WATO (106.1 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Oliver Springs, Tennessee, and serving the Knoxville metropolitan area.[2] It is owned by Loud Media and broadcasts an alternative rock format branded as "Atomic 106".
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Knoxville metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 106.1 MHz |
| Branding | Atomic 106 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Alternative rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Loud Media LLC |
| WKCE, WKVL, WTLT, WGAP, WSMM | |
| History | |
First air date | 2009 (as WJRV) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Atomic" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 170987 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 190 watts |
| HAAT | 532.4 meters (1,747 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 36°6′29″N 84°20′8″W / 36.10806°N 84.33556°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WATO is a Class A station, with an effective radiated power of 190 watts. The studios are on the fifth floor of the Sunsphere in Knoxville.
History
editThe station signed on the air in 2009 as WJRV. The station aired a hot adult contemporary music format branded as "106.1 The River".
On May 27, 2020, it was announced that the station was to be acquired by Loud Media.[3] On June 26, 2020, Loud Media launched "106.1 VLZ" with an active rock format.[4] The station changed its call sign on July 1, 2020, to WVLZ.[5]
On October 21, 2024, WVLZ dropped its active rock format, which moved to WSMM (850 AM), and began stunting towards a new format to be launched on October 25, 2024, under new WATO call letters.[6] At 1:06 pm that day, WATO launched an alternative rock format branded as "Atomic 106".[7]
References
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "FM Query Results -- Audio Division (FCC) USA".
- ^ "Loud Media Doubles up in Knoxville". May 29, 2020.
- ^ "WVLZ Knoxville Moves to 106.1". June 26, 2020.
- ^ "FM Station WVLZ - FCC Public Inspection File".
- ^ WVLZ on the Move Radioinsight - October 21, 2024
- ^ An Atomic Explosion in Knoxville Radioinsight - October 24, 2024
External links
edit- Facility details for Facility ID 170987 (WATO) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WATO in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
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