WLTJ

Infobox Radio Station
name = WLTJ-FM


city = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
area = Pittsburgh metropolitan area
branding = "Q92.9"
slogan = The Best Music Mix
airdate = April 4, 1942 (as KDKA-FM)
frequency = 92.9 MHz HD Radio 92.9 HD-2 for Classic rock 92.9 HD-3 for Urban AC
format = Adult Contemporary
erp = 43,000 watts
haat = 260 meters
class = B
facility_id = 73889
owner = Steel City Media
webcast = [http://wmc1.liquidcompass.cc/WLTJ Listen Live]
website = http://www.q929fm.com/
callsign_meaning =
sister_stations = WRRK-FM|

WLTJ (92.9 FM, "Q92.9"), is an adult contemporary music format radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station, which is owned by Steel City Media, broadcasts with an ERP of 43 kW. Its transmitter is located in Pittsburgh.

History

WLTJ was originally known as KDKA-FM, and at times was simulcast with its then AM sister station. During the 1970s, KDKA-FM was an automated station that was programmed poorly. They played beautiful music during the day, and classical music at night. In October of 1979, the station changed its call letters from KDKA-FM to WPNT (The Point). They also dropped the classical music for an all-beautiful music format with live announcers. It had a good debut, taking ratings away from the beautiful music station next to it on the dial, WJOI (93.7 FM). In 1984, the switch was made from beautiful music to adult contemporay, although the call letters remained the same.

WPNT was then purchased by Long Island-based entrepreneur Saul Frischling in April 1984 for $3 million. Though Frischling himself is listed as the licensee, the station did business at that time as Legend Communications and then changed its name to Steel City Media in the late 1990s.

Almost immediately after Frischling purchased WPNT, it switched its format from easy listening to a totally live format of light adult contemporary, yet the station continued to bill itself as "The Point". The station then moved its studios from the KDKA home at One Gateway Center to 1051 Brinton Road, in suburban Pittsburgh's Forest Hills.

WPNT's original lineup of on-air personalities at the time of start-up under the new format was Program Director George Hart hosting mornings, John Gallagher for middays, Bob Nelson for afternoons, Peter Morley for evenings, Jean Lamb hosting overnights, and news anchors Jeff Long and Rick Charles. After the station switched its calls, a new program known as "Heartlite" was created as a three-hour request and dedication show from 9 to midnight, hosted by Morley. The show was one of the first of its kind in the nation at the time. Gary Love and Beth Bershok along with Amy Crago hosted the morning show, "Gary and Beth in the Morning."

Music was a mixture of current and recurrent adult contemporary hits with a mix of standard hits from artists such as Sergio Mendes, Dionne Warwick, Barbra Streisand, and Andy Williams. Songs by those artists became a featured part of WLTJ's playlist and later became known as "Lite FM Encores".

Two years later, in an effort to better reflect its image as that of a light adult contemporary station, the station took on the call letters WLTJ and the moniker "Lite FM 92.9". Not long after the change, the station moved to a new, state of the art broadcast facility at Seven Parkway Center in Greentree borough.

WLTJ became a dominant force among Pittsburgh Arbitron ratings, and among listeners as an office favorite. In 1989, WLTJ's position as a listen-at-work radio station was challenged when Pittsburgh's longtime easy-listening institution, WSHH, switched to a soft adult contemporary format and used its existing audience base to replicate WLTJ's ratings successes.

WLTJ and WSHH often ran neck-and-neck in the ratings with similar formats, with one or the other occasionally shifting to the older or younger core of the 25-54 age demographic in order to keep up with ratings trends. That competition continues between the two stations today. Both WLTJ and WSHH share the distinction of being held by private owners, as opposed to publicly-traded multiconglomerate broadcast operations.

In 1993, after the FCC relaxed its ownership rules and allowed companies to own more than one FM station in the same market, Legend Communications purchased album rock formatted WRRK-FM (licensed to Braddock) from WHYW Associates. The station, which had been known as 97 Rock, reverted back to its previous format of classic rock and its former moniker, Magic 97. The call letters, however, did not revert back to WMYG, and the station became known as "Magic 97 WRRK".

In 2000, both stations moved to a new, more spacious location on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh's fabled South Side, with state-of-the-art, all-digital equipment. This allowed the stations to broadcast over a larger area, and reach more people in order to boost up ratings.

Of the original WPNT adult contemporary weekday lineup, John Gallagher lasted until the entire staff was dismissed during the format adjustment made the weekend of March 23, 2008. George Hart died of complications from liver transplant surgery in 1993. Pat Bridges, who had joined the station in the early 80s in a part-time capacity, returned in 2004 to assume the role of host for "Heartlite". Gary Love and Beth Bershok along with Amy Crago hosted the morning show, "Gary and Beth in the Morning."

After consistently disappointing ratings, the WLTJ identity disappeared the weekend of March 23, 2008 and the station was immediately rebranded as "Q92.9" with a different music mix. Station executives said they wanted to add more '90s music and felt the station needed an imaging overhaul to complete the transition. This overhaul allowed all former WLTJ employees to lose their jobs due to the format of the new "Q92.9"

The New "Q92.9"

The station no longer has DJs (except for the morning show with John and Kerry). After every song, though, a computer-generated voice says the name of the song and who sings it. And between songs, another computer voice says infomation.

The only thing that WLTJ does not have is a weather forecast during the day. This small thing is something that many people look for.

Slogans and logos

The Old Logo, "Lite Rock 92.9"

References

External links

* [http://www.q929fm.com/ Q92.9 official website]
*FMQ|WLTJ
*FML|WLTJ
*FMARB|WLTJ
* [http://www.w9wi.com/articles/grand_fm.htm List of "grandfathered" FM radio stations in the U.S.]