WRTA (1240
kHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that on ...
) is a
news
News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different Media (communication), media: word of mouth, printing, Mail, postal systems, broadcasting, Telecommunications, electronic communication, or through the tes ...
/
talk
Talk may refer to:
Communication
* Communication, the encoding and decoding of exchanged messages between people
* Conversation, interactive communication between two or more people
* Lecture, an oral presentation intended to inform or instruct
...
/
sports
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, th ...
formatted
broadcast
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum ( radio waves), in a one-to-many model. Broadcasting began ...
radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...
licensed to
Altoona, Pennsylvania, serving
Altoona and
Blair County, Pennsylvania
Blair County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 122,822. Its county seat is Hollidaysburg. The county was created on February 26, 1846, from parts of Huntingdon and Bedford counties.
Blai ...
. WRTA is owned and operated by Matt Lightner, through licensee Lightner Communications LLC.
History
WRTA began broadcasting June 18, 1947, on 1240 kHz with 250 W power. The station was an
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
affiliate and was owned by Roy Thompson.
Roy Thompson sold WRTA to the Altoona Trans Audio Corporation in March 1956. The Altoona Trans Audio Corporation was composed of Martin J. Malarkey, Jr., John L. Miller, Horace Richards, and Louis "Lou" Murray. In September 1982, the Altoona Trans Audio Corporation elected David Rodney "Rod" Wolf President and Chief Operating Officer. Wolf still maintained his positions as Treasurer and General Manager. Rod Wolf joined WRTA in January 1957 where he served in multiple capacities on and off the air.
Rod Wolf, President of Altoona Trans Audio, announced the sale of WRTA to David A. Barger, president of Handsome Brothers Inc., in November 2003. The sale marked the first change in ownership of WRTA in more than 45 years. Rebecca Barger sold the station to Lightner Communications, LLC (Matt Lightner) in July 2019, joining it with stations
WKMC
WKMC (1370 AM) is a classic country radio station broadcasting in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It is licensed to the community of Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, located approximately 12 miles southeast of Altoona.
WKMC operates at the assigned power le ...
,
WYUP
WYUP is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Loretto, Pennsylvania and serving Blair, and Cambria Counties in west central Pennsylvania. WYUP operates fulltime with 1,000 watts on 1400 kHz. The station is owned by Matt Lightner, through ...
,
WBRX
WBRX (94.7 FM, "Mix 94.7") is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary format. Licensed to the suburb of Cresson, Pennsylvania, it serves the Altoona, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1981 under the call ...
,
WBXQ
WBXQ (94.3 FM, "Q94") is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to the suburb of Patton, Pennsylvania, it serves the Altoona, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1988 under the call sign WKBE. T ...
and
WTRN
WTRN is an American commercial AM radio station, licensed to the borough of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. The station operates at the federally assigned frequency of 1340 kHz with a full-time power output of 1,000 watts. WTRN also operates two FM transl ...
.
Matt Lightner is a long time Broadcast Engineer and area business owner. The sale was consummated on October 1, 2019, at a price of $675,000.
WRTA added an FM translator at 98.5 MHz (W253CJ) that provides city grade FM coverage of Altoona, PA and coverage in all of Blair county, and part of Cambria county.
References
External links
NewsTalk 1240 WRTA Online
RTA
Radio stations established in 1947
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