WGRT

Infobox Radio station
name = WGRT


city = Port Huron, Michigan
area = [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WGRT&service=FM&status=L&hours=U]
branding = "Your Great Music Station"
slogan = "Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites"
airdate = October 18, 1991
frequency = 102.3 MHz
format = Adult Contemporary
erp = 3,000 Watts
haat =
class = A
callsign_meaning = Your GReaT Music Station
former_callsigns =
owner = Port Huron Family Radio
webcast =
website = [http://www.wgrt.com/ www.wgrt.com]
affiliations = ABC AC (ABC Radio)

WGRT is an adult contemporary radio station in Port Huron, Michigan. It is owned by Port Huron Family Radio and broadcasts with a power of 3,000 watts. WGRT signed on in October 1991. The station airs a satellite-delivered AC format ("Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites") from ABC Radio.

History

The groundwork for WGRT can be traced back to 1983, when the FCC first "dropped in" an FM license to Port Huron that year. As the local area prospered, it became evident that St. Clair County and the surrounding area could support another local radio station in addition to the five already on the air serving the local community.

Port Huron Family Radio, headed by local pastor Marty Doorn, acquired the license after a lengthy set of competitive hearings. The new WGRT 102.3FM was finally granted permission by the FCC to go on the air in 1991. For a Class A station, WGRT had an unusually powerful signal, reaching more than 40 miles in each direction, and into the Detroit Metropolitan Area's fringes. WGRT went on the air using ABC/SMN's "Starstation" adult contemporary format (now called ABC AC), originating out of Chicago (later Dallas), thus eliminating the expense for a full-time local contingency of on-air personalities, though the station employs a full-time news director actively involved in the community.

Following the sale of the five competing stations in Port Huron (WSAQ, WHLS, WHLX, WPHM, WBTI) by the end of the 20th Century, WGRT earned the distinction of being St. Clair County's sole locally-owned and operated commercial radio station. (The other locally-owned stations in the market - WNFA, WNFR, WSGR-FM, and WORW - are non-commercial and feature either religious or student programming.)

Sources

* [http://www.michiguide.com/dials/rad-g/wgrt.html Michiguide.com - WGRT History]
* [http://www.hitsandfavorites.com/aboutus.asp About Us - WGRT website]

External links

*fmq|WGRT
*fml|WGRT
*FMARB|WGRT