Staunton's WTON set to debut new lineup under new ownership at the end of May
STAUNTON — The all new WTON is set to relaunch Saturday morning, May 25, according to a press release from new co-owner Joe Thomas.
Thomas and his wife, Elaine Thomas, purchased WTON-AM 1240 for a reported $275,000 in early April. They also purchased two FM translators, 98.9 in Harrisonburg and 101.1 in Crozet from Stu-Comm.
In November both WTON-AM 1240 and FM 94.3 were sold to Stu-Comm Inc. of Charlottesville, which operates WNRN, a non-profit independent music station based in Charlottesville. At the time, Stu-Comm's Mark Keefe said it was the FM that they were most interested in purchasing, a way to boost the coverage for WNRN programming. Since it was a combo deal, Keefe also purchased the AM, which has been airing WNRN programming since.
But in April Joe Thomas, who formerly hosted a talk show on Charlottesville's WCHV, made the move to acquire the Staunton AM radio station.
“We want to hear your voice,” Thomas said in the release. “We’ll bring you coverage of the local stories from this wide area we’ll be covering as we develop the best local shows alongside an all-star lineup of shows all day."
At the time he acquired the station, Thomas told The News Leader that he wants to bring some local programming back to WTON. He said it will mostly be a talk radio station, but he's hoping to have more than just talk shows.
That lineup will start with Thomas' own morning show at 6 a.m. weekdays. The News Leader reached out to Thomas about any information on the other shows he plans to air.
"Not finalized as I'm waiting to hear back from local folks that expressed interest in doing something, daily or weekly, before I finalize the network shows schedule," Thomas responded in an email.
He did confirm that Leland McCray and Joe Deck will return to the station to broadcast high school football this fall. Thomas had told The News Leader in April that high school sports was something he was considering airing. There was no mention of any other sports programming.
The station will be broadcast to 1240-AM, as well as the two FM stations, 98.9 and 101.1.
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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: WTON to go on the air with new lineup May 25 in Staunton
