WTAR
WTAR (850 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads (Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News) radio market. WTAR is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc. It broadcasts an adult album alternative format as "96.5 The Coast".
Broadcast area | Hampton Roads |
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Frequency | 850 kHz |
Branding | 96.5 The Coast |
Programming | |
Format | Adult album alternative |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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History | |
First air date | September 21, 1923 |
Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 60472 |
Class | B |
Power |
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Transmitter coordinates | 37°3′36.0″N 76°41′26.0″W |
Translator(s) | See § Translators |
Repeater(s) | 106.1 WUSH-HD2 (Poquoson) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | thecoast |
Until September 1, 2022, the station aired a sports radio format, carrying the Fox Sports Radio Network most of the day, with a local afternoon drive time show. The syndicated Dan Patrick Show was heard in late mornings. WTAR was part of the Washington Commanders Radio Network.
WTAR's studios and offices are on Waterside Drive in Norfolk. The transmitter is off Track Lane in Smithfield, Virginia. WTAR runs at 50,000 watts by day, the highest power permitted by the Federal Communications Commission for commercial AM stations. At night, to reduce interference to other stations on 850 AM, mainly Class A KOA in Denver, WTAR reduces power to 25,000 watts. It uses a directional antenna at all times. WTAR programming is also heard on HD Radio over 106.1 WUSH-HD2 and on FM translator station W243DJ at 96.5 MHz in Norfolk and W243EK at 96.5 MHz in Hampton.