With their local morning host retiring and two of the syndicated programs on their schedule coming to an end, Hometown Wilmington Media’s “The Big Talker” 93.7 WNTB Topsail Beach/106.3 WLTT Bolivia, NC has decided to shift directions to a locally oriented All-News format from 6am to 6pm weekdays.
Dubbed “Port City Radio“, the station will become an extension of its PortCityDaily.com news site. Station programming will include All-News staples such as traffic & weather every ten minutes and national reports from CBS News and Wall Street Journal Radio.
Aimee Bowen will anchor a mornings from 6-10am, Jim Whitmeyer morning co-host at sister Rock “103.7 The Bone” WBNE will pull double duty and anchor from 10am-2pm, and J.T. McVicker will lead the afternoon block. Nighttime programming will include existing brokered programs daily from 6-7pm, Dave Ramsey from 7-10pm, Dr. Joy Browne 10pm-1am, and Overnight America from 1am-5am.
The change comes as morning host Chad Adams departs the station and the syndicated Michael Smerconish and Daily Wrap with Michael Castner prepare to end their syndication runs.
Hometown Wilmington Media is owned by Davis Media and operates WNTB/WLTT, WBNE, AAA “98.3 The Penguin” WUIN, and Classical “Bach Radio” 1180 WSFM/95.9 W240AS in the Wilmington market along with stations in Williamsburg, VA and Columbia, SC.
How is it possible to run a local all-news station in Market 145 in Wilmington NC. If Port City All-news radio is really serious about keeping the format they would have to team up with WPTF and other larger News/talkers in North Carolina and form the North Carolina news Network. If it does exist then Port City All-news would have to either team up with ARNN or Iheart 24/7 news to keep the format.
The same way its possible to run a station in any market. They have the reporters working on their website already, just a matter of investing in the product like any station.