History of WTOP

On August 2, 1927, the station moved from Brooklyn to Mount Vernon Hills, Virginia. The call letters were changed to WTFF, the frequency was changed to 1470 kilocycles and the power remained at 50 watts.

In November, 1927, the power of WTFF was increased to 10,000 watts and the frequency changed to 1480 kilocycles.

In June, 1932, the station was purchased by CBS and moved from Mount Vernon Hills to Alexandria, Virginia, and became the CBS outlet in Washington with studios in the Shoreham Building. (the station was off the air for about three months during this transition period and resumed broadcasting on October 20, 1932.

In November, 1933, the station's studios were moved to the Earle Building at 13th and E Streets, NW (now the Warner Building).

In March, 1941, the station moved from 1460 to 1500 kilocycles.

On March 16, 1943, the call letters were changed from WJSV to WTOP with a new slogan, 'This is WTOP, the spot at the TOP of your dial.'

WTOP Radio moved to Broadcast House in Upper Northwest in October, 1953.

In June, 1978, the Outlet Company of Providence, Rhode Island bought WTOP.

In October, 1979, WTOP Radio moved from Broadcast House to the Stuart Building at 4646 40th Street, NW.

Outlet re-organized and sold WTOP to Chase Broadcasting, who in turn sold it to Evergreen Media/Chancellor in November, 1992. In April, 1997, Evergreen added WTOP-FM 94.3, a 6KW simulcast station to boost ratings in the Northern Virginia suburbs.

In April, 1998, Bonneville acquired a more powerful 50,000W station, 107.7 FM in Warrenton, Virginia.

In December, 1998, WTOPNEWS.COM is launched and begins to broadcast via the Internet in 1999.

In December, 2000, WTOP adds 820AM in Frederick, Maryland, to become the WTOP Radio Network.

On January 4, 2006, WTOP added signal strength and penetration by broadcasting on 103.5 FM.

On March 9, 2009, WTOP celebrated its 40th anniversary.