| Broadcast area | Madison metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1070kHz |
| Branding | 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; 77 years ago (1948-01-19) (as WKOW) |
Former call signs | WKOW (1948–1971) |
Call sign meaning | From the station's AM frequency,TenSeven ZerO |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 41973 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 10,000watts day 5,000 watts night |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| 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 radioformat. 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 10,000watts. 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 adirectional antenna with a six-tower array. (WTSO must also protect a former Class A station on 1070 AM inMoncton, New Brunswick, even though it switched to the FM band.) WTSO'stransmitter is off East Tower Road inMcFarland.[3]
On weekdays, WTSO mostly broadcasts the Wisconsin-based sports shows that formerly aired on co-ownedWRNW inMilwaukee until it changed formats toadult contemporary on October 13, 2025.Steve Czaban is heard in morningdrive time. He's followed by formerGreen Bay Packers linebackerJohn Kuhn. In afternoons, Mike Heller, Drew Olsen, and Kevin Brandt host shows focused on Wisconsin and national sports. Programming fromFox Sports Radio is heard on nights and weekends.
WTSO's live sports coverage includes broadcasts ofChicago Cubsbaseball,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 withsister stationWIBA1310 AM.
The stationsigned on the air on January 19, 1948; 77 years ago (January 19, 1948). The originalcall sign wasWKOW.[4] With Wisconsin known as "The Dairy State," the originalcall letters stood for the word "cow." The licensee was theMonona Broadcasting Company.[5]
In the mid-1970s, the call sign was changed toWTSO to stand forTenSeven 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.[6] (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.[7]
From 2014 until February 1, 2020, WTSO programming wassimulcast onFMtranslatorW265CV at 100.9MHz.[8] W265CV now airs a 1960s-1970soldies format as "U-100.9".[9]
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.
WTSO's Previous Logo used from 2021 to 2023.
42°59′45″N89°18′59″W / 42.99583°N 89.31639°W /42.99583; -89.31639