| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
WHTZ's is licensed to Newark, New Jersey, and serves the New York City market. It broadcasts at a frequency of 100.3 MHz.
The call letters are supposed to represent the word "hits"; indeed, an early advertising campaign for the station claimed that HTZ was "The New Way to Spell 'Hits' in New York."
WHTZ signed on the air at 6:08 AM on August 2, 1983, with little to no fanfare. It was an attempt to bring the Top 40 format back to New York, something that had not been represented since AM powerhouse WABC flipped to all-talk on May 10, 1982 ("The Day the Music Died" in New York radio lore). Within 74 days of signing on, WHTZ had climed literally from last place to first in the New York Arbitron book, an unprecedented feat.
WHTZ has commercial-free hours on weekdays at noon, 5pm, and 8pm, Saturdays at noon and 3pm, and Sundays on 1pm and 3pm.
Although not created at WHTZ, the popular Morning Zoo format became a widely-copied morning show concept based on its success at this station. The current DJs on that show include Elvis Duran, Danielle Manero, John Bell, Christine, and Greg-T the frat boy.
Current DJs include Elvis Duran, Shelley Wade, Paul "Cubby" Bryant, Carson Daly, and Joe Risoti. The station annualy holds two concerts, Jingle Ball, around the holiday season, and Zootopia.
The station, which has only rarely left the #1 position in its market, is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications.
6AM - 10AM: Elvis Duran and the Z Morning Zoo (see above) ~~ 10AM - 2PM: Shelley Wade ~~ 2PM - 6PM: Paul "Cubby" Bryant ~~ 6PM - 7PM: Carson Daly (Most Requested) ~~ 7PM - 10PM: Romeo on the Radio (8:00 - 8:15 -- Z-100 Mini-Mix) ~~ 10PM - 11PM: Joe Risoti (Dedication Hour) ~~
(Note from the Editor: This is an incomplete list based on my knowledge of the station. If you know what's broadcasted from 11PM to 6AM on weekdays, or what the weekend schedule is, feel free to edit.)