WOLT
 Logo's for WOLT-FM HD1 and & HD3/W248AW | |
| Indianapolis, Indiana | |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Indianapolis metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 103.3 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Alt 103.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Alternative rock |
| Subchannels | HD2: Urban contemporary (WZRL simulcast) HD3: Business news W248AW (Bloomberg Radio) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | iHeartMedia, Inc. (iHM Licenses, LLC) |
| WFBQ, WNDE, WZRL, W248AW | |
| History | |
First air date | May 15, 1964 (as WGEE-FM) |
Former call signs | WGEE-FM (1964–1972) WXTZ (1972–1989) WMJC (1989–1990) WFXF (8/1990-11/1990) WFXF-FM (1990–1992) WRZX (1992-2014) |
Call sign meaning | phonetically pronounced as "alt" to represent Alternative Rock |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 59589 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 18,000 watts |
| HAAT | 259 meters (850 ft) |
| Translator(s) | 97.5 W248AW (Indianapolis, relays HD3) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD3) |
| Website | alt1033.iheart.com businessnews975fm.iheart.com (HD3) |
WOLT (103.3 MHz "ALT 103.3") is a commercial FM radio station in Indianapolis, Indiana. It broadcasts an alternative rock radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. WOLT carries the nationally syndicated "Woody Show" in morning drive time from co-owned KYSR Los Angeles. The studios are at 6161 Fall Creek Road on the northeast side of Indianapolis.
WOLT has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 18,000 watts. The transmitter and tower are on Township Drive near West 79th Street.[1] WOLT is licensed to broadcast using HD Radio technology.[2][3] The HD2 digital subchannel carries a simulcast of urban contemporary sister station 98.3 WZRL. The HD3 subchannel is "Business News 97.5" which feeds FM translator W248AW at 97.5 MHz.
History[edit]
Country and Beautiful Music[edit]
On May 15, 1964, the station signed on as WGEE-FM.[4] It was the FM counterpart to WGEE 1590 AM (now WNTS). The two stations simulcast a country music format. Because the AM station was a daytimer, required to go off the air at sunset, WGEE-FM continued the programming into the night. Several years later, WGEE-AM-FM switched to a Top 40 sound.
WGEE-FM was sold to Mid America Radio in 1972. It became WXTZ, broadcasting a beautiful music format. The call sign represented the word "Ecstasy." WXTZ played quarter hour sweeps of soft, instrumental cover versions of popular adult songs, as well as Broadway and Hollywood show tunes. WXTZ was one of the top stations in Indianpolis in the 1970s and early 80s. But by the late 1980s, the audience for easy listening music was beginning to age, while most advertisers seek young to middle aged listeners. The station added more soft vocals and reduced the instrumentals to appeal to younger music fans.
Soft AC and Classic Rock[edit]
In 1989, the station completed its transition to a soft adult contemporary format, as "Magic 103.3." The call letters were changed to WMJC to represent the word "Magic."[5]
Just prior to a purchase by Broadcast Alchemy, a company that formed part of what is now Clear Channel Communications, the station became WFXF-FM. "The Fox" played classic rock to compete with highly rated 94.7 WFBQ. But the two classic rock outlets became sister stations following the sale, prompting another format adjustment for 103.3.
Active Rock and Alternative[edit]
The station began broadcasting an active rock sound as WRZX "Solid Rock X-103" on August 21, 1992. Around 1994, there was another format transition. WRZX became "X-103 Indy's New Rock Alternative." On June 12, 2014, WRZX rebranded as "Alt 103.3." On June 20, the call letters changed to WOLT. The WRZX call letters are now on the station at 1400 AM in Newnan, Georgia. This station was formerly WDSJ and plays classic hits.
WOLT's current lineup has "The Woody Show" from KYSR Los Angeles in morning drive time, Theresa in middays, Ben in afternoon drive and Mike Jones evenings.
HD Radio[edit]
WOLT airs a simulcast of urban contemporary sister station WZRL 98.3 FM Plainfield on its HD2 subchannel.
On August 15, 2019, WOLT launched a Top 40/CHR format on its HD3 subchannel, branded as "97.5 Kiss FM." The subchannel feeds FM translator W248AW at 97.5 FM in Indianapolis.[6]
On June 1, 2020, WOLT-HD3 and W248AW changed to business and financial news and information, branded as "Business News 97.5".[7] It carries mostly programming from Bloomberg Radio.
Events[edit]
WOLT currently presents two major station-sponsored concerts each year. Its annual "Birthday Show" is held in the summertime. And "The Night ALT 103-3 Stole Christmas" is held in late November and early December.
Previous Birthday Shows featured The Killers, Kings Of Leon, Foster The People, Cage The Elephant, Young the Giant, 311, Dirty Heads, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Sir Sly and more.
References[edit]
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WOLT
- ^ "Station Search Details".
- ^ http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=41 HD Radio Guide for Indianapolis
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1966 page B-52
- ^ "Call Letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 13, 1989. p. 106. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ iHeartMedia Launches 97.5 Kiss FM Indianapolis Radioinsight - August 15, 2019
- ^ iHeartMedia Debuts Business News 97.5 In Indianapolis Radioinsight - June 1, 2020
External links[edit]
- WOLT website
- WOLT in the FCC FM station database
- WOLT on Radio-Locator
- WOLT in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- W248AW in the FCC FM station database
- W248AW on Radio-Locator
- FCC History Cards for WOLT