WLTQ (730 AM) is a radio station in Charleston, South Carolina.[2] It is owned by Mediatrix SC and it airs a Catholic talk radio format. Most of the programming comes from EWTN Radio and is shared with co-owned WCKI in Greer.
| Broadcast area | South Carolina Lowcountry |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 730 kHz |
| Branding | "Catholic Radio" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Catholic talk |
| Affiliations | EWTN Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Mediatrix SC, Inc. |
| WCKI | |
| History | |
First air date | 1947 |
Former call signs | WPAL (1947–1999) WBUB (1999–1999) WGSE (1999–1999) WSCC (1999–2004) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 73874 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 1,100 watts day 103 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°46′24.00″N 80°0′56.00″W / 32.7733333°N 80.0155556°W |
| Translator(s) | 106.7 W294CJ (Charleston) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | catholicradioinsc.com |
By day, WLTQ is powered at 1,100 watts, using a non-directional antenna. But 730 AM is a Canadian and Mexican clear-channel frequency. So to avoid interference, WLTQ reduces power at night to 103 watts. The AM transmitter is in the West Ashley neighborhood of Charleston, off Wappoo Road.[3] Programming is simulcast on 99-watt FM translator W294CJ at 106.7 MHz in Charleston.[4]
History
editWPAL
editThe station signed on the air in 1947.[5] It was a daytimer, powered at 1,000 watts but required to go off the air at night. The original call sign was WPAL, chosen because South Carolina is the "Palmetto State." The owner was Palmetto Broadcasters at 149 Wentworth Street.
It later became Charleston's first radio station targeting African-Americans. It aired R&B music on weekdays, with urban gospel on Sundays. William Saunders bought the station in 1985 after being a part owner since 1971, and he added 100.9 WPAL-FM in 1994. In 1998, he sold WPAL-AM-FM to Clear Channel Communications, based in San Antonio.[6]
WSC Talk
editClear Channel changed the AM station's call sign to WSCC (though the station was known as WSC). Its format flipped to talk radio in 1999 and it carried many of the nationally syndicated talk shows from co-owned Premiere Networks. The station moved from 18th to 16th place.[7] By 2002, WSC was beating rival talk station 1250 WTMA with 25-54 listeners in the early afternoon, thanks to carrying The Rush Limbaugh Show. WSC had taken the program from WTMA, since it was syndicated by Premiere Networks. But WTMA was the clear winner in other time slots.[8]
In 2004, the call letters changed to WLTQ. The station began airing liberal-leaning progressive talk shows from Air America Radio. Programs included Morning Sedition and The Majority Report. It also carried The Stephanie Miller Show and The Ed Schultz Show from the Jones Radio Network. AM 730 used the branding "Progressive 730".
Adult Standards, Latin Pop and Catholic Talk
editIn 2005, WLTQ flipped to adult standards music. It began carrying the nationally syndicated "Music of Your Life" feed. That lasted three years. In March 2008, the station switched to Spanish-language music as "Viva 730".
According to FCC filings, the station was sold to Indigo Radio LLC in July 2008.[9] The new owners took the station silent because they did not have access to the prior station's studio or broadcast facilities. They received an FCC construction permit to move to a new location. As of December 2008, the new owners applied for an additional 90 days to remain silent while they constructed their new facilities.
In July 2009, WLTQ returned to the air with urban gospel music. Then in 2010, Indigo announced the sale of WLTQ to Mediatrix SC LLC, owner of nearby WQIZ. The price tag was $525,000.[10] In 2011, WLTQ changed to a format of Catholic talk, mostly from EWTN Radio.
References
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WLTQ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WLTQ Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WLTQ-AM
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/W294CJ
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 268. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ Scott, Matthew S. (2003-05-01). "Battle for the airwaves! Mega-broadcasters are squeezing independent black radio stations into extinction. How will they survive the war, and what does it mean for you?". Black Enterprise. allbusiness.com. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
- ^ Lipman, Lisa (1999-11-11). "Stern becomes No. 1 morning radio show". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
- ^ "Citadel stations make moves in radio ratings". Post and Courier. 2002-08-10. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
- ^ "CDBS Print". fjallfoss.fcc.gov. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Indigo AM goes to South Carolina noncom". rbr.com. 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
External links
edit- Facility details for Facility ID 73874 (WLTQ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WLTQ in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for WLTQ