WTOH

WTOH (98.9 FM, "The Answer") is a conservative talk radio station serving the Greater Columbus area, currently owned by the Salem Media Group and licensed to Upper Arlington, Ohio. The station's studios are shared with sister station WRFD (880 AM) and are located in North Columbus; WTOH's transmitter is northwest of downtown.

History

98.9 MHz in Columbus began in 1989 as adult contemporary WXMX "The Mix" by Twin Rivers Communications owned by Michael and Mary Mahaffey. In 1991 the station was purchased by Alan Gray's Tri-City Radio and changed to modern country music as WRVF "98.9 The River." In 1994 the station was sold to Carl Hirsch who re-imaged it as "Wild Country, The New 98.9" (under the WLLD calls) and again later as the decidedly less aggressive "Country 98-9". The station briefly stunted in late 1996 by simulcasting audio from 98.9 MHz on both 105.7 MHz and 107.1 MHz in a short-lived attempt to "surround" country competitor WCOL. Then-owner Jacor Communications programmed the station as the alternative rock "Channel Z" (under the WZAZ-FM calls) prior to an acquisition by Blue Chip Broadcasting (and subsequently Radio One). After "Channel Z" was relocated to 105.7 FM and Blue Chip's acquisition, the station flipped to urban oldies as "Magic 98.9", WXMG, in 1998, which later evolved to Urban AC in 2001, retaining the "Magic" moniker.