WTSO (1070 kHz, "1070 The Game") is a commercial AM radio station in Madison, Wisconsin, known as "1070 The Game." The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a sports radio format. The offices and studios are on South Fish Hatchery Road in Fitchburg (but using Madison as its mailing address).[2]
 | |
| Broadcast area | Madison metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1070 kHz |
| Branding | Fox Sports 1070 The Game |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | Fox Sports Radio Chicago Cubs Radio Network Motor Racing Network Performance Racing Network Wisconsin Badgers Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WIBA (AM), WIBA-FM, WMAD, WXXM, WZEE | |
| History | |
First air date | January 19, 1948 (as WKOW) |
Former call signs | WKOW (1948–1971) |
Call sign meaning | From the station's AM frequency, Ten Seven ZerO |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 41973 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 10,000 watts (day) 5,000 watts (night) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | FoxSports1070.com |
By day, WTSO is powered at 10,000 watts. Because 1070 AM is a clear-channel frequency reserved for Class A station KNX Los Angeles, at night, to avoid interference, WTSO must reduce its power to 5,000 watts and use a directional antenna with a six-tower array. (WTSO must also protect a former Class A station on 1070 AM in Moncton, New Brunswick, even though it switched to the FM band.) WTSO's transmitter is off East Tower Road in McFarland.[3]
Programming
editOn weekdays, WTSO mostly simulcast the Wisconsin-based sports shows airing on co-owned WRNW in Milwaukee. Steve Czaban is heard in morning drive time. He's followed by former Green Bay Packers linebacker John Kuhn. In afternoons, Mike Heller, Drew Olsen, and Kevin Brandt host shows focused on Wisconsin and national sports. Programming from Fox Sports Radio] is heard on nights and weekends.
WTSO's live sports coverage includes broadcasts of Chicago Cubs baseball, NASCAR races from MRN Radio and PRN Radio, as well as local high school events, including championships in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. WTSO also airs live broadcasts of some University of Wisconsin Badgers games along with sister station WIBA 1310 AM.
History
editThe station signed on the air on January 19, 1948. The original call sign was WKOW.[4] With Wisconsin known as "The Dairy State," the original call letters stood for the word "cow." The licensee was the Monona Broadcasting Company.[5]
In the mid-1970s, the call sign was changed to WTSO to stand for Ten Seven zerO, its frequency. At that time, it was owned by Mid-Continent Broadcasting and aired in a country music format. As country music listening switched to the FM dial, WTSO tried a talk radio format and later adult standards.
In 2000, WTSO switched to its current all-sports format, initially as a network affiliate of ESPN Radio. It was called "Madison's ESPN Radio 10-7-0." On January 1, 2009, WTSO parted company with ESPN Radio and rebranded as "The Big 1070, Madison's Sports Station." It affiliated with Fox Sports Radio and later added some programming from NBC Sports Radio.[6] (ESPN Radio programming now airs on WTLX.)
On February 3, 2020, WTSO rebranded as "1070 The Game." In March 2021, WTSO announced it would become the Chicago Cubs Radio Network's first Wisconsin affiliate, providing a locally based alternate to the Chicago-based WSCR, which also covers Southern Wisconsin with its signal.[7]
From 2014 until February 1, 2020, WTSO programming was simulcast on FM translator W265CV at 100.9 MHz.[8] W265CV now airs a 1960s-1970s oldies format as "U-100.9".[9]
Previous Logos
edit
WTSO's original logo under the "Big 1070" branding (c. 2010).
WTSO's Previous Logo used from 2010 to 2014.
WTSO's Previous Logo used from 2014 to 2020.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WTSO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Fox Sports 1070 - We Are Fox Sports 1070 Madison!".
- ^ "WTSO-AM 1070 kHz - Madison, WI". radio-locator.com.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-233
- ^ "WKOW Madison, Wis., on Air with 10 kw" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 26, 1948. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ "sports". madison.com. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
- ^ "Brewers games on Bally Sports Wisconsin will look similar, but some streaming services lack deals | Major League Baseball | madison.com".
- ^ "WTSO Brings More FM Sports To Madison," from RadioInsight, 8/4/2014
- ^ "iHeartMedia To Launch U100.9 & 1070 The Game In Madison".
External links
edit- WTSO Website
- Facility details for Facility ID 41973 (WTSO) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WTSO in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for WTSO