3 Towers Broadcasting has purchased Full Service Classic Hits 1050 WTCA/106.1 W291BQ Plymouth IN from Kathy and Jim Bottorff’s Community Service Broadcasting for an undisclosed amount.
3 Towers will begin operating WTCA via Time Brokerage Agreement on April 1 and intend to bring their “Giant FM” brand to the station. The company operates digital news publications in conjunction with each of its radio properties and intends to launch MarshallCountyPost.com alongside WTCA.
The Johnny McCrory and Scott Huber led 3 Towers Broadcasting also owns 1520 WSVX/96.5 W243CL Shelbyville/106.3 W292FH Greenfield and 92.1 WROI Rochester IN, and operates 94.3 WREB Greencastle IN via LMA with a purchase still pending. All operate under the “Giant-FM” brand.
Kathy Bottorff and her husband Jim are excited to announce that WTCA will be under new ownership beginning April 1st. The owners of WTCA have reached a deal with 3 Towers Broadcasting, LLC.
WTCA was founded by Kenneth E. Kunze in 1963 when he was granted a license from the FCC to operate WTCA-AM 1050. In the beginning, all productions were broadcast from its transmitter site on Muckshaw Road in Plymouth with a business office on Water Street.
In 1965, the broadcasting operation was moved to the Water Street location in order to accommodate an ever-growing listening audience.
In 1966, the radio station moved into the old Plymouth Dairy at 112 West Washington St. The building was renovated into a broadcasting studio and remains the base of operations today for WTCA.
The station has since expanded to include FM radio broadcasting in addition to their AM radio operations. WTCA is still operating daily radio programs from the AM transmitter site on Muckshaw Road and FM transmitter site at its Washington St. office in downtown Plymouth.
In its early days, Jeanne Kunze hosted a live public interest program each day called, “This and That.” The Kunze’s daughter, Kathy Bottorff, continues that tradition with the station’s daily talk show, “What’s Your Opinion?”
WTCA has proudly provided services to the local communities for more than 55 years with unique programming, local news, hit music, and other features geared toward the communities of Marshall County.
WTCA is 3 Towers Broadcasting’s fourth Indiana-based radio station, joining WSVX (AM 1520 and 96.5 FM) in Shelbyville, WROI (92.1 FM) in Rochester, and WREB (94.3 FM) in Greencastle. 3 Towers Broadcasting is based in Shelbyville.
Johnny McCrory, co-owner of 3 Towers Broadcasting said, “Little did we know when we started with AM 1520 in Shelbyville that our local brand of GIANT fm radio and online services would expand into other Indiana communities with such success.” Co-owner Scott Huber said, “Our entire organization is excited to now partner with WTCA as we add to and help grow its longstanding record of service in Plymouth.”
“We look forward to becoming part of the Plymouth and Marshall County community and being a vital source of news, sports, and entertainment for listeners and readers in the area,” said McCrory.
In addition to the radio stations operated by 3 Towers Broadcasting, there also are digital newspapers operating under the banners Shelby County Post, Fulton County Post, and Putnam County Post. 3 Towers Broadcasting will commence operations of Marshall County Post in the near future, according to co-owner Scott Huber.
Kathy Bottorff, who operates the station today with her husband Jim said, “We are excited to see 3 Towers take the radio station to the next level. We want to see the station my parents put their lives into continue and flourish in the community.” She also said she was pleased when 3 Towers wanted to keep Rusty Nixon for their morning show and the voice of Big Red sports. Bottorff will also continue working for 3 Towers as a news reporter and talk show host.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com