WBTU
 | |
| City | Kendallville, Indiana |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Metropolitan Fort Wayne |
| Frequency | 93.3 (MHz) |
| Branding | "U.S. 93.3" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Adams Radio Group, LLC (Adams Radio of Fort Wayne, LLC) |
| WXKE, WGL (AM), WJFX, WWFW | |
| History | |
First air date | December 16, 1964-June 1984 (WAWK-FM) June 1984-present (WBTU-FM) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 22106 |
| Class | B1 |
| ERP | 18,500 watts |
| HAAT | 117 meters (384 ft) |
| Links | |
| Website | us933fm |
WBTU is an 18,500-watt FM radio station licensed to Kendallville, Indiana located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 93.3 MHz. WBTU is owned by Adams Radio Group, LLC, through licensee Adams Radio of Fort Wayne, LLC.
WBTU originally operated as WAWK-FM, a sister station to WAWK AM in Kendallville, from 1964 to 1984. In June 1984, WAWK-FM was sold, renamed to WBTU-FM, and relocated to Fort Wayne.
WBTU is the oldest country station in the Fort Wayne market. Counting the station's WAWK lineage makes the station even older.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, WBTU used the moniker, Hot Country. In the mid-1990s, the moniker was changed to B93. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the station was known as Hoosier Country. In 2005, the station simply went by its call letters and frequency (93.3 FM). On May 25, 2007, WBTU changed its branding, becoming U.S. 93.3. A few weeks later, U.S. 93.3 went "commercial-free" but only continued to operate without playing commercials until December 31, 2007.
In 2000, Artistic Media Partners, Inc. bought WBTU and WSHY-FM from 62nd Street, Inc. WBTU and WSHY were moved to a studio inside the Bowen Center on Goshen Road in Fort Wayne.
In January 2007, Artistic Media Partners agreed to sell WBTU and WSHY to Russ Oasis for $3.8 million. Oasis Radio Group owns HOT 107.9 (WJFX-FM), and 106.3 JOE FM in Fort Wayne, also.
On March 6, 2007, a local management agreement was enacted between Artistic Media and Russell Oasis for WBTU and WSHY (which was changed to WVBB, now WRDF).
In March 2014, Adams Radio Group, LLC entered an agreement to purchase WBTU along with CHR/Rhythmic 107.9 WJFX from Oasis Radio Group and crosstown Urban CHR 96.3 WNHT, Oldies 1250 WGL and Classic Rock 103.9 WXKE. The purchase, at a price of $6.4 million, was consummated on June 2, 2014.
Programming[]
Currently, it broadcasts country music.
Current Lineup:
12a-6a The Blair Garner Show
6a-10a Bobby Bones Show
10a-3p Travis Walker
3p-7p Randy Alomar
7p-12a Nash Nights Live
Weekends- Taylor
Community[]
In the past, WBTU had regularly helped St. Jude's Research Hospital, MDA, and other organizations. WBTU also served as the radio station sponsor for country night at the Meijer Event Tent during Fort Wayne's Three Rivers Festival in 2006.
Notable alumni[]
- Dirk Rowley
- Jeanette Rinard
- Mitch Mahan
- Chevy Smith
- Dakota McCoy (Gran Roberts)
- Steve "Tiny Little" Michaels
- Kris "Coyote" Underwood
- Dave Collins (Joel Navarro)
- Stephanie Decker
- Dave Riley (David Bradley)
- Scott Dugan
- Dale Christopher
- Jay Fergusion
- (Bill)Collins on the Radio
- Kenny Edwards
- Don Moore
- Gary Mack
- Mack and Moore in the morning
- Doug Montgomery
- T. Daniels
- Mark Allen
External links[]
- WBTU's official website
- WBTU in the FCC FM station database
- WBTU on Radio-Locator
- WBTU in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- WBTU's Official MySpace Page
Coordinates: 41°12′50″N 85°12′04″W / 41.214°N 85.201°W
- Radio stations in Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Country radio stations in the United States