Broadcast area Middlesex area Frequency 1450 kHz | Branding 1450 Talk Radio First air date 1946 | |
City New Brunswick, New Jersey Slogan "The Voice of Central Jersey" | ||
WCTC (1450 AM) is an American radio station broadcasting a syndicated and live talk radio format. Licensed to New Brunswick, New Jersey, the station serves the Middlesex, Somerset & Union County area ("M-S-U"...Arbitron Market #41). The station is currently owned by Beasley Broadcast Group (through The Sentinel Publishing Co.). The station broadcasts in C-QUAM AM stereo. It is the chief radio broadcaster for Rutgers University athletic events and Somerset Patriots independent league baseball games. WCTC is also the primary source for winter school closing announcements. WCTC's former Talk format continues with the weekday morning show featuring New Jersey radio veteran Bert Baron, entitled "Jersey Central." The weekday lineup includes Laura Ingraham from 9 to noon, Rich Eisen from noon to 3, and Tommy G from 3 to 6 PM. WCTC also airs special interest shows on the weekends.
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WCTC derives its callsign from the Chanticleer, a flamboyant fighting rooster from the medieval fable Reynard the Fox (Le Roman de Renart). It is also used by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales which was the Rutgers mascot from 1925 to 1955. The station is currently owned by Greater Media, Inc. Its sister station is WMGQ-FM, another Greater Media property.
History
WCTC got its start in 1946 broadcasting an unknown format. From the 1960s through the 1980s, it broadcast a Full Service format featuring local news, talk, sports, and MOR adult pop music. In 1992, WCTC changed its format to a full-time News/Talk station featuring programming from ABC Radio and Premiere Radio Networks. As of July 2, 2008, WCTC went back to its roots broadcasting an oldies music format.
On February 28, 2011, WCTC changed their format to talk, launching the local midday show New Jersey TODAY from 1 to 3 hosted by Bert Baron.
On July 19, 2016, Beasley Media Group announced it would acquire Greater Media and its 21 stations (including WCTC) for $240 million. The FCC approved the sale on October 6, and the sale closed on November 1.