WITA

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WITA

| logo =

| city = Knoxville, Tennessee | country = US

| area =

| branding = Inspiration 1490

| airdate = September 1960{{r|Knox600904}}

| format = Christian

| power = 1,000 watts

| class = C

| facility_id = 73076

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WROL (1960–1976)|WKVQ (1976–1980)}}

| coordinates = {{Coord|35|58|11.3|N|83|57|55.7|W|region:US-TN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| owner = F.W. Robbert Broadcasting

| licensee = WITA, Inc.

| sister_stations = WLRM, WMQM, WNQM, WVOG, WWCR

| website = {{URL|http://wita1490.com/}}

| callsign_meaning = "With Inspiration to All"{{r|Knox800318}}

| licensing_authority= FCC

}}

WITA (1490 AM, "Inspiration 1490") is a Christian radio station located in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, owned by F.W. Robbert Broadcasting Inc.

History

WFCT, Inc., obtained a construction permit to build a new radio station in Fountain City on July 27, 1960.{{cite news|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=61150|title=History Cards for WITA|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} The station intended to use the WFCT call sign, but by the time the permit was issued, another station approved for Fountain City had claimed the letters. Instead, the station went on the air at the end of August or early September 1960{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-new-wrol-at/157156894/|date=September 4, 1960|page=E-6|title=New WROL at 1490 on Dial|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}} as WROL. This was a familiar call sign in Knoxville radio, as what was then WATE (620 AM) had been known as WROL from 1930 to 1956.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-journal-new-radio-firm-ask/157157115/|date=August 1, 1960|page=10|title=New Radio Firm Asks WROL Tag|newspaper=The Knoxville Journal|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-journal-wate-observes-anni/157156831/|date=February 12, 1960|page=26|title=WATE Observes Anniversary|newspaper=The Knoxville Journal|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}} WATE unsuccessfully protested.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-wrol-wins-ok/157156796/|date=October 2, 1960|page=C-12|title=WROL Wins OK Of Call Letters|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}} WROL was a 250-watt station until it upgraded its daytime power to 1,000 watts in 1964; at the same time, the city of license was changed from Fountain City to Knoxville in light of the former's annexation into the latter.{{r|hc}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-wrol-to-up-p/157157427/|date=April 23, 1964|page=27|title=WROL To Up Power|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}} In 1971, the station switched from a country music format to rock under the name "W-149", shunning its call letters and their country association.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-pirkle-new/157157477/|date=August 22, 1971|page=F-2|title=Pirkle. New Sound Come to WROL|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}}

In 1976, WROL was sold to Radio Knoxville, Inc., whose investors were based in Jackson, Tennessee.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-sale-of-wrol/157157586/|date=December 11, 1975|page=A-1|title=Sale of WROL to Jackson Firm Planned|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}} When the new ownership took over in March, WROL flipped to adult contemporary under new WKVQ call letters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-fcc-approves/157157655/|date=March 4, 1976|page=17|title=FCC Approves WROL Sale to Radio Knoxville Inc.|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}}

Forus Communications of Tennessee acquired WKVQ in 1980{{r|hc}} and relaunched it that March 1 as the gospel-formatted WITA, "With Inspiration to All".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-station-chan/157157875/|date=March 18, 1980|page=B-4|title=Station Changes Call Letters|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 15, 2024}} Fred Westenberger acquired WITA from Forus in 1983.{{cite news|page=79|title=Changing Hands|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1014710379}}|date=November 14, 1983}}

References

External links

ITA

Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 1960

Category:1960 establishments in Tennessee