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WRNO-FM

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WRNO-FM
Broadcast areaNew Orleans metropolitan area
Frequency99.5MHz(HD Radio)
BrandingNews Talk 99.5 WRNO
Programming
FormatNews/talk
SubchannelsHD2:Classic hip hop
NetworkFox News Radio
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
KVDU,WNOE-FM,WODT,WQUE-FM,WYLD,WYLD-FM
History
First air date
October 17, 1967;56 years ago(1967-10-17)
Call signmeaning
WestbankRadioNewOrleans
Technical information
Facility ID54890
ClassC0
ERP100,000watts
HAAT306 meters (1004 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
29°58′59″N89°57′11″W/ 29.983°N 89.953°W/29.983; -89.953
Translator(s)HD2: 96.3K242CE(Meraux)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewrno.iheart

WRNO-FM(99.5MHz) – brandedNews Talk 99.5 WRNO– is acommercialradio stationinNew Orleans,Louisiana.It airs anews/talkformatand is owned byiHeartMedia, Inc.Thestudiosand offices are on Howard Avenue inDowntown New Orleans.

WRNO-FM has aneffective radiated power(ERP) of 100,000watts,the maximum for most FM stations. Thetransmitteris off Paris Road in the Bayou Bienvenue Central Wetland District nearChalmette.[1] It broadcasts usingHD Radiotechnology. The HD-2digital subchannelairs "Throwback 96.3," aclassic hip-hopformat which feeds 250-wattFM translatorK242CEat 96.3 MHz inMeraux.[2]

Programming

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WRNO-FM's weekday line up is allsyndicatedtalk shows, beginning withWalton & JohnsonfromKPRCHouston,followed byThe Glenn Beck Radio Program(which is also replayed in the evening hours),The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,The Sean Hannity Show,The Michael Berry Show,The Jesse Kelly Show,Coast to Coast AMwithGeorge NooryandAmerica in the Morning.

Weekend programming features shows on money, health, law and technology, some of which are paidbrokered programming.Syndicated shows includeHandel on the LawwithBill Handel,Armstrong & GettyandThe Jesus Christ Show.Most hours begin with an update fromFox News Radio.

History

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Early years

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On October 17, 1967, WRNO firstsigned onthe air.[3]It was a stand-alone FM station, put on the air by Gulf South Broadcasters, with Joseph Costello III as the owner and general manager. The station had its studios at 3230 Patterson Drive. It was anetwork affiliateof theMutual Broadcasting Systemand aired aProgressive Rockformat.

Although its previous slogan was "We're the Rock of New Orleans," the station'scall lettersactually stand for "Westbank Radio New Orleans." The station operated a popular business selling rock t-shirts, records and other music related items called the WRNO "Rock Shop" on the ground level of the studio. Since its inception in 1967, WRNO moved from Progressive toAlbum Rockin the 1980s, and switched toClassic Rockin 1997. WRNO was also home to a popularshortwaveradio service in the 1980s and 1990s calledWRNO Worldwide,now owned by a Christian broadcaster.

In 1998, WRNO was acquired by Centennial Broadcasting.[4]Then in 2002, the station changed hands again, acquired bySan Antonio-basedClear Channel Communications,the forerunner to today's owner, iHeartMedia, Inc.[5]

Talk Radio

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In early November, 2006, management planned a major change. WRNO beganstuntingby playing the full album version ofWhole Lotta LovebyLed Zeppelinfor at least a week on 24 hour rotation. On November 13, at 4 AM, after signing off withThe Doors' "The End," WRNO flipped from rock music to atalk radioformat as "The New 99.5FM." As explained in the official mission statement posted at its website, "The station is committed to providing listeners with everything they need to know on the radio at 99.5 FM and on demand at thenew995fm." On the same day,sister station104.3KHEVbecame "The Rock of New Orleans," as it flipped fromUrban GospeltoActive Rock.

On April 1, 2008, WRNO changed its slogan to "Rush Radio," with all-day repeats ofThe Rush Limbaugh Show.It also aired a tape loop of Limbaugh's theme song, the instrumental fromMy City Was GonebyThe Pretenders,during times when the show was not playing. Thestuntwas to celebrate WRNO's acquisition of the show from longtime affiliate 870WWL.WRNO resumed its regular schedule on April 7, with Limbaugh heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays plus a repeat on Saturdays. The Limbaugh program had previously aired on WRNO Worldwide, which Limbaugh called "The EIB World Service" on the air (in joking reference to theBBC World Service). The stations are no longer co-owned.

In September 2014, WRNO re-branded as "News Talk 99.5 WRNO."

Past personalities

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Notable station alumni include Bill Burkett, E.Alvin Davis, Joe Clark, Bobby Reno (later onWTIX-FMowned by Michael Costello, Joe's brother), Captain Humble, Doug Christian, and Russ Boney.

WRNO alumni also include former PD Michael Costello ( "Michael In The Morning" and brother of late WRNO founder/owner Joseph Costello III), Jim White, DJ-turned-actorJohn Larroquette,Soxless Scott Seagraves, Jeff "JD The DJ" Douglas ( "Rock 'n' Roll Flight To Midnight" ), Tom Owens, Jimbo Roberts, Mitch McCracken, Johnny Tyler, "Weerd" Wayne Watkins, Mary London, Lyn Taylor and writer-producerVance DeGeneres.Steve Suter (later on Magic 101.9WLMG) did the morning show with sidekick Kevin Carlile, as the "Morning Dudes."


References

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  1. ^Radio-Locator /WRNO
  2. ^Radio-Locator /W242CE
  3. ^Informationfrom theBroadcasting Yearbook1969 page B-75
  4. ^Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 page D-196
  5. ^Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-256
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