UTICA-ROME -- Although listeners first discovered WUTQ's expansion to the 100.7FM frequncy about ten days ago, Roser Communications Network officially announced the changes Monday night. In addition, the company says it has hired Taylor Harris to host the music hours heard middays on the four-frequency simulcast.
In a press release, General Sales Manager Grant Roser said, “I can’t tell you how excited we are to be able to reach more listeners with a bigger signal,” referring to the company's recent $425,000 purchase of the former 100.7 WRCK. Since the sale closed, Roser has changed the 100.7FM call letters to WUTQ-FM. The WRCK call letters, which have been in the market since the early 1980s, have been moved to 1480AM, the former WADR.
The company says Harris comes to Utica after "working mornings in northwest Indiana, just outside of Chicago," though the press release didn't state the exact location or station where she had worked. But she's no stranger to Central New York, as the announcement says Harris has family near Syracuse. "I think that's good," she's quoted in the press release. Roser posted an opening in February for an on-air personality, but the job posting didn't reveal which of its stations had the opening.
Other than the arrival of Harris, Roser says there will be no other changes to the schedule. Morning drive begins at 6am with a simulcast of the audio from NBC affiliate WKTV's morning newscast. At 7am, it's the local "Talk of the Town" with Mark Piersma and Frank Elias. Harris takes over at 10am for two hours of music. WUTQ simulcasts WKTV again for an hour at noon, then it's back to music with Harris until WKTV's next newscast at 5pm. WUTQ returns to the music, sans host, at 6pm.
In addition to the new signal at 100.7FM, WUTQ remains available on translator 95.5FM (W238CA), and AM stations 1550 WUTQ and 1480 WRCK.
H/T Scott Fybush of NorthEast Radio Watch for being first to let us know where the WRCK calls would be headed, and thanks to Dave Silvers from Roser for including cnyradio@cnyradio.com on his press release distribution list. We appreciate the news releases, and news tips alike -- anything you've got news to share about your local radio or TV station, we hope you'll keep us in the loop.