WYTA - A History
WYTA-AM 820 Largo – Christian-lifestyle talk and music station WRFA in Largo began moving toward secular programming at night in early 1994 and then became WYTA (Your Talk Authority) in April that year. The 50,000 watt station’s studios and transmitter site were located at 800 8th Avenue SE in Largo.
Initially, WYTA’s program schedule featured “Live with Herman Bailey” (mid-days) and WTSP-TV anchor Al Ruechel (late afternoons), plus syndicated talk show hosts Alan Colmes, Michael Reagan, and Morton Downey, Jr.
In Billboard magazine’s July 2nd 1994 issue, WYTA announced that on July 4th, its talk format would go nationwide as the “Your Talk Authority Radio Network” through MediaStar International. Set to begin in the program lineup were “Sleepless on the Bay” (midnight to 3am), “Fax & Sax” (3-6am), “AM Update” (6-9am), and WYTA GM/PD Nick Ashton’s talk show (noon to 3pm).
However, the ambitious talker turned out to be extremely short-lived. About six months into the new format, WYTA was acquired by Paxson Communications and re-branded Sports Radio 820-AM WNZE.
Other names from WYTA history include Freeman Teuton (GM-1994) and Brian Holmes (APD 1994).
(Please contact us if you have additional information to share about WYTA.)
Station History
1994 - 1994 Other Tampa Bay Area Stations (History)
|
