WMET

WMET is a radio station broadcasting on 1160 kHz in the mediumwave AM band, serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Over several decades, it has gone through a number of radio formats, from progressive rock to all-comedy to a conservative talk-show format. Since May 3, 2010, it has been a Catholic religious radio station.[1]

WMET
CityGaithersburg, Maryland
Broadcast areaWashington
Frequency1160 kHz
BrandingRadio For Your Soul
Programming
FormatCatholic religious programming
AffiliationsGuadalupe Radio Network (EWTN Catholic Radio Network)
Ownership
OwnerHuffines Media
(Huffines License Subsidiary, LLC)
History
First air dateJanuary, 1983
Former call signsWJOK (1980–1984)
WMTG (1984–1986)
Former frequencies1150 kHz (1980–2003)
Technical information
Facility ID4643
ClassB
Power50,000 watts day
1,500 watts night
Transmitter coordinates39°11′16″N 77°12′56″W
Translator(s)W276DT (103.1 MHz, Falls Church, VA)
Links
WebcastListen live
WebsiteOfficial website

WMET moved from the 1150 kHz frequency in 2003. Its transmitter is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. WMET has a daytime transmitter power of 50,000 watts and a 1,500-watt directional signal at night.[1]

History

1150 kHz first went on the air as WHMC (the Heart of Montgomery County). During the 1960s, WHMC was known as the "500-Watt Flower-pot". 'HMC, as it was nicknamed, hired disc jockey Barry Richards away from WINX (1600AM) in nearby Rockville, Maryland. He turned the station into one of the D.C. area's first progressive rock stations. It was the only one on the AM band. The station also sponsored a series of rock concerts underneath the towers (which were on a grassy hillside in Gaithersburg, Maryland) that were well-attended by area teens. WHMC was suddenly shut down on October 29, 1973, after the FCC denied renewal of its license over "issues of misreprentation" by owner Nick Chaconas.[2] There were nine competing applications for what was the last open AM allocation in the Washington market.[3] After several years of wrangling before the FCC, a construction permit was granted to Barto Communications in December 1980.[4] As WJOK, the station ran the first all-comedy format in the country when it went on the air in January 1983.[5] However, the comedy format was short lived and around 1985, the station became WMTG playing Oldies until June, 1986. Later in June, 1986, WMTG format was changed to Top 40 with a mix of Classic Rock. Some of the DJs during the Top 40/Classic Rock format were Kyle Leslie, Captain Jack Taylor, Michael T., Dave Austin and Pat Diamond. WMTG was shut down with very little warning on Oct. 15th, 1986. WMET went on the air in December, 1986. (Metro Radio) with an Adult Contemporary format. Some of the DJs when WMET began were Bob Appel, Shawn Anderson and Katie Christopher. Around 1988 WMET went with the Satellite Music Network. The satellite music feed was eventually dropped and replaced with live and local personalities, continuing the Adult Contemporary format, with brokered ethnic and religious shows on the weekends and mid-day and evening talk shows during the week, in addition to the music. The station also featured top of the hour news from the Satellite News Network, followed by local news from the in-house news staff. The most unique program was the Rocky Road show on Friday and Saturday nights which featured an eclectic mix of blues, country, oldies and rock music.

In the 1990s, simulcast the business news format of WPGC while airing brokered talk shows on the weekend. The 1994 College World Series final game was broadcast on the station.

By the mid-'90s, WMET picked up the business news format full-time from WPGC. The station's most popular show was The Don MacDonald Show. Show host from various sectors of the financial world would purchase air time on the station. The station also became known as an affiliate of Baltimore Orioles Minor League affiliate The Frederick Keys and affiliate of Mount Saint Mary's Basketball of the Division I North East Conference. The stations feed was also carried on the Dulles Airport Flight Information Channel on Media General Cable in Northern Virginia. The Greaseman was hired for the morning drivetime slot in November 2005. WMET switched to a brokered (paid) programming format in March 2006. Greaseman's show was among the few weekday programs to be retained in the transition but he later left on hiatus in November 2007. Until the spring of 2010, WMET aired Music of Your Life standards in the slot, which remains available for live-streaming on the internet and other stations that carry it nationally.

Current format

WMET was purchased in February 2010 for $4 million by the Dallas-based Huffines Media, owned by land developers Donald and Phillip Huffines. WMET had previously been owned by Delaware-based CTM Media Holdings.

On May 3, 2010, WMET switched formats to all-Catholic radio. The programming is operated by the Guadalupe Radio Network of Midland, Texas, and will provide 24-hour programming in English.

An article in The Washington Times stated the following: "Two Texas millionaires are funding the Washington area's first Catholic radio station, which is scheduled to go on the air Wednesday."[1] It quoted Donald Huffines as stating, "There are thousands of Protestant stations across the country but Catholics have been behind a little bit as to getting their message on the radio.... I told them [at Guadalupe] I'd help them in that endeavor."[1] The article also stated, "Although Phillip Huffines is a Protestant, Donald Huffines converted to Catholicism a year ago from non-denominational Protestantism. His wife of 22 years, Mary Catherine, is a Catholic from birth and a fan of Catholic radio. Two years ago, they were approached by Guadalupe. "Spiritually, we were led to put a station in Washington," said Len Oswald, president of Guadalupe. "We felt there was a strong need in our nation's capital to have Catholic radio."[1]

In May 2010, WMET programming consisted entirely of nationally syndicated Catholic radio programs. The owners stated their intent to showcase local Catholic programs as well, to include public service announcements, and to offer free air time to the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Arlington.[1] WMET is the 14th station operated by the Guadalupe Radio Network in the United States. It has a larger population in its broadcast region than any of the other Guadalupe Radio Network stations.[1]

According to a press release on April 28, 2010, "The new lineup starts with 'Son Rise Morning show' with Brian Patrick, then proceeds to 'Catholic Connection' with Teresa Tomeo, 'Women of Grace', 'The Doctor Is In' with Dr. Ray Guarendi & Dr. Colleen Kelly Mast, 'Al Kresta', and 'Catholic Answers Live.'"[6]

The number of Catholic radio stations increased from seven in 2000 to 165 in 2010. Much of the growth is due to these stations being able to use content produced by the Eternal Word Television Network and its radio broadcasting arm.[1]

Other stations with the call-letters WMET

The call letters WMET were used for a radio station in Chicago at 95.5 FM from December 1976 to 1986.

References
  1. Juin, Julia (May 4, 2010), "Two Texans start D.C. area's first Catholic station", The Washington Times, Washington, DC, retrieved 2010-08-21
  2. Staff (November 12, 1973). "Silently slipped away" (PDF). Broadcasting. p. 35.
  3. Staff (August 4, 1975). "Gaithersburg gold rush" (PDF). Broadcasting. p. 33.
  4. "WJOK History Card" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission.
  5. "Waves of laughter" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 24, 1983. p. 44.
  6. "Guadalupe Radio Network takes over Washington, D.C.'s WMET (1160) Monday". Radio-Info.com. April 28, 2010. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
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