WHTA

Infobox Radio Station


name = WHTA
city = Hampton, Georgia
area = Atlanta metropolitan area airdate = 1980s
frequency = 107.9 (MHz) HD Radio
area = Atlanta, Georgia
format = Mainstream Urban
owner = Radio One
erp = 27,000 watts
haat = 176 meters
branding = "Hot 107.9"
slogan = "Your Digital Hip-Hop Station"
class = C2
facility_id = 52548
former_callsigns = WEGF, WPEZ, WCRY
webcast = [http://wm-eon.vitalstreamcdn.com/live_eonwmss_vitalstream_com_radioone-whta-fm-fast Listen Live]
website = [http://www.hot1079atl.com/ www.hot1079atl.com]
callsign_meaning = W HoT 107.9 Atlanta
sister_stations = WAMJ, WJZZ, WPZE

WHTA (107.9 FM, "Hot 107.9") is an Mainstream Urban radio station that plays hip-hop & R&B. It has done so since the fall of 2001, after the programming format and callsign were moved by owner Radio One from "Hot 97.5" (now WPZE FM, "Praise 97.5"). Its city of license is Hampton, Georgia, and its tower is located in Tyrone, while its studios are located in downtown Atlanta. It also launched the career of the now famous rapper, Ludacris, when he was known as on-air personality,"Chris Lova Lova" and the careers of MTV VJ La La and former VJ K-K Holiday.

History

To facilitate this move-in to add Atlanta coverage, Lite Rock WPEZ "Z108" Macon moved from 100,000 watts ERP at 107.9 to an existing frequency at 93.7 in Jeffersonville. The original Top 40 format then on 93.7 moved to a new Macon-area station at 95.1. The license for 107.9 was then realloted by the FCC, at the request of the original owner, from Macon to Hampton. Prior to this, "Hot 97.5" was to become (and already had banners printed for) "Hot 107.5", which is now occupied by Radio One's WJZZ-FM instead (after first being Radio One's WAMJ FM).

The station signed on with Atlanta coverage as WEGF "107.9 the End" with a modern rock format. On its first day, it played "Smooth Criminal" by Alien Ant Farm and "Rollin'" by Limp Bizkit continuously. After several weeks with the rock format, "Hot 97.5" morning show host Ryan Cameron announced to his audience that his station was moving to 107.9, and it was realized that the rock format was a publicity stunt.

The station has had many complaints to it and the FCC from residents near its radio tower, because the station's audio has been coming through on just about every electronic device imaginable, from telephones to computer loudspeakers. It got a subsequent construction permit from the FCC to increase the height of the antenna on the tower, but this only reduced the problem rather than eliminating it.

On July 31, 2007 they began a new concept: Digital Hip Hop. Their new slogan is "Hot 107.9 Your Digital Hip Hop Station."

This station is broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity.

As of October 2008, WHTA is the Atlanta affiliate of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, based from its sister station in Dallas/Fort Worth.

External links

* [http://www.hot1079atl.com Hot 107.9 official website]
*FMQ|WHTA
*FML|WHTA
*FMARB|WHTA