WTNI

WTNI (1640 AM) is a radio station licensed to Biloxi, Mississippi, which broadcasts a Classic Country format with 10,000 watts daytime and 1,000 watts at night. The station is one of only six broadcasting stations in the United States licensed for 1640 kHz.

WTNI
CityBiloxi, Mississippi
Frequency1640 kHz
Branding103.5 The Possum
Programming
FormatClassic country (WANG simulcast)
Ownership
OwnerStephen Davenport
(Telesouth Communications, Inc.)
Sister stationsWXYK, WOSM, WCPR-FM, WGBL, WANG
History
First air date1950 (570 kHz as WVMI) / 2003 (1640 kHz as WTNI)
Call sign meaning"Talk, News, Information"
Technical information
Facility ID87159
ClassB
Power10,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
Links
WebcastListen live
Website1035thepossum.com

History

WTNI's began operation in 2003 as the AM expanded band "twin" of WVMI on AM 570 kHz. WVMI was originally owned by Radio Associates. It was granted a Construction Permit in February 1947, and signed on in March 1950. The station originally was limited to daytime-only operation with 1,000 watts. In 1976, the signal was upgraded to 5,000 watts daytime, and 1,000 watts at night. In 1990, WVMI was sold to Telesouth Communications, which changed the format from country music to News/Talk.[1]

In 1990, ten additional frequencies, from 1610–1700 kHz, were added to the AM broadcast band in the Americas,[2] and in 1997 WVMI received permission to move to 1640 kHz.[3] The operation on 1640 kHz was licensed in 2003 as WTNI, which stood for "Talk, News, Information", and continued the existing News/Talk format. Later that year WVMI ceased operations on 570 kHz.[1]

WTNI later began simulcasting WANG 1490 AM's "The Champ" sports format. This simulcast was discontinued on March 8, 2019, with WANG switching to a Classic Country format, and WTNI continuing with sports.[4] However, the following June WTNI returned to simulcasting WANG, now carrying that station's Classic Country programming as "103.5 The Possum".

Previous logos

References
  1. "Alabama Broadcast Media Page: AM Technical Profile: WVMI" (almediapage.com)
  2. Final Acts of the Regional Radio Conference to Establish a Plan for the Broadcasting Service in the Band 1605-1705 in Region 2 (PDF) (Rio de Janeiro, 1988. ITU.int)
  3. "Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations" (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
  4. "Pair Of Classic Country Flips In Biloxi" by Lance Venta, March 8, 2019 (radioinsight.com)

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