WTAQ Adds FM Signal

BELLEVUE, Wis. (WTAQ) - If you're hearing us on 97.5 FM today, you're listening to a brand new radio station. The simulcast of WTAQ 1360 AM went on the air at 4:10 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Midwest Communications VP of News Talk programming Jerry Bader says one advantage the FM signal brings is its strong coverage day... and night.

"If you're one of those listeners who struggle a bit - you're in an area where our [AM] pattern change has affected the quality of listening, that's just simply not going to be the case anymore," Bader said.

Bader also pointed to the high audio quality that FM offers, which, during some programming is in stereo.

The new, 3,000 watt FM station puts a strong signal over Green Bay & areas to the north, parts of the Fox Valley, and out to the lakeshore. WTAQ-FM's tower is located at the former WFRV-TV tower on Scray's Hill in De Pere.

Bader talked about his initial reaction to hearing WTAQ-FM on Friday afternoon.

"I was almost like a kid on Christmas day," Bader said. "I was in [Midwest Communications President] Duke Wright's office and to see on his radio '97.5 FM Stereo' and on the RDS, 'WTAQ News Talk'. I was very proud."

This is actually the second WTAQ-FM in Green Bay history. A station at 102.7 FM, now WRVM, signed on with those call letters in 1947, under the ownership of the Norbertines of St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere.

The Norbertines owned WTAQ-AM for a time, as well, before its sale to Midwest Communications in 1975. WTAQ-AM has been on the air since 1922.

(Click below to hear WTAQ correspondent Trevor Kubiak's report)