WGCL (AM)

WGCL (1370 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Bloomington, Indiana, serving Monroe County. The station is owned by Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. along with sister station WTTS 92.3 FM. It broadcasts a talk radio format with programming from CBS Sports Radio in the evening.[1] The radio studios and offices are on West 7th Street in Bloomington. WGCL is not related to WGCL-TV, a CBS-affiliated television station in Atlanta, owned by Gray Television.

Not to be confused with WGCL-TV.
WGCL
CityBloomington, Indiana
Broadcast areaMonroe County
Frequency1370 kHz
BrandingWGCL - AM 1370 and 98.7 FM
Programming
FormatTalk radio
AffiliationsPremiere Radio Networks
Salem Radio Network
CBS Sports Radio
Fox News Radio
Ownership
OwnerSarkes Tarzian, Inc.
WTTS
History
First air date
March 11, 1949 (1949-03-11)
Former call signs
WTTS (1949-1984)
WGTC (1984-1988)
Technical information
Facility ID59131
ClassB (AM)
D (FM)
Power5,000 watts day
500 watts night
ERP250 watts (FM)
Transmitter coordinates
39°11′25.00″N 86°38′2.00″W
Translator(s)98.7 W254DP (Bloomington)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewgclradio.com

By day, WGCL is powered at 5,000 watts. But to avoid interference to other stations on 1370 AM, at night it reduces power to 500 watts. It uses a directional antenna at all times.[2] Programming is also heard on 250 watt FM translator W254DP at 98.7 MHz.

Programming

Most weekday programming on WGCL is nationally syndicated. One local show is heard weekdays, "Glass in the Afternoon" from 3 to 6 p.m. Syndicated weekday shows include Hugh Hewitt, Dave Ramsey, Dennis Prager, "Coast to Coast AM with George Noory" and "This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal." Evenings feature shows from the CBS Sports Radio Network. In the fall, high school football is heard on Friday evenings.

On weekends, syndicated shows include Kim Komando, "Bill Handel on the Law" and "At Home with Gary Sullivan." Most hours begin with an update from Fox News Radio, followed by local news and weather.

History

On March 11, 1949 (1949-03-11), the station first signed on the air.[3] It has always been owned by Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. The station's original call sign was WTTS, powered at 1,000 watts by day, 500 watts at night. It was Bloomington's third AM radio station, the others being WSUA 1010 (1946–50) and WTOM 1490 (1947–51). From the 1950s until the 1984, WTTS was a full-service, Middle of the Road (MOR) station, playing popular adult music, news and sports. It was a network affiliate of ABC Radio prior to that network's 1967 split, and the ABC Entertainment Network after that.

In November 1949, Sarkes Tarzian put television station WTTV Channel 4 on the air. Tarzian owned it until 1978. In 1960, sister station WTTV-FM 92.3 went on the air, simulcasting 1370 WTTS until 1967, when it switched to a separate format.

WTTS changed its call letters to WGTC on July 9, 1984, flipping to a full-service, country music format. On November 17, 1988, the station changed its call sign to the current WGCL.[4] It ended music programming, moving to a talk radio format.

FM Translator

WGCL added an FM translator, originally at 96.1 MHz, W241CD. It later switched its translator simulcast to 98.7 MHz, W254DP.


References
  1. "WGCL Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. Radio-Locator.com/WGCL
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1949 page 122
  4. "WGCL Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
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