTG to Speedway Media Group, owner of Langley Speedway, on August 6, 2016.[8][9] Speedway Media Group began operating WXTG via a local marketing agreement (LMA) on August 1, 2015.[8][9] The station continued to carry the Classic Country, Talk and Sports format launched on August 1.[9]

The LMA with Speedway Media Group expired in January 2017 and WXTG switched to a simulcast of adult album alternative WXTG-FM 102.1, branded as "The Tide."[10]

The station signed on a new FM translator at 101.9 on April 27, 2018, continuing the album adult alternative (AAA) format.[11]

News and Business

On January 7, 2019, WXTG changed formats from AAA to news and business, branded as "All News 102" (simulcasting WXTG-FM 102.1 Virginia Beach).[12] The station has a local staff for Virginia news, coupled with syndicated business programming from Bloomberg Radio and world news from CBS Radio News and Westwood One News.

The Tide

On June 5, 2020 WXTG changed their format from news to AAA, branded as "The Tide", simulcasting WTYD 92.3 FM Deltaville.[13]

The Groove=

On June 30, 2020 WXTG changed their stopped their simulcast of the "The Tide". The station is now airing Classic R&B.

Translator

In addition to the main station, WXTG is relayed by an FM translator.

Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseFacility
ID		ERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))		ClassFCC info
W270DA101.9Hampton, Virginia200498175129 m (423 ft)DFCC

gollark: WHY WOULD YOU WANT SNAPCHAT FILTERS ANYWAY?
gollark: Surely a sensible egg-grabber wouldn't just pick up eggs barehanded when they're known to be incredibly hot.
gollark: Then how would they know they're too hot to hold?
gollark: Presumably gloves, but then they'd use them on everything to not get burned.
gollark: If it's too hot to hold, how do dragonkeepers actually pick them up?

References
  1. "FCC History Cards for WXTG".
  2. "WXTG Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1949 page 270
  4. WBYM aircheck from late December 1999.
  6. "Classic Country "1490 The Outlaw" has been resurrected..." Robert F. Corbin via Twitter. July 27, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  7. ""Imus In The Morning" (@TheImusShow) heard yet..." Robert F. Corbin via Twitter. July 27, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  8. Hodges, Ty (August 6, 2015). "Langley Speedway to Begin Radio Broadcasts on AM Station". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  9. Venta, Lance (August 6, 2015). "Racetrack Acquires Norfolk AM". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  10. WXTG To End Talk/Classic Country LMA Radioinsight - January 13, 2017
  11. Robert Corbin [@VARTV] (27 April 2018). "Davis Media has flipped WXTG/1490 Hampton..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. All News Coming to Norfolk as Tide Goes Out Radioinsight - January 1, 2019
  13. Virginia’s All News 102 Returns To WTYD Simulcast Radioinsight - June 5, 2020
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