WTMJ(AM) 620 kHz in Milwaukee is now broadcasting on FM too, to expand the reach of the Scripps-owned heritage station. The FM translator signal operates at 103.3 FM with 250 watts, and covers the city and adjacent suburbs.
“For 90 years, Milwaukee has depended upon WTMJ for news, local talk and sports. It’s important to make our content easy to find, and we’re excited to add an additional platform at 103.3 MHz along with our digital distribution platforms,” said Tom Langmyer, vice president and general manager of WTMJ and WKTI and vice president of news, talk, and sports, for the E.W. Scripps Co. “Our play-by-play sports partners, the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks will be heard on ‘WTMJ-FM’ as well.”
This is not the first attempt by Scripps to secure the W277CV 103.3 FM translator for WTMJ’s talk content. As reported by Radio World in July 2017, the station entered into an agreement with translator owner Frank McCoy, who had previously signed an agreement to lease the signal to Michael Crute, owner of progressive talker WRRD(AM) 1510 kHz, a daytimer in nearby Waukesha. Crute objected, a legal battle ensued and it all ended with McCoy withdrawing from the Scripps deal.
The new FM translator is the latest initiative by WTMJ to push its content far beyond the original AM platform. The station is also now serving hourly “flash briefings” via Amazon Alexa, along with streaming, podcasts and an HD Radio signal on WKTI(HD2) 94.5 MHz.
