{{short description|Fox Sports Radio affiliate in Pittsburgh}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox radio station | name = WBGG | logo = Fox Sports PIT.webp | logo_upright = .6 | city = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | country = US | area = Pittsburgh metropolitan area | branding = ''Fox Sports 970/104.7HD2'' | frequency = 970 kHz | translator = | repeater = {{Radio Relay|104.7|WPGB-HD2|Pittsburgh}} | airdate = {{Start date|1931|5|31}}<ref>{{cite news |last=V. Martin |first=Darrell |title=We Now Present |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-we-now-present/185972964/ |access-date=November 30, 2025 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph |date=May 31, 1931 |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |page=25 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> | format = Sports radio | power = {{val|5000|u=watts|fmt=commas}} | class = B | licensing_authority = FCC | facility_id = 59960 | coordinates = {{coord|40|30|39|N|80|0|27|W|type:landmark_region:US-PA_source:FCC|display=inline,title}} | callsign_meaning = Pittsburgh (the second "G" substitutes for the "H") | former_callsigns = {{ubl|WWSW (1931–1982)|WTKN (1982–1988)|WWSW (1988–2000)}} | former_frequencies = {{ubl|1500 kHz (1931–1941)|1490 kHz (1941–1949)<ref name="HistoryCards">[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=68916 History Cards for WBGG], fcc.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2016.</ref>}} | network = | affiliations = {{ubl|Fox Sports Radio|Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network|Robert Morris Colonials}} | owner = iHeartMedia Inc. | licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC | sister_stations = {{hlist|WDVE|WKST-FM|WPGB|WWSW-FM|WXDX-FM}} | webcast = {{iHeartRadio|2013}} | website = {{URL|https://foxsportspgh.iheart.com}} }}
'''WBGG''' (970 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It carries a sports radio format as the Pittsburgh market affiliate of Fox Sports Radio and a co-flagship of the Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network. Owned by iHeartMedia, WBGG's studios are located outside Bridgeville, while the station transmitter resides in Ross Township. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WBGG is relayed full-time over the second HD subchannel of WPGB and is available online via iHeartRadio.
==History== ===Beginnings as WWSW=== The station was originally at 1500 (later 1490), and moved to 970 in November 1949, requiring an eight-tower array to use the frequency. This large array was one of the first of its kind in the United States.
For many years, this station was WWSW with a MOR music format aimed at older adults. In the early 1970s, General Manager Charles Warner instituted a news-heavy morning show to compete with market leader KDKA.
===Country, Talk and Oldies=== In 1980, two format changes were instituted at WWSW and its sister station, known for the past seven years at WPEZ. The latter switched from Top 40 to adult contemporary music and proved to be a blueprint for its present-day success. As for the former, a disastrous and abrupt format change to country music (as "Double Country") eventually resulted in the abandonment of the historic call sign and a switch to talk as WTKN, with the moniker "We're Talking Pittsburgh!" Legendary Pittsburgh air personality Doug "Uncle Dougie" Hoerth was among the staff hosts under this format, which proved to be no match for the higher rated KDKA and WTAE.
Later, the WWSW call sign was reclaimed. In February 1988, WWSW and sister WWSW-FM simultaneously switched to separate oldies formats, with the FM concentrating more on hits of the 1960s and 1970s, while the AM focused on 1950s and 1960s music. By 1991, the AM became a complete simulcast of the FM station, known as “3WS”, by the end of the decade.
===As WBGG=== On August 28, 2000, 970 switched its call sign to WBGG, breaking away from the simulcast to become a Fox Sports Radio affiliate. At first, the station was known as "970 The Burgh," but later, the station called itself "970 ESPN", as it became an affiliate of ESPN Radio.
The two stations had a common bond as, in addition to being co-owned, they were the flagship stations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The FM outlet for Penguins switched to sister station WXDX-FM in the 2006-07 hockey season while University of Pittsburgh football and basketball switched to WWSW.
In addition, WBGG, along with sister station WDVE, is the flagship station for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While WDVE originates the broadcast, the contract with the Steelers specifies that the games also be aired on an AM radio station in the market. WBGG also airs additional Steelers insider programming from Steelers Nation Radio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Like |first=Chris Adamski TribLive Share Copy Link Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Send SMS WhatsApp Reddit |title=Steelers extend deal with iHeartMedia for WDVE radio to broadcast games |url=https://community.triblive.com/news/10b3d823ccf308264d53df9dda21e998 |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=community.triblive.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=iHeartMedia To Launch Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/269732/iheartmedia-to-launch-pittsburgh-steelers-audio-network/ |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US}}</ref>
Steelers Nation Radio programming is highlighted by ''In The Locker Room'', hosted by Rob King and Max Starks; ''Steelers Standard'', hosted by Ed Troup and Brian Batko; and ''The Drive'', hosted by Wes Uhler and Matt Williamson.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iHeartMedia Pittsburgh Announces New Broadcast Lineup for Steelers Audio |url=https://dve.iheart.com/content/2025-07-21-iheartmedia-pittsburgh-announces-new-broadcast-lineup-for-steelers-audio/ |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=102.5 WDVE |language=en}}</ref> Former Steelers Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley and longtime Pittsburgh sportscaster Stan Savran were mainstays of the station’s lineup and Steelers coverage until their passings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=James |date=2023-06-13 |title=TRIBUTE: Savran was 'heart' of Hall of Fame banquets |url=https://blaircountysportshof.com/tribute-savran-was-heart-of-hall-of-fame-banquets/ |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=Blair County Sports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=James |date=2023-06-13 |title=TRIBUTE: Savran was 'heart' of Hall of Fame banquets |url=https://blaircountysportshof.com/tribute-savran-was-heart-of-hall-of-fame-banquets/ |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=Blair County Sports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref>
The online publication (970espn.com) is also the home of several sports blogs including the "Pens Bender Blog" by Rich Miller.
On January 1, 2011, WBGG became an affiliate of the ESPN Radio Network as WEAE changed to Radio Disney.
On September 9, 2015, it was announced that WBGG Pittsburgh launched an FM translator station, W292DH, located at 106.3, licensed to Uniontown. That translator was sold late in 2020 to Catholic broadcaster Relevant Radio.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Eric|date=December 16, 2020|title=iHeart sells off FM translator; a loss in the WQED family|url=https://www.pbrtv.com/iheart-sells-off-fm-translator-a-loss-in-the-wqed-family/|website=PBRTV.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
For the past several years, WBGG has served as the flagship station of the Duquesne Dukes, airing football, men’s basketball, and coaches shows throughout the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-24 |title=Duquesne Reaches Broadcast Agreement With iHeart Media |url=https://goduquesne.com/news/2021/9/23/mens-basketball-duquesne-reaches-broadcast-agreement-with-iheart-media |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=Duquesne University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
During the season for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, the station broadcasts a weekly Monday night show called ''Along the Boards'', hosted by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Penguins beat writer Josh Yohe and Penguins radio color analyst and former player Phil Bourque.
Since January 2024, WBGG has carried Fox Sports Radio programming.<ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/262938/970-espn-pittsburgh-switches-to-fox-sports/ ESPN Pittsburgh Switches To Fox Sports] Radioinsight - January 3, 2024</ref>
==Previous logo== 200px
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://foxsportspgh.iheart.com/ Official website] {{AM station data|59960|WBGG}}
{{Pittsburgh Radio}} {{Sports Radio Stations in Pennsylvania}} {{Fox Sports Radio stations}} {{Pittsburgh Steelers}} {{iHeartMedia}}
Category:Sports radio stations in the United States BGG Category:Radio stations established in 1931 Category:1931 establishments in Pennsylvania Category:Fox Sports Radio stations