View source for WNTS

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name             = WNTS
| logo             =
| logo_size        = 
| city             = [[Beech Grove, Indiana]]
| area             = [[Indianapolis metropolitan area]]
| branding         = ''La Pantera 103.9''
| frequency        = 1590 [[Hertz|kHz]]
| translator       = 103.9 W280FR (Beech Grove)
| airdate          = {{start date and age|1956|12|19}} (as WGEE)
| format           = Classic [[Regional Mexican]]
| power            = 5,000 [[watt]]s day<br>500 watts night
| class            = B
| facility_id      = 58320
| coordinates      = {{coord|39|44|21|N|86|5|26|W|region:US_type:city}}
| callsign_meaning = W '''N'''ews '''T'''alk '''S'''ports (former format)
| former_callsigns = WGEE (1956–1974)
| affiliations     = 
| owner            = Marvin B. Kosofosky
| licensee         = Continental Broadcast Group, L.L.C.
| sister_stations  = [[WEDJ]], [[WSYW]]
| webcast          = {{listen live|https://www.lapantera1039.com}}
| website          = [https://www.lapantera1039.com lapantera1039.com] 
| licensing_authority= [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
}}

'''WNTS''' (1590 [[AM broadcasting|AM]]) is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[radio station]] [[city of license|licensed]] to [[Beech Grove, Indiana]], and serving the [[Indianapolis metropolitan area]].  It broadcasts a Classic [[Regional Mexican]] [[radio format]] and is owned by Marvin Kosofosky's Continental Broadcast Group, L.L.C.   The [[radio studio]]s and [[transmitter]] are located at 4800 East Raymond Street near Sloan Avenue on the southeast side of Indianapolis.

By day, WNTS is powered at 5,000 [[watt]]s.  Because [[1590 AM]] is a regional frequency, it reduces power at night to 500 watts to avoid interference with other stations.  It uses a [[directional antenna]] with a three-[[tower array]].<ref>[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Wnts&nav=home Radio-Locator.com/WNTS]</ref>

==History==
On {{start date and age|1956|12|19}}, the station [[sign-on|signed on]] as WGEE.  It was a [[daytimer]], required to go off the air at sunset.  Most of the station's programming was aimed at the [[African American]] community of Indianapolis. Much of the remainder of the station's programming was devoted to [[Country music]].

On May 15, 1964, WGEE launched [[sister station]] WGEE-FM (now [[WOLT]]).  During the early years, the two stations [[simulcast]], with WGEE-FM continuing the programming after sunset, when WGEE AM had to be off the air. WGEE-AM-FM aired a format known as the "WG Parade Of Hits".  Bob Todd was Program Director with [[disc jockey]]s Scott Evans, George L. Davis, Mike O'Brien, Scott Wheeler, Jim Fox, Ron Hoffer, and Steve Miller.  Dick Shane was News Director.

WIRE owner Mid America Radio acquired WGEE-FM in March 1972. The FM adopted a [[beautiful music]] format with call letters WXTZ. On May 7, 1972, WGEE was acquired by B & G Broadcasting. The station became WNIR "The Country Winner" with a country format programmed by Bob Todd, with Buddy O'Shay as morning [[disc jockey|DJ]].

On April 15, 1974, WNIR was acquired by S & M Broadcasting, and became "News Talk Sports 16."  The new call letters reflected the format: WNTS for '''N'''ews, '''T'''alk, '''S'''ports.  Sam Smulyan was president of the new company. His son Jeff (later President and CEO of Indianapolis-based [[Emmis Communications]]) was appointed General Manager. Operations were handled by Rick Cummings.

Other employees after the change to news and talk included a [[Broad Ripple High School]] and [[Ball State University]] graduate named [[David Letterman]], who later went on to become the host of late night comedy shows on [[NBC]] and [[CBS]]. In early 1976, WNTS switched to [[all news radio]], using national news programming from [[NBC]]'s News and Information Service (NIS). NIS only lasted two years before NBC decided to cancel the service.

WNTS changed to [[Christian radio]] on January 18, 1977.  That was coupled with permission from the [[Federal Communications Commission]] to broadcast at night. To do so, the [[city of license]] for WNTS was changed from Indianapolis to Beech Grove. An additional tower was also added at the station's transmitter site.

After changing to religious programming, WNTS aired a schedule of [[Contemporary Christian]] music with some [[Christian talk and teaching]] shows.  Around 1990, it changed format to [[Southern Gospel]] music and talk. The station was managed by Jim Wilson.  DJ's included Larry Dean, Diane Benson, Kevin Wilson, Chris Moore, Nancy Marie, and Tom Elliott.  One program was the 4-hour all-request music program "Country Gospel Store", started by Jim Wilson's wife, Nancy Marie. After Nancy Marie's death, the Country Gospel Store continued with host Kevin Wilson.

In 2003, Daniel Ott started an [[alternative rock]] format on the station, known as "The Edge."  It continued through 2005.

On October 28, 2019, WNTS changed its format to Classic [[Regional Mexican]], branded as "La Pantera 1590", swapping formats with co-owned [[WSYW]] (810 AM).<ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/181388/indianapolis-spanish-stations-swap-signals/ Indianapolis Spanish Stations Swap Signals] Raioinsight - October 29, 2019</ref>

==Previous logo==
[[File:WNTS exitos1590 logo.jpg|200px]]
[[File:WNTS La Pantera 1590 logo.png|200px]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://indianaradio.net/stations/58320.html Indiana Radio Archive, WNTS]
*[http://www.davidsonmediagroup.com/print.php?id=about&id2=a Davison Media Group]
{{AM station data|58320|WNTS}}
*{{FCC-LMS-Facility|202454|W280FR}}
*{{FXL|W280FR}}

{{Indianapolis Radio}}
{{Spanish Radio Stations in Indiana}}

[[Category:Radio stations in Indiana|NTS]]
[[Category:Spanish-language radio stations in Indiana|NTS]]
[[Category:Oldies radio stations in the United States]]