WMGG

Infobox Radio station
name = WMGG


city = Largo, Florida
area = Tampa Bay
branding = News Talk 820 WWBA
slogan =
airdate = 1972
frequency = 820 kHz
format = talk radio
power = 50,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
erp =
haat =
class = B
facility_id = 51971
coordinates = coord|27|54|30.00|N|82|46|51.00|W|region:GB_type:city
callsign_meaning = W MeGGa
"(after the previous format)"
former_callsigns = WSST (1972-12/25/1985)
WRFA (12/25/1985-4/15/1994)
WYTA (4/15/1994-10/12/1994)
WNZE (10/12/1994-3/18/1996)
WZTM (3/18/1996-5/5/2000)
owner = Mega Communications
"(sale to Genesis Communications pending)"
licensee =
sister_stations = WLCC
webcast =
website = http://www.820wwba.com/
affiliations =

WMGG (820 AM, branded as News Talk 820 WWBA) is a radio station broadcasting a talk radio format. Licensed to Largo, Florida, USA, it serves the Tampa Bay area. The station is currently owned by Mega Communications. WMGG is one of two 50,000-watt stations based in the Tampa Bay area (WQYK (AM) is the other); however, it broadcasts on a directional antenna at 1000 watts at night, to protect WBAP from Fort Worth, Texas.

As a talk radio station, WMGG airs conservative and libertarian talk shows such as those hosted by Mark Larsen, Dro Silva, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham and Kim Komando. It is affiliated with CNN Radio and ABC News Radio. WMGG also airs Paul Harvey News as well as reports by CNN's Lou Dobbs. The station is also home to The Morning Magazine with Mark Larsen from 6-9am every weekday morning.

The 820 AM frequency had carried various formats over the years since signing on in 1972 at 800 kHz -- over the years, they carried Christian, country-western, talk radio, and sports radio, before settling into a Spanish-language hot its format, as "La Preciosa 820".

On September 29, 2008, WWBA moved its talk programming from 1040 AM to 820 AM, after it was announced that that station's owners, Genesis Communications, would be purchasing 820 AM from Mega Communications. The owners have plans to transfer the WWBA call sign to 820, when the sale closes, pending FCC approval. [http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2008/09/29/daily7.html?surround=lfn&brthrs=1]

At 1040 AM, WWBA, which formerly aired primarily nationally syndicated programming, has moved more into local talk programming. WWBA previously was the only Tampa talk radio station that took listeners calls during the week through its morning show. In June 2008, the station added an hour-long weekday program hosted by Dro Silva at 9:00 a.m. that focused on Tampa area and Florida news. In July, the station dropped the nationally syndicated Neil Boortz and expanded its locally-focused mid-morning show to three hours, providing Tampa listeners the most local daytime talk programming.

References

External links

* [http://www.820wwba.com/ Station Web site]
* [http://www.radioyears.com/other/details.cfm?lid=13&id=429 Station history]

External links

*AMQ|WMGG
*AML|WMGG
*AMARB|WMGG