Misplaced Pages

WTOP-FM: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 04:06, 4 September 2010 view sourceRussBot (talk | contribs)Bots1,407,503 editsm Robot: Editing intentional link to disambiguation page in hatnote per WP:INTDABLINK (explanation)← Previous edit Latest revision as of 20:03, 5 January 2025 view source GreenC bot (talk | contribs)Bots2,555,767 edits Move 2 urls. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#licensing.fcc.gov 
(375 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|All-news radio station in Washington, D.C.}}
{{About| radio station WTOP-FM| the complete history of the Washington, D.C. 103.5 MHz facility| WGMS (FM)|other stations that use or have used the WTOP call sign|WTOP (disambiguation)}}
{{About| radio station WTOP-FM|other stations that use or have used the WTOP call sign|WTOP (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Radio station
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
| name = WTOP
<!-- This page has been automatically assigned the correct protection templates by ]. If the protection templates are wrong, please fix them. Thanks. -->
| image = ]
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
| city = ]
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
| area = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>Central Maryland<br>]
{{Infobox radio station
| branding = ''"WTOP Radio"''
| slogan = ''"Washington's News, Traffic and Weather Station"'' | name = WTOP-FM
| airdate = September 25, 1926 | logo = Logo of WTOP-FM (2014).png{{!}}border
| logo_size = 150px
| frequency = 103.5 ]<br>{{HD Radio}}<br><small>103.5 HD-2 for ] (]n Radio)</small> HD3 ']'
| city = ]

| country = US
| repeater = 103.9 ] - WTLP<br>107.7 ] - WWWT-FM<br>104.3 ] - W282BA
| format = ] | area = ]
| power = | branding = WTOP Radio; WTOP News
| airdate = {{start date and age|1948|9|12}}<ref name="bc">{{cite news|title=One Firm Buys All First Week on WQQW-FM|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-08-30-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=August 30, 1948|page=60}}</ref>
| erp =
| haat = | frequency = 103.5 ] {{HD Radio}}
| repeaters = {{ubl|{{Radio Relay|103.9|WTLP|]}}|{{Radio Relay|107.7|WWWT-FM|]}}}}
| class =
| facility_id = | translators =
| coordinates = | format = ]
| subchannels = {{ubl|HD2: ] of ]|HD3: Simulcast of ] (])}}
| callsign_meaning = Originally at 1500 kHz, which was regarded as ''"at the '''TOP''' of your dial"''
| power =
| former_callsigns =
| erp = {{ubl|44,000 watts (analog)|2,110 watts (digital)}}<ref name="335-FM">{{cite web |url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/cdbs_docs/ef/Form335/335_101.cfm?form=335_101.cfm&acct=0&appn=101486004&fac_num=11845&formid=335 |title=FCC 335-FM Digital Notification |date=February 10, 2012 |website=fcc.gov |publisher=] |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304122006/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/cdbs_docs/ef/Form335/335_101.cfm?form=335_101.cfm&acct=0&appn=101486004&fac_num=11845&formid=335 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| owner = ]
| licensee = | haat = {{convert|158|meters}}
| class = B
| sister_stations = ]/] / ]
| facility_id = 11845
| webcast =
| licensing_authority = ]
| website =
| coordinates = {{coord|38|56|10.6|N|77|05|31.5|W|type:landmark_region:US-DC_source:FCC}}
| affiliations = ]<br>]
| callsign_meaning = carried over from 1500 AM, which was regarded as "the top of the dial"
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WQQW-FM (1948–1951)|] (1951–2006)}}
| former_frequencies = 101.7 MHz (1948)<ref name="bc" />
| owner = ]
| licensee = Washington, DC FCC License Sub, LLC
| sister_stations = ], ], ]
| webcast = {{ubl||}}
| website = {{URL|https://wtop.com/}}
| affiliations = {{ubl|]|]|]}}
}} }}


'''WTOP-FM''' (103.5 ]) – branded "WTOP Radio" and "WTOP News" – is a commercial ] station licensed to serve ] Owned by ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WTOP|title=WTOP Facility Record|work=], audio division|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304124448/https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WTOP|url-status=live}}</ref> the station serves the ], extending its reach through two ]: WTLP (103.9 FM) in ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WTLP|title=WTLP Facility Record|work=], audio division}}</ref> and WWWT-FM (107.7) in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WWWT|title=WWWT Facility Record|work=], audio division}}</ref> The WTOP-FM studios, referred to on-air as the "WTOP Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wtop.com/news/2010/08/the-story-of-the-glass-enclosed-nerve-center/|title=The story of the 'Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center'|date=August 5, 2010|work=WTOP Radio|access-date=January 26, 2020|archive-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127041144/https://wtop.com/news/2010/08/the-story-of-the-glass-enclosed-nerve-center/|url-status=live}}</ref> are located on Wisconsin Avenue in the Washington D.C. suburb of ], while the station transmitter is located on the ] campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WTOP |title=FM Query Results for WTOP |website=fcc.gov |publisher=] |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304124448/https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WTOP |url-status=live }}</ref> Besides a standard ], WTOP-FM broadcasts over three ] channels,<ref>http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=8 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002015738/http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=8 |date=October 2, 2015 }} HD Radio Guide for Washington D.C.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=W282BA|title=W282BA Facility Record|work=], audio division}}</ref> and is available online.
'''WTOP''' is an ] formatted ] ] licensed to ], serving Metropolitan Washington, DC area. WTOP is owned by Bonneville Holding Company <ref></ref> and operated by ], a ] company wholly owned by ].<ref></ref>


WTOP-FM is the successor to the original ], an AM station at 1500 kHz, which held the WTOP call sign from 1943 until 2006, and adopted an all-news format in March 1969.<ref name="pointer">{{cite web |last1=Pointer |first1=Jack |title='You turn us on and we're there': Looking back at 50 years of news on WTOP |url=https://wtop.com/local/2019/04/you-turn-us-on-and-were-there-looking-back-at-50-years-of-news-on-wtop |website=WTOP |date=April 2019 |page=April 1, 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2019 |archive-date=April 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405230133/https://wtop.com/local/2019/04/you-turn-us-on-and-were-there-looking-back-at-50-years-of-news-on-wtop/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
WTOP is one of two all-news stations in the ] area, the other being sister station ], which is aimed at federal government employees.


==Programming==
The station's primary signal is at 103.5, with simulcasts on WTLP 103.9 FM from ] and WWWT 107.7 FM from ]. WTOP is also carried on ] translator W282AD broadcasting at 104.3 FM. All stations in the WTOP "network" broadcast in ] to increase their coverage areas.
All-news radio accounts for all regular programming on WTOP-FM. Presented in an hourly "wheel", this includes ]; local news fills the rest of the time, with traffic and weather updates every 10 minutes ("on the 8s"), local business news at 10 and 40 past the hour, and sports news at 25 and 55 past the hour. Weather forecasts are provided by a meteorologist from ], while business news is provided by the '']''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Where are sports and money news? WTOP moves radio benchmarks to new times |url=https://wtop.com/inside-wtop/2023/02/wtop-to-move-on-air-sports-and-money-news-reports/ |work=WTOP |date=21 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref>


Among the recurring segments on WTOP-FM every week: ''To Your Health'', devoted to health topics and related warnings; ''Sprawl & Crawl'', devoted to road construction updates; ''Friday Freebies'', presenting sales and deals from local stores and businesses; ''Garden Plot'', hosted by Mike McGrath;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wtop.com/author/mike-mcgrath/|title=Author: Mike McGrath|website=WTOP|language=en|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102231701/https://wtop.com/author/mike-mcgrath/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Data Doctor's Tech Tips'', offers tech advice. WTOP also features two daily commentaries hosted by ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wtop.com/author/chris-core/|title=Chris Core: Core Values|website=WTOP|language=en|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102231700/https://wtop.com/author/chris-core/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Clinton Yates.
==History==
===1920s: Born in Brooklyn===
WTOP's origins trace back to ], as station '''WTRC''' (operated by the '''T'''wentieth '''R'''epublican '''C'''lub), going to air September 25, 1926, on 1250 kilocycles with a power of 50 watts. The Twentieth Republican Club, and the station, were run by the ]; pressure by the federal government on the Klan forced WTRC to move out of the New York area. Ironically, the station moved to the federal government's backyard; on August 2, 1927, WTRC migrated to ] as '''WTFF''' (which stood for the Klan's newspaper "'''T'''he '''F'''ellowship '''F'''orum") at 1470&nbsp;kHz. In November 1927, the power of WTFF was increased to 10,000 watts and the frequency changed to 1480 kilocycles.


Two contests air on WTOP: the weekly ''Mystery Newsmaker Contest'', and the daily ''Winning Word''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wtop.com/contests/|title=WTOP Radio Contests and Sweepstakes|website=WTOP|language=en|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108205801/https://wtop.com/contests/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 10, 1929, the call sign was changed to '''WJSV''', reflecting the initials of James S. Vance, who was publisher of "The Fellowship Forum" and a ] in ]. Realizing the expense of running a 10,000-watt radio station, Vance quickly worked out a deal with the nascent ] to become the new network's primary station in ]. CBS took over all of WJSV's programming and engineering costs, with an option to renew or purchase the station after five years. Soon realizing they were affiliated with the Klan, negotiations began for CBS to purchase the station outright.<ref>, Retrieved on 2009-03-12.</ref>


==History==
===1930s: CBS O&O===
===Establishment===
]


{{Main|WGMS (Washington, D.C.)}}
In June 1932, ] finally purchased WJSV and moved it from Mount Vernon Hills to ]. After three months off the air, WJSV resumed broadcasting on October 20, 1932. ], who later hosted a variety program on CBS Radio and CBS Television, hosted a program on WJSV called ''The Sundial'' on which he honed a laid-back, conversational style that was unusual on radio at the time but came to be common practice for ]s.


The station debuted in the late 1940s as WQQW-FM, licensed to Washington, D.C., as a companion to an existing AM station, WQQW in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1951, the two stations changed their call letters to WGMS and WGMS-FM. They operated with a commercial ]s and ] format until 2006.
On September 21, 1939, WJSV recorded its entire broadcast day for posterity. The famous "One Day In Radio" tapes still exist and copies can be found at various ] websites.


===WTOP-FM===
WJSV was also a key training ground for pioneering newsman ] in the 1930s before he became a network correspondent. (One of his broadcasting mentors was Wells (Ted) Church, who later became a ] executive.) Longtime ]-area TV newscaster ] began his career at WJSV in 1938, and continued to work in radio for seven decades until his death in 2008. ], who later became an NBC News correspondent and later was a long time news anchor on the '']'' show during the 1960s and early 1970s, along with Entertainer ], also worked at WJSV.


On January 11, 2006, WGMS-FM's call sign was changed to WTOP-FM, and the station switched to an all-news format. The ] ]s of the 103.5 signal originally had broadcast Bonneville International's "iChannel" music format, which features unsigned, independent rock bands on the HD2 channel, and the HD3 channel aired continuous traffic and weather updates. Later iChannel was dropped for an ] of the HD2 to a group that currently airs programming aimed at the South Asian community in the Washington area. Sometime in or before June 2013, that LMA was replaced with ] to what is now ]. As of July 1, 2017, WTOP-HD2 began broadcasting the feed from ] (1500 AM),<ref name="dcrtv">{{cite web |url=http://www.dcrtv.com/index.html |title=Radio Sputnik Off WTOP - 6/29 |date=June 29, 2017 |website=www.dcrtv.com |access-date=July 2, 2017 |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630202559/http://www.dcrtv.com/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> after Radio Sputnik moved its Washington DC-area broadcasting to conventional (non-digital) frequency 105.5&nbsp;MHz.
===1940s===
In 1940, WJSV's operating power was increased to 50,000 watts, with a new transmitter site built in ]. (That site is still in use today.) On March 29, 1941, with the implementation of ], WJSV moved its broadcast frequency from 1460 to 1500 ].


In 2006, WTOP dropped its long-standing association with ] and began airing weather reports exclusively from ] all day long. Previously, WTOP had used weather reports from WJLA chief meteorologist ] during morning and evening rush hours and The Weather Channel all other times. Until 2015, the station used all WJLA meteorologists, not just Doug Hill. WJLA's "Live Super Doppler 7" has been featured in weather reports as necessary.
On March 16, 1943, after paying the ] police department $60,000, the calls were changed to the current '''WTOP''' because its new frequency was now at the "top" of the ] ] band. '']'' bought a 55% share in WTOP from CBS in February 1949 and took over the remainder of the station in December 1954.


In 2007, the WTOP radio configuration was realigned once again. WTLP-FM (formerly WGYS) at 103.9 picked up the WTOP simulcast on April 6, 2007, after the adult hits "George 104" simulcast with WXGG (now ], since sold to Radio One) was broken up, and adopted the WTLP calls on July 5, 2007.
===1960s and 70s: All-news===
In the 1960s, after a series of failed music formats, WTOP phased out its music programming for a combination of newscasts and phone-in talk shows; eventually the call-in shows were dropped in favor of an all-news format. Among those working for WTOP during this time were ], later on ABC-TV; ], who took ]'s place on his all-night radio network talk show after King went to CNN; and including Ralph Begleiter and Jamie MacIntyre, both of whom went to CNN.


Also in 2007, WTOP began broadcasting on WJLA's "Weather Now" digital sub-channel, which is carried on cable systems well beyond WTOP's broadcast area, though this was ended in late July 2009.
The '']'' sold WTOP to ] company in June, 1978, in reaction to the FCC desire to break up the Post/WTOP cross-ownership arrangement. One month later, WTOP-TV was swapped with the ]'s ], and became WDVM-TV. The station is today ], owned by ]. The original FM frequency for WTOP-FM was 96.3&nbsp;MHz, but that frequency was donated to ]. That station became ] in 1971, a commercially run radio station.


In May 2007, WTOP sold the naming rights to its "Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center" (its nickname for its studio) to area business ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcrtv.org/ledo.mp3 |title=DCRTV.org |access-date=December 3, 2011 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928051914/http://www.dcrtv.org/ledo.mp3 |url-status=live }}</ref> That sponsorship concluded at the end of 2007. Other sponsorship continues, with sportscasts being "fed" by Ledo Pizza.
===1990s and 2000s: Move to FM===
Outlet re-organized and sold WTOP to Chase Broadcasting in 1989, who in turn sold it to Evergreen Media (which eventually became Chancellor Broadcasting) in November 1992. During this period, Evergreen started WTOP's move to the FM dial on April 1997, when Evergreen's newly acquired 94.3&nbsp;MHz facility in ] began simulcasting the WTOP signal for better coverage in the sprawling Northern ] suburbs. Shortly afterward, on October 10, 1997, ] purchased WTOP.


The former WFED took over the WTOP call sign on the AM dial and became a simulcast of WTOP, with preemptions for sporting events. On June 13, 2009, the 1050 AM frequency changed to a separate ] format, operated by ] as ]. On January 26, 2010, following the shutdown of Air America Radio, WZAA returned to the WTOP simulcast. It took back the WTOP call letters on February 1, 2010. WTOP AM left the simulcast on June 23, 2010, as Bonneville leased the station to United Media Group. United Media changed the call letters to ] and flipped to ].
On April 1, 1998, that frequency was swapped for a stronger signal at 107.7, also licensed to ]. (The 94.3 facility now relays the air feed for sports station ].) Then in December 2000, WTOP gained another simulcast in ] with WXTR at 820 ], establishing the "WTOP Radio Network."


In March 2008, WTOP-FM completed a year-long, $2.5-million state-of-the-art renovation of its newsroom and studios, the first since 1989 when the station moved into the building it presently occupies in northwest Washington.
In 2005, the station began providing ] of selected broadcast programs, and in 2006, WTOP began broadcasting in digital "]", utilizing ] IBOC (]) technology.


In 2008, WTOP-FM generated $51.75-million in revenue, the sixth-highest total for any radio station in the United States and the only station not based in New York City or Los Angeles to crack the top ten.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wvbroadcasting.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=16852&p=149992 |title=WVbroadcasting.net |publisher=WVbroadcasting.net |date=April 13, 2009 |access-date=December 3, 2011 |archive-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306190719/http://www.wvbroadcasting.net/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=16852&p=149992 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, the station generated $51-million in revenue, good for second among all radio stations in the United States, trailing only ] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/03/15/daily49.html |title=Bizjournals.com |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date=March 17, 2010 |access-date=December 3, 2011 |first=Jeff |last=Clabaugh |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629010514/http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/03/15/daily49.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, WTOP generated $57.225-million in revenue, making it tops among radio station in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.kelseygroup.com/index.php/2011/03/28/wtop-am-takes-over-the-top-billing-station/ |title=BIA/Kelsey |publisher=Blog.kelseygroup.com |date=March 28, 2011 |access-date=December 3, 2011 |archive-date=November 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129091808/http://blog.kelseygroup.com/index.php/2011/03/28/wtop-am-takes-over-the-top-billing-station/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011 WTOP once again generated more revenue than any other station in the United States, this time with $64 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2012/04/12/wtop-remains-nations-top-biller.html |title=Bizjournals.com |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date=April 12, 2012 |access-date=April 13, 2012 |first=Jeff |last=Clabaugh |archive-date=April 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420065826/http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2012/04/12/wtop-remains-nations-top-biller.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 4, 2006, WTOP station owner ] announced that the station would move to a new primary frequency of 103.5 FM, then held by classical station ] (which would move to 103.9 and 104.1 FM). The frequencies long-used by WTOP, 1500&nbsp;kHz and 107.7&nbsp;MHz (and the low-powered 104.3 FM translator in ]), would be reassigned to the new "]" for a March 30, 2006 launch date. Fittingly, this new partnership also signaled the '']'''s re-emergence into the radio scene on the very same dial spot WTOP once held. The station has been dominant in the 25-54 demographics since moving to FM.
]]]
In 2010, WTOP-FM's coverage of the record Washington-area snowfalls in early February earned it record ratings as the only local media outlet on the air and covering the storm live all day and night. During the week of the storms, which dropped two feet of snow in the area, WTOP had a 16.9% share of the area's radio audience, far exceeding its typical weekly average of around 10%. Consumer research company ] estimated a total of 1.49 million people tuned in at some point during the week, 39% of the total local radio audience of 3.8 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/02/AR2010030201854.html |title=WTOP (103.5 FM) tops ratings with coverage of Washington's Feb. snowstorms |work=Washingtonpost.com |date=March 3, 2010 |access-date=December 3, 2011 |first=Paul |last=Farhi |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628230922/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/02/AR2010030201854.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Bonneville announced the sale of WTOP-FM, WTLP, and WWWT-FM, as well as 14 other stations, to ] on January 19, 2011.<ref name=wp-saletohubbard>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/19/AR2011011907031.html |title=WTOP news radio to be sold to Minnesota broadcaster |work=Washingtonpost.com |date=January 20, 2011 |access-date=December 3, 2011 |first=Paul |last=Farhi |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628230903/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/19/AR2011011907031.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ri-hubbardtakeover>{{cite news|title=Hubbard deal to purchase Bonneville stations closes|url=http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2174844&spid=24698|access-date=May 2, 2011|newspaper=]|date=May 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312055419/http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2174844&spid=24698|archive-date=March 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The stations' respective call signs were changed as of January 11, 2006: the former WTOP pair became WTWP ('''T'''he '''W'''ashington '''P'''ost) and WTOP's new primary stations (formerly ] and WXTR) assumed the WTOP calls. ] ]s of the 103.5 carrier originally had broadcast Bonneville International's "iChannel" music format, which features unsigned, independent rock bands on the HD2 channel, and the HD3 channel aired continuous traffic and weather updates. Later iChannel was dropped for an LMA of the HD2 to a group that currently airs programming aimed at the South Asian community in the Washington area. About June 1, 2009, the HD3 dropped the traffic and weather programming for Bonneville's 'The Mormon Channel'.


In 2011, WTOP-FM brought their ] in-house, ending their relationship with ]. This meant that Lisa Baden, the longtime "voice of D.C.-area traffic" and a Metro Networks employee, was forced to leave the station in what WTOP's Vice President of News and Programming Jim Farley said was strictly a business decision. Farley said WTOP tried to bring Baden and other Metro Networks employees to WTOP, but they have clauses in their contracts prohibiting them from working for competitors for one year. Baden said she was "devastated".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/01/voice-dc-area-traffic-reluctantly-leaves-wtop |title=Voice of D.C.-area traffic reluctantly leaves WTOP |publisher=Washingtonexaminer.com |access-date=December 3, 2011}}</ref> Shortly after that, Baden joined rival radio station ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/92330/traffic-reporter-lisa-baden-joins-wmal-washington|title=Traffic Reporter Lisa Baden Joins WMAL/Washington|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=February 16, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110547/http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/92330/traffic-reporter-lisa-baden-joins-wmal-washington|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2006, WTOP dropped its long-standing association with ] and began airing weather reports exclusively from ] all day long. Previously, WTOP had used weather reports from WJLA chief meteorologist ] during morning and evening rush hours and The Weather Channel all other times. The station now uses all ] meteorologists, not just Doug Hill. ]'s "Live Super Doppler 7" has and continues to be featured in weather reports as necessary.


In 2015, WTOP began airing weather reports and using meteorologists exclusively from ] all day long. The partnership ended in March 2023, as WRC underwent major changes, and just months after some longtime WTOP personalities accepted corporate buyouts from WTOP's parent company. The station then returned to using WJLA-TV meteorologists for their weather reports.
In 2007, the WTOP radio configuration was realigned once again. '''WTLP-FM''' (formerly WGYS) at 103.9 picked up the WTOP simulcast on April 6, 2007 after the adult hits "George 104" simulcast with WXGG (now ], since sold to Radio One) was broken up, and adopted the WTLP calls on July 5, 2007.


On January 1, 2018, WTOP-FM switched from ] to ] for its top-of-the-hour newscasts, pausing a relationship with CBS that, as noted above, dated to the late 1920s.<ref name=":0">{{cite tweet |user=farhip |author=Paul Farhi |number=947861754725445632 |date=January 1, 2018 |title=A little bit of local media news: All-news station WTOP has ended its affiliation with CBS radio after many decades and has switched its top-of-the-hour newscasts to ABC broadcasts. }}</ref> WTOP-FM rejoined CBS exactly two years later.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=CBS News Radio Returns To WTOP Washington |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/182833/cbs-news-radio-returns-to-wtop-washington/ |work=RadioInsight |date=January 1, 2020 |access-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101181017/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/182833/cbs-news-radio-returns-to-wtop-washington/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Also in 2007, WTOP began broadcasting on ]'s "Weather Now" digital sub-channel, which is carried on cable systems well beyond WTOP's broadcast area, though this was ended in late July 2009.


==Repeaters==
In May 2007, WTOP sold the naming rights to its "Glass Enclosed Nerve Center" (its nickname for its studio) to area business ].<ref></ref> That sponsorship concluded at the end of 2007. Other sponsorship continues, with sportscasts being "fed" by Ledo Pizza.
{| class="wikitable"

WTOP-AM (which was now on 820 in Frederick) changed its calls to WTWT and switched to the ''Washington Post Radio'' simulcast on June 28, 2007. On September 20, 2007, the 1500/107.7/820 multicast changed format over to a general talk format as "Talk Radio 3WT" under the WWWT/WWWT-FM/WWWB call letters, which was cancelled on August 11, 2008. WWWT and WWWB took over the "Federal News Radio" format (and for the 1500&nbsp;kHz facility, the ] calls),<ref></ref> while WWWT-FM went back to simulcasting WTOP-FM. The former WFED took over the WTOP callsign on the AM dial and became a simulcast of WTOP, with preemptions for sporting events. On June 13, 2009, the 1050 AM frequency changed to a separate ] format, operated by ] as ]. On January 26, 2010, following the shutdown of Air America Radio, WZAA returned to the WTOP simulcast. It took back the WTOP call letters on February 1, 2010. WTOP-AM left the simulcast on June 23, 2010, as Bonneville rented the station to ]. United Media changed the call letters to WBQH and aired what they called a "regional Mexican" format.

In March 2008 WTOP completed a year-long, $2.5-million state-of-the-art renovation of its newsroom and studios, the first since 1989 when the station moved into the building it presently occupies in northwest Washington.

In 2008, WTOP generated $51.75-million in revenue, the sixth-highest total for any radio station in the United States and the only station not based in New York City or Los Angeles to crack the top ten.<ref></ref> In 2009, the station generated $51-million in revenue, good for second among all radio stations in the United States, trailing only ] in Los Angeles.<ref></ref>

==Station profiles==
{| class=wikitable border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"
|- |-
!] || ] || ] || ] || ] || ] || ] || Former ]s !] || ] || ] || First air date || ] || ] || ] || ] || Transmitter coordinates || Former ]s
|-
| '''WTOP-FM'''
| 103.5 ] {{HD Radio}}
| ]
| 44,000 ]s
| B
| 158 ]s
| 11845
| ] (1951–2006)<br>WQQW (1948–1951)
|- |-
| '''WTLP''' | '''WTLP'''
| 103.9 ] {{HD Radio}} | 103.9 ] {{HD Radio}}
| ] | ]
| {{start date and age|1972|4|8}}<ref name="by2009">{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2009|year=2009|pages=D-264, D-563|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2009/Radio-BC-YB-2009.pdf|access-date=October 9, 2018}}</ref>
| 350 ]s
| 350 watts
| A | A
| {{convert|292|m|ft|sp=us}}
| 292 ]s
| 47105 | 47105
| {{coord|39|27|53|N|77|29|43|W|region:US-MD_type:landmark|name=WTLP}}
| WGYS (2006–2007)<br>WWVZ (1996–2006)<br>WXVR (1995–1996)<br>WZYQ (1980–1995)
| WMHI-FM (1972–75)<br />WZYQ-FM (1975–88)<br />WZYQ (1988–95)<br />WXVR (1995–96)<br />WWVZ (1996–2006)<br />WGYS (2006–07)
|- |-
| '''WWWT-FM''' | '''WWWT-FM'''
| 107.7 ] {{HD Radio}} | 107.7 ] {{HD Radio}}
| ] | ]
| {{start date and age|1966|3|28}}<ref name="by2009"/>
| 29,000 ]s
| 29,000 watts
| B | B
| {{convert|197|m|ft|sp=us}}
| 197 ]s
| 21626 | 21636
| {{coord|38|44|30|N|77|50|8|W|region:US-VA_type:landmark|name=WWWT-FM}}
| WTWP-FM (2006–2007)<br>WTOP-FM (1998–2006)<br>WUPP (1997–1998)<br>WRCY (1992–1997)<br>WMJR (1984–1992)<br>WWWK (1982–1984)
| WEER-FM (1966–81)<br />WXRA (1981–82)<br />WWWK (1982–84)<br />WMJR (1984–92)<br />WRCY (1992–97)<br />WUPP (1997–98)<br />WTOP-FM (1998–2006)<br />WTWP-FM (2006–07)
|-
| '''W282BA'''
| 104.3 ]
| ]
| 100 ]s
| D
| 0 ]s
| 138906
| ''none''
|-
|} |}


==Translators and HD Radio==
==Programming/ratings==
WWWT-FM's HD2 subchannel is leased by Metro Radio and airs a ] format branded "Intense FM". Metro uses the HD subchannel to feed their ] W275BO (102.9 FM, ]), which cannot originate programming of its own.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Intense 102.9 Debuts In DC's Suburbs |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/197486/intense-102-9-debuts-in-dcs-suburbs/ |work=RadioInsight |date=September 11, 2020 |access-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911172041/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/197486/intense-102-9-debuts-in-dcs-suburbs/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=W275BO Facility Data|url=https://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=W275BO|website=FCCData|access-date=January 30, 2018|archive-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131023958/https://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=W275BO|url-status=live}}</ref>
WTOP carries "Traffic and Weather Together" every ten minutes "on the 8s", Business News at :25 and :55 and Sports reports at :15 and :45 minutes of each hour. Weather information on WTOP comes from ]-TV in Washington, D.C.
{{RadioTranslators
| callsign = WWWT-FM-HD2
| call1 = W275BO
| freq1 = 102.9
| city1 = Reston, Virginia
| fid1 = 142771
| watts1 = 50
| haat1 = 102
| class1 = D
| coord1 = {{Coord|38|56|56.6|N|77|21|18.1|W|type:landmark_scale:2000_region:US-VA|name=W275BO}} (])
| notes1 = Owned by Metro Radio, Inc.
}}


The HD2 subchannels of WTOP-FM and WTLP relay the programming of ] (1500 AM). WTOP-FM-HD2 feeds one translator:
WTOP is affiliated with the ], and many of its reporters (including Neal Augenstein, Hank Silverberg and Tom Foty) also appear on the network. WTOP's basic format and hourly broadcast schedule, as noted above, is similar to that used by the CBS-owned-and-operated all-news stations, such as ] from New York City.
{{RadioTranslators
| callsign = WTOP-FM-HD2
| call1 = W288BS
| freq1 = 105.5
| city1 = Reston, Virginia
| fid1 = 140589
| watts1 = 99
| haat1 = 188
| class1 = D
| coord1 = {{Coord|38|57|50.4|N|77|6|16.9|W|type:landmark_scale:2000_region:US-VA|name=W288BS}} (])
| notes1 = Owned by Reston Translator, LLC
}}


The HD3 subchannels of all three stations air a freeform music format branded as "]", which is also simulcast on ] (820 AM digital) and one translator:
WTOP is also affiliated with CNN and the ] Network.


{{RadioTranslators
As of July 2009, WTOP is ranked #1 in the ] ratings among radio stations in the Washington, DC area and is ranked #1 in most of the age demographics as well. WTOP has been the number one station in the DC area for several years, partly due to its Traffic and Weather Together reports around the clock. It leads in both drive times, as well as the day as a whole.
|callsign = WTOP-FM-HD3
| call1 = W252DC
| freq1 = 98.3
| city1 = Reston, Virginia
| fid1 = 138737
| watts1 = 150
| haat1 = 79
| class1 = D
| coord1 = {{Coord|38|53|45.4|N|77|08|6.9|W|type:landmark_scale:2000_region:US-VA|name=W252DC}}
| notes1 = Owned by Reston Translator, LLC}}

==Ratings==
{{Update|section|date=January 2024}}

As of July 2009, WTOP is ranked #1 in the ] ratings among radio stations in the Washington area.

As of November 25, 2014, WTOP is still #1 in Washington, DC according to Arbitron.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb015/
|publisher = radio-online.com
|title = RADIO ONLINE ®
|access-date = December 10, 2014
|archive-date = December 20, 2014
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141220131208/http://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb015/
|url-status = live
}}</ref>


==Awards== ==Awards==
{{more citations needed|section|date=October 2010}}
*2002 ] (National) for Best Large Market Radio News Website
*2003 ] (National) for Best Large Market Radio News Website * 2002 ] (National) for Best Large Market Radio News Website
*2003 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Spot News Coverage - "Serial Sniper" * 2003 ] (National) for Best Large Market Radio News Website
*2006 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Feature Reporting - "Scary Clown" * 2003 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Spot News Coverage - "Serial Sniper"
*2006 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Spot News Coverage - "Capital Chaos" * 2006 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Feature Reporting - "Scary Clown"
*2008 ] (National) for Best Large Market Radio News Website * 2006 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Spot News Coverage - "Capital Chaos"
*2009 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Feature Hard News - "Hidden Hunter" * 2008 ] (National) for Best Large Market Radio News Website
*2009 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Use of Sound - "Cathedral Bells" * 2009 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Feature Hard News - "Hidden Hunter"
*2009 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Writing - "Core Values" * 2009 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Use of Sound - "Cathedral Bells"
*2009 ] (National) for Best Large Market Radio News Website * 2009 ] (National) for Best Radio Large Market Writing - "Core Values"
*2009 ] (National) for Large Market Radio News Overall Excellence * 2009 ] (National) for Best Large Market Radio News Website
* 2009 ] (National) for Large Market Radio News Overall Excellence
* 2010 ] ] for Major Market Station of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Marconi Awards|url=http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=1971394&spid=1314|publisher=FMQB|access-date=December 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307013402/http://fmqb.com/article.asp?id=1971394&spid=1314|archive-date=March 7, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Radio|United States}}
*
* ]
*
*
*


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* {{official|https://wtop.com/}}
*
* {{FM station data|11845|WTOP-FM}}
*
* (covering 1945-1980 as WQQW-FM / WGMS-FM)
*
* {{FM station data|47105|WTLP}}
*{{FMQ|WTOP}}
* {{FM station data|21636|WWWT-FM}}
*{{FML|WTOP}}
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|138737|W252DC}}
*{{FMARB|WTOP}}
*{{FMQ|WTLP}} * {{FXL|W252DC}}
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|142771|W275BO}}
*{{FML|WTLP}}
*{{FMARB|WTLP}} * {{FMXL|W275BO}}
* at ''TopHour''
*{{FMQ|WWWT}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990117080354/http://www.wtopnews.com/ |date=January 17, 1999 |title=WTOP-FM }}
*{{FML|WWWT}}
*{{FMARB|WWWT}}
*{{FMQ|W282BA}}
*{{FML|W282BA}}

{{-}} {{-}}

{{Washington Radio}} {{Washington Radio}}
{{Frederick Radio}} {{Frederick Radio}}
{{News/Talk Radio Stations in District of Columbia}} {{News/Talk Radio Stations in District of Columbia}}
{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Maryland}}
{{Bonneville International}}
{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Virginia}}
{{Hubbard Broadcasting Corporation}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wtop-Fm}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 20:03, 5 January 2025

All-news radio station in Washington, D.C. This article is about radio station WTOP-FM. For other stations that use or have used the WTOP call sign, see WTOP (disambiguation).

WTOP-FM
Broadcast areaWashington metropolitan area
Frequency103.5 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingWTOP Radio; WTOP News
Programming
FormatAll-news radio
Subchannels
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
Sister stationsWBQH, WFED, WSHE
History
First air dateSeptember 12, 1948; 76 years ago (1948-09-12)
Former call signs
  • WQQW-FM (1948–1951)
  • WGMS-FM (1951–2006)
Former frequencies101.7 MHz (1948)
Call sign meaningcarried over from 1500 AM, which was regarded as "the top of the dial"
Technical information
Licensing authorityFCC
Facility ID11845
ClassB
ERP
  • 44,000 watts (analog)
  • 2,110 watts (digital)
HAAT158 meters (518 ft)
Transmitter coordinates38°56′10.6″N 77°05′31.5″W / 38.936278°N 77.092083°W / 38.936278; -77.092083
Repeater(s)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Websitewtop.com

WTOP-FM (103.5 FM) – branded "WTOP Radio" and "WTOP News" – is a commercial all-news radio station licensed to serve Washington, D.C. Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, the station serves the Washington metropolitan area, extending its reach through two repeater stations: WTLP (103.9 FM) in Braddock Heights, Maryland, and WWWT-FM (107.7) in Manassas, Virginia. The WTOP-FM studios, referred to on-air as the "WTOP Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center", are located on Wisconsin Avenue in the Washington D.C. suburb of Chevy Chase, Maryland, while the station transmitter is located on the American University campus. Besides a standard analog transmission, WTOP-FM broadcasts over three HD Radio channels, and is available online.

WTOP-FM is the successor to the original WTOP, an AM station at 1500 kHz, which held the WTOP call sign from 1943 until 2006, and adopted an all-news format in March 1969.

Programming

All-news radio accounts for all regular programming on WTOP-FM. Presented in an hourly "wheel", this includes CBS News on the Hour; local news fills the rest of the time, with traffic and weather updates every 10 minutes ("on the 8s"), local business news at 10 and 40 past the hour, and sports news at 25 and 55 past the hour. Weather forecasts are provided by a meteorologist from WJLA-TV, while business news is provided by the Washington Business Journal.

Among the recurring segments on WTOP-FM every week: To Your Health, devoted to health topics and related warnings; Sprawl & Crawl, devoted to road construction updates; Friday Freebies, presenting sales and deals from local stores and businesses; Garden Plot, hosted by Mike McGrath; and Data Doctor's Tech Tips, offers tech advice. WTOP also features two daily commentaries hosted by Chris Core and Clinton Yates.

Two contests air on WTOP: the weekly Mystery Newsmaker Contest, and the daily Winning Word.

History

Establishment

Main article: WGMS (Washington, D.C.)

The station debuted in the late 1940s as WQQW-FM, licensed to Washington, D.C., as a companion to an existing AM station, WQQW in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1951, the two stations changed their call letters to WGMS and WGMS-FM. They operated with a commercial fine arts and classical music format until 2006.

WTOP-FM

On January 11, 2006, WGMS-FM's call sign was changed to WTOP-FM, and the station switched to an all-news format. The HD Radio digital subchannels of the 103.5 signal originally had broadcast Bonneville International's "iChannel" music format, which features unsigned, independent rock bands on the HD2 channel, and the HD3 channel aired continuous traffic and weather updates. Later iChannel was dropped for an LMA of the HD2 to a group that currently airs programming aimed at the South Asian community in the Washington area. Sometime in or before June 2013, that LMA was replaced with the predecessor to what is now Radio Sputnik. As of July 1, 2017, WTOP-HD2 began broadcasting the feed from WFED (1500 AM), after Radio Sputnik moved its Washington DC-area broadcasting to conventional (non-digital) frequency 105.5 MHz.

In 2006, WTOP dropped its long-standing association with The Weather Channel and began airing weather reports exclusively from WJLA-TV all day long. Previously, WTOP had used weather reports from WJLA chief meteorologist Doug Hill during morning and evening rush hours and The Weather Channel all other times. Until 2015, the station used all WJLA meteorologists, not just Doug Hill. WJLA's "Live Super Doppler 7" has been featured in weather reports as necessary.

In 2007, the WTOP radio configuration was realigned once again. WTLP-FM (formerly WGYS) at 103.9 picked up the WTOP simulcast on April 6, 2007, after the adult hits "George 104" simulcast with WXGG (now WPRS-FM, since sold to Radio One) was broken up, and adopted the WTLP calls on July 5, 2007.

Also in 2007, WTOP began broadcasting on WJLA's "Weather Now" digital sub-channel, which is carried on cable systems well beyond WTOP's broadcast area, though this was ended in late July 2009.

In May 2007, WTOP sold the naming rights to its "Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center" (its nickname for its studio) to area business Ledo Pizza. That sponsorship concluded at the end of 2007. Other sponsorship continues, with sportscasts being "fed" by Ledo Pizza.

The former WFED took over the WTOP call sign on the AM dial and became a simulcast of WTOP, with preemptions for sporting events. On June 13, 2009, the 1050 AM frequency changed to a separate news/talk format, operated by Air America Radio as WZAA. On January 26, 2010, following the shutdown of Air America Radio, WZAA returned to the WTOP simulcast. It took back the WTOP call letters on February 1, 2010. WTOP AM left the simulcast on June 23, 2010, as Bonneville leased the station to United Media Group. United Media changed the call letters to WBQH and flipped to Regional Mexican.

In March 2008, WTOP-FM completed a year-long, $2.5-million state-of-the-art renovation of its newsroom and studios, the first since 1989 when the station moved into the building it presently occupies in northwest Washington.

In 2008, WTOP-FM generated $51.75-million in revenue, the sixth-highest total for any radio station in the United States and the only station not based in New York City or Los Angeles to crack the top ten. In 2009, the station generated $51-million in revenue, good for second among all radio stations in the United States, trailing only KIIS-FM in Los Angeles. In 2010, WTOP generated $57.225-million in revenue, making it tops among radio station in the United States. In 2011 WTOP once again generated more revenue than any other station in the United States, this time with $64 million.

WTOP reporter filing story, Inauguration Day 2013

In 2010, WTOP-FM's coverage of the record Washington-area snowfalls in early February earned it record ratings as the only local media outlet on the air and covering the storm live all day and night. During the week of the storms, which dropped two feet of snow in the area, WTOP had a 16.9% share of the area's radio audience, far exceeding its typical weekly average of around 10%. Consumer research company Arbitron estimated a total of 1.49 million people tuned in at some point during the week, 39% of the total local radio audience of 3.8 million.

Bonneville announced the sale of WTOP-FM, WTLP, and WWWT-FM, as well as 14 other stations, to Hubbard Broadcasting on January 19, 2011.

In 2011, WTOP-FM brought their traffic reporting in-house, ending their relationship with Metro Networks. This meant that Lisa Baden, the longtime "voice of D.C.-area traffic" and a Metro Networks employee, was forced to leave the station in what WTOP's Vice President of News and Programming Jim Farley said was strictly a business decision. Farley said WTOP tried to bring Baden and other Metro Networks employees to WTOP, but they have clauses in their contracts prohibiting them from working for competitors for one year. Baden said she was "devastated". Shortly after that, Baden joined rival radio station WMAL.

In 2015, WTOP began airing weather reports and using meteorologists exclusively from WRC-TV all day long. The partnership ended in March 2023, as WRC underwent major changes, and just months after some longtime WTOP personalities accepted corporate buyouts from WTOP's parent company. The station then returned to using WJLA-TV meteorologists for their weather reports.

On January 1, 2018, WTOP-FM switched from CBS to ABC for its top-of-the-hour newscasts, pausing a relationship with CBS that, as noted above, dated to the late 1920s. WTOP-FM rejoined CBS exactly two years later.

Repeaters

Callsign Frequency City of license First air date ERP Class HAAT Facility ID Transmitter coordinates Former callsigns
WTLP 103.9 MHz (HD Radio) Braddock Heights, Maryland April 8, 1972; 52 years ago (1972-04-08) 350 watts A 292 meters (958 ft) 47105 39°27′53″N 77°29′43″W / 39.46472°N 77.49528°W / 39.46472; -77.49528 (WTLP) WMHI-FM (1972–75)
WZYQ-FM (1975–88)
WZYQ (1988–95)
WXVR (1995–96)
WWVZ (1996–2006)
WGYS (2006–07)
WWWT-FM 107.7 MHz (HD Radio) Manassas, Virginia March 28, 1966; 58 years ago (1966-03-28) 29,000 watts B 197 meters (646 ft) 21636 38°44′30″N 77°50′8″W / 38.74167°N 77.83556°W / 38.74167; -77.83556 (WWWT-FM) WEER-FM (1966–81)
WXRA (1981–82)
WWWK (1982–84)
WMJR (1984–92)
WRCY (1992–97)
WUPP (1997–98)
WTOP-FM (1998–2006)
WTWP-FM (2006–07)

Translators and HD Radio

WWWT-FM's HD2 subchannel is leased by Metro Radio and airs a Bollywood music format branded "Intense FM". Metro uses the HD subchannel to feed their FM translator W275BO (102.9 FM, Reston, Virginia), which cannot originate programming of its own.

Broadcast translator for WWWT-FM-HD2
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info Notes
W275BO 102.9 FM Reston, Virginia 142771 50 102 m (335 ft) D 38°56′56.6″N 77°21′18.1″W / 38.949056°N 77.355028°W / 38.949056; -77.355028 (W275BO) (NAD27) LMS Owned by Metro Radio, Inc.

The HD2 subchannels of WTOP-FM and WTLP relay the programming of WFED (1500 AM). WTOP-FM-HD2 feeds one translator:

Broadcast translator for WTOP-FM-HD2
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info Notes
W288BS 105.5 FM Reston, Virginia 140589 99 188 m (617 ft) D 38°57′50.4″N 77°6′16.9″W / 38.964000°N 77.104694°W / 38.964000; -77.104694 (W288BS) (NAD27) LMS Owned by Reston Translator, LLC

The HD3 subchannels of all three stations air a freeform music format branded as "The Gamut", which is also simulcast on WSHE (820 AM digital) and one translator:

Broadcast translator for WTOP-FM-HD3
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info Notes
W252DC 98.3 FM Reston, Virginia 138737 150 79 m (259 ft) D 38°53′45.4″N 77°08′6.9″W / 38.895944°N 77.135250°W / 38.895944; -77.135250 (W252DC) LMS Owned by Reston Translator, LLC

Ratings

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (January 2024)

As of July 2009, WTOP is ranked #1 in the Arbitron ratings among radio stations in the Washington area.

As of November 25, 2014, WTOP is still #1 in Washington, DC according to Arbitron.

Awards

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "WTOP-FM" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

See also

References

  1. ^ "One Firm Buys All First Week on WQQW-FM" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 30, 1948. p. 60.
  2. "Facility Technical Data for WTOP-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. "FCC 335-FM Digital Notification [WTOP-FM]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. February 10, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  4. "WTOP Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  5. "WTLP Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  6. "WWWT Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  7. "The story of the 'Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center'". WTOP Radio. August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  8. "FM Query Results for WTOP". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  9. http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=8 Archived October 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine HD Radio Guide for Washington D.C.
  10. "W282BA Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  11. Pointer, Jack (April 2019). "'You turn us on and we're there': Looking back at 50 years of news on WTOP". WTOP. p. April 1, 2019. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  12. "Where are sports and money news? WTOP moves radio benchmarks to new times". WTOP. February 21, 2023.
  13. "Author: Mike McGrath". WTOP. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  14. "Chris Core: Core Values". WTOP. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  15. "WTOP Radio Contests and Sweepstakes". WTOP. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  16. "Radio Sputnik Off WTOP - 6/29". www.dcrtv.com. June 29, 2017. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  17. "DCRTV.org". Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  18. "WVbroadcasting.net". WVbroadcasting.net. April 13, 2009. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  19. Clabaugh, Jeff (March 17, 2010). "Bizjournals.com". Bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  20. "BIA/Kelsey". Blog.kelseygroup.com. March 28, 2011. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  21. Clabaugh, Jeff (April 12, 2012). "Bizjournals.com". Bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  22. Farhi, Paul (March 3, 2010). "WTOP (103.5 FM) tops ratings with coverage of Washington's Feb. snowstorms". Washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  23. Farhi, Paul (January 20, 2011). "WTOP news radio to be sold to Minnesota broadcaster". Washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  24. "Hubbard deal to purchase Bonneville stations closes". Radio Ink. May 2, 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  25. "Voice of D.C.-area traffic reluctantly leaves WTOP". Washingtonexaminer.com. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  26. "Traffic Reporter Lisa Baden Joins WMAL/Washington". June 11, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  27. Paul Farhi (January 1, 2018). "A little bit of local media news: All-news station WTOP has ended its affiliation with CBS radio after many decades and has switched its top-of-the-hour newscasts to ABC broadcasts" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. Venta, Lance (January 1, 2020). "CBS News Radio Returns To WTOP Washington". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  29. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2009 (PDF). 2009. pp. D-264, D-563. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  30. Venta, Lance (September 11, 2020). "Intense 102.9 Debuts In DC's Suburbs". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  31. "W275BO Facility Data". FCCData. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  32. "RADIO ONLINE ®". radio-online.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  33. "2010 Marconi Awards". FMQB. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.

External links

Radio stations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
By AM frequency
By FM frequency
LPFM
Translators
NOAA Weather Radio
frequency
Digital radio
by frequency & subchannel
By call sign
Internet Only
Defunct
Radio stations in the Washington metropolitan area
Washington, D.C.
Frederick, Maryland
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Other nearby regions
Baltimore
Hagerstown
Northern Neck
Salisbury-Ocean City
Winchester
See also
List of radio stations in Washington, D.C.
List of radio stations in Virginia
List of radio stations in Maryland
Notes
1. Audio from channel 6 TV station
Radio stations in the Frederick, Maryland area
By AM frequency
By FM frequency
Translators
Digital radio
by frequency & subchannel
By call sign
Defunct
Radio stations in the Washington metropolitan area
Washington, D.C.
Frederick, Maryland
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Other nearby regions
Baltimore
Bedford
Cumberland
Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
Hagerstown
Harrisburg-Carlisle-Lebanon
Lancaster
Winchester
York
See also
List of radio stations in Maryland
News/Talk radio stations in the District of Columbia
News & Talk
All-News Radio
By frequency
See also
adult contemporary
classic hits
college
country
news/talk
NPR
oldies
religious
rock
sports
top 40
urban
other radio stations in District of Columbia
News/Talk radio stations in the state of Maryland
News & Talk
All News
See also
adult contemporary
classic hits
college
country
news/talk
NPR
oldies
religious
rock
sports
top 40
urban
other radio stations in Maryland
News/Talk radio stations in the Commonwealth of Virginia
News & Talk
All News
See also
adult contemporary
classic hits
college
country
news/talk
NPR
oldies
religious
rock
sports
top 40
urban
other radio stations in Virginia
Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.
Key people
  • Stanley S. Hubbard
Radio stations
ABC network affiliates
NBC network affiliates
Other stations
Cable television channels
Acquisitions
Owned by Hubbard and operated by News-Press & Gazette Company in a LMA.
Categories: