Curtis Media Group will split the programming of News/Talk 680 WPTF Raleigh in two on Tuesday, March 13.
680 WPTF will shift to mostly News utilizing CBS News, AP, and co-owned North Carolina News Network in addition to its local anchors. The syndicated Dave Ramsey talk show will remain in WPTF’s lineup.
The bulk of WPTF’s current talk lineup will shift to what was sister Oldies “Kix 850” WKIX branded as “Talkradio 850 WPTF“. The new 850 lineup will feature current WPTF afternoon host Bill LuMaye in mornings, syndicated Neal Boortz and Clark Howard in middays, Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire will move from mornings on “FM Talk 101.1” WZTK to afternoons (to be based out of sister 600 WSJS Winston-Salem) and the syndicated Mark Levin will air in the evenings. 850 will become WPTK with the new format.
The aforementioned 101.1 WZTK which serves both the Raleigh/Durham and Greensboro/Winston-Salem markets will also be debuting a new format.
WPTF has taken a hit since Clear Channel debuted “Rush Radio 106.1” WRDU in January 2010 and taking Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity from WPTF. In the January PPM monthlies WRDU scored a 3.4 share, WPTF a 1.4, and 101.1 WZTK a 1.6 in Raleigh (and 2.0 in Greensboro).
Sad to see a once proud station lose its identity as ‘PTF is doing.