| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Madison metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 1070kHz |
| Branding | 1070 The Game |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | Fox Sports Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WIBA (AM),WIBA-FM,WMAD,WXXM,WZEE | |
| History | |
First air date | January 19, 1948 (1948-01-19) |
Former call signs | WKOW (1948–1971) |
Call sign meaning | For station's frequency, read as "ten-seven-oh (zero)" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 41973 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (viaiHeartRadio) |
| Website | 1070thegame.iheart.com |
WTSO (1070AM, "1070 The Game") is a commercialradio station inMadison, Wisconsin, known as "1070 The Game." The station is owned and operated byiHeartMedia, Inc., and airs asports radio format. The offices and studios are on South Fish Hatchery Road inFitchburg (but using Madison as its mailing address).[2]
By day, WTSO is powered at 10,000 watts. Because1070 AM is aclear-channel frequency reserved forClass A stationKNXLos 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 the former Class A station on 1070 AM inMoncton, New Brunswick, CBA, though it has since moved to FM asCBAM-FM.) WTSO's transmitter is off East Tower Road inMcFarland.
The station signed on the air on January 19, 1948. The original call sign was WKOW.[3] With Wisconsin known as "The Dairy State," the original call letters stood for the word "cow." The licensee was theMonona Broadcasting Company.[4]
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 acountry music format. As country music listening switched to the FM dial, WTSO tried atalk radio format and lateradult standards.
In 2000, WTSO switched to its current all-sports format, initially as anetwork affiliate ofESPN 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 fromNBC Sports Radio.[5] (ESPN Radio programming now airs onWTLX.)
On February 3, 2020, WTSO rebranded as "1070 The Game." In March 2021, WTSO announced it would become theChicago CubsRadio Network's first Wisconsin affiliate, providing a locally based alternate to the Chicago-basedWSCR, which also covers Southern Wisconsin with its signal.[6]
From 2014 until February 1, 2020, WTSO programming wassimulcast onFMtranslatorW265CV at 100.9MHz.[7] W265CV now airs a 1960s-1970soldies format as "U-100.9".[8]
Programming fromFox Sports Radio is heard on nights and weekends.
WTSO's live sports coverage includes broadcasts ofChicago Cubs baseball,NASCAR races fromMRN Radio andPRN Radio, as well as local high school events, including championships in theWisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. WTSO also airs live broadcasts of someUniversity of WisconsinBadgers games along with sister stationWIBA (1310 AM).
42°59′45″N89°18′59″W / 42.99583°N 89.31639°W /42.99583; -89.31639