WTSO


WTSO is a commercial AM radio station in Madison, Wisconsin. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a sports radio format. From 2014 until February 1, 2020, WTSO was simulcast on FM translator W265CV at 100.9 MHz. W265CV now airs a 1960s-1970s oldies format as "U-100.9."
WTSO's offices and studios are on South Fish Hatchery Road in Fitchburg. The transmitter is off East Tower Road in McFarland. WTSO operates at 10,000 watts by day. But at night it reduces its power to 5,000 watts, using a directional antenna, because AM 1070 is a clear-channel frequency. WTSO must protect Class A stations KNX Los Angeles and CBA Moncton, New Brunswick, from interference, so the nighttime signal is nulled away from the west and the east. WTSO's former FM translator operates with 250 watts from a 243-meter tower off South Pleasant View Road in Madison.

Programming

WTSO broadcasts local sports call-in shows during weekday morning and afternoon drive times. "Lucas in the Morning," hosted by longtime Wisconsin Badgers radio analyst and Madison sports columnist/reporter Mike Lucas. WTSO's schedule also features nationally syndicated sports shows hosted by Dan Patrick and Rich Eisen. At night and on weekends, programming from Fox Sports Radio is heard. Since the start of 2013, the station's local sports shows have been simulcast on Milwaukee sister station 920 WOKY, an unusual situation where a station in a smaller media market provides the simulcast for the larger market station.
WTSO's live sports coverage includes broadcasts of Milwaukee Bucks basketball and NASCAR races from MRN Radio and PRN Radio, as well as local high school events, including championships in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. WTSO also airs live broadcasts of Milwaukee Brewers baseball and University of Wisconsin Badgers athletics should those events conflict with the schedule of their normal home, sister station WIBA AM 1310.

History

The station first signed on the air on January 19, 1948, as WKOW. With Wisconsin known as "The Dairy State," the original call letters stood for the word "cow." The licensee was the Monona Broadcasting Company.
In the mid-1970s, the call sign was changed to WTSO to stand for Ten Seven zerO, its frequency. At that time it was owned by Mid-Continent Broadcasting and aired a country music format. As country music listening switched to the FM dial, WTSO tried a talk radio format and later adult standards.
In 2000, WTSO went with its current all-sports format, originally as a network affiliate of ESPN Radio, calling itself "Madison's ESPN Radio 10-7-0." On January 1, 2009, WTSO parted company with ESPN Radio and rebranded as "The Big 1070, Madison's Sports Station," affiliating with Fox Sports Radio and later adding programming from NBC Sports Radio. On February 1, 2020, WTSO rebranded as "1070 The Game."

Previous Logos

WTSO's original logo under the "Big 1070" branding.
WTSO's Previous Logo used from 2010 to 2014.
WTSO's Previous Logo used from 2014 to 2020.