WATA
Encyclopedia
WATA is a radio station
broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Boone, North Carolina
, USA. The station is currently owned by Aisling Broadcasting of Banner Elk, LLC and features programing from MRN Radio, PRN Radio, Jones Media, ISP, ABC Radio and Westwood One
.
The station advertises itself as Watauga County's "Heritage Station." It emphasizes local news and announcements and broadcasts Live Play by Play Watauga High School Sports and Appalachian State University
football baseball and basketball games.
in nearby North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
. WATA signed on the air in 1950. WATA's studios were originally located above the Boone bus station, at Depot and Rivers streets. The station broadcast live performances by country
and bluegrass
artists from that location during its early years of operation. Today WATA broadcasts from studios on Blowing Rock Road in Boone.
In the early 1990s the Potters started WZJS
100.7FM.
Roland Potter sold both stations in the late 1990s to Highland Communication Associates.
In September 2003 Highland sold WATA, (along with WZJS 100.7FM) to Aisling Broadcasting (Jonathon Hoffman, managing member) for a price of $2.2 million. This added to Aisling's holdings in the High Country, as they had already purchased WECR
, WECR-FM
, WXIT
(from Rondinaro Broadcasting) for $2.2 million in 2003, and WMMY
(from Dale Hendrix) in 2004 for $1.58 million.
Aisling went into receivership
and George Reed of Media Services Group was appointed to manage the stations until a buyer is found . Later in the year, Curtis Media Group
purchased the stations.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Boone, North Carolina
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
, USA. The station is currently owned by Aisling Broadcasting of Banner Elk, LLC and features programing from MRN Radio, PRN Radio, Jones Media, ISP, ABC Radio and Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
.
The station advertises itself as Watauga County's "Heritage Station." It emphasizes local news and announcements and broadcasts Live Play by Play Watauga High School Sports and Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
football baseball and basketball games.
History
WATA was started by Mr. and Mrs. Roland Potter, owners of WKBC and WKBC-FMWKBC-FM
WKBC-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Most of its programming comes from Dial Global's Hot AC...
in nearby North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was approximately 4,116 at the 2000 census and is now 4,245 as of the 2010 census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvement, which continues to have a major presence in...
. WATA signed on the air in 1950. WATA's studios were originally located above the Boone bus station, at Depot and Rivers streets. The station broadcast live performances by country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
artists from that location during its early years of operation. Today WATA broadcasts from studios on Blowing Rock Road in Boone.
In the early 1990s the Potters started WZJS
WZJS
WZJS is a radio station broadcasting an Oldies format. Licensed to Banner Elk, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Banner Elk area. The station is currently owned by Curtis Media Group.-History:...
100.7FM.
Roland Potter sold both stations in the late 1990s to Highland Communication Associates.
In September 2003 Highland sold WATA, (along with WZJS 100.7FM) to Aisling Broadcasting (Jonathon Hoffman, managing member) for a price of $2.2 million. This added to Aisling's holdings in the High Country, as they had already purchased WECR
WECR (AM)
WECR is a radio station broadcasting asouthern gospel format. Licensed to Newland, NC, USA, it serves the Boone, NC area. The station is currently owned by Curtis Media Group. WECR broadcasts during the daytime only.-History:...
, WECR-FM
WECR-FM
WECR-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Beech Mountain, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Curtis Media Group and features programing from CBS Radio.-History:...
, WXIT
WXIT
WXIT is a radio station that broadcasts in a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Curtis Media Group and features programing from CBS Radio, Westwood One and Jones Radio Network.-History:After buying WJTP in 1996 and...
(from Rondinaro Broadcasting) for $2.2 million in 2003, and WMMY
WMMY
WMMY is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Jefferson, North Carolina, USA, the station broadcasts from studios on Blowing Rock Road in Boone, North Carolina and serves the counties of Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Alleghany, Wilkes, Catawba and Caldwell in northwestern North...
(from Dale Hendrix) in 2004 for $1.58 million.
Aisling went into receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
and George Reed of Media Services Group was appointed to manage the stations until a buyer is found . Later in the year, Curtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group
Curtis Media Group is a broadcast media company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The company owns and operates several North Carolina radio stations and four radio networks.-AM:*WPTF 680 AM *WQDR 570 AM...
purchased the stations.
External links
- http://www.wataugademocrat.com/2005/placecalledhome/apch_19_bw.pdf A History of Local Media in the Watauga