WHTC
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| City of license | Holland, Michigan |
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| Broadcast area | [1] |
| Branding | 1450 WHTC |
| Slogan | Holland's Hometown Station |
| Frequency | 1450 kHz |
| First air date | July 31, 1948 |
| Format | News Talk |
| Power | 1,000 watts |
| Class | C |
| Callsign meaning | Holland Tulip City |
| Owner | Midwest Communications |
| Website | http://www.whtc.com/ |
WHTC is a news/talk AM radio station broadcasting at 1450 kHz in Holland, Michigan.
The station signed on July 31, 1948 at 6pm and originally was owned by six Holland-area businessmen: I.H Marsilje, Nelson Bosman (who served as a mayor of Holland from 1961 to 1971), W.A. Butler (former owner of the Holland Evening Sentinel), Millard Westrate, Willard Wichers and P.T. Chef. All are since deceased. Michael Walton of Milwaukee, WI purchased the station (along with the old WHTC-FM) from the original owners in 1981. On September 20, 2000 Walton sold his four-station operation (including WHBL, WWJR and WBFM Sheboygan, WI) to Midwest Communications, Inc.
WHTC-FM (96.1), which signed on in 1961 and later went by the call letters WYXX and WKEZ, was sold to Federated Communications in 1994. It was subsequently acquired by Clear Channel Communications and has undergone a number of call letter and format changes, currently operating as WMAX-FM, with an all-sports format (ESPN).
WHTC is an affiliate of CBS Radio and carries Detroit Tigers Baseball, area high school football and basketball, the Detroit Lions and Red Wings, and the West Michigan Whitecaps.
[edit] Personalities
Juke Van Oss has been at WHTC since August 8, 1951. Now in his 58th year at WHTC he currently hosts Talk of the Town, a two hour daily call in program whose guests include Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra and Congressman Pete Hoekstra, national and local celebrities and newsmakers. Talk of the Town began on WHTC in 1959 with Bill Gargano. Juke began sharing hosting duties with Gargano in 1961. Van Oss has been sole host of the program since 1981. On May 22, 2009 Juke received notice from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters of his induction into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was held July 14, 2009 at the MAB Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
Morning Host Red Kingman has been with WHTC since 2004, and Red's mix of information, commentary, and humor has become a mainstay with the Holland/Zeeland/Lake shore community. The community has embraced his observational and sometimes wacky humor, his warm and down to earth charm, and his faith. The program features various segments including local sponsors, community events and history, and Red's informative and entertaining interviews, which are the bedrock of his program "Red's Place". Among the many guests Red talks to on a weekly basis are The Mayor Of Holland, The Governor of Michigan, author's, political figures and many other local and national guests.
Brent Alan is Brand Manager of WHTC and sister station WYVN 92.7 The Van. He is also the Program Director of WHTC. Brent arrived at WHTC in 1998.
On September 2, 2008 WHTC began carrying The Huge Show, a local sports talk show sydicated to stations in Michigan and originating in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bill Simonson is the host and the show airs from 3pm to 6pm Monday - Friday.
News Director Gary Stevens delivers a mix of local, state and national news and sports each morning to the Holland/Zeeland area.
Ed VerSchure, who worked at WHTC as morning host in the 1960s, returned to the station in the early 1990s. He also served as a voice over announcer on WZZM-TV. VerSchure owned his own radio station, WEVS, in nearby Saugatuck, Michigan which went on the air on July 4, 1987. The former WEVS was purchased by Midwest Communications in 2001 and is known as WYVN 92 7 The Van. Ed serves as a fill in host on WHTC.
Lupita Reyes developed and hosted Alegria Latina, an all Spanish language music, news and information program on WHTC which aired from 1964 to 2009. On July 5, 2009 the program moved to 92.7 The Van airing from 7pm to 12m Sundays giving listeners in West Michigan their first Hispanic program on FM. Lu continues as host.
WHTC's talk line-up is rounded out by syndicated hosts Mark Levin, Phil Valentine and Jim Bohannon.
Former Michigan Congressman Guy Vander Jagt and Detroit sportscaster Al Ackerman worked at WHTC in the 1950s.
[edit] Sources
[edit] External links
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