WLTB
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WLTB
| logo =
| city = Johnson City, New York
| area = Greater Binghamton
| branding = Magic 101.7 (FM/HD1)
102.5 The Vault (HD2)
| frequency = 101.7 MHz
| translator = {{Radio Relay|102.5|W273AB|Vestal|HD2}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1972}} (as WEBO-FM)
| format = Classic Rock Hits
| subchannels = HD2: Classic hits
| erp = 580 watts
| haat = {{convert|312|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = A
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 71400
| callsign_meaning = "Lite Binghamton"
| former_callsigns = WEBO-FM (1972–1979)
WWWT (1979–1985)
WQWT (1985–1987)
WQXT (1987–1992)
WGRG (1992–1998)
| owner = GM Broadcasting
| licensee =
| sister_stations =
| webcast = [http://streamdb4web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WLTB Listen Live]
HD2: {{listen live|https://1025thevault.com}}
| website = {{URL|magic1017fm.com}}
HD2: {{URL|1025thevault.com}}
}}
WLTB (101.7 MHz "Magic 101.7") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Johnson City, New York, and serving the Greater Binghamton radio market. Owned locally by GM Broadcasting, the station broadcasts a classic hits radio format, playing hits of the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s. It leans toward adult rock and omits pop and dance artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna and Whitney Houston who are heard on most classic hits stations. The studios are on East Main Street in Endicott.
WLTB is a Class A station with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 560 watts. The transmitter is on Ingraham Hill in Binghamton.[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=wltb&x=0&y=0&sr=Y&s=C Radio-Locator.com/WLTB] WLTB broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 digital subchannel airs a mainstream classic hits format, known as "102.5 The Vault." It feeds FM translator W273AB at 102.5 MHz in Vestal.[https://radio-locator.com/info/W273AB-FX Radio-Locator.com/W273AB]
History
=WEBO-FM, WWWT=
WEBO Radio, Inc., the owner of WEBO 1330 AM, applied for a construction permit to build a new FM radio station in Owego on September 23, 1971. It received the permit on January 17, 1972.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=83723 |title= History Cards for WLTB|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards) The station signed on the air in {{Start date and age|September 1972}}. Its call sign was WEBO-FM, broadcasting from a new tower in South Owego. WEBO which was a daytimer station would simulcast its programming with its FM sister station. Listeners could continue hearing its programming at night by listening to 101.7 FM.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550780/new-tower-rises-in-owegos-hills/|date=July 22, 1972|page=Saturday 11|title=New Tower Rises In Owego's Hills|newspaper=The Evening Press|location=Binghamton, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062019/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550780/new-tower-rises-in-owegos-hills/|url-status=live}}
Then on March 1, 1979, the simulcast ended. FM 101.7 became WWWT "3WT" and flipped to an all-disco format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550830/local-stations-muse-is-disco-here-to-st/|date=March 4, 1979|page=16-C|first=Gene|last=Grey|title=Local stations muse: Is disco here to stay?|newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062019/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550830/local-stations-muse-is-disco-here-to/|url-status=live}} The exception was morning drive time when it continued to simulcast the AM.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550878/owego-radio-station-changes-tune/|date=February 28, 1979|page=3A|title=Owego radio station changes tune|newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062019/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550878/owego-radio-station-changes-tune/|url-status=live}} The disco format gave way within several months later, switching to a mainstream Top 40 - CHR approach.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550918/the-beat-goes-on/|date=October 20, 1980|page=1B|first=Diana|last=DeGrasse|title=The beat goes on|newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062020/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550918/the-beat-goes-on/|url-status=live}}
=WQWT, WQXT, WGRG=
WWWT's hit radio format changed in October 1985. The station became soft adult contemporary WQWT "The Lite Q", aiming for an older demographic than it had under its previous format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550993/owego-radio-stations-tune-to-changing-au/|date=September 25, 1985|page=1B|title=Owego radio stations tune to changing audiences|newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062020/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92550993/owego-radio-stations-tune-to-changing/|url-status=live}} In 1987, the station returned to contemporary hits, this time as WQXT "Q102". Two years later, the station activated a new tower and transmitter site on Bornt Hill, expanding its coverage area.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92551079/owego-station-plants-new-tower/|date=March 25, 1989|page=1B|title=Owego station plants new tower|newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062021/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92551079/owego-station-plants-new-tower/|url-status=live}}
In 1991, the Aubol family, which owned the station, retired and sold WEBO and WQXT to Steven Gilinsky. FM 101.7 changed to an oldies format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92551152/owego-stations-sold-webo-to-go-country/|date=February 6, 1991|page=6B|first=Katherine|last=Karlson|title=Owego stations sold; WEBO to go country|newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062024/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92551152/owego-stations-sold-webo-to-go-country/|url-status=live}} The call letters were changed to WGRG in 1992, and in September of the same year that the station reverted to Top 40 - CHR known as Power 101.{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1992-09.pdf#page=23|work=M Street Journal|date=September 23, 1992|page=1|title=Format Changes and Updates|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930001734/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1992-09.pdf#page=23|url-status=live}}
FM translator W273AB at 102.5 FM, was added the next year. By 1996, the format on 101.7 FM changed to alternative rock.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92551344/radio-raves-teen-agers-tune-in-with-fre/|date=December 17, 1996|page=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92551335/teens-tune-in-to-radio-stations/ 3C]|title=Radio raves: Teen-agers tune in with frequency|newspaper=Press and Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 14, 2022|first1=Michelle|last1=Mastronardi|first2=Suraj|last2=Puttanniah|first3=Michael|last3=Komarinetz|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062025/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92551344/radio-raves-teen-agers-tune-in-with/|url-status=live}}
=WLTB=
WGRG became WLTB "Lite 101.7", returning to soft adult contemporary music, in 1998. The call sign was retained in 2001 when the station shifted to hot adult contemporary as "Magic 101.7". Since that time, the station has changed formats three times while keeping the Magic 101.7 moniker, starting in 2016 by returning to CHR known as Binghamton's #1 Hit Music Station. In 2021, the station adopted an Adult Hits format, and in 2022, it changed formats once more to rock-leaning Classic Hits.
Gilinsky, who had previously sold 75 percent of WLTB to Thomas Mollen, repurchased his stake in the station in 2015.{{Cite news |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=August 7, 2015 |title=Station Sales Week Of 8/7 |language=en-US |work=RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/94014/station-sales-week-of-87/ |access-date=2022-01-14 |archive-date=2022-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062024/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/94014/station-sales-week-of-87/ |url-status=live }}
=The Vault=
The station has an HD digital subchannel, known as "The Vault". It began broadcasting in 2017 and replaced the 102.5 simulcast of WLTB.{{Cite news |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=September 25, 2017 |title=Vault Opens In Binghamton |language=en-US |work=RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/119914/vault-opens-binghamton/ |access-date=2022-01-14 |archive-date=2020-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222143037/http://radioinsight.com/headlines/119914/vault-opens-binghamton/ |url-status=live }} The Vault airs a more mainstream classic hits format.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|url=http://www.magic1017fm.com/|name=magic1017fm.com}}
- {{Official website|url=http://1025thevault.com/|name=1025thevault.com}}
- {{FM station data|739399|WLTB}}
- {{FCC-LMS-Facility|71399|W273AB}}
- {{FXL|W273AB}}
{{Binghamton Radio}}
{{coord|42.056|N|75.944|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}
Category:Adult hits radio stations in the United States