WCTC
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Broadcast area | Middlesex County, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| [[Frequency|FrequencTemplate:Pluralize from text]] | 1450 kHz |
| Branding | Fox Sports New Jersey |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports radio |
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| Ownership | |
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| History | |
First air date | Script error: No such module "Date time". |
Call sign meaning | No meaning, close to the initials of Chanticleer Broadcasting Company (original owner)[1] |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| 55180 | |
| Class | C |
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| [[Broadcast relay station|TranslatorTemplate:Pluralize from text]] | Template:Radio Relay |
| Links | |
Public license information | Template:FCC Licensing and Management System facility |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | foxsportsradionewjersey |
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WCTC (1450 AM "Fox Sports New Jersey") is a commercial radio station broadcasting a sports radio format. Licensed to New Brunswick, New Jersey, the station serves Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties. The station is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group (through Beasley Media Group, LLC).[3] It is the radio home for Rutgers University athletic events and Somerset Patriots Minor League Baseball games. It is the radio affiliate for New York Knicks basketball and New York Rangers hockey.
WCTC transmits with 1,000 watts, non-directional. It formerly broadcast in C-QUAM AM stereo.[4] The transmitter is off Valentine Street at South 5th Avenue in Highland Park, New Jersey, near the Raritan River.[5] Programming is also heard on 250-watt FM translator W228DY at 93.5 MHz in New Brunswick.[6]
History
WCTC is considered New Jersey's first radio station built during the post-World War II broadcast boom.[7] It signed on December 12, 1946.[8] The following year, it added an FM station, 98.3 WCTC-FM (today WMGQ). WCTC derives its call sign from the Chanticleer, a flamboyant fighting rooster from the medieval fable Reynard the Fox (Le Roman de Renart). It is also used by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales which was the Rutgers mascot from 1925 to 1955.
From the 1960s through the 1980s, WCTC adopted a full service middle of the road (MOR) format featuring local news, talk, sports, and adult popular music. For most of those years, Jack Ellery was the popular wake-up host.
In 1992, WCTC gave up music programming, switching to talk radio, featuring programming from ABC Radio and Premiere Radio Networks. As of July 2, 2008, WCTC went back to its roots by reverting to an oldies music format.[9]
On February 28, 2011, WCTC changed the format back to talk, launching the local midday show "New Jersey TODAY" hosted by Bert Baron.[10]
On July 19, 2016, Beasley Media Group announced it would acquire Greater Media and its 21 stations (including WCTC) for $240 million.[11] The FCC approved the sale on October 6, and the sale closed on November 1.[12]
Under Beasley ownership, WCTC was the primary source for winter school closing announcements. In later years, WCTC's talk programming included "This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal", "Markley, Van Camp & Robbins", Guy Benson, and local host Tommy G. in afternoon drive time. WCTC carried hourly news from NBC News Radio. WCTC also aired special interest shows on the weekends.
In July 2021, WCTC began simulcasting on an FM translator, 93.5 W228DY.[13] On September 26, 2021, the station dropped news/talk for sports as "Fox Sports New Jersey", primarily featuring Fox Sports Radio programming.[14]
Former on-air staff
- Adam Amin[15]
- Gordon Deal, host of Wall Street Journal This Morning once served as a News Anchor at the station. WCTC later carried his syndicated show.
- Jack Ellery[16]
- Herb Kaplow[citation needed]
- Dave Marash[citation needed]
- Bruce Williams, syndicated radio personality. He began his broadcast career at WCTC[citation needed]
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."WCTC advertisement". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. November 25, 1946. p. 7. Retrieved November 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Facility Technical Data for WCTC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."WCTC Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."AM Stereo Stations: United States of America". amstereo.org. September 3, 2008.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."WCTC-AM 1450 kHz - New Brunswick, NJ". radio-locator.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."W228DY-FM 93.5 MHz - New Brunswick, NJ". radio-locator.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jaker, Bill; Sulek, Frank; Kanze, Peter (2008). The Airwaves of New York: Illustrated Histories of 156 AM Stations in the Metropolitan Area, 1921–1996. Jefferson: McFarland. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7864-3872-3.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."WCTC On Air With First Programs: Chanticleer Broadcasting Station to Operate 17 Hours a Day". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. December 12, 1946. p. 9. Retrieved November 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Greater Media takes talker WCTC to "Good Time Oldies" in Central New Jersey". Radio-Info.com. July 2, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Greater Media's WCTC, New Brunswick NJ (1450) drops oldies for talk". Radio-Info.com. February 28, 2011. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Beasley Acquires Greater Media".
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Beasley Closes On Greater Media Purchase; Makes Multiple Staff Moves".
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."WCTC/New Brunswick, NJ Adds FM Translator Simulcast". All Access.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Venta, Lance (September 27, 2021). "WCTC Becomes Fox Sports New Jersey". RadioInsight. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."USA TODAY - Breaking News and Latest News Today".
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."After 63 years on the air, talk radio pioneer Jack Ellery hangs up his headphones". July 15, 2013.
External links
- Template:FCC Licensing and Management System facility
- WCTC in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."FCC History Cards for WCTC".
- FM translator
- Template:FCC-LMS-Facility
- W228DY at FCCdata.org
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