WTKA Ann Arbor

[edj]

WTKA seems to be taking programming better suited for pea shooter WLBY. Del Walmsley's brokered show late mornings, now a simulcast of The Inside Outside Guys weekends. They've also been simulcastung Sports Wrap with Lomas Brown and morning news is prerecorded by Renee Vitale. What's the point of simulcasting nearby 50,000 watt WJR?

The morning and afternoon shows haven't changed- still very heavy on UofM football.

I have noticed some of the Tigers games cut out in the late innings for Infinity Sports Radio. Automation issue I am assuming?

I thought they were getting an FM translator.

[craig11152]

I think the last time listened to WTKA Michigan had just hired Rich Rodriguez. I tuned in to see what the local slappy's were thinking.

[tapeisrolling]

I would listen to TKA for U-M hockey and some nights when the game went longer than usual or during the post game coach interview/ wrap-up it would BANG switch to network sports show in mid-sentence.
A quick move to WXYZ and catch the rest of the post game show.
Do they set a timer and go home?

[80sTalkRadioFan]

Guess this is their off-season programming. I used to love listening to WTKA, especially back in the 1990s they had a great mix of sports and non-sports programming, mostly from the old ABC radio syndicators like the late Dr. Joy Browne, the late Alan Colmes and WTKA's local "SportsBeat" weekday evenings. Now about the only time I listen is during Michigan's football, basketball and hockey seasons. If the Detroit Tigers were better, WTKA would be a great place to hear them in my area of Sylvania Ohio.

[billmich88888]

Guess this is their off-season programming. I used to love listening to WTKA, especially back in the 1990s they had a great mix of sports and non-sports programming, mostly from the old ABC radio syndicators like the late Dr. Joy Browne, the late Alan Colmes and WTKA's local "SportsBeat" weekday evenings. Now about the only time I listen is during Michigan's football, basketball and hockey seasons. If the Detroit Tigers were better, WTKA would be a great place to hear them in my area of Sylvania Ohio.

not on night pattern

[BFSEsq]

Loosely related, but my thing with WTKA is that I can't believe they call themselves "The Ticket." They're located entirely within the market of 97.1 The Ticket! Are they trying to trick people into listening?

[Matt]

Loosely related, but my thing with WTKA is that I can't believe they call themselves "The Ticket." They're located entirely within the market of 97.1 The Ticket! Are they trying to trick people into listening?

No. They were first:

In 1999, WTKA began using the brand name "The Ticket" and revamped its program lineup to be primarily sports programming, with ESPN Radio outside of local shows and the farm report.[4][5] WTKA is once again owned by Cumulus Broadcasting due in part to a multi-station swap between Cumulus and Clear Channel that involved stations in Michigan And Ohio.

[billmich88888]

remember that 97.1 started on am 1270, and were 'Team 1270' for a few years. I don't think "97.1 the ticket" because a thing until ~ 2006 or so

[CurlyHoward]

do they still carry Jim Rome's show? I used to listen to Rome on 1050 sometimes around 2016 after the then 106.5 in Toledo (also The Ticket!) dropped CBS Sports Radio to switch back to ESPN. I think WTKA only carried the last two hours of Rome though and had some local show until 1 pm.

[BFSEsq]

No. They were first

Huh! What do you know, they WERE first. Called WTKA The Ticket since 1999.

I'll be honest, I've never listened once. I have only heard of them tangentially since I'll listen to 107.1 in the mornings and a WTKA voice (Ira Weintraub?) has a pre-recorded sports news segment that airs with their news. Cumulus synergy.

[Ben Zonia]

1050 was a decent Top 40/Adult Contemporary station in the 1960s and 1970s as WPAG, 5000 watts from a 3 tower array near where Briarwood Mall still stands today. In those electrically quiet days, WPAG was heard far and wide in Michigan and Northern Ohio. Haven't listened much since that era.

[kc8yqq]

I listened to them back when they played oldies as WPZA. If I recall correctly, they broadcast in stereo.

The 3 towers were actually near exit 175 off I-94 and Ann Arbor-Saline Road as shown on the map:

https://mapper.acme.com/

[billmich88888]

I seldom listened when I was a student at U-M (I found their content at the time to be very bland), but I can definitely confirm they went by "The Ticket" some 25 years ago.

In fact, I was surprised 97.1 wasn't sent a C&D by whoever owned 1050 at the time when 97.1 first adopted the brand.

ann arbor being in a seperate radio market than detroit, minimal overlap, not worth the cost...etc (spitballing)