WLTB

WLTB
Johnson City, New York;
Broadcast area	Greater Binghamton
Frequency	101.7 MHz
Branding	Magic 101.7 (FM/HD1); 102.5 The Vault (HD2)
Programming
Format	Classic Rock Hits
Subchannels	HD2: Classic hits
Ownership
Owner	GM Broadcasting
History
First air date	1972; 52 years ago (as WEBO-FM)
Former call signs	WEBO-FM (1972–1979); WWWT (1979–1985); WQWT (1985–1987); WQXT (1987–1992); WGRG (1992–1998)
Call sign meaning	"Lite Binghamton"
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	71400
Class	A
ERP	580 watts
HAAT	312 meters (1,024 ft)
Translator(s)	HD2: 102.5 W273AB (Vestal)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen Live; HD2: Listen live
Website	magic1017fm.com; HD2: 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4] The station signed on the air in September 1972; 51 years ago (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.^[5]

Then on March 1, 1979, the simulcast ended. FM 101.7 became WWWT "3WT" and flipped to an all-disco format.^[6] The exception was morning drive time when it continued to simulcast the AM.^[7] The disco format gave way within several months later, switching to a mainstream Top 40 - CHR approach.^[8]

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.^[9] 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.^[10]

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.^[11] The call letters were changed to WGRG in 1992, the same year that the station reverted to Top 40 - CHR known as Power 101.^[12] FM translator W273AB at 102.5 FM, was added the next year. By 1996, the format on 101.7 FM changed to alternative rock.^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15] The Vault airs a more mainstream classic hits format.

References

^ "Facility Technical Data for WLTB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ Radio-Locator.com/WLTB
^ Radio-Locator.com/W273AB
^ FCC History Cards for WLTB
^ "New Tower Rises In Owego's Hills". The Evening Press. Binghamton, New York. July 22, 1972. p. Saturday 11. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Grey, Gene (March 4, 1979). "Local stations muse: Is disco here to stay?". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. p. 16-C. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Owego radio station changes tune". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. February 28, 1979. p. 3A. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ DeGrasse, Diana (October 20, 1980). "The beat goes on". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. p. 1B. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Owego radio stations tune to changing audiences". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. September 25, 1985. p. 1B. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Owego station plants new tower". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. March 25, 1989. p. 1B. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Karlson, Katherine (February 6, 1991). "Owego stations sold; WEBO to go country". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. p. 6B. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Format Changes and Updates" (PDF). M Street Journal. September 23, 1992. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
^ Mastronardi, Michelle; Puttanniah, Suraj; Komarinetz, Michael (December 17, 1996). "Radio raves: Teen-agers tune in with frequency". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. p. 1C, 3C. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Venta, Lance (August 7, 2015). "Station Sales Week Of 8/7". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on 2022-01-14. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
^ Venta, Lance (September 25, 2017). "Vault Opens In Binghamton". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2022-01-14.