WTCB

Infobox Radio Station
name = WTCB|

city = Orangeburg
frequency = "106.7" (MHz)
area = Columbia & The Midlands
airdate = July 6th, 1967
format = Adult Contemporary
owner = Citadel Broadcasting
sister_stations = WISW, WLXC, WOMG, WNKT
erp = 100,000 watts | branding = "B-106.7"
slogan = "Columbia's Hometown Radio Station"
class = C1
website = http://www.b106fm.com
callsign_meaning = "W"e're "T"he "C"arolina's "B"est

WTCB, known as "B106.7", is an Adult Contemporary radio station located in Columbia, South Carolina. The station is licensed by the FCC to the nearby city of Orangeburg and broadcast with a ERP of 100kw. on 106.7 MHz.

Station History

106.7 signed on July 6th, 1967 as WDIX-FM, the sister to WDIX-AM 1150 in Orangeburg. The station was known as W-107 and was owned by Frank Best. At the time, the station featured an automated format with music that would be considered today as Hot Adult Contemporary.

In late 1976, both stations were sold to Radio Smiles, a group owned by Norman Suttles. WDIX-AM changed to Top 40, while WDIX-FM became religious WPJS (the call sign meaning "W"e "P"roclaim "J"esus "S"aves). In 1978, the transmitting power was increased from 37kw. to 100kw. utilizing a new new CCA transmitter and 10-bay Shively antenna.

In 1982, both WDIX & WPJS was sold to Keymarket Group. WPJS became Country WIGL (Wiggle 106), utilizing TM's (now Jones TM) "3-In-A-Row" Modern Country format, operating it live-assisted. WIGL targeted the nearby Columbia market, but was plagued with periodical audio problems as well as fierce competition from WCOS-FM.

In early 1985, WIGL made the first steps to move the station to Columbia by building a new 700 ft. tower outside of the city in the community of Sandy Run and moved the studios to Cayce. Then, the format was changed to an Adult Contemporary/CHR/Oldies hybrid with the new call letters of WTCB as "B106". Almost overnight, the station became a huge ratings success, beating many stations, including longtime AC WSCQ (now WXBT), in its first Arbitron book.

In the meantime, the WIGL call letters and Country format surfaced on a new FM that was built in Orangeburg at that time. That station became known as "Wiggle 102.9", sporting the same Country format that 106.7 had. Today the WIGL call letters are in use on a station licensed to St. Matthews, SC, but targeting Columbia.

By the late 80s, due to changing market conditions, B106 soften it's music by dropping the more upbeat music and focused on being a light adult contemporary outlet. At that time, the market had 2 other AC outlets, WSCQ and new upstart WAAS (now WARQ), fighting for Columbia's AC audience. By the end of 1992, both stations flipped to different formats, leaving B106 as the only AC left in the market.

Beginning in 1993, B106 gradually went back toward a more upbeat Gold based AC format and updated it's on-air moniker as B106.7. This format has remained in place ever since.

The station is owned by Citadel Broadcasting, which also owns Oldies WOMG, Urban AC WLXC, and News/Talk WISW in the Columbia radio market. From September 2002 until November 2007, it was the flagship radio station for South Carolina Gamecocks football, a distinction which was removed when the new all-sports 107.5 FM station moved from St. George to Eastover, and the new station became the flagship of all sports, not just football.

External links

[http://www.b106fm.com/ B106.7 official website]

[http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=54791 WTCB's FCC entry]