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| Broadcast area | Capital District andSaratoga Springs area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104.5MHz |
| Branding | ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | ESPN Radio New York Yankees Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | 1993 (as WXLE) |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | "Team" |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 22004 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 5,000watts |
| HAAT | 107 meters (351 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 1045theteam.com |
WTMM-FM (104.5 FM, "ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team") is asportsradio station licensed toMechanicville, New York, and serving New York'sCapital Region andSaratoga County. The station is owned byTownsquare Media,[1] and broadcasts at 6 kilowattsERP from a tower inClifton Park, New York, which is shared withWKKF andWMHH. The station airs play-by-play from theNew York Yankees[2] as well as all of ESPN's programming.
WTMM-FM assumed theTeam format from its former home on 1300 kHz (nowWGDJ under new ownership) on December 18, 2006, with the two stations simulcasting until January 2, 2007.
The station signed on the air as WXLE[3] in January 1993. It initially aired arock/AC format, known as "Rock without the Racket" but evolved to anadult album alternative format by late 1993, with live DJs. The station was known asXL-104.5 in those days, and eventually as104.5 The Zone. As a "Triple A" station,XL-104.5 was the first station helmed by noted Triple A programmer Zeb Norris. Some other notable air personalities that were on WXLE during this period included original program director Bob Welch and market veteran John Clark. In mid-1996 much of its programming became satellite-fed.
In 1998, WXLE, was sold to AMFM Inc. and with it came two format changes, first to adult contemporary asMagic 104.5 in October as a smokescreen, then on December 26, to the then-popular "Jammin' Oldies" format (which AMFM owned the rights to). With the latter switch came the branding of104.5 The Beat and the calls of WABT.[4]
Like other "Jammin' Oldies" stations, WABT had a short-term uptick in ratings; however, the format did not mesh well with the Albany market and ratings fell to levels of that of the prior formats. When AMFM merged withClear Channel Communications in 2000, WABT was one of several stations which was divested due to market concentration concerns. After being sold to Regent Communications (now Townsquare Media), WABT's format changed to1980s hits as "The Buzz" on December 8, 2000. The "Buzz" format was later expanded to include music from the1990s in September 2002, and evolved toadult top 40 in July 2003.
In mid-2006, reports began circulating that theBuzz format could move to the relocated105.7 MHz frequency that previously had been licensed to Queensbury. In the wake of landing theChuck & Kelly morning show fromWYJB in September 2006, these rumors would soon become true. TheBuzz format officially moved to 105.7 MHz on December 4, 2006, after spending much of the previous week test simulcasting.
On December 18, 2006, WABT flipped to a simulcast ofESPN Radio stationWTMM as WTMM-FM; 104.5 would become the sole home of thesports format on January 3, 2007, when WTMM (AM) became female-oriented talk WEEV. The simulcast would partially resume on August 17, 2007, when WEEV returned to the WTMM format and calls, though due to rights issues, it did not clear any of WTMM-FM's play by play; this arrangement ended on November 26, 2007, when the 1300 frequency became home toWGDJ under new ownership.
As of 2024, WTMM broadcasts most of the ESPN Radio weekday schedule, while running the network fulltime at the weekend, outside of Yankee games and an hour on Sunday morning presented by Vinny Fredericks. The weekday morning slot is a simulcast ofWHSQ inNew York City's DiPietro and Rothenberg, the midday slot is hosted by longtimeWNYT sports director Rodger Wyland as "Big Board Sports with Rodger Wyland", and the 3-4pm hour is "Open Mike" with MJ Johnson. The formerafternoon drive show, "The Drive with Dan Bahl", has been discontinued due to Dan Bahl leaving Townsquare Media.[5]
WTMM also broadcastsNew York Yankees baseball.[6][7] They also broadcast ESPN Radio's national MLB, NFL, and NBA packages. In addition, WTMM was the flagship home toAlbany Devils hockey, until they relocated in 2017, airing most games when not conflicting with other sport broadcasts.[8] WTMM-FM formerly aired theNew York Jets football games until 2019, when they moved toWQBK-FM.
In 2023, WTMM addedBuffalo Bills games.[9]
42°52′44″N73°51′47″W / 42.879°N 73.863°W /42.879; -73.863