WTAW (AM)

WTAW (1620 AM) – branded News Talk 1620 – is a commercial talk radio station licensed to serve College Station, Texas. Owned by the Bryan Broadcasting Company, WTAW covers College Station, Bryan and much of the Brazos Valley.[1] The WTAW studios are located in College Station, as is the station transmitter. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WTAW broadcasts in HD Radio utilizing the in-band on-channel hybrid standard, is simulcast over low-power FM translator K233DU (94.5 FM) College Station, and is available online.

For the former radio station that held the WTAW callsign from 1922-2000, see KZNE.
CityCollege Station, Texas
Broadcast areaBrazos Valley
BrandingNews Talk 1620
SloganNews and Information for the Brazos Valley
Frequency1620 kHz (HD Radio)
Translator(s)94.5 K233DU (College Station)
First air dateMay 3, 2000 (2000-05-03)
FormatTalk radio
Power10,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
ClassB
Facility ID87145
Call sign meaningWatch The Aggies Win
(original calls of 1150 AM facility, now KZNE; swapped to this facility in 2000)
Former call signsKAZW (1998-2000; CP)
KZNE (2000)
AffiliationsCBS News Radio
Premiere Networks
Westwood One
OwnerBryan Broadcasting Company
(Bryan Broadcasting License Corporation)
Sister stationsKNDE, KZNE, KWBC, KAGC, WTAW-FM, KPWJ, KKEE
WebcastListen Live
Websitewtaw.com

History

The current station dates from 2000, as part of a realignment of station frequencies in the Brazos Valley after the Federal Communications Commission expanded the AM band to 1700 kHz. In 1998, the FCC added a new AM allocation for College Station at 1620 AM, which was originally assigned the KAZW calls on January 9, 1998. It changed its calls to KZNE on March 1, 2000.

On May 3, WTAW moved to 1620, while KZNE took over at 1150. Due to the manner in which the switch was structured, KZNE operates under the old WTAW license, while WTAW technically operates under a new license. The move allowed WTAW to significantly increase its daytime and nighttime power. However, KZNE took over WTAW's longtime status as the radio flagship of the Aggies.

On December 4, 2003, WTAW and KZNE were sold to Bryan Broadcasting.[2]

Programming

WTAW personality Scott DeLucia hosts the morning-drive program, The Infomaniacs; The Glenn Beck Program, The Rush Limbaugh Show, The Sean Hannity Show (via Premiere Networks) air during the late morning, midday, and afternoons, respectively. Joe Pags (via Compass Media Networks), Coast to Coast AM (via Premiere) and This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal (via Compass) also air on the station. Weekend hosts include Kim Komando and Bill Cunningham.

References
  1. "WTAW Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  2. "FCC Application". Federal Communications Commission. Missing or empty |url= (help)
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