WSYW-AM

[Hoosierky]

While going to Iowa from Indy last week, I put 810 on the radio (I don't know Spanish, just listening) to see what kind of signal 250 watts puts out. I was surprised that I got it to Veedersburg with a listenable signal. Is that normal or is that a weather "thing"?

 

[ChiefEngineer]

It has always had a great signal. It is in an industrial area. I think it has a quarter wave tadiator, maybe half wave. Tall tower, recent ground system.

 

[Onesimus]

It also occupies a nice part of the AM band that gets out better than some of its 1kw counterparts higher up the dial.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

It's audible on the Western Kentucky Parkway 150 air miles south of their transmitter. It's always had a remarkable signal for it's wattage.

 

[destinationradio]

Am I remembering right that Sarkes Tarzian once owned this station, back in the WATI or WIGO days? Just what are some of the highlights of this station's past in terms of format, owners, personalities, etc.?

 

[jimbo700]

I remember when it was WATI and they were automated playing Beautiful Music, calling themselves W-81.
Something tells me their studios were in the same building as WTTV on Bluff Rd and their transmitter is in that same area (as Chief mentioned earlier, they have a great antenna system).
These memories would be from the mid-late 60's and I could be wrong about some/any of this.

 

[Kent]

Am I remembering right that Sarkes Tarzian once owned this station, back in the WATI or WIGO days? Just what are some of the highlights of this station's past in terms of format, owners, personalities, etc.?

Yes, Sarkes-Tarzian once owned it. I believe they sold it in the early or mid 80's.

 

[Hoosierky]

I remember when it was WATI and they were automated playing Beautiful Music, calling themselves W-81.
Something tells me their studios were in the same building as WTTV on Bluff Rd and their transmitter is in that same area (as Chief mentioned earlier, they have a great antenna system).
These memories would be from the mid-late 60's and I could be wrong about some/any of this.

Their X-mitter is on Harding St and Troy at the White River. I was listening to it, I never heard an ID at the top of the hour. They are on the bird now with Spanish music.

 

[indeaugie]

Wasn't WATI a daytimer beautiful music station?

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Wasn't WATI a daytimer beautiful music station?

Still is a daytimer...with a twist. They sign on at sunrise in Schenectady,NY, which tends to be 30-45 minutes before sunrise here. They were once beautiful music and known as "Your AM Band".

 

[ChiefEngineer]

As a board op I ran the indy 500. Local commercials had tags and were for "beer, oh my". I wasn't required to read the tags.

Liked the jingle package for identification and with the Ch 4 tie in they had a nice audience.

 

[orangeradio]

For what it's worth. Yes Sarkes Tarzian did own it. It was a classy sounding MOR station with studio in the old WTTV building on the southside. The original transmitter was an old RCA complete, with the "Conelrad" switch to change frequency. It's Non-D and operated or many years with a rack mount Nautel that sounded great. I believe someone said that's been replaced with a rack mount BE kilowatt. The ground system is in horrible disarray, but what's left is usually wet due to it being next to a stream and industrial dump. Due to it's location, it's a miracle that no one has swiped the Austin ring transformer at the tower base for the copper. Or maybe they know it's hot at night.

 

[bigtime]

At one point around 1990 they were "YO 8-1-0", probably the city's first and only all rap radio station.

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

At one point around 1990 they were "YO 8-1-0", probably the city's first and only all rap radio station.

i thought the YO 8-1-0 rap stuff was only on the weekends

 

[317C50KW]

WATI-810...interesting calls since in Chicago WAIT was on 820 and both back then were beautiful music.

 

[bigtime]

Not sure if "YO 8-1-0" was just weekends. What would they have run during the week? Beautiful music perhaps. Now that's some real block programming.

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

Not sure if "YO 8-1-0" was just weekends. What would they have run during the week? Beautiful music perhaps. Now that's some real block programming.

i think during the week i think they were simulcasting the classical music from 107.1. and weekends were paided block programs thus the Yo 8-1-0 Rap programming. i know at one point they were classical during the week and rap on sundays for sure

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Not sure if "YO 8-1-0" was just weekends. What would they have run during the week? Beautiful music perhaps. Now that's some real block programming.

i think during the week i think they were simulcasting the classical music from 107.1. and weekends were paided block programs thus the Yo 8-1-0 Rap programming. i know at one point they were classical during the week and rap on sundays for sure

Good thing they had a dozen hours of WGY to isolate the two formats. Classical to rap with no buffer would probably set a new high water mark for a train wreck.

 

[bigtime]

There are likely at least a few rap pieces that sample some classical music. Doubt there are any classical pieces written to be rapped over though.

 

[Les Hollister]

As memory serves me, Mr. Tarzian built his own transmitters for his stations and others? I saw one at a station in Ft. Wayne. Never worked on one. Just a tour of a transmitter shack.

You have a couple or 3 towers on the southside. TV4, and (I think TV 63?) had structures down in that area. Closer for the Bloomington license for WTTV.