WATA

WATA (1450 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Local News Talk Information format.[1] Licensed to Boone, North Carolina, United States. The station is currently owned by Curtis Media Group of Raleigh, North Carolina and features predominantly locally produced programming, including Bill Fisher in the Morning, as well as Mike Kelly's Swap Shop, and many others.[2]

For the bus service in Virginia, see Williamsburg Area Transit Authority.
WATA
CityBoone, North Carolina
Frequency1450 kHz
Programming
FormatLocal News Talk Information
AffiliationsIMG, North Carolina News Network, Westwood One
Ownership
OwnerCurtis Media Group
WWMY, WZJS, WMMY, WECR, WXIT
History
First air date
February 2, 1951
Call sign meaning
WATAuga county
Technical information
Facility ID71068
ClassC
Power1,000 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
36°12′59.00″N 81°42′6.00″W
Translator(s)W243DH (96.5 MHz, Boone)
Links
Websitehttp://GoBlueRidge.net

The station is known as Watauga County's "Heritage Station." It emphasizes local news and announcements and broadcasts Live Play by Play Watauga High School Sports and Appalachian State University football, baseball, and basketball games.

History

WATA was started by Mr. and Mrs. Roland Potter, owners of WKBC and WKBC-FM in nearby North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. WATA signed on the air in 1950. WATA's studios were originally located above the Boone bus station, at Depot and Rivers streets, where Appalachian State University's Broadcasting Department is now located. The station broadcast live performances by country and bluegrass artists from that location during its early years of operation. Today WATA broadcasts from studios on Blowing Rock Road in Boone.

In 1987, the Potters also started WZJS100.7FM. The call letters were the initials of the then station manager, Zara Jane Smith. On air personalities of the 1960s included Bob Barnes, Jack Warnick, Frank Wright, Tom Slade, Danny Dee, and Bill McQuage

Roland Potter sold both stations in the late 1990s to Highland Communication Associates.

In September 2003 Highland sold WATA, (along with WZJS 100.7FM) to Aisling Broadcasting (Jonathon Hoffman, managing member) for a price of $2.2 million.[3] This added to Aisling's holdings in the High Country, as they had already purchased WECR, WECR-FM, WXIT (from Rondinaro Broadcasting) for $2.2 million in 2003,[4] and WMMY(from Dale Hendrix) in 2004 for $1.58 million.[5]

Aisling went into receivership and George Reed of Media Services Group was appointed to manage the stations until a buyer is found.[6] Later in the year, Curtis Media Group purchased the stations.[7]

References
  1. "WATA Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. 2003-09-28. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  4. "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. 2003-10-12. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  5. "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. 2004-03-07. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  6. Scott Nicholson, "Receivership: Local Stations Seek Buyer," The Watauga Democrat, March 14, 2008.
  7. "Transactions for October 10, 2008". Radio and Records. Retrieved 2011-10-18.


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