WTLS 94.7 FM

A radio station with roots going back to 1954 in Central Alabama, serving the region roughly 30 miles northeast of Montgomery. Originally an AM-only outlet on 1300 kHz, the station has since expanded to include FM frequencies at 94.7 and 101.1, the latter the result of a recent channel change from 106.9. All three signals stream live on the WTLS website. The station was founded by Bert Bank, a former Alabama state senator and founder of what would become the Crimson Tide Sports Network, the official rights holder for University of Alabama athletics. Engineer Ned Butler purchased the station from Bank in 1957 and built it into a family operation spanning three generations: his son Steve Butler, who made WTLS the first all-country radio station in Central Alabama in 1970, and Steve's son Michael Butler, who assumed operations in 1999. Harold Shedd, the original producer of the country group Alabama, also worked at the station in 1956. Current programming features a local morning show called The Wake-Up Call alongside syndicated talk from Chris Plante, regional sports commentary from Chuck Oliver, and local high school sports coverage. The station also carries University of Alabama athletics through the Crimson Tide Sports Network and hosts archived historical programming including over 500 episodes of local Tallassee history recordings.