WTSH-FM

Last updated

WTSH-FM
Satellite of WLKQ-FM, Buford
Broadcast area NW Georgia (Rome / metro Atlanta
Frequency 107.1 MHz
BrandingLa Raza 102.3/107.1
Programming
Format Regional Mexican
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
 1972 (as WZOT)
Former call signs
WZOT (1972–1989)
Call sign meaning
Transfiguration of SouTH 107, which it was known as until June 2014
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 7043
Class C1
ERP 100,000 watts
HAAT 158 m (518 ft)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website laraza1023.com

WTSH-FM 107.1, branded as La Raza 102.3/107.1, is an FM radio station in northwest Georgia, and reaching into northwest metro Atlanta, Georgia. Originally assigned to Rockmart, its city of license is now Aragon, west-northwest of Atlanta, and east of Rockmart. The broadcast licensee is Woman's World Broadcasting and operated by Rome Radio Partners, LLC. From June 23, 2014 to September 24, 2018, it was operated by Cox Media Group via a local marketing agreement (LMA). The station's supposed main studio is located on John Davenport Drive in Rome, Georgia.

Contents

On June 9, 2014, Women's World Broadcasting announced it would turn over operation of country music "South 107" to Cox Media Group via an LMA. On June 22 of that year, WTSH ended its country format after over 25 years and began stunting with a liner redirecting listeners to WSRM FM as "South 93.5". On June 23, Cox Media Group started to assume control of 107.1 via LMA. Upon Cox taking over at midnight, 107.1 then flipped to alternative rock as X107.1, similar to the then-recently launched "X107.3" in Orlando, Florida. The first song on X107.1 was Fever by The Black Keys. Despite mostly covering outside of the Atlanta metro area (even with the "translator" station's coverage included), it identifies itself entirely as an Atlanta station during on-air promos. The station ID included all three stations at the top of each hour: "WTSH-FM Aragon, W296BB Jonesboro, WSB-FM HD3 Atlanta".

Just over a year later, on June 29, 2015, WTSH went back to their heritage country format, simulcasting WNGC as 106.1/107.1 Your Georgia Country. The change comes as X107.1 failed to gain any traction up against WRDA/WRDG generating only a 0.5 share in the May 2015 Nielsen Audio ratings. [2]

On September 24, 2018, WTSH-FM (as a result of the LMA with Cox Media Group ending) switched from a simulcast with country-formatted WNGC to a simulcast with regional Mexican-formatted WLKQ-FM in Buford, branded as "La Raza 102.3/107.1". [3]

The LMA and the "translator" station allowed Cox to circumvent restrictions on the excessive concentration of media ownership in the Atlanta media market. Since the "translator" station is not attributable under the FCC rules, and the main station's official service contour does not overlap Cox's WSRV FM 97.1 to the northeast or that of Cox's WALR-FM 104.1 to the southwest, it allows Cox to exceed the cap through technicalities and loopholes.[ citation needed ] Locally, Cox also owns WSB AM 750 and its simulcast on WSBB-FM 95.5, as well as WSB-FM 98.5, WSB-TV 39 (2.1 and 2.2), and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .

Broadcast translators and station move

WTSH-FM currently broadcasts with 100,000 watts from west-central Bartow County near Kingston, Georgia. In early May 2012, it applied to move to the WCCV FM 91.7 tower on Mullinax Mountain between Euharlee and Wax, Georgia, due west of Cartersville and southeast of Rome. This application was later dropped, and another filed in later July 2013 was for another location further southwest near Taylorsville, north-northwest of Rockmart. (Relative to metro Atlanta, this is two counties due west of Acworth.) As of February 2014, this application was still pending.

WTSH's owner also purchased broadcast translator W296BB, also on 107.1, but licensed to serve Jonesboro, and previously rebroadcasting WMVV FM 90.7 within its own coverage area (with no terrain obstructions that would make such a translator necessary). It is now assigned to retransmit WSB-FM 98.5, indicating that HD3 digital subchannel now simulcasts WTSH, providing a legal fiction for circumventing the FCC rules which prohibit a translator or booster of a commercial radio station from reaching outside the main station's legal broadcast range. A construction permit issued for W296BB allowed it to move to the WSB-TV 39 (DTV 2.1 & 2.2) TV tower over Freedom Parkway just east of downtown Atlanta, increasing it from 13 to the maximum 250 watts, and using a directional antenna with a major null toward the northwest so as to reduce RF interference to WTSH. It went on-air in February 2014, making it at least the second station to be taken from Clayton county to retransmit another commercial station with an already-good signal in the area (the other being W275BK FM 102.9 from Riverdale).

The two stations are synchronized as a single-frequency network, the same way a booster station would be. This means that the stations transmit the same audio at exactly the same time, intended to make for a nearly seamless transition for listeners. The main indication is static, most often occurring around southeastern Cobb county, near the Chattahoochee River and the northwestern part of the Perimeter (I-285 around Atlanta). This is due to the two stations being around the same signal strength in this area, and the numerous hills, which causes the relative levels of the two to rapidly oscillate back and forth (picket-fencing) when travelling at freeway speeds. Slower speeds or stationary listening may actually be more difficult, as the listener is stuck in small pockets of poor reception for longer periods. The zone of RF interference moves hourly and daily based on weather and overnight temperature inversions, which affect radio propagation, especially over the longer distance from the main station. The two stations may also have their actual carrier waves synchronized via GPS for further stability, and to avoid phase cancellation, but as a matter of physics it is impossible to avoid the switching caused by FM's capture effect.

In 2003, an application was made for another translator station in Rome on 98.7 by Broadcast Investment Associates. This station, which took the FCC a decade to approve, received a construction permit in December 2013, after a reapplication four months prior. Given broadcast callsign W254CF, it also listed WTSH-FM as its primary station, and still shows a location with the city limits just northwest of downtown Rome along Martha Berry Highway (U.S. 27 and Georgia 1). Previously illegal to retransmit a non-FM station, W254CF is now directly assigned to simulcast WRGA AM 1470, another Rome Radio Partners property.

WTSH previously had translator W269CC FM 101.7 in Adairsville, which now rebroadcasts WJTH AM 900 in Calhoun, both in upper northwest Georgia.

Former disc jockeys

Related Research Articles

WSB-FM is a commercial radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. It carries an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by the Cox Media Group, serving as the group's flagship FM station. WSB-FM is the oldest FM radio station in Atlanta. The studios and offices are on Peachtree Street NE in Atlanta, in the WSB-TV and Radio Group Building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WUBL</span> Country music radio station in Atlanta

WUBL is a commercial radio station known as 94-9 The Bull. It is owned by iHeartMedia and it plays a country music radio format. The studios and offices are located at the Peachtree Palisades Building in the Brookwood Hills district of Atlanta. It has local DJs in the daytime and at nighttime it carries two syndicated Premiere Networks country music programs, The Bobby Bones Show and After MidNite With Granger Smith. The station's radio transmitter is located just northeast of Atlanta near Druid Hills Road in North Druid Hills, with several other stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSBB-FM</span> News/talk radio station in Doraville–Atlanta, Georgia

WSBB-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Doraville, Georgia, and serving Metro Atlanta. WSBB-FM and co-owned WSB simulcast a news/talk radio format. The stations are owned by the Cox Media Group and are among the highest-billing stations in the U.S. On the air, the two stations are referred to as "95.5 WSB", only occasionally mentioning the FM station's call sign or the AM station's frequency.

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

WSRV – branded 97.1 The River – is a commercial radio station licensed to Gainesville, Georgia, and serving Metro Atlanta. It is owned by the Cox Media Group. WSRV broadcasts a classic rock radio format. The studios and offices are in the Cox Television and Radio Facility on West Peachtree Street near the Brookwood neighborhood of Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNSY</span> Radio station in Talking Rock, Georgia

WNSY is a commercial radio station in northwest Georgia, licensed to Talking Rock. It is owned by Davis Broadcasting of Atlanta and it simulcasts WWWE on 1310 kHz in Decatur. The two stations, along with an Atlanta FM translator station at 101.1 MHz, simulcast a smooth jazz radio format. The stations use the dial position of the translator, calling themselves "101.1 WJZA."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLKQ-FM</span> Radio station in Buford, Georgia

WLKQ-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Buford, Georgia, and serving Metro Atlanta. It is owned by Davis Broadcasting and airs a Regional Mexican radio format. The programming is simulcast on 107.1 WTSH-FM in Aragon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNGC</span> Radio station in Arcade–Athens, Georgia

WNGC is a radio station in North Georgia that plays country music; it was at 95.5 from 1968-1999. It is owned by Cox Media Group and is part of Cox Radio. Its city of license is Arcade with studios in Athens. Its transmitter is in Lula, Georgia.

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

WCNN is a radio station licensed to North Atlanta and serving the Atlanta-area radio market. It is owned by Dickey Broadcasting and airs a sports radio format. The station is commonly known by the on-air branding as "The Fan". Local sports shows are heard weekdays with the ESPN Radio Network airing nights and weekends. WCNN is the flagship of the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.

WCFB is a commercial radio station licensed to Daytona Beach, Florida, serving the Greater Orlando area. The station is owned by Cox Media Group, and airs an urban adult contemporary radio format. Its studios and offices are located on North John Young Parkway in Orlando. On weekdays, WCFB carries the syndicated Rickey Smiley Morning Show, as well as an hour of urban contemporary gospel music at 5 a.m., and a Quiet Storm program at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KZIA</span> Radio station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

KZIA, known as "Z 102.9", is a radio station based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It has a Top 40 (CHR) format primarily staffed with local personalities, including morning DJs Dancin' Eric Hanson, Clare Duffy, and Producer Ben, known as “The Morning Scramble.” Eric and Clare were recognized as the Iowa Broadcasters of the Year in 2022 by the Iowa Broadcasters Association. Other hosts include Lady J, Those Girls in the Afternoon with Destiny and Taylor, and Jaidyn on the Night Show. The station's transmitter is located in Hiawatha, Iowa, and its signal reaches most of eastern Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Waterloo, and the Quad Cities area. It also reaches Prairie du Chien, and Platteville, both in Wisconsin.

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

WGAU is a radio station licensed to serve Athens, Georgia, United States, that broadcasts a news/talk format. The station is owned by Cox Media Group. The transmitter is located at the studios in Five Points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCCV (FM)</span> Radio station in Cartersville, Georgia

WCCV FM 91.7 is a Christian radio station licensed to serve the city of Cartersville, Georgia. The station plays Contemporary Christian music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCHK (AM)</span> Radio station in Canton–Atlanta, Georgia

WCHK is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a Spanish-language Latin pop radio format, known as "La Mega." Licensed to Canton, Georgia, it serves Metro Atlanta. The call sign stands for Cherokee, the county of which Canton is the seat of government, largest city, and geographic center. The station is currently owned by Davis Broadcasting of Atlanta, L.L.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSB-TV tower</span> Guyed mast broadcast tower in Atlanta, Georgia

The WSB-TV tower is a 327.6-meter (1,075 ft) guyed mast broadcast tower in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, immediately adjacent to Freedom Parkway and the Historic Fourth Ward Park skate park. The tower was built in 1950, and at its completion was the tallest guyed mast tower in the United States. It has a triangular cross section.

WZOT is a commercial Christian AM radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format, including Christian talk and teaching shows. Licensed to Rockmart, Georgia, United States, the station is owned by Mark Lumpkin and Mark Garrett, through licensee Heirborn Broadcasting, LLC. It uses the slogan “Hometown radio”. Singing News Radio is broadcast during the overnight hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRGA</span> News/talk radio station in Rome, Georgia, United States

WRGA AM 1470 and W254CF FM 98.7 is a radio station broadcasting a news talk information format. Licensed to serve Rome, Georgia, United States, the station serves Floyd and adjacent counties of northwest Georgia and a sliver of northeast Alabama. The station is currently owned by Rome Radio Partners, LLC

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W243CE</span> Radio station in Winder, Georgia

W243CE, is a Spanish-language music radio station having Winder, Georgia as its city of license, and previously transmitting from west-northwest of Winder, about halfway to Auburn, Georgia.

WIPK is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Calhoun, Georgia. The station's broadcast is held C. Steve Hegwood, through licensee Core Communicators North LLC.

W233BF – branded as Streetz 94.5 – is a radio station in metro Atlanta, now licensed to serve Atlanta owned by Edgewater Broadcasting. After a series of moves, the station now transmits from the WUPA tower east of downtown, just north of Interstate 20. The station competes with WHTA and WVEE-FM.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WTSH-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ X107.1 Atlanta Gives Way To Country
  3. ↑ Your Georgia Country Gives Way to La Raza in Atlanta Radioinsight - September 24, 2018

34°15′04″N84°59′06″W / 34.251°N 84.985°W / 34.251; -84.985

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.