WTAQ

'News Radio 1360 WTAQ' is a news-talk station located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. WTAQ's frequency is 1360 kHz on the AM dial. The station is locally-owned and operated by Midwest Communications. WTAQ's studios and newsroom are located in the WBAY building in downtown Green Bay. The station's transmitter is located on Lost Dauphin Road in De Pere.
On July 18, 2006, Midwest Communications broke ground on their new, $4.725 Million facility in Bellevue. The facility will be located on the WNFL tower site on Bellevue Street. WTAQ and the six other Midwest Communications stations in Northeast Wisconsin will move to the new facility in the Summer of 2007.^[1]

Contents

History

Programming

WTAQ personalities

Slogans

References

External links

History

WTAQ was originally licensed to Osseo, Wisconsin on September 4, 1923 on the 1180 frequency. In 1930, the Gillette Rubber Co. bought the station and moved it to Eau Claire on the 1330 frequency. Ten years later, in 1940, The Norbertine Fathers of St. Norbert College in De Pere, then-owners of WHBY (AM), bought the station, changed its city of license to Green Bay, and moved it's frequency to 1360, where it remains today. Later, they changed the call letters to WBAY.
In 1977, the Norbertine Fathers sold their broadcast properties including WBAY (AM), WBAY-FM (now WIXX), WHBY and WBAY-TV. WBAY (AM) & WBAY-FM were sold to what would become Midwest Communications, while WHBY and WBAY-TV would go to separate owners. WBAY (AM) changed their call letters to WGEE.
For many years after the sale, WGEE played country music as well as local news, national news from CBS, and agriculture reports. Due to the declining popularity of music on the AM band, the station began a gradual move towards News/Talk programming in 1996. The station's moniker became "News Radio 1360 WGEE". Music was completely gone from the station by the end of 1998.

In the year 2000, the nationally syndicated Rush Limbaugh Show, moved to WGEE from sister station WNFL, which switched to a hot talk format. WNFL now carries a sports format.
In 2003, the historical WTAQ calls became available and WGEE decided to bring them back. The official change took place on March 17. Midwest Communications gave the WGEE calls to their ESPN Radio affiliate in Duluth, Minnesota.
At the 2006 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association award ceremony, WTAQ won eight awards, more than any other station in the state. WTAQ took first place for "Best Locally Originated Newscast", first place for "Best Use of Audio", and first place for a "Mini-Documentary or Series". WTAQ also received five Merit Awards.^[2]

Programming

WTAQ carries mostly conservative programming including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Michael Reagan, and Glenn Beck (weekends). The station also has a local morning news program, hosted by Mike Austin and Matt Z., called "Mike, Matt, and the Morning News" and a local political talk show hosted by WTAQ's Program Director, Jerry Bader. During football season, "The Fifth Quarter", hosted by Mark Daniels and Nick Vitrano airs on Monday evenings. Other programs that air on the station include Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, "First Light" with Dirk Van, The Kim Komando Computer Show, and "Moneytalk" with Bob Brinker.
WTAQ carries local news updates every half-hour that are produced by WTAQ's News Department, which is directed by News Anchor Danielle Bina. The station is an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network and airs their national newscast at the top of every hour. Local weather forecasts from WLUK-TV FOX 11 air every ten minutes, when programming allows for it (except during sports play-by-play). WTAQ does not currently carry a traffic report, but breaks into programming when necessary.
WTAQ has a news-sharing agreement with WTMJ (AM) of Milwaukee, in which WTMJ reporters cover issues in Milwaukee for WTAQ and WTAQ reporters cover issues in Green Bay for WTMJ. This kind of relationship also exists between other stations owned by Midwest Communications.
In addition to WTAQ's news and talk programming, the station is an affiliate of Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play broadcasts, which are produced by WTMJ. Brewers day games during the work week are aired on WTAQ's sister station, WNFL.

WTAQ personalities

'Mike Austin:' AG Reports and host of "Mike, Matt, and the Morning News"

'Jerry Bader:' Host of "The Jerry Bader Show" and Program Director of WTAQ

'Danielle Bina:' News Director/Morning Anchor

'Mark Daniels:' Sports reporter and host of "The Fifth Quarter"

'Doug Higgins' Weekend weather (from WLUK-TV)

'Shawn Kiser:' Morning Anchor/Reporter

'Chuck Lakefield:' Host of "Ask the Expert" and "Here's What's Happening"

'Larry McCarren:' Green Bay Packers coverage (Monday mornings during football season)

'Scott Patrick:' Reporter/Anchor

'Pete Petoniak:' Morning weather (from WLUK-TV)

'Patrick Powell:' Afternoon and evening weather (from WLUK-TV)

'Tom Tomaszewski:' Reporter/Anchor

'Nick Vitrano:' Host of "The Fifth Quarter"

'Matt Zee:' Host of "Mike, Matt, and the Morning News"
Several reporters of other Midwest Communications stations and WTMJ can also be heard on occasion, reporting on issues outside of Northeast Wisconsin.

Slogans

'"Green Bay's News, Weather, and Information Station"' ''(Past)''

'"Depend On It!"' ''(Past)''

'"News Radio 1360: Today's 'TAQ"' ''(Current)''

'"The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Choice for Best Newscast of the Year."' ''(Current)''

References

★ "Midwest Communications Breaks Ground for New Broadcast Center Today" (from WTAQ News)

★ History of Wisconsin AM Stations

★ "Packers, Brewers making AM moves" (from Green Bay Press-Gazette)

★ Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Award Winners

★ Wisconsin Broadcasting.com: TV & Radio Callsign Meanings

External links

★ News Radio 1360 WTAQ

★ Midwest Communications

★ Query the FCC's AM station database for WTAQ

★ Click here to see a map of WTAQ's transmitter site

★ Click here to view a virtual tour of Midwest Communications' new building