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WWWE

WWWE was the call sign of a historic commercial AM radio station licensed to , , , operating on the kHz frequency from 1972 to 1996 with a clear-channel 50,000-watt signal that reached much of the . Originally founded as in September 1923 by Theodore Willard of the Willard Storage Battery Company and S. E. , the station was one of the earliest broadcasters in the region and evolved through multiple ownership changes and format shifts, becoming renowned during its WWWE era for sports talk and play-by-play coverage of local teams like the Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers. The station's early years as marked significant milestones in radio history, including its initial broadcast at 750 kilocycles with 1,500 watts of power, which was soon increased to 3,500 watts. In 1924, WTAM provided the first radio coverage of the held in Cleveland's , establishing it as a key venue for national events. By , following its sale to the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and the , it became Cleveland's first 50,000-watt station with a new in Brecksville, and its frequency shifted to 1,070 kilocycles in , to 1,980 kilocycles in 1930, and finally to 1,100 kilocycles in 1941. Subsequent decades brought further transformations: in February 1956, Westinghouse Broadcasting Company acquired and its affiliated television station WNBK from in a station trade that included Westinghouse's outlets and $3 million cash, renaming the radio outlet KYW and dropping its affiliation to emphasize local programming. The station rejoined in 1965 as . In 1972, after sold it to Ohio Communications Industries, the call letters changed to WWWE—marking it as "3WE" in branding—and it pivoted to a sports-focused format, highlighted by Pete Franklin's long-running Sportsline call-in show, which debuted that year and became a cultural staple for sports fans. Ownership passed to the Pacific & Southern Company in 1977, during which WWWE continued its sports and talk emphasis. By 1990, under Booth American Company, it fully adopted a news-talk format and relocated its studios to the Western Reserve Building in . In 1996, following acquisition by Jacor Communications, the station reverted to its original call letters to capitalize on its legacy, a change that aligned with broader industry deregulation trends. Today, as Newsradio WTAM 1100 under ownership, it remains 's leading news and talk outlet, continuing the 100-year broadcasting tradition begun under the WWWE era.

Station Overview

Current Format and Branding

The station formerly known as WWWE now operates under the call letters (1100 AM), broadcasting a news/talk and sports radio format as Newsradio 1100. It serves as the Cleveland affiliate for major networks including , , and , while providing local news, talk shows, and play-by-play coverage of the (MLB) and (NBA). The format emphasizes Cleveland-focused content, including traffic reports, weather updates, and community events, targeting a broad audience in . Branded as "Newsradio WTAM 1100," the station promotes itself as "Cleveland's " with the tagline highlighting its role as the area's primary source for news and information. It features syndicated programs alongside local personalities, with promotional efforts including contests, sports highlights, and partnerships with local organizations. As of November 2025, WTAM maintains a full-service schedule without translators, relying on its 50,000-watt clear-channel signal for wide coverage. A typical weekday schedule includes Cleveland's Morning News with Wills and Snyder from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., featuring local news, traffic, and weather; The Glenn Beck Program from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and The Bloomdaddy Show from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., blending talk and sports previews. Evenings and overnights include syndicated shows like The Ramsey Show and Coast to Coast AM, with weekend programming dedicated to sports broadcasts and specialty shows.

Ownership and Facilities

WTAM is owned by , a publicly traded American mass media company headquartered in , , that operates over 850 radio stations across the . acquired the station in 2014 as part of its purchase of Communications assets. The cluster, including WTAM, is managed under iHeartMedia's division, with local leadership including Vice President of Market Strategy Kristen Wright and other regional executives overseeing operations as of 2025. The station's studios are located in the Six Six Eight Building at 668 Euclid Avenue in , , a facility shared with other stations in the market, featuring modern production studios and newsrooms. This location, occupied since 2021, supports integrated broadcasting for news, talk, and sports content. The transmitter site is in Brecksville, , at coordinates 41° 16' 50" N, 81° 37' 21" W, operating at 50,000 watts with a non-directional during daytime hours and a directional pattern at night to comply with clear-channel protections. The site includes a single main tower and auxiliary facilities, ensuring reliable signal propagation across the .

History

Establishment and Early Years

WWWE traces its roots to , which signed on in , founded by Theodore Willard of the Willard Storage Battery Company and S. E. Lawrence. The station initially broadcast at 750 kilocycles with 1,500 watts of , offering a 3-hour evening schedule from studios in the Union Trust Building. was soon increased to 3,500 watts. In 1924, provided the first radio coverage of the at Cleveland's , marking a milestone in national event broadcasting. The station was sold in May 1928 to the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and the for $425,000, becoming Cleveland's first 50,000-watt with a new in Brecksville and studios in the . Its frequency shifted to 1,070 kilocycles in 1928, then to 1,980 kilocycles in February 1930, and finally to 1,100 kilocycles in 1941. acquired the station in October 1930, relocating operations to the NBC Building in 1937 and integrating it into the "Red" Network as a key affiliate.

Format Evolutions

In February 1956, Westinghouse Broadcasting Company purchased and its affiliated television station WNBK for $12.3 million, renaming the radio station KYW and shifting to local programming while dropping its affiliation. The station rejoined in 1965 as . sold the station in 1972 to Communications Industries, which changed the call letters to WWWE—branded as "3WE"—and adopted a sports-focused format. This era featured Pete Franklin's Sportsline call-in show, debuting in 1972 and becoming a staple for sports fans, with play-by-play coverage of teams like the Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers. Ownership changed to the Pacific & Southern Company in 1977, followed by Co., Broadcasting, and Independent Group Ltd. Under Booth American Company from 1990, WWWE fully transitioned to a news-talk format and moved studios to the Western Reserve Building in . In 1996, Jacor Communications acquired the station and reverted the call letters to to leverage its legacy, aligning with industry deregulation.

Technical Specifications

Broadcast Parameters

During its WWWE era from 1972 to 1996, the station broadcast on kHz with a power output of 50,000 watts around the clock as a Class A , licensed to , , under FCC facility ID 59595. This unlimited-time operation complied with FCC regulations for clear-channel frequencies, allowing extensive signal propagation without nighttime restrictions typical of regional or local channels. The during this period was renewed periodically, with the station maintaining its parameters since the frequency shift to 1100 kHz in 1941 and the power increase to 50,000 watts in 1928. The transmitter was located in , utilizing a system with multiple towers to optimize signal directionality and minimize interference. As of November 2025, under its current call sign, the station retains these specifications, with the most recent FCC renewal expiring on October 1, 2030.

Signal Coverage and Translators

As a 50,000-watt Class A on 1100 kHz, WWWE provided robust coverage across the during both day and night. Its primary groundwave signal during daytime reached reliably throughout and into adjacent states, with the 5 mV/m contour encompassing the Cleveland and extending over 100 miles. At night, propagation enabled reception across much of the eastern U.S., from the Midwest to the coast, serving as a dominant signal on its frequency with minimal interference. The transmitter site was situated at coordinates 41°16′50.2″N 81°37′21.44″W in Brecksville, approximately 15 miles south of . This location, established in 1928, supported the station's wide-area service, making it a key outlet for regional and national programming during the WWWE years. No FM translators were used during the 1972-1996 period, as AM remained the primary medium; however, as since 2018, it has been simulcast on low-power FM translator W295DE at 106.9 MHz (250 watts ) to improve urban reception in . Contour maps from FCC models confirm the extensive reach, underscoring WWWE's role as a powerhouse station in its era.

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