WLTB is the callsign of 2 radio stations licensed to Johnson City, New York and serves the Greater Binghamton Market. The stations are owned by GM Broadcasting and broadcasts on 101.7 MHz from Ingraham Hill in Binghamton, and 102.5 MHz on Skyline Drive in Vestal, NY. It is only one of two locally owned radio stations in the Binghamton market. Studios for WLTB were originally located on McMaster Street in Owego N.Y. It was relocated to the Executive Inn in Endicott N.Y. in 1993, next to the Vestal Parkway in 1998, then in December 2009 to 3215 E. Main Street in Endwell N.Y. The stations are currently located at 2801 East Main Street in the Endwell Plaza, moving a few blocks down the street in October 2015.
History
First signed on in 1972 as WEBO-FM and simulcasted WEBO-AM until the late 1970s.
Changed call letters in 1979 to WWWT as a disco and later a Top-40 station. it was then known as 3WT.
From 1985-1987 it was WQWT, a light AC station known as the "Light Q".
In 1987 it became WQXT-"Q102" a CHR station until 1989, changing formats to Oldies.
In 1992 the call signs changed to WGRG.
The translator @ W273AB 102.5 was added in 1993.
in 1993 the format went back to CHR as "WGRG 101".
In 1998 the call sign changed to its current WLTB, becoming "Lite 101.7" playing Light AC.
The station went in a hotter AC direction and in 2001 became "Magic 101.7", keeping the current call signs.
Magic 101.7 became a full CHR station in the spring of 2016.
Launches classic hits format on HD2 & 102.5 translator as 1025 The Vault, Friday September 22nd 2017.
Audio processing
From the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, an Orban Optimod 8100A was used as the sole audio processor. Around 1994, an Orban XT2 chassis was added to the processing chain. In late 1994 or early 1995, the XT2 was retired in favor of a pair of Gentner audio Prisms processing in front of the 8100. Shortly after, the 8100 was retired and an Optimod 2200 was installed, retaining the Prisms. This would remain the primary processing chain for many years. In early 2010, an Orban Optimod 8282 was employed as a pre-processor, and later that year a modulation sciences CP-803 composite limiter was added to the chain. As of early 2013, an Orban Optimod 5300 was the primary audio processor. In early October 2017 an Omnia.9 became the primary audio processor to facilitate the processing of HD and analog signals.
On-air lineup
WLTB has had a solid on-air staff for several years. Tejay Schwartz joined the staff in 1995, and has been the morning show host on 101.7 since 2008, before moving to HD2/102.5 in September 2017.. and Dana Potter has been with the station since 1998, and was recognized in September 2013 by the Binghamton Broadcasters Association with a "Living Legend" award. Rich Birdsall as well as Louie G & Tanya all joined from crosstown Townsquare Media as part of GM Broadcasting's expansion in 2017/2018...
