WPIT

Last updated
WPIT
Broadcast area Pittsburgh metropolitan area
Frequency 730 kHz
BrandingWPIT 96.5 FM / 730 AM
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Christian radio (days)
Classic Christian contemporary music (nights)
Affiliations SRN News
Townhall
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
1947 (1947)
Call sign meaning
Pittsburgh
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 58624
Class D
Power 5,000  watts day
24 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
 40°29′02″N79°59′34″W / 40.48389°N 79.99278°W / 40.48389; -79.99278
Translator(s) 96.5 W243BW (Pittsburgh)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Listen live (via  Audacy)
Website www.wpitam.com

WPIT (730 AM) is a commercial radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It carries a Christian talk and teaching radio format. At night, classic Christian contemporary music is heard. WPIT is licensed to the Salem Communications Holding Corporation, which is owned by the Salem Media Group. [2] The studios are at Parkway Center in Pittsburgh.

Contents

By day, WPIT is powered at 5,000 watts; because 730 AM is a Canadian and Mexican clear channel frequency WPIT must reduce power to only 24 watts at night, to avoid interference. The transmitter is off Mount Troy Road in Pittsburgh. [3] The station's antenna system uses a single tower that results in an omnidirectional signal pattern. According to the Antenna Structure Registration database, the tower is 99 m (325 ft) tall. [4] Programming is also heard on 250 watt FM translator W243CW at 96.5 MHz. [5]

Programming

WPIT carries both local and national religious leaders, including Adrian Rogers, David Jeremiah, Alistair Begg and Chuck Swindoll. It uses brokered programming where hosts pay for time on the station and may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries. World and national news is supplied by SRN News. The station is the Pittsburgh affiliate for Penn State Nittany Lions football. [6]

From 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., WPIT switches to a Christian contemporary music format. WPIT is one of two Christian radio stations owned by Salem in Pittsburgh. Sister station 101.5 WORD-FM carries Christian talk and teaching programs around the clock.

History

Original WPIT logo. Logo WPIT.png
Original WPIT logo.

WPIT signed on the air in 1947. It has been a Christian radio station for most of its history and at one time was a simulcast of its FM sister station, 101.5 WORD-FM.

WPIT's studios were once located on Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh. A neon sign reading "WPIT DIAL 730" hung outside their former location for years after they had moved out, well into the early 1980s. The station moved to Gateway Towers in downtown Pittsburgh around 1980, next door to the KDKA and KDKA-TV home of One Gateway Center.

In September 1991, Richard Rossi began broadcasting his nightly radio show Rich Rossi Live on Pittsburgh's WPIT-FM. The program created controversy when Rossi challenged the sale of WPIT to Salem, calling Christian radio and other evangelical churches "whores" who sell out the gospel for money. [7]

WPIT has had only three managers in its long history. Michael Komichak, who also built the station back in 1947 and did much of its engineering work, Chuck Gratner, who assumed control of WPIT-AM and FM after both were sold to Salem in 1993, and then-sales manager Tom Lemmon, who became General Manager following Gratner's retirement in 2014.

After Salem's takeover, old policies against atheist guests were lifted and Richard Dawkins has even appeared on air. Once the sale to Salem was complete, the operations of WPIT and WORD-FM moved up to Seven Parkway Center in Greentree, just outside the Pittsburgh city limits.

WPIT had some secular conservative talk programming in its lineup (Dr. Laura, Michael Medved, and Hugh Hewitt), but religious programming continues to fill most of the station's hours. For many years, WPIT has also aired foreign-language and ethnic programming on weekends.

The station is known as "73 WPIT"

Related Research Articles

KCRO is a commercial AM radio station in Omaha, Nebraska. KCRO is owned by Hickory Radio and airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format. The studios are located on Burt Street, while the transmitter is located behind Roncalli Catholic High School near Sorensen Parkway in Northwest Omaha.

WORD-FM is a Christian talk radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by the Salem Media Group, the station broadcasts with an ERP of 43 kW. Its transmitter is located in Reserve Township, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDSY-FM</span> Radio station in Pennsylvania, United States

WDSY-FM is a commercial radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs a country music radio format. The station's studios and offices are in Foster Plaza on Holiday Drive in Green Tree, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBZZ</span> Radio station in New Kensington–Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

WBZZ is a top 40/CHR station licensed to New Kensington, Pennsylvania, targeting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and owned by Audacy, Inc. Its transmitter is located in Pittsburgh's Spring Hill district and its studios are located west of downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPGB</span> Radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

WPGB is a commercial FM radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It broadcasts a country music format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Its studios and offices are located on Abele Rd. in Bridgeville next to I-79, along with its sister stations. WPGB carries The Bobby Bones Show on weekday mornings, syndicated from Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMNY</span> Radio station in New Kensington, Pennsylvania

WMNY is a commercial radio station licensed to New Kensington, Pennsylvania and serving the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It is owned by Gagan Deep, through licensee Radio 1150 Limited Liability Company. It airs a South Asian radio format featuring Bollywood music and talk, known as "Radio Dhoom."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKHB (AM)</span> Radio station in Irwin, Pennsylvania, United States

WKHB is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Irwin, Pennsylvania, and serving Greater Pittsburgh. It is owned by Broadcast Communications, Inc., and it carries a brokered programming radio format. During the day, hosts pay the station for time on the air and may advertise their products or services during their shows. At night, WKHB plays oldies music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSLR</span> Radio station in San Antonio, Texas

KSLR is a commercial radio station in San Antonio, Texas. It is owned by the Salem Media Group and airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format. The studios and offices are on McAllister Freeway in San Antonio. Current station staff includes Chad Gammage - General Manager, Chris Lair - Operations Director, and Barry Besse - Program Director & Morning Ministry Host.

KRKS is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Denver, Colorado. The station is owned and operated by Salem Media Group and it airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format. Its studios and offices are located on South Vaughn Way in Aurora, with the AM transmitter located on East 56th Avenue in North Washington. KRKS with co-owned KRKS-FM; together, are known as "The Word," but carry most programs at different times of the day.

WTLN (990 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station located in Orlando, Florida. It is owned by the Salem Media Group and it airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format. The offices and studios are on Lake View Drive in Altamonte Springs. Some of the national religious leaders heard on WTLN include David Jeremiah, Chuck Swindoll, Jim Daly, John MacArthur and Charles Stanley. Hosts pay for 30- to 60-minute segments on WTLN and can use the time to seek donations to their ministries. WTLN is known as "AM 990 and FM 101.5 The Word".

KVNT is a commercial radio station in Eagle River, Alaska, broadcasting to the Anchorage metropolitan area. It airs a talk radio format and is owned by CBI Media Group. Its studios are located on Business Park Boulevard in Anchorage.

KFIA is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a Christian talk and teaching format. Licensed to Carmichael, California, the station serves the Sacramento metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by New Inspiration Broadcasting Company, Inc. which is a part of Salem Media Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KGNW</span> Radio station in Burien, Washington

KGNW is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Burien, Washington, and serving the Seattle metropolitan area. It airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format and is owned by the Salem Media Group. The radio studios and offices are on 5th Avenue South in downtown Seattle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNIV</span> Radio station in Atlanta, Georgia

WNIV is a commercial Christian radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of three Salem Media Group-owned stations in the Atlanta metropolitan area carrying a Christian talk and teaching radio format. AM 590 WDWD carries a different schedule of national and local religious leaders, while AM 1400 WLTA in Alpharetta, Georgia, simulcasts WNIV's programming for Atlanta's northern suburbs.

WORL is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Orlando, Florida, United States. It serves Central Florida, including the Greater Orlando radio market. It airs a conservative talk radio format and is known as "AM 950 and FM 94.9 The Answer". WORL is owned by the Salem Media Group with studios and offices on Lake View Drive in Altamonte Springs.

KGBI-FM is a non-commercial radio station broadcasting a Christian adult contemporary radio format. Licensed to Omaha, Nebraska, United States, the station serves the Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska radio markets. The station is owned and operated by Northwestern Media, a ministry of the University of Northwestern - St. Paul.

WMNA is a commercial AM radio station in Gretna, Virginia, serving Southside Virginia and Northern Pittsylvania County, Virginia. It is owned and operated by 3 Daughters Media. WMNA has a sports radio format, simulcast with sister station WVGM 1320 AM and 93.3 FM in Lynchburg. Most programming comes from Infinity Sports Network. It also broadcasts car races from the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Performance Racing Network (PRN)

KDAZ is a commercial radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It airs a combination of syndicated talk radio shows and Christian radio programming. It is owned by Pan American Broadcasting Co., Inc.

WCRU is an AM radio station licensed to Dallas, North Carolina and serving the Charlotte metropolitan area. The station broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format and is owned by the Truth Broadcasting Corporation. WCRU carries a mix of national and local pastors. National hosts include Charles Stanley, John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll and Adrian Rogers.

WPEO is a daytime-only AM radio station licensed to Peoria, Illinois. It is owned by WPEO Radio Foundation, Inc., and it simulcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format with co-owned WPEO-FM 98.3 FM in Farmer City, Illinois. The radio studios and offices are just south of Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WPIT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ FCC.gov/WPIT
  3. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WPIT
  4. ↑ FCC Antenna Structure Registration database
  5. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/W243BW
  6. ↑ PSU schedule on WPIT
  7. ↑ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (October 20, 1991). "Revivalist accuses rivals of selling out for money, fame". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.