WPIT

Infobox Radio Station
name = WPIT


city = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
area = Pittsburgh metropolitan area
branding = "73 WPIT"
slogan = "Talk Radio That Helps People"
airdate = 1947
frequency = 730 (kHz)
format = News/Conservative Talk
power = 5,000 Watts (Daytime)
24 Watts (nighttime)
class = D
facility_id = 58624
coordinates = coord|40|29|02|N| 79|59|34|W|region:US_type:city
owner = Salem Communications
licensee = Pennsylvania Media Associates, Inc
website = [http://www.wpitam.com/ www.wpitam.com]
callsign_meaning = W PITtsburgh
Citations missing|article|date=December 2007

WPIT (730 AM) is a hybrid conservative talk/religious radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station is licensed to Pennsylvania Media Associates, Inc which is wholly owned by Salem Communications Holding Corporation which is in turn owned by Salem Communications Corporation. [ [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101232239&formid=323&fac_num=58627 FCC Station Ownership database] ] The transmitter power is 5,000 watts during the day and 24 watts at night.

The station's antenna system uses a single tower that results in an omnidirectional signal pattern. According to the Antenna Structure Registration database, the tower is convert|99|m|ft|abbr=on tall. [ [http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrRegistration.jsp?regKey=127740 FCC Antenna Structure Registration database] ] The transmitter site is located near Millvale, Pennsylvania.

History

WPIT, which signed on the air in 1947, has been a religious station for most of its life, and at one time was a simulcast of its FM sister station up until 1993, when both stations were sold to Salem.

WPIT's studios were once located on Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh. A neon sign reading "WPIT DIAL 730" hung outside their former location for years after they had moved out, well into the early 1980s. The station moved to Gateway Towers in downtown Pittsburgh around 1980, next door to the KDKA and KDKA-TV home of One Gateway Center.

WPIT has had only two managers in its long history. Michael Komichak, who also built the station back in 1947 and did much of its engineering work, and Chuck Gratner, who assumed control of WPIT-AM and FM after both were sold to Salem. Once the sale to Salem was complete, the operations of WPIT and its FM sister, WORD-FM moved up to Seven Parkway Center in Greentree, just outside of the Pittsburgh city limits.

In recent years, WPIT has added some secular conservative talk programming to its lineup (like Dr. Laura, Michael Medved, and Hugh Hewitt), but religious programming continues to fill most of the station's hours. For many years, WPIT has also aired foreign-language and ethnic programming on weekends.

The station also airs Robert Morris University men's basketball and football. Red Zone Media also broadcasts North Hills School District football games on WPIT.

The station is known as "73 WPIT"

References

External links

*AM station data|WPIT
* [http://www.wpitam.com WPIT Official website]