AM Technical Profile: WNTM

Frequency:

710

Format:

Talk, News

Transmitter Location:

Telegraph Road, north of downtown.

Power (ERP):

1,000 watts day and night.

Antenna:

3 towers, day and night: large lobe to the southwest towards Mobile and Tillmans Corner.

Other Information:

Owned by Clear Channel

History:

710 began operations in the 40's as WKRG (for Kenneth R. Giddens, owner). WKRG-FM and WKRG-TV 5 were spawned from this AM. Has always been an adult-appeal station, CBS affiliated, MoR music, with talk shows. Evolved to all-talk in the 80's as FM made music on AM unprofitable. Calls changed to WNTM (News Talk Mobile) when station was sold in the early 90's. Now co-owned with WPMI-TV 15.

Due to interference from Cuba stations at night, the station applied for (and received an allocation  for) moving to the expanded band. If they choose to go they'll be at 1660 kHz, stereo. It appears they will let the permit lapse.

In August 2006 it was rumored that the station would be changing calls, and it did happen: the station is now WPMI, to reflect the fact that they share a newsroom with WPMI-TV, as well as the same owners.  In the summer of 2007 the calls changed again, this time to WNTM (News Talk Mobile).

Also, the station has an application pending to increase daytime power to 6 kW and nighttimes to 2.1 kW, both with directional antennae.

 

 
 

Transmitter map: