Hispanopedia WikiWATT (1240 AM, "News Talk 1240") is a radio station broadcasting a news-talk-sports format. Licensed to Cadillac, Michigan, it began broadcasting in 1946.
WATT officially began broadcasting on September 30, 1945, as Cadillac's first radio station[2] on the frequency of 1240 kHz.[3] The station was founded by Les Biederman, a broadcast pioneer who had previously launched WTCM in Traverse City. WATT was a key member of Biederman’s Paul Bunyan Network, a group of small-market stations designed to provide localized news and entertainment to Northern Michigan communities.[4] During its early years, WATT operated with a power of 250 watts and served as an NBC Radio Network affiliate, bringing national programming and block-style variety shows to Wexford County residents.[5]
In the 1970s, Les Biederman sold WATT to Kenneth MacDonald Sr., the founder of MacDonald Broadcasting. MacDonald, a former hall-of-fame broadcaster from Saginaw, purchased the station alongside its FM sister (WLXV) and properties in Petoskey.[6]
In 1998, as part of a corporate reorganization of the family business, the Northern Michigan stations—including WATT—were spun off into a separate entity called MacDonald-Garber Broadcasting, headed by Patricia MacDonald-Garber.[7]
References
- ↑"Facility Technical Data for WATT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ↑"Cadillac Gets Station". The Bay City Times. United Press. September 30, 1945. p. 10. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ↑"1240 AM WATT Media Kit"(PDF). MacDonald-Garber Broadcasting. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
- ↑"WTCM (AM) History"(PDF). Broadcasting Publications Inc. p. C-104. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
- ↑"Michigan Radio History Records"(PDF). World Radio History. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
- ↑"MacDonald Broadcasting Hall of Fame". Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
- ↑"Cadillac Chamber of Commerce Member Directory". Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
External links
- FCC History Cards for WATT
- Michiguide.com - WATT History
- Facility details for Facility ID 65928 (WATT) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WATT in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
44°13′27″N85°24′0″W / 44.22417°N 85.40000°W / 44.22417; -85.40000
- Radio stations in Michigan
- Radio stations established in 1946
- 1946 establishments in Michigan
- News and talk radio stations in the United States
- Cadillac, Michigan
- Michigan radio station stubs
