 | |
| Broadcast area | Springfield metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1240kHz |
| Branding | NewsRadio WTAX |
| Programming | |
| Format | News/talk |
| Affiliations | CBS News Radio NBC News Radio Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks Salem Radio Network Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WDBR,WTAX-FM,WLFZ,WYMG | |
| History | |
First air date | October 23, 1923; 102 years ago (1923-10-23) (inStreator, moved to Springfield in 1930) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 9961 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000watts unlimited |
| Repeater | 93.9 WTAX-FM (Sherman) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wtax.com |
WTAX (1240kHz) is acommercialAMradio station inSpringfield, Illinois.[2] It is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Capitol Radio Group. WTAXsimulcasts anews/talkradio format with 93.9WTAX-FM.[3] Theradio studios and offices are on East Sangamon Avenue in Springfield.[4]
WTAX broadcasts at 1,000watts, using anon-directional antenna. Thetransmitter is on South Dirksen Highway in Springfield.[5]
Weekdays on WTAX-AM-FM begin with a localdrive time show, "The Morning Newswatch," hosted by Joey McLaughlin. The rest of the weekday schedule is made up ofnationally syndicated talk shows:Hugh Hewitt, "Markley, Van Camp and Robbins,"Sean Hannity,Mark Levin,John Batchelor, "Red Eye Radio" and "This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal."
Weekends feature shows on money, health, home repair, technology, the law and cars. Weekend hosts includeJoe Pags,Sebastian Gorka,Chris Plante,Leo Laporte andBill Handel. Most hours begin with world and national news fromCBS News Radio.
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WTAX's first license was granted on October 11, 1923, to the Williams Hardware Company inStreator, Illinois. The call letters were randomly assigned by the government from a sequential list of availablecall signs. It was initially on 1300 kHz, with a power of 20 watts.[7] In mid-1927 the station was reassigned to 930 kHz.
Following the establishment of theFederal Radio Commission (FRC), stations were initially issued a series of temporary authorizations starting on May 3, 1927.[8] In addition, they were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.[9] On May 25, 1928, the FRC issuedGeneral Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WTAX, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it."[10] However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.
On November 11, 1928, with the implementation of theFederal Radio Commission'sGeneral Order 40, WTAX was moved to 1210 kHz.[11] The station relocated to Springfield in late 1930.[12] On March 29, 1941 most stations on 1210 kHz, including WTAX, moved to 1240 kHz, under the provisions of theNorth American Regional Broadcasting Agreement.[13]
In 1948, WTAX added an FM station, broadcasting at 103.7 MHz, WTAX-FM. That station is nowWDBR. Recently, co-owned 93.9 FM has taken the WTAX-FM call letters to simulcast the news/talk programming on 1240 AM.
Programming was previously also broadcast on 107.5 FM, over translator stationW298AP, which once served as a second signal for sisteradult hits stationWABZ. The W298AP simulcast lasted until January 31, 2017, when W298AP switched to oldies, now simulcastingWDBR's HD3 subchannel.
(WTAX's logo under previous simulcast with 107.5 FM translator)
(WTAX's logo under previous simulcast with 93.5 FM translator)
39°47′36″N89°36′18″W / 39.79333°N 89.60500°W /39.79333; -89.60500