WTEM
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WTEM | |
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| Broadcast area | Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Area |
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| Branding | The Voice of the Fan |
| Frequency | 980 kHz (Also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | 1923 |
| Format | Sports |
| Power | 50,000 watts (day) 5,000 watts (night) |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 25105 |
| Callsign meaning | W T E A M |
| Owner | Clear Channel Communications (Takeover by Red Zebra Broadcasting to occur on July 1) |
| Sister stations | WASH, WBIG, WIHT, WMZQ, WTNT, WWDC, WWRC |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.sportstalk980.com |
WTEM (AM 980 kHz) is a radio station that serves the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Its format is sports talk and has been commonly known as SportsTalk 980. Since September 2006, the station has used the slogan The Voice of the Fan. It used to be the D.C. outlet for ESPN Radio before Red Zebra Broadcasting acquired the rights. It is currently a Fox Sports Radio affiliate, and began carrying its weekday morning show, The First Team on FOX, on July 10, 2006. The First Team, fittingly enough, is hosted by 980 veteran Steve Czaban.
SportsTalk 980 is also the home of The Sports Reporters with Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban, The Doc Walker Show and The John Thompson Show.
WTEM is the flagship radio station for Washington Wizards & Georgetown Hoyas basketball. SportsTalk 980 airs Notre Dame football and Baltimore Orioles baseball as an affiliate station.
WTEM's studios are located in Rockville, Maryland, and its transmitter is located in Hyattsville, Maryland. It operates with 50,000 watts power during the day and 5,000 watts power at night. The signal can be heard weakly but clearly as far west as Clarksburg, West Virginia, and as far south as Richmond, Virginia in daytime.
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[edit] History
[edit] Before WTEM
The station was originally licensed as WRC, which was then an NBC Radio affiliate, through the 1990s. NBC owned and operated the station from 1923 to 1987, when the General Electric corporation, which owned NBC, sold off its radio properties. Eventually, WRC radio birthed WRC-FM (93.9 MHz, now WKYS) and WRC-TV (channel 4).
WRC carried Willard Scott and Ed Walker as the Joy Boys for many of these years, and also carried the Monitor radio program on weekends. From 1972 to 1975, WRC broadcast a Top 40 format (it was one of the Greaseman's early radio stops); it switched to NBC News and Information Service programming from 1975 to 1977.
When WRC was purchased by Greater Media in 1987, the callsign was reassigned as WWRC, since NBC retained the rights to the WRC call sign for WRC-TV which continues to this day. During the early 1990s, WWRC was the talk show home to current and formerly notable personalities like Joe Madison, Mark Davis and Joel A. Spivak. It was also the brief home for the last radio show to be hosted by Morton Downey, Jr.
[edit] Sports Radio 570 - The Team
Before moving to 980 kHz, WTEM was known as Sports Radio 570 - The Team and on the frequency of 570 kHz, which previously had been used by classical music station WGMS. WTEM made its debut at 3:30 p.m. on May 24, 1992, right after the Indianapolis 500.[1][2] At the beginning, WTEM emulated the program lineup and even imported the jingles from WFAN, the first all-sports radio station in the United States.
At the beginning, Paul Harris hosted the morning show between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., WTEM hired Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser and CBS Sports announcer James Brown to host two mid-day radio shows. The Tony Kornheiser Show aired from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and The James Brown Show aired from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Kevin Kiley and Rich "The Coach" Gilgallon hosted Kiley and the Coach, which emulated the highly successful Mike and the Mad Dog radio program. Jean Fugett and Ira Mellman anchored the night-time hours. WTEM also acquired the radio rights to broadcast the Washington Redskins between 1992 and 1994.
However, the ratings of WTEM struggled mightily in the beginning. Harris was quickly replaced by Bruce Murray and Bob Berger in late 1992. WTEM introduced Imus in the Morning on July 19, 1993 to replace Murray and Berger in the 6-10 a.m. morning slot. For cost-cutting reasons, WTEM canceled Kiley and the Coach, and shows hosted by Phil Wood (8 a.m. to midnight) and Rob Weingarten (midnight to 6 a.m.) at the end of 1994.[3] After Kiley and the Coach was canceled, WTEM tried several afternoon-drive shows before it settled to broadcast The Tony Kornheiser Show live between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and then replay between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to boost the afternoon drive-time ratings until the show moved to ESPN Radio in January 1998.
After his contract not renewed by WMAL, Ken Beatrice and his show, Sports Call, moved to WTEM in late 1995.
When The Tony Kornheiser Show launched in 1992, because Tony needed to focus on writing his Style column in the Washington Post weekly, he usually did not host the show on Thursdays. Usually Andy Pollin, the Sports Director at WTEM, would guest-host Tony's show on Thursdays. Between November 1995 and December 1996, Warner Wolf was named the guest host of The Tony Kornheiser Show on Thursdays until he moved to New York as a sports anchor on WCBS-TV.[4] Tony started to host on Thursdays when he was on ESPN Radio.
When The Tony Kornheiser Show was on hiatus between November 14, 1997 and January 5, 1998, WTEM filled the 10 a.m.-1 p.m. slot with Kevin Kiley and the 4-7 p.m. slot with comedian Chuck Booms and Scott Linn. Because of on-air wildness and inexperience, Booms was later paired with the experienced Kiley.
When The Tony Kornheiser Show on ESPN Radio debuted on January 5, 1998, the show aired between 1-4 p.m. WTEM filled the 10 a.m.-1 p.m. time slot with Doc Walker and Al Koken hosting The Doc and Al Show and the 4-7 p.m. time slot with Kiley and Booms.
[edit] SportsTalk 980
On March 9, 1998, WTEM moved from 570 kHz to 980 kHz.[5] After the move, WTEM was branded as SportsTalk 980. The lineups on March 9, 1998 are Imus in the Morning (6-10 a.m.), The Doc and Al Show (10 a.m.-1 p.m.), The Tony Kornheiser Show on ESPN Radio (1-4 p.m.), Kevin Kiley and Chuck Booms (4-7 p.m.) and Ken Beatrice's Sports Call (7-10 p.m.).
Because of poor ratings, Kiley and Booms was axed on November 13, 1998, which happened to be Friday.[6] WTEM moved the highly rated The Tony Kornheiser Show to the 4-7 p.m. slot as a tape delay show to replace Kiley and Booms. Kornheiser did not like the idea because he would lose the callers from the WTEM broadcasting area. WTEM moved The Doc and Al Show into the 1-4 p.m. slot and created a new show hosted by Rich Cook and Kris O'Donnell in the 10 a.m.-1 p.m. slot.
When John Thompson resigned as the head coach of the men's basketball team at Georgetown University, WTEM moved The Doc and Al Show into the 10 a.m.-12 p.m. slot and invited Thompson to host a one-hour show within The Doc and Al Show (10:30-11:30 a.m.) called Timeout with Thompson starting March 3, 1999 before the 1999 NCAA Tournament began. At the same time, WTEM introduced The Jim Rome Show, assigned it into the 12-3 p.m. slot. Between The Jim Rome Show and The Tony Kornheiser Show, there was a one-hour program called The Playground hosted by WTEM news anchors.
After the 1999 NCAA Tournament, because of the positive reviews, Thompson was named the host of The John Thompson Show airing 10 a.m.-12 p.m. with Walker and Koken as co-hosts, replacing The Doc and Al Show.
On September 13, 1999, ESPN Radio moved The Tony Kornheiser Show to his favorite 10 a.m.-1 p.m. slot to make room for The Dan Patrick Show. WTEM accommodated the move by moving The John Thompson Show to 3-5 p.m., reducing The Jim Rome Show to 2 hours and creating a new program called The Sports Reporters hosted by Andy Pollin between 5-7 p.m.
After the new lineup announced, Jim Rome voiced his displeasure on the air, attacked Kornheiser and demanded WTEM to get his third hour back. In The Sports Reporters, Steve Czaban began as a news anchor. Later on, Czaban became the co-host with Andy Pollin.
On April 20, 2000, veteran sports talk personality Ken Beatrice retired.[7] His show, Sports Call, was replaced by Steve Czaban in the 7 p.m.-10 p.m. slot.
On April 9, 2001, Mike and Mike in the Morning (6-9 a.m.) and The Tony Bruno Extravaganza (9-10 a.m.) replaced Imus in the Morning, which moved to WTNT to boost the station's ratings.[8]
On May 23, 2002, WTEM celebrated its tenth anniversary as a sports talk station with a special Sports Reporters show starting at 5 p.m.
In December 2005, the station's studios were moved from Bethesda, Maryland, to 1801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, to consolidate Clear Channel's Washington operation.
Because of Tony Kornheiser's preparation for ESPN's Monday Night Football, The Tony Kornheiser Show on WTEM ended on April 28, 2006 and Kornheiser eventually left for WTWP. Starting on May 1, 2006, The Sports Reporters with Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban filled in the 9 a.m.-12 p.m. slot, a new show hosted by Brian Mitchell and Bram Weinstein aired between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., and The John Thompson Show was extended through 7 p.m.[9]
In early June 2006, The Brian Mitchell Show changed again. Bram Weinstein left WTEM and was replaced by Kevin Sheehan.
Starting February 12, 2007, The Brian Mitchell Show moved to the 10 a.m.-1 p.m. slot, The John Thompson Show moved to the 1 p.m.-4 p.m. slot and The Sports Reporters with Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban filled in the 4 p.m.-7 p.m. slot.[10]
On April 30, 2007, Doc Walker went solo and hosted The Doc Walker Show from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. WTTG's Dave Feldman and Comcast SportsNet's Carol Maloney hosted a new show called Feldman and Maloney between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Brian Mitchell moved to The John Thompson Show as co-host.[11][12] Regarding going solo, Walker said, "Management came to me and I thought that is was time to do my own show. If you are lucky enough to get a chance to do your own show you would be foolish not to take it. I will miss Al and Coach, but it was a perfect time for me to go out on my own."[13]
On May 26, 2007, Phil Wood is back on WTEM to host a weekly baseball show from 10 a.m. to noon during Saturdays.[14]
On October 22, 2007, The Dan Patrick Show, syndicated by the Content Factory, was back on WTEM in the 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. slot as a tape delay show, replacing Feldman and Maloney.[15]
[edit] Current staff
[edit] Hosts
- Steve Czaban
- Al Koken
- Brian Mitchell
- Andy Pollin
- John Thompson
- Rick "Doc" Walker
- Phil Wood
[edit] Anchors
- Jerry Coleman
- Al Galdi
- Meredith Josef
- Scott Linn
[edit] Past local hosts and news reporters
- Rich Ackerman (currently at Sirius Satellite Radio)
- Ken Beatrice
- Bob Berger (currently at Sporting News Radio)
- Chuck Booms
- James Brown (currently at CBS Sports)
- Paul Butler (currently at WBOC-TV Salisbury, MD)
- Rich Cook
- Dave Feldman
- Earl Forcey (currently at Westwood One)
- Jean Fugett
- Rich Gilgallon (currently at KPSI (AM))
- Paul Harris (currently at KMOX)
- Scott Jackson (currently at WCMC in Raleigh)
- Kevin Kiley (currently at Westwood One and KSPN in Los Angeles)
- Tony Kornheiser (currently at WWWT)
- Mitch Levy (currently at KJR (AM) in Seattle)
- Carol Maloney
- Ira Mellman (currently at WTOP)
- Dan Miller (currently at WJBK-TV in Detroit)
- Bruce Murray (currently at Sirius Satellite Radio)
- Kris O'Donnell (currently at WDTN in Dayton, Ohio)
- Kevin Sheehan (currently at Triple X ESPN Radio)
- Marc "Nigel" Sterne (currently at WWWT)
- Pam Ward (currently at ESPN)
- Bram Weinstein (currently at Triple X ESPN Radio)
- Rob Weingarten (currently at KFNS (AM) in St. Louis)
- Warner Wolf (currently at WABC-AM in New York)
[edit] References and notes
- ^ Roxanne Roberts (1992-05-23), Whaddaya mean Rypien's a bum!?, The Washington Post.
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (1992-05-27), WTEM is born babbling, The Washington Post.
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (1994-12-09), All-sports station's survival requires a team effort, The Washington Post.
- ^ Warner Wolf and Larry Weisman (2000), Let's go to the videotape: all the plays and replays from my life in sports, Warner Books (ISBN 0-44652-559-6).
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (1998-03-06), Watts up next week at WTEM, The Washington Post.
- ^ Frank Ahrens (1998-12-17), Kiley, Booms fired up, The Washington Post.
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (2000-04-21), He could talk the talk, The Washington Post.
- ^ Dave Hughes (2001-04-09). Hot talk WTNT debuts with Imus in the Morning. dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Dave Hughes (2006-04-27). Changes at WTEM. dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Dave Hughes (2007-02-08). Sked shifts at 980. dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Dave Hughes (2007-04-30). Dave Feldman Gets WTEM Show. dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Leonard Shapiro (2007-05-08). Stuck in between stations. washingtonpost.com.
- ^ Jim Williams (2007-05-15). Is FOX5’s Feldman next in line for Michaels’ crown?. D.C. Examiner.
- ^ Dave Hughes (2007-05-21). Phil Wood Back To TEM. dcrtv.com News Archive.
- ^ Jim Williams (2007-10-22). Dan Patrick returns to DC’s airwaves. D.C. Examiner.
[edit] External links
- WTEM website
- Query the FCC's AM station database for WTEM
- Radio Locator Information on WTEM
- Query Arbitron's AM station database for WTEM
- Aerial photo of WTEM transmitter from Google Local
- Aerial view of WTEM studios from Google Local
| Preceded by WGMS |
AM 570 kHz in Washington, D.C. May 24, 1992-March 8, 1998 |
Succeeded by WWRC |
| Preceded by WWRC |
AM 980 kHz in Washington, D.C. March 9, 1998-Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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