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Wikipedia

WTAM

April 23, 2023

For the television station licensed to Tampa, Florida, see WTAM-LD.

WTAM (1100 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, and carries a news/talk/sports format commonly known as "Newsradio WTAM 1100". Owned by iHeartMedia, WTAM serves Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio, and is a clear-channel station with extended nighttime range. WTAM is also Northeast Ohio's primary entry point station in the Emergency Alert System.[2]

WTAM
Broadcast area
Frequency1100 kHz
BrandingNewsradio WTAM 1100
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatNews/talk/sports
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
September 26, 1923
(99 years ago) (1923-09-26)
Former call signs
  • WTAM (1923–1956)
  • KYW (1956–1965)
  • WKYC (1965–1972)
  • WWWE (1972–1996)
Former frequencies
  • 750 kHz (1923–1926)
  • 770 kHz (1926–1927)
  • 1070 kHz (1927–1941)
Call sign meaning
AM band[1]
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID59595
ClassA
Power50,000 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
41°16′50.00″N 81°37′22.00″W / 41.2805556°N 81.6227778°W / 41.2805556; -81.6227778
Translator(s)106.9 W295DE (Cleveland)
Links
Public license information
  • Public file
  • LMS
WebcastListen live (via iHeartRadio)
Websitewtam.iheart.com

The station first carried the WTAM call letters from 1923 to 1956; assigned sequentially by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the letters were later treated as a backronym for "Where The Artisans Meet." Founded by Willard Storage Battery and later owned by Cleveland Electric Illuminating and the Van Sweringen brothers as the 1920s ended, WTAM was purchased by RCA in 1930, becoming a core station in the NBC Radio Network. NBC sold WTAM, FM adjunct WTAM-FM (105.7) and TV adjunct WNBK (channel 3), to Westinghouse Broadcasting in 1956 in exchange for their AM and TV stations in Philadelphia, whereupon the Cleveland properties assumed the KYW calls. That sale was ultimately reversed in 1965, with NBC returning and all three Cleveland stations renamed as WKYC. Sold to Cleveland entrepreneur Nick Mileti in 1972, WKYC became "3WE" WWWE, carrying a mixture of middle of the road and sports play-by-play, in particular the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers and Pete Franklin's Sportsline talk show.

The station adopted its current talk radio format in 1985 after being purchased by a syndicate headed by Art Modell and Al Lerner; a subsequent sale took WWWE's talk programming into a controversial direction with Gary Dee and Bruce Drennan, at one point putting the station's license into question. Booth American (later Secret Communications) took over WWWE in 1990, revamping the lineup several times and hiring Mike Trivisonno as Sportsline host in 1994, later moving him to afternoon drive to much success. WWWE re-adopted the WTAM call letters in 1996 to reinforce the station's position on the AM band; station management considered the historical tie "a nice bonus, but... more incidental than anything else."[1] Purchased by Jacor in 1997, WTAM has been owned by Clear Channel since 1999, renamed iHeartMedia in 2014.

WTAM is the Cleveland affiliate for both ABC News Radio and Fox News Radio, the AM flagship for the Cavaliers AudioVerse and Cleveland Guardians Radio Network, the market outlet for The Glenn Beck Program, The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show and Coast to Coast AM and the radio home of Jimmy Malone. Studios for WTAM are located in the Six Six Eight Building in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District and the transmitter is located south of Cleveland in Brecksville. Besides its main analog transmission, WTAM simulcasts over low-power analog Cleveland translator W295DE (106.9 FM), and streams online via iHeartRadio.

History

WTAM (1923–1956)

Early years

 
Original WTAM transmitter site (1923)[3]

WTAM began broadcast operations on September 26, 1923.[4] It was one of several stations that started between 1922 and 1923 with a call sign assigned sequentially by the Commerce Department with "W" as the first letter and "A" as the third.[5] It was originally owned by S.E. Lawrence and Theodore Willard, in the name of the Willard Storage Battery Company.[6] Initially the station only offered three hours of nightly programming, but soon expanded its on-air lineup. Studios were located in the Willard factory on Taft Avenue at East 131st Street.[4] By June 30, 1924, WTAM was broadcasting with 1,000 watts and sharing the 770 kHz frequency with WJAX.[7]

WJAX had signed on earlier in 1922, owned by the Union Trust Co. In 1924 it was known as the "Wave from Lake Erie." The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company purchased WJAX in 1925 and changed to the callsign to WEAR. Finally, Willard Battery purchased WEAR to have control of shared frequency allocation.[8]

 
WTAM studios in Union Trust Building circa 1926

WTAM was the first radio station to broadcast coverage of a political convention when it covered the 1924 Republican National Convention at Cleveland's Public Auditorium from June 10–12, 1924.[4][6] The station's power increased to 2,500 watts in 1925 and to 3,500 watts in 1926, as the studios moved to the Union Trust Building (now The 925 Building). By June 30, 1927, WTAM and WEAR broadcast on 750 kHz with WTAM broadcasting with 3,500 watts.[9] The January 31, 1928, Radio Service Bulletin of the Commerce Department listed WTAM broadcasting with 3,500 watts at night and 5,000 watts during the day.[10]

Clear-channel status

After Willard Battery threatened to close the station, WTAM and WEAR were purchased by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (now part of FirstEnergy) and the Van Sweringen brothers on May 31, 1928. In a statement announcing the purchase, the new owners declared, "Recognizing the fact that this radio station is a civic asset to the Greater Cleveland district and that the cessation of its operation would be a real loss, the Van Sweringen interests and the Illuminating Co. entered into arrangements to continue it. Every effort will be made to maintain the station on a plane which will make it of maximum value to the community."[11]

When the new Federal Radio Commission instituted General Order 40 after the passage of the Radio Act of 1927, WTAM along with sister station WEAR (at that point absorbed into WTAM entirely) claimed the clear channel frequency allocated to Cleveland, and on November 11, 1928, it began broadcasting at 1070 kHz with WTAM broadcasting at 50,000 watts.[12] In 1929 the station built two broadcast towers in Brecksville, Ohio, each 200 feet high.[4]

The NBC years

 
Gene Carroll and Glenn Rowell in 1935

With its national prominence as a clear channel giant established, WTAM became a valuable radio property. NBC purchased WTAM on October 16, 1930, and the studios were moved to the Auditorium Building.[4] The station became a major link in the NBC Red Network, contributing some programming to the network. Around 1930, Gene Carroll and Glenn Rowell brought their vaudeville humor to WTAM with the Gene and Glenn show.[13][14] The duo became famous for their characters "Jake & Lena". WTAM originated the program for nationwide broadcast on the NBC Red Network, and it aired six days a week for five years. WTAM also originated the venerable Lum and Abner show on the NBC Red Network five days a week during one year of its run from May 22, 1933, to March 30, 1934, sponsored by the Ford Dealers of America.

NBC began to make substantial investments to station facilities in the 1930s. WTAM moved their studio operations to 815 Superior Avenue on February 7, 1937;[15] renamed the NBC Building, it is known today as the Superior Building. That same year, a new tower was built in Brecksville which was 480 feet tall. On March 29, 1941, with the implementation of NARBA, WTAM moved its broadcast frequency from 1070 to 1100 kHz, maintaining its clear-channel status.

During the 1940s, the station continued to contribute some programming to the NBC radio network. On March 19, 1946, Bob Hope brought his Tuesday night 10 pm Pepsodent radio show to Cleveland along with Jerry Colonna, Frances Langford and the Skinnay Ennis Orchestra for a broadcast on the NBC radio network. Guests included Ohio Governor Frank Lausche. Recordings of this program are still available from collectors of old radio programs.[16][17][18]

WTAM also broadcast the 1948 World Series games of the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves, with announcers Jim Britt and Mel Allen. In 1951, WTAM originated an NBC Radio Network broadcast of the Cleveland Orchestra.[4]

NBC also expanded its broadcasting interests in Cleveland beyond AM radio: on October 31, 1948, NBC launched a sister television outlet, WNBK, on channel 4; a few weeks later, on December 6, 1948, WTAM-FM (105.7 FM) began broadcasting, simulcasting WTAM's programming. All three stations shared the same transmitter tower in Brecksville until WNBK moved to a new transmitter tower erected in Parma[19] concurrent with a channel switch to channel 3 on April 25, 1954;[20][21] as KYW and KYW-FM, both radio stations would move to the same Parma tower in February 1957.[15]

WTAM also aired Cleveland Browns games during the 1952, 1953, and 1955 seasons; Jim Graner provided color commentary during the 1955 season.[22]

KYW: The Westinghouse years

Not to be confused with Philadelphia radio station KYW (AM).

In late 1955, NBC persuaded Westinghouse to trade its Philadelphia stations, KYW (1060 AM) and WPTZ-TV, in return for NBC's Cleveland properties and $3 million in cash compensation.[23] NBC had long wanted to own a station in Philadelphia, the nation's third-largest market at the time. The swap went into effect on January 22, 1956.[24] Westinghouse wanted to keep the historic KYW callsign, which had been Chicago's oldest radio facility before being transferred to Philadelphia on December 3, 1934. Therefore, on February 13, 1956, the Cleveland stations became KYW, KYW-FM and KYW-TV; and the Philadelphia stations became WRCV and WRCV-TV.[25] The WTAM callsign was later picked up by WGLS in Atlanta, Georgia, and after that by WGCM-FM in Gulfport, Mississippi.

In the early 1960s, under program director Ken Draper, KYW, known on-air as KY11, became a full service - Top 40 powerhouse with disc jockeys Jim Runyon (the "weeeellll" voice of the Chickenman series), Jim Stagg, Jay Lawrence, Jerry G (Jerry Ghan), and the morning duo of Harry Martin and Specs Howard.[26][27][28] Its main Top 40 rival in the Cleveland market was "Color Channel 14" WHK, at 1420 AM.

Almost immediately after the trade was finalized, Westinghouse complained to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Justice Department about NBC's coercion.[29][30] It was discovered that Westinghouse only agreed to the trade when NBC made implications that it would pull its television programming from WPTZ and Westinghouse's other NBC affiliate, WBZ-TV in Boston.[31] In 1964, after a protracted legal battle, the FCC ordered the swap of stations reversed without NBC realizing any profit on the deal.[32] NBC regained control of the Cleveland stations on June 19, 1965, and changed their call letters to WKYC, WKYC-FM and WKYC-TV, which kept the popular "KY" slogan and identity Westinghouse brought into Cleveland.[33][34]

To this day, the KYW stations insist that they "moved" to Cleveland in 1956 and "returned" to Philadelphia in 1965, but the two stations' facilities and broadcast licenses remained the same.[35]

Further information: NBC Red Network, KYW (AM), KYW-TV, WKYC, and Westinghouse Broadcasting

WKYC years

Not to be confused with Cleveland television station WKYC.
 
1960s logo as WKYC

WKYC continued as a Top 40 outlet—the only such-formatted station under NBC ownership—with personalities Harry Martin, Specs Howard, Jay Lawrence and Jerry G holding over from KYW/Westinghouse. When program director Ken Draper left for WCFL in Chicago in early 1965, prior to the ownership change, both Jim Stagg[36][37][38] and Jim Runyon wasted no time following him.[39] Bill Winters came in about this time. Jim LaBarbara was wooed away from a three-day stint at WIXY to do evening prime time. Chuck Dann signed on, as did Charlie and Harrigan (Jack Woods and Paul Menard), the morning duo at KLIF (1190 AM) in Dallas. Jim Gallant was doing overnights.[40]

In late 1966, popular afternoon host Jerry G also decided to follow Draper to WCFL;[41] upon his departure, he added the last name "Bishop", and later created the TV horror host persona Svengoolie.[42] He was replaced by WIXY's evening man Jack Armstrong, who then decided to call himself "Big Jack, Your Leader"; LaBarbara was moved to overnight to accommodate Armstrong's installation as the evening jock. In early 1967, the on air staff consisted of: LaBarbara, overnight; Charlie and Harrigan, morning drive; Bob Cole, late morning; Jay Lawrence, mid afternoons; Chuck Dann, afternoon drive; and Big Jack in the prime time slot.

WKYC "Radio 11" was a large record-selling influence as far away as New York City and Miami. However, its main local competition in those days was WIXY (1260 AM; "Super Radio"). Unlike WIXY, WKYC – being an NBC owned-and-operated station in a situation not unlike WRC (980 AM) in Washington – was obligated to carry all NBC Radio programming such as the weekend Monitor, as well as all top-of-the-hour NBC Radio newscasts. The NBC Radio afternoon daily network news feed was also based from WKYC's studios and anchored by Virgil Dominic,[43] who also served as WKYC-TV's lead news anchor.[44]

On February 1, 1968, at 3:05 pm, following an NBC Radio newscast, the station altered its presentation to Power Radio, a derivative of the Drake-Chenault-created "Boss Radio" Top-40 format, programmed for WKYC by Hal Moore. The new sound emphasized "more music" with less chatter between songs and a tighter playlist. Personalities at that time included Charlie and Harrigan, Bob Shannon, Chuck Dunaway, Lee 'Baby' Sims, Fred Winston, and Buddy Harrison. It remained a Top 40 station until February 1, 1969, when WKYC switched to an easy listening/middle of the road (MOR) format.[45] Specs Howard left WKYC shortly thereafter, with Jim Runyon returning to succeed him in morning drive.[46]

Following rumors that NBC was interested in divesting some or all of their radio stations,[47] NBC sold both WKYC and WKYC-FM to Ohio Communications, headed by sports franchiser Nick Mileti and investment firm C. F. Kettering, for approximately $5.5 million in a deal announced January 12, 1972.[48] Broadcast executives Tom and Jim Embrescia joined the ownership group as vice-president/general manager and sales manager, respectively.[49]

WWWE years

Not to be confused with Atlanta, Georgia-area radio station WWWE.

Full service and country years

The AM radio station's call letters were changed to WWWE (purportedly for Embrescia or Entertainment) and adopted the 3WE brand; WKYC-FM became WWWM (purportedly for Mileti or Music);[50] both changes took place on November 16, 1972.[15] WWWE retained WKYC's easy listening/MOR format,[51] but also added radio broadcasts for both the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers as Mileti owned both teams;[52] WERE (1300 AM) had previously served as the flagship for both. Pete Franklin also joined the station from WERE and hosted Sportsline, a five-hour long weeknight sports call-in show that also followed Indians and Cavaliers games,[53] quickly becoming a legend with his acerbic personality, boasting that the station's nighttime signal could be heard in "over 38 states and half of Canada."[54]

Following Jim Runyon's sudden departure and death from cancer in April 1973,[55] the morning drive shift was taken over by Larry Morrow, formerly of WIXY;[56][49] Morrow would be joined by Joe Tait as morning sportscaster, Tait also served as the lead play-by-play voice for both the Indians and Cavaliers.[54][57] In addition to Franklin, Morrow and Tait, the daytime lineup included at one time or another, Phil McLean, Al James, Jim Davis, Jack Reynolds, Tony Matthews, Jeff Elliot, Johnny Andrews, Lanny Wheeler, Lee Andrews, Ted Alexander and Bill King.

Both WWWE and WWWM slowly severed the last remaining ties to WKYC-TV and its prior NBC ownership throughout the 1970s. The transmitter for WWWE was moved back to their previous tower in Brecksville on September 5, 1974,[15] that tower is still in use today by WWWE's successor WTAM, along with FM stations WAKS (co-owned with WTAM) and WZAK.[58] In addition, the studios for both WWWE and WWWM were moved to Park Centre—known today as Reserve Square—that November 14.[15] WWWE would then drop its NBC Radio affiliation altogether by 1977.[6]

WWWE was sold to Combined Communications, Inc. in December 1976 for $7.5 million,[59] consummated the following September;[60] Ohio Communications retained WWWM. Combined Communications subsequently merged into Globe Broadcasting Corp., owner of WMGC (1260 AM) and WDOK;[61] WMGC was spun off to comply with then-existing ownership rules.[62] Gannett then merged into Combined Communications in June 1979 in a $370 million deal; at the time, it was one of the largest mergers and acquisitions in the broadcasting industry.[63]

In December 1981, WWWE switched formats to country branded as Country 11, going in direct competition with WHK (1420 AM) and WKSW (99.5 FM).[64] With the switch, the duo of Rick McGuire and Ron Marron were installed in morning drive, displacing Larry Morrow to afternoons;[64][65] Morrow eventually left the station.[56] Citing disappointing ratings and a waning audience in the market overall for country music, WWWE quietly switched back to an easy listening/MOR format in August 1983, again using the 3WE brand.[66][67]

"A Modell Miracle"

Further information: WKNR § "Moving" WJW to WWWE
 
Art Modell, majority owner of the Cleveland Browns from 1961 to 1996, also controlled WWWE parent Lake Erie Broadcasting from 1985 to 1987.

Gannett sold off both WWWE and WDOK to Lake Erie Broadcasting, controlled by then-Cleveland Browns majority owner Art Modell and minority owner Al Lerner, for $9.5 million in February 1985.[68] The purchase was seen by some as a surprise: Lake Erie consistently lost money operating WJW since purchasing it from Storer Communications in 1977,[69] and was under financial pressure to sell WJW[70] when that station's format changed from MOR to talk radio in July 1982.[71] WJW made a winning bid for the Browns radio broadcast rights that included the team taking an ownership stake in the station,[72] but minority owner Robert Gries sued Modell on charges of anti-competitive practices[73][74] and existing flagship WHK matched WJW's bid for the 1984 season.[72] Lake Erie's purchase of WWWE and WDOK came days after Lake Erie—not WJW specifically—managed to secure a long-term contract for the Browns effective with the 1985 season.[75] Despite Modell's history of questionable investments[69] and concerns he was heavily in debt,[76] he dismissed speculation that Lake Erie didn't have the money to complete the deal, claiming "our collective net worth far exceeds the price of these stations."[77]

Concurrent with the purchase and to meet regulatory approval, Lake Erie divested WJW to Booth American for $2.1 million.[78] Not included in the sale was WJW's talk format, which Lake Erie opted to "move" outright to WWWE.[79] Nearly all of WJW's air talent and management were reassigned to WWWE, with Pete Franklin's Sportsline as the lone program retained.[80] While neither WJW or WWWE had strong ratings, WJW's talk format had been drawing more younger listeners than competitor WERE,[81] while WWWE was now one of the lowest-rated stations[82] outside of sports programming.[83] Dismissed with the move were Ray Marshall,[80] David "Fig" Newton, Jack Reynolds and morning sportscaster Bruce Drennan[84] along with eight other staffers.[85] Franklin repeatedly threatened to leave WWWE during the latter days of Gannett ownership, and Drennan was seen in some circles as a potential replacement to host Sportsline.[86]

WJW general manager Art Caruso and news director John O'Day assumed like duties at WWWE, and were tasked with hiring Jim Muller's broadcast partner for the Browns broadcasts[87] which were also transferred to WWWE.[86] Along with the Indians and Cavs rights,[79] Lake Erie's takeover of WWWE resulted in the station now holding the broadcast rights to all three professional sports teams for the first time.[85] Newspaper reports recognized the transactions and format changes as "WWWE... became, in (essence), WJW",[79] or that WJW had "a new location on the radio dial".[88] The final week of programming over WJW had promos for both the talk format's "new home" on WWWE and Booth American's replacement format on WJW, rechristened as WRMR.[89] Indeed, the switchover at 11:00 a.m. on June 11, 1985,[80] had a "final sign-off" for WJW[90] followed by Cleveland mayor George Voinovich pressing a ceremonial switch on WWWE that completed the "move" of WJW's prior talk format.[84]

Along with Franklin, the "new" WWWE's lineup boasted an all-news block in morning drive, followed by hosts John McCullough, Michael Freedman, Merle Pollis and Joel Rose,[82] with NBC Talknet in the overnight hours.[91] The summer 1985 Arbitron book showed substantial ratings increases for WWWE after the switch to talk, surprising even the station's management and resulting in one paper calling their fifth-place showing "almost a Modell Miracle."[82] Ratings for WWWE remained higher than with the MOR format, but slowly stagnated against WERE despite a substantial promotional campaign centered around Pollis, Rose and Franklin.[92] Larry Elder, who was involved with local television productions in Cleveland, was inspired to enter talk radio after sitting in as a guest on Pollis' WWWE show.[93] The station bid aggressively against WHK and WERE to retain the Cleveland Indians rights during the summer of 1986, while Franklin—who now additionally did weekend work for St. Louis's KMOX[94]—again threatened to leave WWWE if it lost the Indians games.[95] McCullough and Freedman were both fired as part of an October 1986 lineup shakeup,[96] but Freedman returned less than two months later following Joel Rose's resignation after a contract dispute,[97] while Pollis subsequently left to reunite with Rose over at WERE.[98]

Losing Pete Franklin, sale to Independent Group

Most people didn't think he'd go (to New York) because there have been stories of Pete (Franklin) leaving before, and he always stayed. Pete has dominated the market for 21 years. He always held the trump card, and he usually played it to get a raise and stay here. But I think he got such a lucrative deal from New York, and the money, combined with the idea of climbing that one last big mountain, was too much for him to resist.

Nev Chandler[99]

As May 1987 began, Lake Erie entered into negotiations to sell WWWE to Jacor for $14 million;[100] Jacor already owned WBBG and WMJI—the former WWWM—while concurrently putting WBBG up for sale.[101] Had the deal closed, WWWE would have been added to a growing portfolio that included Cincinnati's WLW and Denver's KOA.[102] The WWWE sale, however, was jeopardized after Franklin announced intentions to leave WWWE for a lucrative two-year contract with New York City's WHN to headline a new all-sports format to be named "WFAN".[103] Days after the announcement, Franklin underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery at the Cleveland Clinic following a massive heart attack,[104][105] which some attributed to stress over the New York move[99] while Franklin attributed it to a poor diet.[106] Calls to Sportsline in the wake of Franklin's heart attack were filled with well-wishers, particularly from females;[107] WHN's station manager John Chanin recognized Franklin as "a very sincere, warm person" unlike his radio persona, and that the possibility of leaving Cleveland affected him deeply.[99] WWWE was forced to use a variety of guest hosts for Sportsline that included Nev Chandler[108] and Gib Shanley,[109] along with nationally known figures Bob Costas, Paul McGuire and Dick Vitale.[91] Franklin ultimately chose to leave Cleveland for WFAN by that September.[110]

Jacor withdrew their purchase offer of WWWE due to Franklin's departure,[111] having considered him an "important asset".[100] Lake Erie ended up selling both WDOK and WWWE to Independent Group, Inc. on August 3, 1987, for a combined $13.5 million, a $4 million net profit for Modell's syndicate.[111] Independent Group marked a return to WWWE for both Tom Embrescia and Tom Wilson, while co-investor Larry Pollock had experience with Larry Robinson's broadcasting interests.[111] Real estate magnate and Cleveland Force owner Bert Wolstein also was an investor, reportedly owning almost 50 percent of the station,[112] but promised the Force would honor their existing radio contract with WGAR.[113] Coincidentally, WWWE morning sportscaster Mike Snyder, who called the Force games over WGAR, was himself dismissed.[113] Bruce Drennan returned to WWWE in November 1987 as guest host of Sportsline, asserting that "the show needs me"; Drennan was contacted directly by Tom Wilson and had worked previously for Embresica at WBBG.[114] Meanwhile, Michael Freedman was fired from WWWE for the second time in one year, this time owing to a disagreement over paid vacations.[115] Former WSLR executive Harvey Simms was hired by the outgoing management to be the station's marketing director, then was promoted to general manager by the new ownership less than three months later.[116] David George, a station veteran of eight years, was also promoted from production director to program director.[117]

Enter Gary Dee and Drennan

I'm amazed at his instinct for entertainment. I don't even know whether he actually knows how he does it, but knowing what's going to make people respond—for better, for worse, or whatever—is totally natural for him. A lot of people say, 'I hate what Gary did yesterday, I hate what he did today, and I'm gonna hate what he does tomorrow, too.'

David George, WWWE program director, on Gary Dee[117]

Despite Bruce Drennan's open lobbying for the open Sportsline slot, he was generally seen as a long shot to take over the program.[109] Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon Journal regarded Drennan as having "a voice that sounds as if he gargled with Drano"[114] and in ranking probable Sportsline hosts, said of Drennan, "if nothing else, he's available."[108] WWWE general manager Harvey Simms promised a permanent host by the end of 1987,[116] to which Pete Franklin commented, "When Jack Kennedy was shot, they had a guy lined up in a few minutes, but it has taken them seven months to replace (me)... what that tells me is the new owners don't have the money to pay anybody."[112] WWWE also conducted a newspaper poll to help choose Franklin's successor; Dan Coughlin, who also was a Sportsline fill-in host,[108] retrospectively called the polling process less honest than the "fan vote" for the 1988 MLB All-Star Game and the Rolling Stone "Radio Station of the Year" poll that WMMS infamously rigged.[118] Drennan was chosen to host Sportsline on December 28, 1987, beating out WERE's Greg Brinda, setting off a war of words between the two—and between Franklin and Drennan—while Franklin committed to an interview on Brinda's competing show.[112]

 
Bruce Drennan

Drennan's addition was one of many changes ushered in at WWWE that sought to reorient the audience towards the 25–54 demographic typically accustomed to rock music and the FM dial.[117] While Simms merely suggested at first of "fine-tuning and polishing" the format,[116] program director David George intended to make WWWE the top-rated station in Cleveland overall, "...and we were not going to do it with conventional news/talk."[117] The station hired shock jock Gary Dee (Gilbert) for the midday slot on January 7, 1988, replacing John Dayle, who would rejoin Merle Pollis and Joel Rose at WERE.[119] Dee's hiring came after management and all six Independent Group stakeholders agreed by consensus.[120] Dee's conservative-leaning populist persona was often compared to onetime WERE host Morton Downey Jr.,[117] while the Beacon Journal's Bob Dyer said, "he makes Jerry Falwell sound like a flaming liberal."[120] After the acquittal of a Lorain man on charges of molesting his daughter, Dee publicly attacked both the judge and county prosecutor,[121] insinuating that their children should be raped while going into graphic detail on the case and giving out their phone numbers; the station later apologized.[117] Dee's often-inflammatory remarks, coupled with several off-color statements by Drennan on Sportsline,[122] soon prompted Dyer to ask, "is WWWE trying to corner the market on racism?"[123] A fishing boat owned by Dee was intentionally burned while he was on vacation, prompting WWWE to offer a cash reward in exchange for information.[117]

It was David "Fig" Newton, who returned to WWWE as afternoon host on April 11, 1988,[124] that netted the most negative attention. 38 days after his show debuted, a WJW-TV report filed by Carl Monday revealed Newton was previously convicted on charges of purchasing a videotape that contained child pornography.[125] After winding up on a mailing list after purchasing an art film containing nudity, government agents attempted to bait him with porn mail catalogs, and he purchased a tape after the eighth attempt.[126] Monday confronted Newton about the allegations while Newton conducted his show in the WWWE studios, while the U.S. attorney that handled Newton's case revealed he was fired from his prior job in Denver over the conviction.[125] Dee began his show the following morning pillorying Newton, declaring he would refuse to work at a station that employed "a child molester",[126] and Newton resigned later that day.[125] Danny Wright and humorist Tom Bush took Newton's time slot in what was termed "rock radio without the music".[117] Even with all the controversy, WWWE ascended to fourth place in the spring 1988 Arbitron book, helped largely by Dee and the Indians.[127][128] However, the station's Indians commitments caused the majority of the Cavaliers' 1988 playoff run to air on WRMR and WDOK instead.[129] In response, Joe Tait—who had taken over as head of Cavaliers broadcasting operations[130]—ended the contract with WWWE and moved the flagship to WRMR.[131]

Indecency fallout

Danny Wright was fired from WWWE at the end of 1988, with Wright expressing disappointment over the station's lack of promotional support and being "stuck in the middle" between Dee and Drennan.[132] Tom Bush was subsequently paired with Bob Becker until a further lineup revamp on April 10, 1989, had Becker moved to mornings, incumbent morning host Bob Fuller moved to middays, and Dee moved to afternoons.[133] Veteran executive Nick Anthony joined WWWE as program director, replacing programming consultant Eric Stevens; Anthony was hired after Harvey Simms learned about his availability through reading a Beacon Journal story about his departure from WKDD days earlier.[134] Anthony promptly cut down the volume of commercials WWWE was obligated to run via radio network commitments to 14 minutes per hour; at one point, the station aired as much as 20 to 22 minutes of commercials per hour.[135] Rumors emerged of Anthony replacing Drennan with XETRA-AM announcer Lee Hamilton, as both previously worked together in Akron, while Greg Brinda's WERE show started to outdraw Drennan in the ratings.[136] NBC Talknet was dropped in favor of ABC Radio's Tom Snyder and Sally Jessy Raphael, with Snyder marking the WWWE addition by interviewing the station's overnight board operator, coincidentally named Tom Snyder.[137] Anthony only lasted for five months before resigning in mid-June 1989, one week after weekender Geoff Sindelar took over as Sportsline host;[138] Sindelar had gained notoriety as a regular caller to Pete Franklin.[139] Drennan subsequently assumed Sindelar's prior weekend duties.[140]

I just didn't follow directions. I'm my own worst enemy. Gary Dee drives Gary Gilbert crazy.

Gary Dee (Gilbert), explaining his August 1989 firing from WWWE[141]

The controversy surrounding Gary Dee reached a breaking point on August 25, 1989,[142] when WWWE confirmed Dee had been suspended indefinitely[143] 9 days earlier after a formal indecency complaint against him was filed with the FCC,[141] the second complaint against him in one year. Three months of Dee airchecks were included in the complaint, some of which contained profanity broadcast over the air, which Dee attributed to faulty equipment.[142] As the FCC was launching an anti-indecency campaign focused on both radio and television,[144][145] WWWE executives were worried that the station's license, which was up for renewal, could be revoked.[142] Dee was fired on August 31, 1989, with the station merely explaining the move as "a decision... to pursue a different direction" and denied it had anything to do with the complaint,[141] while Dee claimed, "they had every reason to fire me because I didn't follow directions."[146] Dee's ratings overall had been a disappointment for WWWE management, as he was previously a perennially top-rated host at WERE and WHK.[141] The FCC's anti-indecency campaign specifically cited Dee's June 15, 1989, show for multiple discussions on-air regarding sexual fantasies and behavior; WWWE was one of eight stations given a 30-day notice by the agency to address the allegations.[147]

The station filled the vacancy left by Dee with Bob Becker paired with friend and radio novice Luther Heggs, while Bob Fuller returned to mornings, and Beth Albright was brought in from Birmingham, Alabama, to host Fuller's former midday slot.[148] Pete Franklin also "returned" to WWWE with daily sports commentaries during the morning and afternoon shows.[149] The biggest change, however, occurred on December 23, 1989, when Booth American purchased WWWE from Independent Group in exchange for $10 million in cash and WRMR, effectively making the deal an asset swap[150][151] and the station's fifth overall ownership change since 1972.[152] The cash considerations were a motivating factor for Independent to sell off WWWE[152] while the company's principals were happy to retain an AM property.[150] Without Dee, WWWE fell to ninth place in the Arbitron book, while WRMR ranked at tenth place.[152] Booth retained the Cavaliers radio network flagship rights, transferring it back to WWWE,[153] while also purchasing the production rights to the Browns and Indians networks from Sports Marketing, controlled by Tom Wilson.[154] The transaction was delayed for several months due to the FCC investigation against Dee[155] with WWWE later paying an $8,000 fine.[156] The outgoing Independent Group management retained the ability[157] to hire Tom Hamilton as Herb Score's Indians broadcast partner prior to the start of the 1990 season with Booth's blessing.[158]

The "Monster on the Lake"

 
WWWE logo from 1990 to 1996.

Booth's takeover of WWWE was regarded in the local press as a "purge" with much of the airstaff going on-air to discuss their fates.[155] Dismissed were Bob Fuller, Beth Albright, Bob Becker, Luther Heggs, Steve Church and Bruce Drennan,[159] with Geoff Sindelar retained as Sportsline host on an interim basis.[155] Lee Hamilton again expressed interest in joining WWWE, having been friends with much of the new Booth management,[160] but couldn't agree to a contract after expressing a desire to also do play-by-play announcing.[155] When the deal closed on June 25, 1990,[161] WWWE filled the majority of their daytime lineup with syndicated fare: Dr. Joy Browne in late mornings and The Rush Limbaugh Show and Dr. Dean Edell in afternoons, Rush's program having moved over from WERE.[159] Browne's show was added after Fuller declined an offer to host middays and was only temporary as syndicator ABC Radio planned on cancelling it by that September.[162] Lee Kirk from Toledo's WSPD was ultimately brought in for the timeslot.[163]

The station went aggressive on news with rolling all-news blocks launched in morning and afternoon drive[155] along with an hourlong noon block.[159] A 12-person 24-hour news department was instituted with ABC-Information newscasts replacing CBS; Booth executive Roger Turner cited ABC's "tighter writing and a faster delivery" as the reason for the switch.[159] Turner himself became a on-air presence with daily editorials also implemented by Booth.[162] By virtue of common ownership with WLTF, WWWE also became involved with WLTF's Coats for Kids charity campaign, which was launched by Booth American in 1981.[164] New studios were constructed for WWWE and WLTF at the Western Reserve Building in the Warehouse District[165] with an additional studio at the Nautica Entertainment Complex for sports talk shows.[166] Newsman Ed Coury, who rejoined WWWE upon the Booth takeover as co-host of the morning news block,[155] was eventually promoted to news director at the end of 1991.[167] The afternoon news block co-anchored by Bob Henderson[159] soon evolved into a talk show in its own right, with Henderson eschewing confrontational arguments in favor of a polite demeanor.[168]

Sindelar departed the station on October 3, 1990,[169] after a series of changes by management limiting the number of phone calls to his show when listener surveys revealed multiple complaints that the same people were always calling in constantly.[170] Sportscaster Mike Snyder, who joined the station the previous month, took over as Sportsline host,[171] while Sindelar resurfaced at WKNR.[172] Despite simulcasting all games throughout the 1990 season with WLTF,[173] WWWE lost the Cleveland Browns rights after the season ended, with WHK prevailing in a bidding war against WKNR.[174] Following the 1991 season, WWWE ended its radio contract with the Cleveland Indians, with the flagship rights going to WKNR.[175] WWWE hired Craig Carton as Sportsline host in April 1992, replacing Snyder, who was promoted to sports director, a position he holds to this day;[176] Carton left the station in May 1993.[177] WWWE picked up Imus in the Morning for morning drive in September 1993 after Westwood One offered up the show for national syndication.[178]

 
WTAM's transmitter tower in Brecksville, with a backup tower in the foreground. The original transmitter building is to the far right.[179]

In April 1994, Booth American merged with Broadcast Alchemy to form Secret Communications in a $160 million deal.[180] Gary Bruce was hired from WIOD in Miami as program director that May,[181] and re-oriented WWWE back to a "shock radio" style of talk the station offered in the late 1980s, acknowledging that WWWE was the poorest-performing station in Secret's 14-station chain.[182] General manager Dennis Best cited the low ratings of Lee Kirk and Bob Henderson, coupled with ratings successes for "deejays who talk and act like the common man" as the impetus for WWWE's changes.[183] Bruce hired two hosts from WIOD: Chuck Meyer for mornings, replacing Imus in the Morning,[184] and Jaz McKay for late mornings, replacing Kirk.[183] The duo of Jeff Kinzbach and Ed "Flash" Ferenc were installed in afternoon drive hosting a show not dissimilar to their former morning show on WMMS.[182] Mike Trivisonno took over as Sportsline host on July 11, 1994, with former host Mike Snyder becoming the program's update anchor.[185] Like Sindelar, Trivisonno was a regular caller to Pete Franklin's iteration of the show and was derisively dubbed "Mr. Know It All" by Franklin.[103]

McKay's show was a notable ratings failure,[186] and was moved to overnights in late March 1995,[187] with Rich Michaels taking over the late-morning timeslot.[188] Aside from Limbaugh, WWWE struggled in the ratings and was even outranked substantially by WRMR, prompting the dismissals of Bruce and McKay.[187] The Bob & Tom Show was added in evenings via tape-delay in October 1995[189] amid speculation that the station could go all-news outside of Limbaugh and Trivisonno.[190] WWWE itself would make news on January 23, 1996, when its traffic plane hit a cellular phone tower and crashed in Highland Hills, killing both MetroTraffic reporter James Endsley (who was known on-air as Fred Wesley) and pilot James McVeigh.[191]

WTAM (1996–present)

New name and an emerging "Triv"

All I'll say right now is that we're re-evaluating how we identify ourselves. But let's put it this way - we can't change being on the AM band or our frequency, can we?

Bobby Hatfield, WTAM program director[192]

 
WTAM logo from 1996–2018, introduced after the callsign change.

WWWE phased out the "3WE" branding entirely in June 1996 and started to simply identify as "AM 1100", with the only mention of the call letters during the top-of-hour station identification.[193] Program director Bobby Hatfield (Joe Reilly)[194] confirmed to The Plain Dealer on July 1, 1996, that a call sign change was imminent, management perceived the WWWE letters and "3WE" name as "stodgy and antiquated" that inhibited efforts to recast the station's identity as newer and aggressive.[192] The WTAM calls were reclaimed after looking over available call signs with an "AM" in them and having rejected "WZAM" and "WUAM" because of similarities to WZAK and WUAB.[1] That WTAM had been the station's original identifier did hold some historical significance but merely served as incidental;[1] Hatfield said of the process to rename the station, "we can't change being on the AM band or our frequency, can we?"[192][a]

With the call sign change to WTAM on July 29, 1996,[195] the lineup was revamped again. Jeff Kinzbach and Ed Ferenc were moved to morning drive but with Kinzbach as the main host and Ferenc providing special features and commentaries; Hatfield said of the rearrangement, "we're going to make Ed the Paul Harvey of Cleveland".[196] An hour-long news block at noon was reinstated, Mike Trivisonno's Sportsline was moved to afternoon drive, and Dr. Laura Schlessinger—which WWWE picked up for weekends in late May along with the nightly Coast to Coast AM[197]—was added in early evenings.[196] The station also signed up as a charter affiliate of the Baltimore Ravens radio network for the 1996 season for any Browns fans wanting to follow the team out of curiosity, and filled all local advertising breaks with public service announcements.[198] WTAM's ratings experienced a resurgence in the Fall 1996 Arbitron book, moving to ninth place overall, sixth place in afternoon drive, and third place in afternoons among the 25–54 male demographic.[199]

I think Mike (Trivisonno) is a very nice man, for a very socially retarded ignoramus. The fact that he has a platform on a 50,000-watt radio station makes me want to vomit. He says what people want to say but can't... The danger is that he doesn't offer any analysis with that; he can't be bothered with the facts. Mike just hasn't grown up.

Merle Pollis[200]

While still formally called Sportsline, the show soon evolved into an "anything goes" format after Mike Trivisonno's move to afternoons with executive producer Marty Allen, call screener Jerry Jaye, producer Paul Rado, and update anchor Mike Snyder among the on-air cast.[200] A mail-in listener poll conducted by Plain Dealer radio critic Roger Brown in the summer of 1996 named Trivisonno the "Voice of Cleveland", beating WRMR's Bill Randle.[201] Brown's criticism of Trivisonno, at one point comparing him to "the obnoxious race-baiting of your average bigot rally leader... (but) has his own teeth",[202] attracted negative attention when a fan-made inflammatory billboard was erected in Cleveland's West Side with numerous racial epithets against Brown.[203] An Italian-American, Trivisonno freely used the pejorative "dago" in self-deprecating nature, parodying the "megadittos" catchphrase used by callers to Rush Limbaugh's show with "megadagos" among his callers, explaining, "words like that don't bother me... they are only words... if everyone thought that way, those words would go away."[200] Indeed, Trivisonno often referred to himself as a "dumb dago from the East Side of Cleveland with a 10th grade education"[204] but took it as a compliment whenever people likened him to Pete Franklin, Howard Stern and Gary Dee, all three he held in high regard.[200]

Reclaiming the Indians

Secret divested their entire nine-station group to SFX Broadcasting on October 8, 1996,[205] in a $300 million deal.[206] Conventional wisdom had SFX promptly reselling WTAM and WLTF to a third party,[207] given their track record of buying and selling stations quickly.[208] Secret withdrew the Cleveland stations—valued at $45 million—from the deal in mid-January 1997; executive Frank Wood stated the company never wanted to sell them and considered purchasing additional stations in the market.[206] However, Jacor bought WTAM and WLTF on April 25, 1997, for $23.9 million in cash[209] and $21 million in company stock,[210] ten years after having called off their prior purchase of WWWE.[111] General manager Dennis Best said after the deal was struck, "short of Secret keeping us, Jacor buying us is the best thing that could have happened."[211] Jacor's purchase occurred six weeks after Secret was rumored to purchase WKNR, which was running an annual deficit of $1 million due to their recently renewed Indians contract being a loss leader.[212] Talks soon began between Jacor and WKNR owner Cablevision,[213] which sold that station for $8.7 million on August 19, 1997.[214][215] Speculation soon centered on Jacor programming WTAM far more aggressively to attract additional male listeners, and that WTAM's prior moves gave them a head start.[210]

Rich Michaels was fired on June 16, 1997, with Dr. Laura taking his late-morning spot on the lineup under the belief her program would draw higher ratings.[216] One month later, WTAM recruited Morton Downey Jr. to host a local evening show,[217] but Downey abruptly resigned after six weeks.[218] Former WERE host Rick Gilmour took his place, but was not named a permanent host as Jacor disclosed plans to move the Indians rights to WTAM once their purchase of WKNR was complete.[219] Kinzbach and Ferenc were dismissed on October 5, 1997, with an all-news block taking their place in mornings.[220] When Jacor assumed operations of WKNR on January 4, 1998, Trivisonno hosted a day-long marathon on that station, the last four hours simulcast on WTAM.[221] The Indians flagship formally was transferred to WTAM with the 1998 home opener on April 10, 1998.[222] Pete Franklin also returned to host Sportsline once a week via a home studio at his San Diego residence,[139] but quit several weeks later in protest over Trivisonno's aforementioned on-air use of ethnic pejoratives, which reportedly hurt Trivisonno.[223] On August 10, 1998, Jacor traded WKNR to Capstar Broadcasting in exchange for Pittsburgh's WTAE[224] in order to clear regulatory approval for their $620 million purchase of Nationwide Communications.[225] Clear Channel then purchased Jacor in a $6.5 billion deal announced on October 8, 1998;[226][227] by then, Jacor had already acquired Premiere Networks—the syndicators for Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Dean Edell, Dr. Laura and Coast to Coast AM[228]—all of which WTAM now aired via vertical integration.[229]

Veteran radio executive Kevin Metheny was named WTAM's operations director in June 1998, eventually overseeing the entire Jacor-Clear Channel Cleveland cluster.[230] Bill Wills was transferred from co-owned WLW in July 1998[231] to host the all-news morning drive block,[232] and was paired with newscaster John Webster and sports anchor Casey Coleman for Wills, Webster and Coleman in the Morning.[233] Bruce Drennan, who had made another return to the station in 1995 for weekend/fill-in work,[234] was once again named Sportsline host.[235] WTAM enjoyed substantial ratings success thanks to the Indians' 1998 playoff run and the impeachment trial of President Clinton, reaching fifth place overall and Trivisonno at first place overall in the Fall 1998 Arbitron book.[233] Jacor won a bidding war for the expansion Cleveland Browns' broadcast rights, with WMJI as the flagship and WTAM simulcasting games;[236] Coleman was also named as sideline reporter for the Browns broadcasts. Drennan left the station again on July 26, 2000, after failing to agree on a new contract; by then, WTAM had become the top-ranked overall station in the Spring 2000 Arbitron book.[235]

Consolidation and changes

 
Bill Wills

Dr. Laura was replaced on the weekday schedule with Glenn Beck following the September 11 attacks; Kevin Metheny said of Glenn after the switch, "he has a greater inclination to entertain and relate, rather than evangelize," and felt Dr. Laura's ratings were "disappointing".[237] John Webster's presence on Wills, Webster and Coleman ended on November 2, 2001, after a downsizing effort that also saw seven other staffers in the cluster fired.[238] WTAM's studios, along with the studios for all other Clear Channel Cleveland stations, were consolidated into a new facility in Independence in 2002, with one newspaper story calling the arrangement "a food court of radio, with McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell".[230] Beck was replaced in March 2005 with Jerry Springer's mid-morning show, which WTAM dropped the following March in favor of a local program hosted by Bob Frantz, formerly with WSPD in Toledo. Beck's show was then brought back on November 3, 2008, bumping Frantz to evenings.[239] Casey Coleman died at the age of 55 on November 27, 2006, following a fifteen-month bout with pancreatic cancer;[240] Mike Snyder succeeded Casey on the morning show, renamed Wills and Snyder. The station was one of 10 stations awarded the 2007 Crystal Radio Award for public service awarded by the National Association of Broadcasters at the Radio Luncheon on April 17, 2007.[241]

WTAM added a mid-morning debate program titled The Spew on March 11, 2013, with Trivisonno and Bob Frantz as debate partners and Dave Ramos as moderator.[242] Frantz was fired from WTAM on July 8, 2014, due to "corporate restructuring" but alluded heavily to financial issues surrounding Clear Channel[243] which itself was renamed iHeartMedia one month later.[244] Nick Camino replaced Frantz in evenings,[243] while John Lanigan replaced Frantz as Trivisonno's debate partner on The Spew, with Mike Snyder now as moderator.[245]: 154  Lanigan, who had retired from WMJI earlier in the year, was reluctant to take the job and had barely if ever interacted with Trivisonno, but the two became friendly when Trivisonno offered to interview Lanigan for one program and Lanigan returned the favor the next day.[245]: 152–153  While Lanigan initially viewed the show as a way to "get up in the morning and read the newspapers... (keeping) me alert, alive and involved”,[246] he abruptly quit during the middle of the August 8, 2018, episode,[247] citing a lack of enjoyment, disinterest in the topics discussed and feeling unqualified to express his opinion.[248] Following a brief period with Jensen Lewis as a fill-in co-host, The Spew was retired on September 24, 2018, for an hour-long local program hosted by Geraldo Rivera,[249] with Lewis and Trivisonno joining Camino in early evenings for Sports Feed 2.0.[250] Camino left the station in 2019 to join WKYC as a sports reporter and weekend sports anchor.[251]

Losing Rush and Triv

If there's a Mount Rushmore of Cleveland radio, Mike Trivisonno is right there on the forefront... Mike Trivisonno is on that.

Mike Snyder[252]

Rush Limbaugh remained on the lineup until his February 2021 death; following four months of "best of" tribute shows,[253] WTAM—by virtue of iHeartMedia ownership—became a charter affiliate of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show on June 18, 2021.[254] An even larger shock to the station, however, happened when Mike Trivisonno died suddenly on October 28, 2021, hours before his afternoon drive show was to have started.[255] Co-hosts Carmen Angelo[256] and Seth Williams, along with WTAM program director Ray Davis, hosted a memorial program that day in Trivisonno's time slot, the start of which was delayed by an hour with various taped press conferences airing as filler.[257] Industry blogger Lance Venta commented that Trivisonno's show on the night Art Modell revealed plans to relocate the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore "may have been one of the best one-night ... talk radio shows in history."[258]

After a period of rotating guest hosts that included Angelo and Williams,[259] WTAM appointed David "Bloomdaddy" Blomquist, morning host at sister station WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia, as Trivisonno's replacement[260] with Angelo retained as a co-host. Blomquist's WWVA show, which he had hosted since 2005,[261] was regionally syndicated to other talk stations in the region including Akron's WHLO.[262][263] Geraldo Rivera left at the end of March 2022 owing to an increased role with Fox News;[264] his replacement in the mid-morning time slot was comedian Jimmy Malone, John Lanigan's former co-host at WMJI.[265]

Programming

Regular schedule

Local personalities on WTAM include Bill Wills and Mike Snyder in morning drive, Jimmy Malone late mornings,[265] David "Bloomdaddy" Blomquist in afternoon drive[262] and Dennis Manoloff evenings. The station also carries The Glenn Beck Program, The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show[254] (late morning/midday) and Coast to Coast AM (overnight).[266] Weekends feature Gary Sullivan,[267] Bill Cunningham, The City Club of Cleveland's Friday Forum[268] and The Lutheran Hour, along with Fox Sports Radio in lieu of any sports play-by-play.[269]

WTAM airs national news updates from ABC News Radio and Fox News Radio, and local news and weather updates from WKYC.[270]

Play-by-play

WTAM is the AM flagship of a 28-station network for the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) with play-by-play announcer Tim Alcorn, color analyst Jim Chones, Mike Snyder as pregame/postgame studio host, and Brad Sellers as postgame analyst.[271] WTAM is also the AM flagship for a 29-station network for the Cleveland Guardians (MLB) with Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus as announcers. The flagship statuses for both networks are shared with WMMS, since 2013 for the Guardians[b] and 2014 for the Cavaliers; all games for both teams are broadcast live and limited solely to terrestrial broadcasts.[272][273]

WTAM additionally airs select Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball games in the event of conflicts with CSU flagship and sister station WARF.[274]

FM translator

As of September 6, 2018, WTAM simulcasts over low-power Cleveland FM translator W295DE (106.9 FM).[275]

Notes

  1. ^ The WWWE calls were later assigned to a 5,000-watt daytime station in the Atlanta market, also at 1100 AM.
  2. ^ The franchise was renamed from the Cleveland Indians at the start of the 2022 season.

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External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to WTAM.
  • Official website
  • WTAM in the FCC AM station database
  • WTAM on Radio-Locator
  • WTAM in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
  • FCC History Cards for WTAM
FM translator
  • W295DE in the FCC FM station database
  • W295DE on Radio-Locator

April 23, 2023
wtam, television, station, licensed, tampa, florida, 1100, commercial, radio, station, licensed, cleveland, ohio, carries, news, talk, sports, format, commonly, known, newsradio, 1100, owned, iheartmedia, serves, greater, cleveland, much, surrounding, northeas. For the television station licensed to Tampa Florida see WTAM LD WTAM 1100 AM is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Ohio and carries a news talk sports format commonly known as Newsradio WTAM 1100 Owned by iHeartMedia WTAM serves Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio and is a clear channel station with extended nighttime range WTAM is also Northeast Ohio s primary entry point station in the Emergency Alert System 2 WTAMCleveland OhioUnited StatesBroadcast areaGreater ClevelandNortheast OhioFrequency1100 kHzBrandingNewsradio WTAM 1100ProgrammingLanguage s EnglishFormatNews talk sportsAffiliationsABC News RadioFox News RadioFox Sports RadioPremiere NetworksCavaliers AudioVerseCleveland Guardians Radio NetworkCleveland State VikingsOwnershipOwneriHeartMedia Inc iHM Licenses LLC Sister stationsWAKS HD2 WARFWGAR FMWHLKWMJIWMMS HD2 HistoryFirst air dateSeptember 26 1923 99 years ago 1923 09 26 Former call signsWTAM 1923 1956 KYW 1956 1965 WKYC 1965 1972 WWWE 1972 1996 Former frequencies750 kHz 1923 1926 770 kHz 1926 1927 1070 kHz 1927 1941 Call sign meaningAM band 1 Technical informationLicensing authorityFCCFacility ID59595ClassAPower50 000 watts unlimitedTransmitter coordinates41 16 50 00 N 81 37 22 00 W 41 2805556 N 81 6227778 W 41 2805556 81 6227778Translator s 106 9 W295DE Cleveland LinksPublic license informationPublic fileLMSWebcastListen live via iHeartRadio Websitewtam wbr iheart wbr comThe station first carried the WTAM call letters from 1923 to 1956 assigned sequentially by the U S Department of Commerce the letters were later treated as a backronym for Where The Artisans Meet Founded by Willard Storage Battery and later owned by Cleveland Electric Illuminating and the Van Sweringen brothers as the 1920s ended WTAM was purchased by RCA in 1930 becoming a core station in the NBC Radio Network NBC sold WTAM FM adjunct WTAM FM 105 7 and TV adjunct WNBK channel 3 to Westinghouse Broadcasting in 1956 in exchange for their AM and TV stations in Philadelphia whereupon the Cleveland properties assumed the KYW calls That sale was ultimately reversed in 1965 with NBC returning and all three Cleveland stations renamed as WKYC Sold to Cleveland entrepreneur Nick Mileti in 1972 WKYC became 3WE WWWE carrying a mixture of middle of the road and sports play by play in particular the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers and Pete Franklin s Sportsline talk show The station adopted its current talk radio format in 1985 after being purchased by a syndicate headed by Art Modell and Al Lerner a subsequent sale took WWWE s talk programming into a controversial direction with Gary Dee and Bruce Drennan at one point putting the station s license into question Booth American later Secret Communications took over WWWE in 1990 revamping the lineup several times and hiring Mike Trivisonno as Sportsline host in 1994 later moving him to afternoon drive to much success WWWE re adopted the WTAM call letters in 1996 to reinforce the station s position on the AM band station management considered the historical tie a nice bonus but more incidental than anything else 1 Purchased by Jacor in 1997 WTAM has been owned by Clear Channel since 1999 renamed iHeartMedia in 2014 WTAM is the Cleveland affiliate for both ABC News Radio and Fox News Radio the AM flagship for the Cavaliers AudioVerse and Cleveland Guardians Radio Network the market outlet for The Glenn Beck Program The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show and Coast to Coast AM and the radio home of Jimmy Malone Studios for WTAM are located in the Six Six Eight Building in downtown Cleveland s Gateway District and the transmitter is located south of Cleveland in Brecksville Besides its main analog transmission WTAM simulcasts over low power analog Cleveland translator W295DE 106 9 FM and streams online via iHeartRadio Contents 1 History 1 1 WTAM 1923 1956 1 1 1 Early years 1 1 2 Clear channel status 1 1 3 The NBC years 1 2 KYW The Westinghouse years 1 3 WKYC years 1 4 WWWE years 1 4 1 Full service and country years 1 4 2 A Modell Miracle 1 4 3 Losing Pete Franklin sale to Independent Group 1 4 4 Enter Gary Dee and Drennan 1 4 5 Indecency fallout 1 4 6 The Monster on the Lake 1 5 WTAM 1996 present 1 5 1 New name and an emerging Triv 1 5 2 Reclaiming the Indians 1 5 3 Consolidation and changes 1 5 4 Losing Rush and Triv 2 Programming 2 1 Regular schedule 2 2 Play by play 3 FM translator 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditWTAM 1923 1956 Edit Early years Edit Original WTAM transmitter site 1923 3 WTAM began broadcast operations on September 26 1923 4 It was one of several stations that started between 1922 and 1923 with a call sign assigned sequentially by the Commerce Department with W as the first letter and A as the third 5 It was originally owned by S E Lawrence and Theodore Willard in the name of the Willard Storage Battery Company 6 Initially the station only offered three hours of nightly programming but soon expanded its on air lineup Studios were located in the Willard factory on Taft Avenue at East 131st Street 4 By June 30 1924 WTAM was broadcasting with 1 000 watts and sharing the 770 kHz frequency with WJAX 7 WJAX had signed on earlier in 1922 owned by the Union Trust Co In 1924 it was known as the Wave from Lake Erie The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company purchased WJAX in 1925 and changed to the callsign to WEAR Finally Willard Battery purchased WEAR to have control of shared frequency allocation 8 WTAM studios in Union Trust Building circa 1926WTAM was the first radio station to broadcast coverage of a political convention when it covered the 1924 Republican National Convention at Cleveland s Public Auditorium from June 10 12 1924 4 6 The station s power increased to 2 500 watts in 1925 and to 3 500 watts in 1926 as the studios moved to the Union Trust Building now The 925 Building By June 30 1927 WTAM and WEAR broadcast on 750 kHz with WTAM broadcasting with 3 500 watts 9 The January 31 1928 Radio Service Bulletin of the Commerce Department listed WTAM broadcasting with 3 500 watts at night and 5 000 watts during the day 10 Clear channel status Edit After Willard Battery threatened to close the station WTAM and WEAR were purchased by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company now part of FirstEnergy and the Van Sweringen brothers on May 31 1928 In a statement announcing the purchase the new owners declared Recognizing the fact that this radio station is a civic asset to the Greater Cleveland district and that the cessation of its operation would be a real loss the Van Sweringen interests and the Illuminating Co entered into arrangements to continue it Every effort will be made to maintain the station on a plane which will make it of maximum value to the community 11 When the new Federal Radio Commission instituted General Order 40 after the passage of the Radio Act of 1927 WTAM along with sister station WEAR at that point absorbed into WTAM entirely claimed the clear channel frequency allocated to Cleveland and on November 11 1928 it began broadcasting at 1070 kHz with WTAM broadcasting at 50 000 watts 12 In 1929 the station built two broadcast towers in Brecksville Ohio each 200 feet high 4 The NBC years Edit Gene Carroll and Glenn Rowell in 1935 With its national prominence as a clear channel giant established WTAM became a valuable radio property NBC purchased WTAM on October 16 1930 and the studios were moved to the Auditorium Building 4 The station became a major link in the NBC Red Network contributing some programming to the network Around 1930 Gene Carroll and Glenn Rowell brought their vaudeville humor to WTAM with the Gene and Glenn show 13 14 The duo became famous for their characters Jake amp Lena WTAM originated the program for nationwide broadcast on the NBC Red Network and it aired six days a week for five years WTAM also originated the venerable Lum and Abner show on the NBC Red Network five days a week during one year of its run from May 22 1933 to March 30 1934 sponsored by the Ford Dealers of America NBC began to make substantial investments to station facilities in the 1930s WTAM moved their studio operations to 815 Superior Avenue on February 7 1937 15 renamed the NBC Building it is known today as the Superior Building That same year a new tower was built in Brecksville which was 480 feet tall On March 29 1941 with the implementation of NARBA WTAM moved its broadcast frequency from 1070 to 1100 kHz maintaining its clear channel status During the 1940s the station continued to contribute some programming to the NBC radio network On March 19 1946 Bob Hope brought his Tuesday night 10 pm Pepsodent radio show to Cleveland along with Jerry Colonna Frances Langford and the Skinnay Ennis Orchestra for a broadcast on the NBC radio network Guests included Ohio Governor Frank Lausche Recordings of this program are still available from collectors of old radio programs 16 17 18 WTAM also broadcast the 1948 World Series games of the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves with announcers Jim Britt and Mel Allen In 1951 WTAM originated an NBC Radio Network broadcast of the Cleveland Orchestra 4 NBC also expanded its broadcasting interests in Cleveland beyond AM radio on October 31 1948 NBC launched a sister television outlet WNBK on channel 4 a few weeks later on December 6 1948 WTAM FM 105 7 FM began broadcasting simulcasting WTAM s programming All three stations shared the same transmitter tower in Brecksville until WNBK moved to a new transmitter tower erected in Parma 19 concurrent with a channel switch to channel 3 on April 25 1954 20 21 as KYW and KYW FM both radio stations would move to the same Parma tower in February 1957 15 WTAM also aired Cleveland Browns games during the 1952 1953 and 1955 seasons Jim Graner provided color commentary during the 1955 season 22 KYW The Westinghouse years Edit Not to be confused with Philadelphia radio station KYW AM In late 1955 NBC persuaded Westinghouse to trade its Philadelphia stations KYW 1060 AM and WPTZ TV in return for NBC s Cleveland properties and 3 million in cash compensation 23 NBC had long wanted to own a station in Philadelphia the nation s third largest market at the time The swap went into effect on January 22 1956 24 Westinghouse wanted to keep the historic KYW callsign which had been Chicago s oldest radio facility before being transferred to Philadelphia on December 3 1934 Therefore on February 13 1956 the Cleveland stations became KYW KYW FM and KYW TV and the Philadelphia stations became WRCV and WRCV TV 25 The WTAM callsign was later picked up by WGLS in Atlanta Georgia and after that by WGCM FM in Gulfport Mississippi In the early 1960s under program director Ken Draper KYW known on air as KY11 became a full service Top 40 powerhouse with disc jockeys Jim Runyon the weeeellll voice of the Chickenman series Jim Stagg Jay Lawrence Jerry G Jerry Ghan and the morning duo of Harry Martin and Specs Howard 26 27 28 Its main Top 40 rival in the Cleveland market was Color Channel 14 WHK at 1420 AM Almost immediately after the trade was finalized Westinghouse complained to the Federal Communications Commission FCC and the Justice Department about NBC s coercion 29 30 It was discovered that Westinghouse only agreed to the trade when NBC made implications that it would pull its television programming from WPTZ and Westinghouse s other NBC affiliate WBZ TV in Boston 31 In 1964 after a protracted legal battle the FCC ordered the swap of stations reversed without NBC realizing any profit on the deal 32 NBC regained control of the Cleveland stations on June 19 1965 and changed their call letters to WKYC WKYC FM and WKYC TV which kept the popular KY slogan and identity Westinghouse brought into Cleveland 33 34 To this day the KYW stations insist that they moved to Cleveland in 1956 and returned to Philadelphia in 1965 but the two stations facilities and broadcast licenses remained the same 35 Further information NBC Red Network KYW AM KYW TV WKYC and Westinghouse Broadcasting WKYC years Edit Not to be confused with Cleveland television station WKYC 1960s logo as WKYC WKYC continued as a Top 40 outlet the only such formatted station under NBC ownership with personalities Harry Martin Specs Howard Jay Lawrence and Jerry G holding over from KYW Westinghouse When program director Ken Draper left for WCFL in Chicago in early 1965 prior to the ownership change both Jim Stagg 36 37 38 and Jim Runyon wasted no time following him 39 Bill Winters came in about this time Jim LaBarbara was wooed away from a three day stint at WIXY to do evening prime time Chuck Dann signed on as did Charlie and Harrigan Jack Woods and Paul Menard the morning duo at KLIF 1190 AM in Dallas Jim Gallant was doing overnights 40 In late 1966 popular afternoon host Jerry G also decided to follow Draper to WCFL 41 upon his departure he added the last name Bishop and later created the TV horror host persona Svengoolie 42 He was replaced by WIXY s evening man Jack Armstrong who then decided to call himself Big Jack Your Leader LaBarbara was moved to overnight to accommodate Armstrong s installation as the evening jock In early 1967 the on air staff consisted of LaBarbara overnight Charlie and Harrigan morning drive Bob Cole late morning Jay Lawrence mid afternoons Chuck Dann afternoon drive and Big Jack in the prime time slot WKYC Radio 11 was a large record selling influence as far away as New York City and Miami However its main local competition in those days was WIXY 1260 AM Super Radio Unlike WIXY WKYC being an NBC owned and operated station in a situation not unlike WRC 980 AM in Washington was obligated to carry all NBC Radio programming such as the weekend Monitor as well as all top of the hour NBC Radio newscasts The NBC Radio afternoon daily network news feed was also based from WKYC s studios and anchored by Virgil Dominic 43 who also served as WKYC TV s lead news anchor 44 On February 1 1968 at 3 05 pm following an NBC Radio newscast the station altered its presentation to Power Radio a derivative of the Drake Chenault created Boss Radio Top 40 format programmed for WKYC by Hal Moore The new sound emphasized more music with less chatter between songs and a tighter playlist Personalities at that time included Charlie and Harrigan Bob Shannon Chuck Dunaway Lee Baby Sims Fred Winston and Buddy Harrison It remained a Top 40 station until February 1 1969 when WKYC switched to an easy listening middle of the road MOR format 45 Specs Howard left WKYC shortly thereafter with Jim Runyon returning to succeed him in morning drive 46 Following rumors that NBC was interested in divesting some or all of their radio stations 47 NBC sold both WKYC and WKYC FM to Ohio Communications headed by sports franchiser Nick Mileti and investment firm C F Kettering for approximately 5 5 million in a deal announced January 12 1972 48 Broadcast executives Tom and Jim Embrescia joined the ownership group as vice president general manager and sales manager respectively 49 WWWE years Edit Not to be confused with Atlanta Georgia area radio station WWWE Full service and country years Edit The AM radio station s call letters were changed to WWWE purportedly for Embrescia or Entertainment and adopted the 3WE brand WKYC FM became WWWM purportedly for Mileti or Music 50 both changes took place on November 16 1972 15 WWWE retained WKYC s easy listening MOR format 51 but also added radio broadcasts for both the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers as Mileti owned both teams 52 WERE 1300 AM had previously served as the flagship for both Pete Franklin also joined the station from WERE and hosted Sportsline a five hour long weeknight sports call in show that also followed Indians and Cavaliers games 53 quickly becoming a legend with his acerbic personality boasting that the station s nighttime signal could be heard in over 38 states and half of Canada 54 Following Jim Runyon s sudden departure and death from cancer in April 1973 55 the morning drive shift was taken over by Larry Morrow formerly of WIXY 56 49 Morrow would be joined by Joe Tait as morning sportscaster Tait also served as the lead play by play voice for both the Indians and Cavaliers 54 57 In addition to Franklin Morrow and Tait the daytime lineup included at one time or another Phil McLean Al James Jim Davis Jack Reynolds Tony Matthews Jeff Elliot Johnny Andrews Lanny Wheeler Lee Andrews Ted Alexander and Bill King Both WWWE and WWWM slowly severed the last remaining ties to WKYC TV and its prior NBC ownership throughout the 1970s The transmitter for WWWE was moved back to their previous tower in Brecksville on September 5 1974 15 that tower is still in use today by WWWE s successor WTAM along with FM stations WAKS co owned with WTAM and WZAK 58 In addition the studios for both WWWE and WWWM were moved to Park Centre known today as Reserve Square that November 14 15 WWWE would then drop its NBC Radio affiliation altogether by 1977 6 WWWE was sold to Combined Communications Inc in December 1976 for 7 5 million 59 consummated the following September 60 Ohio Communications retained WWWM Combined Communications subsequently merged into Globe Broadcasting Corp owner of WMGC 1260 AM and WDOK 61 WMGC was spun off to comply with then existing ownership rules 62 Gannett then merged into Combined Communications in June 1979 in a 370 million deal at the time it was one of the largest mergers and acquisitions in the broadcasting industry 63 In December 1981 WWWE switched formats to country branded as Country 11 going in direct competition with WHK 1420 AM and WKSW 99 5 FM 64 With the switch the duo of Rick McGuire and Ron Marron were installed in morning drive displacing Larry Morrow to afternoons 64 65 Morrow eventually left the station 56 Citing disappointing ratings and a waning audience in the market overall for country music WWWE quietly switched back to an easy listening MOR format in August 1983 again using the 3WE brand 66 67 A Modell Miracle Edit Further information WKNR Moving WJW to WWWE Art Modell majority owner of the Cleveland Browns from 1961 to 1996 also controlled WWWE parent Lake Erie Broadcasting from 1985 to 1987 Gannett sold off both WWWE and WDOK to Lake Erie Broadcasting controlled by then Cleveland Browns majority owner Art Modell and minority owner Al Lerner for 9 5 million in February 1985 68 The purchase was seen by some as a surprise Lake Erie consistently lost money operating WJW since purchasing it from Storer Communications in 1977 69 and was under financial pressure to sell WJW 70 when that station s format changed from MOR to talk radio in July 1982 71 WJW made a winning bid for the Browns radio broadcast rights that included the team taking an ownership stake in the station 72 but minority owner Robert Gries sued Modell on charges of anti competitive practices 73 74 and existing flagship WHK matched WJW s bid for the 1984 season 72 Lake Erie s purchase of WWWE and WDOK came days after Lake Erie not WJW specifically managed to secure a long term contract for the Browns effective with the 1985 season 75 Despite Modell s history of questionable investments 69 and concerns he was heavily in debt 76 he dismissed speculation that Lake Erie didn t have the money to complete the deal claiming our collective net worth far exceeds the price of these stations 77 Concurrent with the purchase and to meet regulatory approval Lake Erie divested WJW to Booth American for 2 1 million 78 Not included in the sale was WJW s talk format which Lake Erie opted to move outright to WWWE 79 Nearly all of WJW s air talent and management were reassigned to WWWE with Pete Franklin s Sportsline as the lone program retained 80 While neither WJW or WWWE had strong ratings WJW s talk format had been drawing more younger listeners than competitor WERE 81 while WWWE was now one of the lowest rated stations 82 outside of sports programming 83 Dismissed with the move were Ray Marshall 80 David Fig Newton Jack Reynolds and morning sportscaster Bruce Drennan 84 along with eight other staffers 85 Franklin repeatedly threatened to leave WWWE during the latter days of Gannett ownership and Drennan was seen in some circles as a potential replacement to host Sportsline 86 WJW general manager Art Caruso and news director John O Day assumed like duties at WWWE and were tasked with hiring Jim Muller s broadcast partner for the Browns broadcasts 87 which were also transferred to WWWE 86 Along with the Indians and Cavs rights 79 Lake Erie s takeover of WWWE resulted in the station now holding the broadcast rights to all three professional sports teams for the first time 85 Newspaper reports recognized the transactions and format changes as WWWE became in essence WJW 79 or that WJW had a new location on the radio dial 88 The final week of programming over WJW had promos for both the talk format s new home on WWWE and Booth American s replacement format on WJW rechristened as WRMR 89 Indeed the switchover at 11 00 a m on June 11 1985 80 had a final sign off for WJW 90 followed by Cleveland mayor George Voinovich pressing a ceremonial switch on WWWE that completed the move of WJW s prior talk format 84 Along with Franklin the new WWWE s lineup boasted an all news block in morning drive followed by hosts John McCullough Michael Freedman Merle Pollis and Joel Rose 82 with NBC Talknet in the overnight hours 91 The summer 1985 Arbitron book showed substantial ratings increases for WWWE after the switch to talk surprising even the station s management and resulting in one paper calling their fifth place showing almost a Modell Miracle 82 Ratings for WWWE remained higher than with the MOR format but slowly stagnated against WERE despite a substantial promotional campaign centered around Pollis Rose and Franklin 92 Larry Elder who was involved with local television productions in Cleveland was inspired to enter talk radio after sitting in as a guest on Pollis WWWE show 93 The station bid aggressively against WHK and WERE to retain the Cleveland Indians rights during the summer of 1986 while Franklin who now additionally did weekend work for St Louis s KMOX 94 again threatened to leave WWWE if it lost the Indians games 95 McCullough and Freedman were both fired as part of an October 1986 lineup shakeup 96 but Freedman returned less than two months later following Joel Rose s resignation after a contract dispute 97 while Pollis subsequently left to reunite with Rose over at WERE 98 Losing Pete Franklin sale to Independent Group Edit Most people didn t think he d go to New York because there have been stories of Pete Franklin leaving before and he always stayed Pete has dominated the market for 21 years He always held the trump card and he usually played it to get a raise and stay here But I think he got such a lucrative deal from New York and the money combined with the idea of climbing that one last big mountain was too much for him to resist Nev Chandler 99 As May 1987 began Lake Erie entered into negotiations to sell WWWE to Jacor for 14 million 100 Jacor already owned WBBG and WMJI the former WWWM while concurrently putting WBBG up for sale 101 Had the deal closed WWWE would have been added to a growing portfolio that included Cincinnati s WLW and Denver s KOA 102 The WWWE sale however was jeopardized after Franklin announced intentions to leave WWWE for a lucrative two year contract with New York City s WHN to headline a new all sports format to be named WFAN 103 Days after the announcement Franklin underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery at the Cleveland Clinic following a massive heart attack 104 105 which some attributed to stress over the New York move 99 while Franklin attributed it to a poor diet 106 Calls to Sportsline in the wake of Franklin s heart attack were filled with well wishers particularly from females 107 WHN s station manager John Chanin recognized Franklin as a very sincere warm person unlike his radio persona and that the possibility of leaving Cleveland affected him deeply 99 WWWE was forced to use a variety of guest hosts for Sportsline that included Nev Chandler 108 and Gib Shanley 109 along with nationally known figures Bob Costas Paul McGuire and Dick Vitale 91 Franklin ultimately chose to leave Cleveland for WFAN by that September 110 Jacor withdrew their purchase offer of WWWE due to Franklin s departure 111 having considered him an important asset 100 Lake Erie ended up selling both WDOK and WWWE to Independent Group Inc on August 3 1987 for a combined 13 5 million a 4 million net profit for Modell s syndicate 111 Independent Group marked a return to WWWE for both Tom Embrescia and Tom Wilson while co investor Larry Pollock had experience with Larry Robinson s broadcasting interests 111 Real estate magnate and Cleveland Force owner Bert Wolstein also was an investor reportedly owning almost 50 percent of the station 112 but promised the Force would honor their existing radio contract with WGAR 113 Coincidentally WWWE morning sportscaster Mike Snyder who called the Force games over WGAR was himself dismissed 113 Bruce Drennan returned to WWWE in November 1987 as guest host of Sportsline asserting that the show needs me Drennan was contacted directly by Tom Wilson and had worked previously for Embresica at WBBG 114 Meanwhile Michael Freedman was fired from WWWE for the second time in one year this time owing to a disagreement over paid vacations 115 Former WSLR executive Harvey Simms was hired by the outgoing management to be the station s marketing director then was promoted to general manager by the new ownership less than three months later 116 David George a station veteran of eight years was also promoted from production director to program director 117 Enter Gary Dee and Drennan Edit I m amazed at his instinct for entertainment I don t even know whether he actually knows how he does it but knowing what s going to make people respond for better for worse or whatever is totally natural for him A lot of people say I hate what Gary did yesterday I hate what he did today and I m gonna hate what he does tomorrow too David George WWWE program director on Gary Dee 117 Despite Bruce Drennan s open lobbying for the open Sportsline slot he was generally seen as a long shot to take over the program 109 Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon Journal regarded Drennan as having a voice that sounds as if he gargled with Drano 114 and in ranking probable Sportsline hosts said of Drennan if nothing else he s available 108 WWWE general manager Harvey Simms promised a permanent host by the end of 1987 116 to which Pete Franklin commented When Jack Kennedy was shot they had a guy lined up in a few minutes but it has taken them seven months to replace me what that tells me is the new owners don t have the money to pay anybody 112 WWWE also conducted a newspaper poll to help choose Franklin s successor Dan Coughlin who also was a Sportsline fill in host 108 retrospectively called the polling process less honest than the fan vote for the 1988 MLB All Star Game and the Rolling Stone Radio Station of the Year poll that WMMS infamously rigged 118 Drennan was chosen to host Sportsline on December 28 1987 beating out WERE s Greg Brinda setting off a war of words between the two and between Franklin and Drennan while Franklin committed to an interview on Brinda s competing show 112 Bruce Drennan Drennan s addition was one of many changes ushered in at WWWE that sought to reorient the audience towards the 25 54 demographic typically accustomed to rock music and the FM dial 117 While Simms merely suggested at first of fine tuning and polishing the format 116 program director David George intended to make WWWE the top rated station in Cleveland overall and we were not going to do it with conventional news talk 117 The station hired shock jock Gary Dee Gilbert for the midday slot on January 7 1988 replacing John Dayle who would rejoin Merle Pollis and Joel Rose at WERE 119 Dee s hiring came after management and all six Independent Group stakeholders agreed by consensus 120 Dee s conservative leaning populist persona was often compared to onetime WERE host Morton Downey Jr 117 while the Beacon Journal s Bob Dyer said he makes Jerry Falwell sound like a flaming liberal 120 After the acquittal of a Lorain man on charges of molesting his daughter Dee publicly attacked both the judge and county prosecutor 121 insinuating that their children should be raped while going into graphic detail on the case and giving out their phone numbers the station later apologized 117 Dee s often inflammatory remarks coupled with several off color statements by Drennan on Sportsline 122 soon prompted Dyer to ask is WWWE trying to corner the market on racism 123 A fishing boat owned by Dee was intentionally burned while he was on vacation prompting WWWE to offer a cash reward in exchange for information 117 It was David Fig Newton who returned to WWWE as afternoon host on April 11 1988 124 that netted the most negative attention 38 days after his show debuted a WJW TV report filed by Carl Monday revealed Newton was previously convicted on charges of purchasing a videotape that contained child pornography 125 After winding up on a mailing list after purchasing an art film containing nudity government agents attempted to bait him with porn mail catalogs and he purchased a tape after the eighth attempt 126 Monday confronted Newton about the allegations while Newton conducted his show in the WWWE studios while the U S attorney that handled Newton s case revealed he was fired from his prior job in Denver over the conviction 125 Dee began his show the following morning pillorying Newton declaring he would refuse to work at a station that employed a child molester 126 and Newton resigned later that day 125 Danny Wright and humorist Tom Bush took Newton s time slot in what was termed rock radio without the music 117 Even with all the controversy WWWE ascended to fourth place in the spring 1988 Arbitron book helped largely by Dee and the Indians 127 128 However the station s Indians commitments caused the majority of the Cavaliers 1988 playoff run to air on WRMR and WDOK instead 129 In response Joe Tait who had taken over as head of Cavaliers broadcasting operations 130 ended the contract with WWWE and moved the flagship to WRMR 131 Indecency fallout Edit Danny Wright was fired from WWWE at the end of 1988 with Wright expressing disappointment over the station s lack of promotional support and being stuck in the middle between Dee and Drennan 132 Tom Bush was subsequently paired with Bob Becker until a further lineup revamp on April 10 1989 had Becker moved to mornings incumbent morning host Bob Fuller moved to middays and Dee moved to afternoons 133 Veteran executive Nick Anthony joined WWWE as program director replacing programming consultant Eric Stevens Anthony was hired after Harvey Simms learned about his availability through reading a Beacon Journal story about his departure from WKDD days earlier 134 Anthony promptly cut down the volume of commercials WWWE was obligated to run via radio network commitments to 14 minutes per hour at one point the station aired as much as 20 to 22 minutes of commercials per hour 135 Rumors emerged of Anthony replacing Drennan with XETRA AM announcer Lee Hamilton as both previously worked together in Akron while Greg Brinda s WERE show started to outdraw Drennan in the ratings 136 NBC Talknet was dropped in favor of ABC Radio s Tom Snyder and Sally Jessy Raphael with Snyder marking the WWWE addition by interviewing the station s overnight board operator coincidentally named Tom Snyder 137 Anthony only lasted for five months before resigning in mid June 1989 one week after weekender Geoff Sindelar took over as Sportsline host 138 Sindelar had gained notoriety as a regular caller to Pete Franklin 139 Drennan subsequently assumed Sindelar s prior weekend duties 140 I just didn t follow directions I m my own worst enemy Gary Dee drives Gary Gilbert crazy Gary Dee Gilbert explaining his August 1989 firing from WWWE 141 The controversy surrounding Gary Dee reached a breaking point on August 25 1989 142 when WWWE confirmed Dee had been suspended indefinitely 143 9 days earlier after a formal indecency complaint against him was filed with the FCC 141 the second complaint against him in one year Three months of Dee airchecks were included in the complaint some of which contained profanity broadcast over the air which Dee attributed to faulty equipment 142 As the FCC was launching an anti indecency campaign focused on both radio and television 144 145 WWWE executives were worried that the station s license which was up for renewal could be revoked 142 Dee was fired on August 31 1989 with the station merely explaining the move as a decision to pursue a different direction and denied it had anything to do with the complaint 141 while Dee claimed they had every reason to fire me because I didn t follow directions 146 Dee s ratings overall had been a disappointment for WWWE management as he was previously a perennially top rated host at WERE and WHK 141 The FCC s anti indecency campaign specifically cited Dee s June 15 1989 show for multiple discussions on air regarding sexual fantasies and behavior WWWE was one of eight stations given a 30 day notice by the agency to address the allegations 147 The station filled the vacancy left by Dee with Bob Becker paired with friend and radio novice Luther Heggs while Bob Fuller returned to mornings and Beth Albright was brought in from Birmingham Alabama to host Fuller s former midday slot 148 Pete Franklin also returned to WWWE with daily sports commentaries during the morning and afternoon shows 149 The biggest change however occurred on December 23 1989 when Booth American purchased WWWE from Independent Group in exchange for 10 million in cash and WRMR effectively making the deal an asset swap 150 151 and the station s fifth overall ownership change since 1972 152 The cash considerations were a motivating factor for Independent to sell off WWWE 152 while the company s principals were happy to retain an AM property 150 Without Dee WWWE fell to ninth place in the Arbitron book while WRMR ranked at tenth place 152 Booth retained the Cavaliers radio network flagship rights transferring it back to WWWE 153 while also purchasing the production rights to the Browns and Indians networks from Sports Marketing controlled by Tom Wilson 154 The transaction was delayed for several months due to the FCC investigation against Dee 155 with WWWE later paying an 8 000 fine 156 The outgoing Independent Group management retained the ability 157 to hire Tom Hamilton as Herb Score s Indians broadcast partner prior to the start of the 1990 season with Booth s blessing 158 The Monster on the Lake Edit WWWE logo from 1990 to 1996 Booth s takeover of WWWE was regarded in the local press as a purge with much of the airstaff going on air to discuss their fates 155 Dismissed were Bob Fuller Beth Albright Bob Becker Luther Heggs Steve Church and Bruce Drennan 159 with Geoff Sindelar retained as Sportsline host on an interim basis 155 Lee Hamilton again expressed interest in joining WWWE having been friends with much of the new Booth management 160 but couldn t agree to a contract after expressing a desire to also do play by play announcing 155 When the deal closed on June 25 1990 161 WWWE filled the majority of their daytime lineup with syndicated fare Dr Joy Browne in late mornings and The Rush Limbaugh Show and Dr Dean Edell in afternoons Rush s program having moved over from WERE 159 Browne s show was added after Fuller declined an offer to host middays and was only temporary as syndicator ABC Radio planned on cancelling it by that September 162 Lee Kirk from Toledo s WSPD was ultimately brought in for the timeslot 163 The station went aggressive on news with rolling all news blocks launched in morning and afternoon drive 155 along with an hourlong noon block 159 A 12 person 24 hour news department was instituted with ABC Information newscasts replacing CBS Booth executive Roger Turner cited ABC s tighter writing and a faster delivery as the reason for the switch 159 Turner himself became a on air presence with daily editorials also implemented by Booth 162 By virtue of common ownership with WLTF WWWE also became involved with WLTF s Coats for Kids charity campaign which was launched by Booth American in 1981 164 New studios were constructed for WWWE and WLTF at the Western Reserve Building in the Warehouse District 165 with an additional studio at the Nautica Entertainment Complex for sports talk shows 166 Newsman Ed Coury who rejoined WWWE upon the Booth takeover as co host of the morning news block 155 was eventually promoted to news director at the end of 1991 167 The afternoon news block co anchored by Bob Henderson 159 soon evolved into a talk show in its own right with Henderson eschewing confrontational arguments in favor of a polite demeanor 168 Craig Carton Sindelar departed the station on October 3 1990 169 after a series of changes by management limiting the number of phone calls to his show when listener surveys revealed multiple complaints that the same people were always calling in constantly 170 Sportscaster Mike Snyder who joined the station the previous month took over as Sportsline host 171 while Sindelar resurfaced at WKNR 172 Despite simulcasting all games throughout the 1990 season with WLTF 173 WWWE lost the Cleveland Browns rights after the season ended with WHK prevailing in a bidding war against WKNR 174 Following the 1991 season WWWE ended its radio contract with the Cleveland Indians with the flagship rights going to WKNR 175 WWWE hired Craig Carton as Sportsline host in April 1992 replacing Snyder who was promoted to sports director a position he holds to this day 176 Carton left the station in May 1993 177 WWWE picked up Imus in the Morning for morning drive in September 1993 after Westwood One offered up the show for national syndication 178 WTAM s transmitter tower in Brecksville with a backup tower in the foreground The original transmitter building is to the far right 179 In April 1994 Booth American merged with Broadcast Alchemy to form Secret Communications in a 160 million deal 180 Gary Bruce was hired from WIOD in Miami as program director that May 181 and re oriented WWWE back to a shock radio style of talk the station offered in the late 1980s acknowledging that WWWE was the poorest performing station in Secret s 14 station chain 182 General manager Dennis Best cited the low ratings of Lee Kirk and Bob Henderson coupled with ratings successes for deejays who talk and act like the common man as the impetus for WWWE s changes 183 Bruce hired two hosts from WIOD Chuck Meyer for mornings replacing Imus in the Morning 184 and Jaz McKay for late mornings replacing Kirk 183 The duo of Jeff Kinzbach and Ed Flash Ferenc were installed in afternoon drive hosting a show not dissimilar to their former morning show on WMMS 182 Mike Trivisonno took over as Sportsline host on July 11 1994 with former host Mike Snyder becoming the program s update anchor 185 Like Sindelar Trivisonno was a regular caller to Pete Franklin s iteration of the show and was derisively dubbed Mr Know It All by Franklin 103 McKay s show was a notable ratings failure 186 and was moved to overnights in late March 1995 187 with Rich Michaels taking over the late morning timeslot 188 Aside from Limbaugh WWWE struggled in the ratings and was even outranked substantially by WRMR prompting the dismissals of Bruce and McKay 187 The Bob amp Tom Show was added in evenings via tape delay in October 1995 189 amid speculation that the station could go all news outside of Limbaugh and Trivisonno 190 WWWE itself would make news on January 23 1996 when its traffic plane hit a cellular phone tower and crashed in Highland Hills killing both MetroTraffic reporter James Endsley who was known on air as Fred Wesley and pilot James McVeigh 191 WTAM 1996 present Edit New name and an emerging Triv Edit All I ll say right now is that we re re evaluating how we identify ourselves But let s put it this way we can t change being on the AM band or our frequency can we Bobby Hatfield WTAM program director 192 WTAM logo from 1996 2018 introduced after the callsign change WWWE phased out the 3WE branding entirely in June 1996 and started to simply identify as AM 1100 with the only mention of the call letters during the top of hour station identification 193 Program director Bobby Hatfield Joe Reilly 194 confirmed to The Plain Dealer on July 1 1996 that a call sign change was imminent management perceived the WWWE letters and 3WE name as stodgy and antiquated that inhibited efforts to recast the station s identity as newer and aggressive 192 The WTAM calls were reclaimed after looking over available call signs with an AM in them and having rejected WZAM and WUAM because of similarities to WZAK and WUAB 1 That WTAM had been the station s original identifier did hold some historical significance but merely served as incidental 1 Hatfield said of the process to rename the station we can t change being on the AM band or our frequency can we 192 a With the call sign change to WTAM on July 29 1996 195 the lineup was revamped again Jeff Kinzbach and Ed Ferenc were moved to morning drive but with Kinzbach as the main host and Ferenc providing special features and commentaries Hatfield said of the rearrangement we re going to make Ed the Paul Harvey of Cleveland 196 An hour long news block at noon was reinstated Mike Trivisonno s Sportsline was moved to afternoon drive and Dr Laura Schlessinger which WWWE picked up for weekends in late May along with the nightly Coast to Coast AM 197 was added in early evenings 196 The station also signed up as a charter affiliate of the Baltimore Ravens radio network for the 1996 season for any Browns fans wanting to follow the team out of curiosity and filled all local advertising breaks with public service announcements 198 WTAM s ratings experienced a resurgence in the Fall 1996 Arbitron book moving to ninth place overall sixth place in afternoon drive and third place in afternoons among the 25 54 male demographic 199 I think Mike Trivisonno is a very nice man for a very socially retarded ignoramus The fact that he has a platform on a 50 000 watt radio station makes me want to vomit He says what people want to say but can t The danger is that he doesn t offer any analysis with that he can t be bothered with the facts Mike just hasn t grown up Merle Pollis 200 While still formally called Sportsline the show soon evolved into an anything goes format after Mike Trivisonno s move to afternoons with executive producer Marty Allen call screener Jerry Jaye producer Paul Rado and update anchor Mike Snyder among the on air cast 200 A mail in listener poll conducted by Plain Dealer radio critic Roger Brown in the summer of 1996 named Trivisonno the Voice of Cleveland beating WRMR s Bill Randle 201 Brown s criticism of Trivisonno at one point comparing him to the obnoxious race baiting of your average bigot rally leader but has his own teeth 202 attracted negative attention when a fan made inflammatory billboard was erected in Cleveland s West Side with numerous racial epithets against Brown 203 An Italian American Trivisonno freely used the pejorative dago in self deprecating nature parodying the megadittos catchphrase used by callers to Rush Limbaugh s show with megadagos among his callers explaining words like that don t bother me they are only words if everyone thought that way those words would go away 200 Indeed Trivisonno often referred to himself as a dumb dago from the East Side of Cleveland with a 10th grade education 204 but took it as a compliment whenever people likened him to Pete Franklin Howard Stern and Gary Dee all three he held in high regard 200 Reclaiming the Indians Edit Mike Trivisonno Secret divested their entire nine station group to SFX Broadcasting on October 8 1996 205 in a 300 million deal 206 Conventional wisdom had SFX promptly reselling WTAM and WLTF to a third party 207 given their track record of buying and selling stations quickly 208 Secret withdrew the Cleveland stations valued at 45 million from the deal in mid January 1997 executive Frank Wood stated the company never wanted to sell them and considered purchasing additional stations in the market 206 However Jacor bought WTAM and WLTF on April 25 1997 for 23 9 million in cash 209 and 21 million in company stock 210 ten years after having called off their prior purchase of WWWE 111 General manager Dennis Best said after the deal was struck short of Secret keeping us Jacor buying us is the best thing that could have happened 211 Jacor s purchase occurred six weeks after Secret was rumored to purchase WKNR which was running an annual deficit of 1 million due to their recently renewed Indians contract being a loss leader 212 Talks soon began between Jacor and WKNR owner Cablevision 213 which sold that station for 8 7 million on August 19 1997 214 215 Speculation soon centered on Jacor programming WTAM far more aggressively to attract additional male listeners and that WTAM s prior moves gave them a head start 210 Rich Michaels was fired on June 16 1997 with Dr Laura taking his late morning spot on the lineup under the belief her program would draw higher ratings 216 One month later WTAM recruited Morton Downey Jr to host a local evening show 217 but Downey abruptly resigned after six weeks 218 Former WERE host Rick Gilmour took his place but was not named a permanent host as Jacor disclosed plans to move the Indians rights to WTAM once their purchase of WKNR was complete 219 Kinzbach and Ferenc were dismissed on October 5 1997 with an all news block taking their place in mornings 220 When Jacor assumed operations of WKNR on January 4 1998 Trivisonno hosted a day long marathon on that station the last four hours simulcast on WTAM 221 The Indians flagship formally was transferred to WTAM with the 1998 home opener on April 10 1998 222 Pete Franklin also returned to host Sportsline once a week via a home studio at his San Diego residence 139 but quit several weeks later in protest over Trivisonno s aforementioned on air use of ethnic pejoratives which reportedly hurt Trivisonno 223 On August 10 1998 Jacor traded WKNR to Capstar Broadcasting in exchange for Pittsburgh s WTAE 224 in order to clear regulatory approval for their 620 million purchase of Nationwide Communications 225 Clear Channel then purchased Jacor in a 6 5 billion deal announced on October 8 1998 226 227 by then Jacor had already acquired Premiere Networks the syndicators for Rush Limbaugh Dr Dean Edell Dr Laura and Coast to Coast AM 228 all of which WTAM now aired via vertical integration 229 Veteran radio executive Kevin Metheny was named WTAM s operations director in June 1998 eventually overseeing the entire Jacor Clear Channel Cleveland cluster 230 Bill Wills was transferred from co owned WLW in July 1998 231 to host the all news morning drive block 232 and was paired with newscaster John Webster and sports anchor Casey Coleman for Wills Webster and Coleman in the Morning 233 Bruce Drennan who had made another return to the station in 1995 for weekend fill in work 234 was once again named Sportsline host 235 WTAM enjoyed substantial ratings success thanks to the Indians 1998 playoff run and the impeachment trial of President Clinton reaching fifth place overall and Trivisonno at first place overall in the Fall 1998 Arbitron book 233 Jacor won a bidding war for the expansion Cleveland Browns broadcast rights with WMJI as the flagship and WTAM simulcasting games 236 Coleman was also named as sideline reporter for the Browns broadcasts Drennan left the station again on July 26 2000 after failing to agree on a new contract by then WTAM had become the top ranked overall station in the Spring 2000 Arbitron book 235 Consolidation and changes Edit Bill Wills Dr Laura was replaced on the weekday schedule with Glenn Beck following the September 11 attacks Kevin Metheny said of Glenn after the switch he has a greater inclination to entertain and relate rather than evangelize and felt Dr Laura s ratings were disappointing 237 John Webster s presence on Wills Webster and Coleman ended on November 2 2001 after a downsizing effort that also saw seven other staffers in the cluster fired 238 WTAM s studios along with the studios for all other Clear Channel Cleveland stations were consolidated into a new facility in Independence in 2002 with one newspaper story calling the arrangement a food court of radio with McDonald s Burger King and Taco Bell 230 Beck was replaced in March 2005 with Jerry Springer s mid morning show which WTAM dropped the following March in favor of a local program hosted by Bob Frantz formerly with WSPD in Toledo Beck s show was then brought back on November 3 2008 bumping Frantz to evenings 239 Casey Coleman died at the age of 55 on November 27 2006 following a fifteen month bout with pancreatic cancer 240 Mike Snyder succeeded Casey on the morning show renamed Wills and Snyder The station was one of 10 stations awarded the 2007 Crystal Radio Award for public service awarded by the National Association of Broadcasters at the Radio Luncheon on April 17 2007 241 WTAM added a mid morning debate program titled The Spew on March 11 2013 with Trivisonno and Bob Frantz as debate partners and Dave Ramos as moderator 242 Frantz was fired from WTAM on July 8 2014 due to corporate restructuring but alluded heavily to financial issues surrounding Clear Channel 243 which itself was renamed iHeartMedia one month later 244 Nick Camino replaced Frantz in evenings 243 while John Lanigan replaced Frantz as Trivisonno s debate partner on The Spew with Mike Snyder now as moderator 245 154 Lanigan who had retired from WMJI earlier in the year was reluctant to take the job and had barely if ever interacted with Trivisonno but the two became friendly when Trivisonno offered to interview Lanigan for one program and Lanigan returned the favor the next day 245 152 153 While Lanigan initially viewed the show as a way to get up in the morning and read the newspapers keeping me alert alive and involved 246 he abruptly quit during the middle of the August 8 2018 episode 247 citing a lack of enjoyment disinterest in the topics discussed and feeling unqualified to express his opinion 248 Following a brief period with Jensen Lewis as a fill in co host The Spew was retired on September 24 2018 for an hour long local program hosted by Geraldo Rivera 249 with Lewis and Trivisonno joining Camino in early evenings for Sports Feed 2 0 250 Camino left the station in 2019 to join WKYC as a sports reporter and weekend sports anchor 251 Losing Rush and Triv Edit If there s a Mount Rushmore of Cleveland radio Mike Trivisonno is right there on the forefront Mike Trivisonno is on that Mike Snyder 252 Rush Limbaugh remained on the lineup until his February 2021 death following four months of best of tribute shows 253 WTAM by virtue of iHeartMedia ownership became a charter affiliate of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show on June 18 2021 254 An even larger shock to the station however happened when Mike Trivisonno died suddenly on October 28 2021 hours before his afternoon drive show was to have started 255 Co hosts Carmen Angelo 256 and Seth Williams along with WTAM program director Ray Davis hosted a memorial program that day in Trivisonno s time slot the start of which was delayed by an hour with various taped press conferences airing as filler 257 Industry blogger Lance Venta commented that Trivisonno s show on the night Art Modell revealed plans to relocate the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore may have been one of the best one night talk radio shows in history 258 After a period of rotating guest hosts that included Angelo and Williams 259 WTAM appointed David Bloomdaddy Blomquist morning host at sister station WWVA in Wheeling West Virginia as Trivisonno s replacement 260 with Angelo retained as a co host Blomquist s WWVA show which he had hosted since 2005 261 was regionally syndicated to other talk stations in the region including Akron s WHLO 262 263 Geraldo Rivera left at the end of March 2022 owing to an increased role with Fox News 264 his replacement in the mid morning time slot was comedian Jimmy Malone John Lanigan s former co host at WMJI 265 Programming EditRegular schedule Edit Local personalities on WTAM include Bill Wills and Mike Snyder in morning drive Jimmy Malone late mornings 265 David Bloomdaddy Blomquist in afternoon drive 262 and Dennis Manoloff evenings The station also carries The Glenn Beck Program The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show 254 late morning midday and Coast to Coast AM overnight 266 Weekends feature Gary Sullivan 267 Bill Cunningham The City Club of Cleveland s Friday Forum 268 and The Lutheran Hour along with Fox Sports Radio in lieu of any sports play by play 269 WTAM airs national news updates from ABC News Radio and Fox News Radio and local news and weather updates from WKYC 270 Play by play Edit Tom Hamilton WTAM is the AM flagship of a 28 station network for the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA with play by play announcer Tim Alcorn color analyst Jim Chones Mike Snyder as pregame postgame studio host and Brad Sellers as postgame analyst 271 WTAM is also the AM flagship for a 29 station network for the Cleveland Guardians MLB with Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus as announcers The flagship statuses for both networks are shared with WMMS since 2013 for the Guardians b and 2014 for the Cavaliers all games for both teams are broadcast live and limited solely to terrestrial broadcasts 272 273 WTAM additionally airs select Cleveland State Vikings men s basketball games in the event of conflicts with CSU flagship and sister station WARF 274 FM translator EditAs of September 6 2018 WTAM simulcasts over low power Cleveland FM translator W295DE 106 9 FM 275 Broadcast translators of WTAM Call sign Frequency MHz City of license FacilityID ERP W Height m ft Class Transmitter coordinates FCC infoW295DE 106 9 Cleveland 147802 195 0 m 0 ft D 41 22 44 80 N 81 43 11 60 W 41 3791111 N 81 7198889 W 41 3791111 81 7198889 FCC LMSNotes Edit The WWWE calls were later assigned to a 5 000 watt daytime station in the Atlanta market also at 1100 AM The franchise was renamed from the Cleveland Indians at the start of the 2022 season References Edit a b c d Brown Roger July 19 1996 WWWE to change call letters to WTAM The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 4E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved January 1 2007 via NewsBank Chagrin Falls Emergency Preparedness City of Chagrin Falls Archived from the original on 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42 3 million melon in 73 PDF Broadcasting February 26 1973 pp 37 43 46 Archived PDF from the original on January 21 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 Dolgan Bob December 10 2004 Pete Franklin the ultimate Cleveland sports talker Life Stories Revisited The Plain Dealer Archived from the original on December 20 2019 Retrieved December 20 2019 a b Tait Joe Pluto Terry 2012 Joe Tait It s Been a Real Ball Stories from a Hall of Fame Sports Broadcasting Career Cleveland Gray amp Company ISBN 9781598510942 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 Jim Runyon Obit PDF Billboard May 5 1973 p 34 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 a b Washington Julie January 15 2011 Larry Morrow reflects on his radio career as Mr Cleveland The Plain Dealer Archived from the original on December 22 2019 Retrieved December 22 2019 All Time Broadcasters Cleveland Indians Archived from the original on September 5 2015 Retrieved December 22 2019 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August 4 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 a b Mehno John February 13 1982 WWWE AM Keys On Country Competition PDF Billboard p 27 Archived PDF from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 DiMauro Phil December 5 1981 Radio Replay Moves PDF Record World p 30 Archived PDF from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 WWWE Converts From Country To MOR PDF Radio amp Records August 26 1983 pp 3 30 Archived PDF from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 WWWE Switches To AC PDF Billboard August 27 1983 p 12 Archived PDF from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 Changing Hands Proposed PDF Broadcasting Vol 108 no 9 March 4 1985 p 85 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 via World Radio History a b Phipps Peter January 18 1983 Some of Modell s ventures have fallen on hard times Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p A10 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved October 13 2021 via Newspapers com Cook Daniel July 19 1982 Cleveland stations battle for listeners Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp B1 B2 Archived from the original on October 29 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via Newspapers com Mehno John June 26 1982 Format Turntable Jocks Out In Cleveland PDF Billboard Vol 94 no 25 p 28 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 via World Radio History a b Phelps Peter February 11 1984 WHK keeps Browns games Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p B2 Archived from the original on October 29 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via Newspapers com Gries renews legal battle with Modell The News Messenger Fremont Ohio Associated Press December 16 1983 p 15 Archived from the original on October 29 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via Newspapers com Schudel Jeff December 24 1983 Modell wins court battle News Journal Mansfield Ohio p 17 Archived from the original on October 29 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via Newspapers com Gottlieb Ken February 23 1985 Follow the bouncing Browns broadcast ball Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio p B4 Archived from the original on October 27 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via NewspaperArchive Phipps Peter June 23 1984 Modell s bank debts date to 1961 Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp B1 B3 Archived from the original on October 29 2021 Retrieved October 13 2021 via Newspapers com Gottlieb Ken March 2 1985 When Ron Bilek talks WKYC TV Channel 3 listens Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio p B4 Archived from the original on October 27 2021 Retrieved October 13 2021 via NewspaperArchive Detroit firm buys WJW AM Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio Associated Press March 1 1985 p B8 Archived from the original on October 27 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via NewspaperArchive a b c Dyer Bob June 12 1985 Changes on the radio dial Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C7 Archived from the original on September 20 2021 Retrieved September 19 2021 via Newspapers com a b c Popovich OM At New WLTF amp WRMR Combo PDF Radio amp Records No 587 June 7 1985 pp 3 4 Archived PDF from the original on September 20 2020 Retrieved December 19 2019 via World Radio History Gottlieb Ken July 21 1984 Mellow rock news and talk gain radio listeners Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio p B4 Archived from the original on October 27 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via NewspaperArchive a b c Gottlieb Ken October 19 1985 It s almost a Modell Miracle as WWWE rises in ratings Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio p A8 Archived from the original on October 27 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via NewspaperArchive The Last Word With Pete Franklin here you ll never have it again Newsday Nassau Edition Hempstead New York September 20 1987 p 328 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 a b Gottlieb Ken June 15 1985 Channel 3 s 60 minutes not discouraged by ratings Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio p B4 Archived from the original on October 27 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via NewspaperArchive a b Frolik Joe June 12 1985 All sports eggs in one basket The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 3E a b Gottlieb Ken May 25 1985 Modell group about to take over WWWE and WDOK Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio p A8 Archived from the original on October 27 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via NewspaperArchive Shippy Dick May 31 1985 Dieken wants to move his line to the radio Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p B5 Archived from the original on September 20 2021 Retrieved September 19 2021 via Newspapers com WJW changes its name place on dial The News Reporter Dover Ohio Associated Press June 12 1985 p C2 Archived from the original on October 27 2021 Retrieved October 12 2021 via NewspaperArchive Radio stations to switch next week The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio June 5 1985 p 8E Segall Grant June 1 2010 R Marvin Cade broadcast news on WJW AM The Plain Dealer Archived from the original on July 19 2018 Retrieved July 18 2018 a b Dyer Bob June 7 1987 Old announcers never die they just read away Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C2 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob April 27 1986 There s only one rock station in WMMS zone Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C2 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 15 2021 via Newspapers com Feran Tom October 2 2000 Larry Elder s new show puts morality on trial The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 14 2021 via NewsBank Lebovitz Hal February 23 1986 Danielson to become Clevelander McDonald fuming News Journal Mansfield Ohio p 11D Archived from the original on November 16 2021 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com Ocker Sheldon August 17 1986 Indians radio sweepstakes may bring surprise Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p 39 Archived from the original on November 16 2021 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob October 26 1986 Television is breaking up that old WONE gang Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p F2 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 14 2021 via NewsBank Dyer Bob December 21 1986 Checkbooks cool off as ratings period closes Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p H2 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 14 2021 via NewsBank Dyer Bob January 25 1987 WCLV saga Hear today unheard tomorrow Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C2 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 18 2021 via NewsBank a b c Pluto Terry May 14 1987 Franklin cohorts wish him a quick recovery Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C1 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b Pluto Terry May 10 1987 Tait or Chandler might be answer to WWWE s needs Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p E3 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 12 2021 via Newspapers com Jacor selling AM outlet back to a previous owner The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati Ohio July 23 1987 p B 12 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 12 2021 via Newspapers com Pluto Terry May 6 1987 New York station makes a fancy bid for Pete Franklin Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp A1 A6 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 12 2021 via Newspapers com a b Dolgan Bob December 10 2004 Pete Franklin the ultimate Cleveland sports talker Life Stories Revisited The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on December 20 2019 Retrieved December 20 2019 Meyer Ed May 21 1987 Franklin continues to improve Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C1 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 2 2022 Riding Gain on Radio Station Breaks PDF Broadcasting Vol 112 no 21 May 25 1987 p 69 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 21 2019 via World Radio History Pluto Terry June 18 1987 Franklin has changed ways but not style Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp B1 B2 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com Sports Talk Show Host Fights For Life Marysville Journal Tribune Marysville Ohio Associated Press May 14 1987 p 8 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b c Pluto Terry May 10 1987 Tait or Chandler might be answer to WWWE s needs Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p 55 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b Ocker Sheldon May 21 1987 Shanley is leading Sportsline candidate Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C1 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com The Last Word With Pete Franklin here you ll never have it again Newsday Hempstead New York September 20 1987 p 328 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 a b c d Dyer Bob August 5 1987 Modell Reaps Tidy Profit on Radio Stations Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp C8 C12 Archived from the original on November 13 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 via Newspapers com a b c Pluto Terry December 29 1987 Air Wars Drennan s hiring sets off talk show hosts Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp D1 D4 Archived from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved November 17 2021 via Newspapers com a b Shippy Dick December 1 1987 Wolsteins radio purchases won t affect Force for now Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D3 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 15 2021 a b Pluto Terry December 6 1987 Drennan says Sportsline needs him Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p E9 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 7 2021 via Newspapers com WWWE psychologist out again Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio November 15 1987 p 18 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 a b c Dyer Bob December 9 1987 Ex Akron radio exec at helm of WWWE Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D8 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b c d e f g h Koltek William T September 3 1988 Billboard s PD of the week David George WWWE Cleveland PDF Billboard Vol 100 no 36 p 19 Archived PDF from the original on October 21 2021 Retrieved November 14 2021 via World Radio History Coughlin Dan July 10 1988 They rigged the vote big deal Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio pp D1 D2 Archived from the original on November 17 2021 Retrieved November 17 2021 via NewspaperArchive Dyer Bob July 3 1988 One area station stands out amid blur of turnovers Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp F1 F6 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 19 2021 via Newspapers com a b Dyer Bob January 7 1988 Gary Dee back on Cleveland radio Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p B5 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Stephens Scott Fogarty Steve June 20 1988 She wants sex abuse watchdogs Elyria Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio p A 1 Archived from the original on November 17 2021 Retrieved November 17 2021 via NewspaperArchive Dyer Bob May 15 1988 Drive time news gets edge on Moscow summit Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p G2 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob October 2 1988 Listeners want DJs to identify songs Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D2 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Radio personality Fig Newton returns Monday to WWWE Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio April 8 1988 p C12 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com a b c Dyer Bob May 21 1988 WWWE s Fig Newton quits job after report of child porn charges Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p A8 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com a b Dyer Bob May 29 1988 Tale of two disc jockeys has a curious ending Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C2 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob July 31 1988 Reading Arbitron s fine print Overlapping markets add to the confusion Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C2 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Pluto Terry April 28 1988 Area fans are being cavalier no longer Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp A1 A5 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Pluto Terry October 1 1988 Tait has made changes in Cavs radio and TV setup Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C2 Archived from the original on September 20 2021 Retrieved September 19 2021 via Newspapers com Pluto Terry December 16 1987 Tait to tackle Cavs radio Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p B5 Archived from the original on November 19 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob January 30 1988 Cavs end contract with WWWE Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p B8 Archived from the original on September 20 2021 Retrieved September 19 2021 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob January 1 1989 Raunchy radio entry spells trouble in Kentucky Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p F2 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob April 2 1989 WKDD tinkers with three important time slots Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p H2 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob January 18 1989 Anthony does radio two step joins WKDD competitor WWWE Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C8 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob March 12 1989 WKSU to get Morning Edition boost Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p H2 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob January 26 1989 Former Akron announcer to return Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C7 Archived from the original on November 18 2021 Retrieved November 17 2021 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob January 22 1989 Snyder to Snyder chat probably didn t thrill WNIR Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C2 Archived from the original on November 18 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com Dyer Bob June 25 1989 WKDD wins at least a moral victory Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p B2 Archived from the original on November 21 2021 Retrieved November 21 2021 via Newspapers com a b Pluto Terry April 5 1998 A Franklin in mint condition is one thing but after 11 years Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp C1 C10 Archived from the original on August 17 2021 Retrieved August 17 2021 Sindelar new Sportsline host Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio June 18 1989 p D14 Archived from the original on November 21 2021 Retrieved November 21 2021 via Newspapers com a b c d Dyer Bob September 1 1989 Gary Dee fired by WWWE Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D12 Archived from the original on November 18 2021 Retrieved 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Reaches New Climax PDF Radio amp Records No 813 November 3 1989 pp 1 34 Archived PDF from the original on September 20 2020 Retrieved December 21 2019 via World Radio History Dyer Bob December 24 1989 Buyer snaps up stations but Akron sale drags on Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p B2 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 20 2021 via Newspapers com Franklin will rejoin WWWE Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio September 8 1989 p B5 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved February 3 2022 via Newspapers com a b Yerak Rebecca December 23 1989 Owners of WWWE WRMR trade chairs in 10 million deal The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved September 22 2021 via NewsBank Changing Hands PDF Broadcasting Vol 118 no 1 January 1 1990 p 115 Archived PDF from the original on June 9 2020 Retrieved December 21 2019 via World Radio History a b c Dyer Bob December 23 1989 Detroit group buys WWWE Radio Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p A10 Archived from the original on September 22 2021 Retrieved September 22 2021 via Newspapers com Dolgan Bob October 11 1990 Cavs games returning to powerful WWWE The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved September 21 2021 via NewsBank Pluto Terry December 23 1989 Cavaliers throw one away in loss to Bucks Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp C1 C4 Archived from the original on September 22 2021 Retrieved September 22 2021 via Newspapers com a b c d e f Dyer Bob June 24 1990 Upcoming WWWE purge not a well kept secret Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p G2 Archived from the original on September 20 2021 Retrieved September 19 2021 via Newspapers com In Brief PDF Broadcasting Vol 118 no 19 May 7 1990 p 80 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 21 2019 via World Radio History Embrescia group will pick voice The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio January 3 1990 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved September 21 2021 via NewsBank Dolgan Bob January 17 1990 Hamilton named Tribe announcer The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved September 22 2021 via NewsBank a b c d e Sowd David June 25 1990 New WWWE owner puts emphasis on news The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank Ross David November 9 1990 Bieler s replacement is up in the air Long Beach Press Telegram p F2 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank Cleveland Upheavals Reshape Market Booth Independent Swap Spurs Changes At WWWE WRMR WQAL Names PD New Management At WGAR AM PDF Radio amp Records No 846 June 29 1990 pp 1 30 Archived PDF from the original on September 20 2020 Retrieved December 21 2019 via World Radio History a b Sowd David August 3 1990 Local talk lacking on airwaves The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved August 20 2021 via NewsBank Sowd David September 28 1990 WKNR moves to new format The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved August 20 2021 via NewsBank Sowd David December 14 1990 WLTF charity in 10th year The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank WWWE WLTF plan move The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio July 16 1990 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank Lubinger Bill August 24 1990 Sports restaurant in lineup for Nautica s Powerhouse The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank Ross Sean November 16 1991 Vox Jox PDF Billboard Vol 103 no 46 p 14 Archived PDF from the original on March 7 2021 Retrieved December 22 2019 via World Radio History Santiago Robert September 3 1992 Sensible approach to bashing liberals The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 14E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Dolgan Bob October 4 1990 Sindelar out Snyder in as host of Sportsline The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank Dolgan Bob September 6 1990 Limit on phone calls has Sindelar fans upset The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank Dolgan Bob October 25 1990 Brinda and Snyder a study in contrasts The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank Sindelar back as radio host The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio November 14 1990 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 6 2021 via NewsBank Chancellor Carl Dyer Bob December 18 1990 Browns sportswear is thrown for a loss Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio pp C5 C9 Archived from the original on November 7 2021 Retrieved November 6 2021 via Newspapers com Lebovitz Hal February 24 1991 Tribe skipper asks Is it live or Memorex Mansfield News Journal p 3E Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 15 2021 Ross Sean December 21 1991 Vox Jox PDF Billboard p 87 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 Ross Sean April 18 1992 Vox Jox PDF Billboard p 66 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 Stark Phyllis May 22 1993 Vox Jox PDF Billboard p 111 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 Stark Phyllis September 11 1993 Vox Jox PDF Billboard p 77 Retrieved December 22 2019 WWWE signal the facts Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio August 12 1990 pp G1 G2 Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 Station and Cable Trading PDF Broadcasting amp Cable March 7 1994 p 47 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 Stark Phyllis May 28 1994 Vox Jox PDF Billboard p 71 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 a b Simmons Sheila August 27 1994 WWWE reunites Kinzbach and Ferenc The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 6F Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank a b Santiago Roberto September 13 1994 WWWE deejay he s a Shocker The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 1B Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved January 4 2007 via NewsBank Rauzi Robin August 23 1994 Imus Show Out Meyer Show in at WWWE The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 10E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved January 4 2007 via NewsBank Dolgan Bob July 7 1994 Trivisonno to replace Snyder The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 3D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Santiago Robert January 14 1995 Country conquers radio shock talk The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 12E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank a b Brown Roger September 6 1995 Staff changes are afoot at WWWE AM The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 Santiago Robert March 23 1995 WWWE trolling for ratings Station still looking for morning hit The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 12E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Taylor Chuck October 14 1995 Vox Jox PDF Billboard p 79 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 Brown Roger September 20 1995 Scuttlebutt is all news at WWWE The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 4E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Riding Gain MetroTraffic reporter pilot killed PDF Broadcasting amp Cable February 26 1996 p 36 Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2019 a b c Brown Roger July 1 1996 E in WWWE may stand for Extinct The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger July 15 1996 Honoring broadcasters Tolliver Elliot Ware Abrams to be honored for work The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Fybush Scott August 21 2003 August 21 28 2003 Bloomsburg Pennsylvania Fybush com Tower Site of the Week Archived from the original on November 23 2021 Retrieved November 23 2021 via RadioBB Call Sign History for WTAM Archived January 12 2016 at the Wayback Machine from FCC s AM station database Retrieved January 1 2007 a b Brown Roger July 22 1996 New call letters only half the story at WTAM The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger May 27 1996 WWWE shakes up its programming AM station signs on two shows axes one The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger August 29 1996 WTAM will carry all Ravens games The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 4F Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger January 15 1997 Tuning in to fallout from ratings The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank a b c d O Connor Clint February 1 1998 Mighty Mouth Why Mike Trivisonno rules Cleveland sports radio The Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine Cleveland Ohio p 8 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger June 26 1996 Trivisonno our voice Go figure The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 6E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger October 8 1997 Cleveland stations for 1 000 Alex The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 6F Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger November 25 1996 Wake up to ugly racism The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Moore Tom October 28 2021 WTAM s Mike Trivisonno Has Passed Away Newsradio WTAM 1100 iHeartMedia Archived from the original on October 31 2021 Retrieved November 23 2021 Brown Roger October 9 1996 2 local radio stations reportedly to be sold The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 2C Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank a b Brown Roger January 20 1997 Deal to sell WTAM WLTF is called off The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger November 18 1996 Vindication for Trapper WDOK personality co workers are making their mark The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger October 16 1996 WTAM WLTF likely to be on the move again The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Jacor buys four more Cincinnati Business Courier American City Business Journals April 25 1997 Retrieved January 1 2007 a b Brown Roger April 30 1997 What does Jacor plan at new stations The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger April 26 1997 Kentucky group purchases WTAM and WLTF The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7B Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger March 12 1997 WKNR looks vulnerable to purchase The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 4E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved August 22 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger March 24 1997 Jacor officials interested in WTAM WLTF The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 7D Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved August 22 2021 via NewsBank Jacor Acquires Sports Leader WKNR Cleveland Press release Jacor Communications Inc August 19 1997 Archived from the original on May 11 2008 Retrieved January 1 2007 Adams David October 31 1997 Fate of WKNR still hangs in balance Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p D10 Archived from the original on August 16 2021 Retrieved August 16 2021 Brown Roger June 20 1997 WTAM fires Michaels now airs Dr Laura The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 3E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 23 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger July 14 1997 Downey back with WTAM talk show The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger August 30 1997 Downey leaves WTAM Stern blamed The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5B Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger September 15 1997 Listen to the words not just the voice The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger October 6 1997 WTAM drops personalities Jeff and Flash The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger December 29 1997 Owner set to pump up WKNR The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 5E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved August 14 2021 via NewsBank On the radio Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio April 7 1998 p C1 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 14 2021 Brown Roger June 1 1998 Franklin s loud exit should be no surprise The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 3E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Souhrada Paul August 11 1998 Cleveland s WKNR traded for Pittsburgh station Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p C7 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 14 2021 Justice Department Requires Jacor to Sell Eight Radio Stations as Part of Nationwide Communications Inc Acquisition Press release U S Department of Justice August 10 1998 Archived from the original on September 30 2006 Retrieved January 1 2007 How Clear Channel became the biggest The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati Ohio March 19 2000 Archived from the original on September 29 2007 Retrieved January 1 2007 Bodipo Memba Alejandro October 9 1998 Clear Channel Wins Bidding Contest Agrees to Buy Jacor Communications The Wall Street Journal ISSN 0099 9660 Archived from the original on February 15 2017 Retrieved August 1 2019 Nolan John Clear Channel Buys Jacor AP NEWS Archived from the original on November 26 2021 Retrieved August 1 2019 Morgan Richard October 9 1998 Clear Channel buys Jacor Variety Archived from the original on November 3 2021 Retrieved August 1 2019 a b O Connor Clint September 22 2002 At the controls Clear Channel programmer rules radio in Cleveland The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p J1 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger July 27 1998 A look at the ratings up and down the dial The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 3E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger August 17 1998 New owner at WMMS fires three personalities The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 3E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank a b Brown Roger January 18 1999 Buzzard scam gets WMMS what it wanted more listeners The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 3E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Brown Roger July 19 1995 Short takes on Cleveland s radio scene The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 4E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank a b Feran Tom August 10 2000 Sports talker Bruce Drennan off air at WTAM The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p 11E Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Pluto Terry January 26 1999 Browns Notes Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio p B5 Archived from the original on August 15 2021 Retrieved August 14 2021 O Connor Clint September 25 2001 Dr Laura is dumped from WTAM lineup The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E7 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank O Connor Clint November 3 2001 Webster Wright 6 others lose jobs The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio p E1 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank Washington Julie E October 22 2008 Glenn Beck heading back to WTAM The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on October 26 2008 Retrieved October 28 2008 Longtime Cleveland broadcaster Casey Coleman dies at 55 Associated Press Sports November 27 2006 Retrieved November 28 2006 dead link NAB Announces Crystal Radio Awards Winners National Association of Broadcasters April 17 2007 Archived from the original on November 7 2015 Retrieved September 9 2018 WTAM Adds The Spew All Access Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 a b Kleps Kevin July 9 2014 WTAM fires veteran broadcaster Bob Frantz Crain s Cleveland Business Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 Sisario Ben September 16 2014 Clear Channel Renames Itself iHeartMedia in Nod to Digital The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on June 9 2020 Retrieved January 21 2020 a b Lanigan John Jedick Peter Olszewski Mike 2017 Lanigan in the Morning My Life in Radio Cleveland Ohio Gray amp Company ISBN 978 1 938441 93 6 Goodrich Barry December 18 2017 John Lanigan Isn t Shy About Sharing His Opinions Cleveland Magazine Archived from the original on August 27 2021 Retrieved August 27 2021 Morona Joey August 10 2018 Cleveland radio legend John Lanigan ups and quits in the middle of his show on WTAM Cleveland com Archived from the original on August 10 2018 Retrieved August 10 2018 Donatelli Joe Cross Ian August 9 2018 Why Lanigan retired in middle of his show WEWS Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 Geraldo Rivera Joins WTAM WTAM com Press release iHeartMedia Inc September 22 2018 Archived from the original on September 22 2018 Retrieved September 22 2018 Venta Lance September 23 2018 Geraldo Rivera Joins WTAM Cleveland RadioInsight Archived from the original on November 12 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 Morona Joey March 15 2019 WTAM s Nick Camino moving to WKYC Ch 3 as weekend sports anchor The Plain Dealer Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 26 2021 via NewsBank DeNatale Dave October 28 2021 A trailblazer in radio Tributes pour in for late WTAM 1100 talk show host Mike Trivisonno WKYC Tegna Inc Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved November 14 2021 Venta Lance May 27 2021 Clay Travis amp Buck Sexton To Take Over Rush Limbaugh Show RadioInsight Archived from the original on November 7 2021 Retrieved November 7 2021 via RadioBB a b Venta Lance June 20 2021 Number Of Rush Limbaugh Affiliates Decide On Replacement Shows RadioInsight Archived from the original on November 7 2021 Retrieved November 7 2021 via RadioBB Bona Marc October 28 2021 He won t be forgotten Mike Trivisonno remembered as influential Cleveland radio talk show host cleveland com The Plain Dealer Archived from the original on November 6 2021 Retrieved November 6 2021 Anderson Chris Kennedy Kelly October 28 2021 Mike Trivisonno of WTAM 1100 Cleveland s Newsradio dies at the age of 74 WOIO Gray Television Archived from the original on November 4 2021 Retrieved November 6 2021 Grzegorek Vince October 28 2021 Longtime Cleveland Radio Personality Mike Trivisonno Has Died Cleveland Scene Archived from the original on November 6 2021 Retrieved November 6 2021 Venta Lance October 28 2021 WTAM Cleveland Afternoon Host Mike Trivisonno Dies At 74 RadioInsight Archived from the original on November 6 2021 Retrieved November 6 2021 via RadioBB Glenn Beck Joins Carmen And Seth Today At 5 10 Newsradio WTAM 1100 iHeartMedia November 9 2021 Archived from the original on November 10 2021 Retrieved November 14 2021 O Brien Eric February 4 2022 Bloomdaddy leaving WWVA and WJAS PBRTV com Archived from the original on February 4 2022 Retrieved February 4 2022 Bloomdaddy To Succeed The Late Mike Trivisonno On Cleveland s WTAM Insideradio com February 4 2022 Archived from the original on February 4 2022 Retrieved February 5 2022 a b Venta Lance February 4 2022 Bloomdaddy Departs WWVA Mornings For WTAM Afternoons RadioInsight Archived from the original on February 4 2022 Retrieved February 4 2022 via RadioBB DeNatalie Dave February 4 2022 WTAM names David Bloomdaddy Blomquist as new afternoon show host following passing of Mike Trivisonno wkyc com Archived from the original on August 4 2022 Retrieved February 5 2022 Venta Lance March 29 2022 Geraldo Rivera To Depart WTAM Cleveland RadioInsight Archived from the original on May 2 2022 Retrieved May 2 2022 via RadioBB a b Venta Lance April 7 2022 Jimmy Malone To Host Daily Show On WTAM RadioInsight Archived from the original on May 2 2022 Retrieved May 2 2022 via RadioBB Venta Lance June 29 2021 George Noory Extends Deal With Premiere Networks To Remain Host Of Coast To Coast AM RadioInsight Archived from the original on November 14 2021 Retrieved November 14 2021 via RadioBB 200 Affiliates For At Home With Gary Sullivan All Access June 28 2012 Archived from the original on February 5 2022 Retrieved February 5 2022 FAQs The City Club of Cleveland Cleveland Ohio Archived from the original on February 5 2022 Retrieved February 5 2022 WTAM schedule WTAM com Archived from the original on May 12 2013 Wills amp Snyder page WTAM com Archived from the original on May 13 2020 Retrieved May 25 2020 Cavs com October 8 2014 Cavaliers and iHeartMedia Announce AM FM Simulcast Cavs com Press release NBA Media Ventures LLC Archived from the original on October 9 2014 Retrieved July 22 2018 Cavs com October 5 2017 Cavs and Monsters Announce Multi Year Extensions of Radio Broadcast Agreements Cavs com Press release NBA Media Ventures LLC Archived from the original on October 6 2017 Retrieved July 22 2018 Inside Radio March 5 2018 Play By Play Streaming Rights The Goal Posts Are Moving InsideRadio com Inside Radio Archived from the original on June 7 2021 Retrieved May 1 2018 Newsradio WTAM 1100 wtam1100 May 19 2017 As a reminder we cannot stream Cavs or Indians on the Internet or via the iHeartRadio app Tweet Archived from the original on July 22 2018 via Twitter Newsradio WTAM 1100 wtam1100 October 15 2014 The NBA prohibits us from streaming games on iHeartRadio Tweet Archived from the original on July 22 2018 via Twitter Cleveland Cavaliers Cavs October 8 2014 Nope you ll want to grab the exclusive NBA Game Time app for that Tweet Archived from the original on July 22 2018 via Twitter Cleveland Cavaliers Cavs October 15 2014 No but you can listen free online w NBA Audio League Pass or paid w the NBA League Pass app Tweet Archived from the original on July 22 2018 via Twitter Vikings Partner With iHeartMedia For Men s Basketball Radio Cleveland State University October 26 2021 Archived from the original on October 26 2021 Retrieved November 6 2021 Newsradio WTAM 1100 Now Also on FM 106 9 WTAM com Press release iHeartMedia Inc September 6 2018 Archived from the original on September 8 2018 Retrieved September 15 2018 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to WTAM Official website WTAM in the FCC AM station database WTAM on Radio Locator WTAM in Nielsen Audio s AM station database FCC History Cards for WTAMFM translatorW295DE in the FCC FM station database W295DE on Radio Locator Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WTAM amp oldid 1150397038, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, 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