Mississippi radio network
Telesouth Communications Inc
Industry Radio
[1] Predecessor Mississippi Agriculture and News Network
[1] Headquarters 6311 Ridgewood Road, , Area served
Mississippi
[1] Key people
Steve Davenport (
CEO ) (2022)
[2] Owner Steve Davenport
[2] Number of employees
140 (2015)
[3] Website
Official website
Telesouth Communications Inc , also known as SuperTalk Mississippi Media , is an American
commercial radio network based in
Jackson, Mississippi . Its stations across
Mississippi broadcast either a
music format , or
conservative
news/talk and sports under the SuperTalk brand.
[1]
[3]
[2]
The network's talk stations carry a mix of syndicated national shows, its programming, and material produced at the individual stations. Sports schedules are matched to teams based in local markets.
[4]
[1]
[5]
History
In 1979, Steve Davenport was hired to manage the Love Communications owned Mississippi Agriculture and News Network in
Jackson, Mississippi . Shortly afterward, it was purchased by
Baton Rouge -based Interstate Communications and merged with Louisiana Network Inc. Soon, production of news reports and short features for Mississippi radio stations evolved to include longer lifestyle, and sports
phone-in programs.
[1]
The firm began broadcasting live
football and
basketball from the
University of Southern Mississippi in 1984 and went on to take sports broadcast franchises for the
University of Mississippi and
University of Southern Mississippi . As well as programming for
Mississippi and
Louisiana , the
South Carolina News Network was also produced from
Jackson until 2008.
[1]
[2]
Following disagreement over a $25,000 annual franchise fee for the
Ole Miss Rebels , Steve Davenport and his business partners the Hanley family of
Hazlehurst agreed to purchase Interstate Communications' Mississippi market business, Mississippi Networks Inc, for $300,000 in 1985. Davenport bought out the Hanley's stake in 2008.
[2]
[1]
Amid financial turmoil in 1988, Telesouth sold its newly acquired
Biloxi radio station, then bought others, eventually covering all
82 counties of Mississippi.
[2]
In 1995, the business name was changed to Telesouth Communications Inc, and in 1997 current flagship WFMN (
Flora ) and WTCD (
Indianola ) stations were purchased and converted to pioneer a "SuperTalk"
conservative talk show format.
[1]
[2]
[3]
Jackson State Tigers football was added to the sport broadcast roster in 1998, and the Southern Urban News Network established to produce news features for radio stations in urban markets across Mississippi. The Urban News Network was merged with the firm's Mississippi News Network in 2011.
[1]
Telesouth began to divest college sports broadcast franchises from 2011, and to purchase music radio stations. The franchise agreement with Ole Miss had been renewed in 2007 guaranteeing a minimum fee of $27 million over ten years and substantial investment by the broadcaster in facilities at
Vaught–Hemingway Stadium , including a $6 million
jumbotron . The agreement was taken over by
Learfield in 2012. The franchise fee, payable by Telesouth to the
University of Mississippi , for its final year of
Ole Miss Rebels football was $3 million.
[6]
[2]
[1]
[7]
Purchases included
Biloxi music stations from
Alpha Media in 2018.
[1]
[8]
Between 2013 and 2018, sport, and then feel-good and lifestyle programming, were added to the SuperTalk format broadcast on Telesouth's 12 talk radio stations.
[1]
In 2019, the company began video broadcast of SuperTalk programming on
C Spire
cable .
[1]
Radio stations
License city
Format
Class
ERP
watts
WFMM
97.3 FM
Sumrall
[i]
Supertalk
A
6,000
[9]
[10]
[4]
WFMN
97.3 FM
Flora
[ii]
Supertalk
C3
19,500
[11]
[12]
[9]
WFTA
101.9 FM
Fulton
[iii]
Supertalk
C2
50,000
[9]
[5]
[13]
WKBB
100.9 FM
Mantee
Supertalk
C2
47,000
[9]
[14]
[15]
WLAU
99.3 FM
Heidelberg
[iv]
Supertalk
C2
50,000
[9]
[16]
[17]
WOSM
103.1 FM
Ocean Springs
Supertalk
C2
50,000
[9]
[18]
[19]
WTNM
93.7 FM
Courtland
Supertalk
C3
11,000
[9]
[20]
[21]
WRQO
102.1 FM
Monticello
[v]
Supertalk
C2
50,000
[9]
[22]
[23]
WTCD
96.9 FM
Indianola
Supertalk
C2
16,500
[9]
[24]
[25]
WXRZ
94.3 FM
Corinth
Supertalk
C3
25,000
[9]
[26]
[27]
WZKR
103.3 FM
Collinsville
[vi]
Supertalk
C3
6,000
[9]
[28]
[29]
WMPK
93.5 FM
Summit
Supertalk
A
6,000
[9]
[30]
[31]
WKCU
92.9 FM
Corinth
country
D
250
[32]
[33]
[34]
1350 AM
D
400
WCNA
95.9 FM
Potts Camp
[iii]
adult hits
C3
14,000
[32]
[35]
WQLJ
105.5 FM
Water Valley
hot AC
A
4,700
[32]
[36]
[37]
WOXF
105.1 FM
Oxford
A
1,600
WYMX
99.1 FM
Greenwood
classic hits
C0
96,000
[32]
[38]
WLZA
96.1 FM
Eupora
classic hits
C2
40,000
[32]
[39]
WBZL
103.3 FM
Greenwood
classic hip-hop
C3
25,000
[32]
[40]
WDXO
92.9 FM
Hazlehurst
classic hip-hop
A
2,700
[32]
[41]
[42]
WOEG
1220 AM
D
164
WCPR
97.9 FM
D'Iberville
active rock
C2
50,000
[32]
[43]
WXYK
105.9 FM
Pascagoula
top 40
C3
25,000
[32]
[44]
WGBL
96.7 FM
Gulfport
classic hip-hop
A
4,300
[32]
[45]
W292GD
106.3 FM
Biloxi
adult hits
D
250
[32]
[46]
[47]
[48]
WANG
1490 AM
C
1,000
WTNI
1640 AM
B
10,000
Talk shows
As of 2022
[update] , Supertalk's schedule includes:-
Network
The Gallo Radio Show -
Presenter , Paul Gallo -
Producer , Perez Hodge
[49]
[50]
Coast Vue with Ricky Mathews
[51]
MidDays with Gerard Gibert - Producer, Ryne "Ryno" Montgomery
[52]
In a Mississippi Minute with
Steve Azar
[51]
Good Things with Rebecca Turner - Producer, Ryne "Ryno" Montgomery
[53]
SportsTalk Mississippi - Presenters, Richard Cross, Michael Borkey and Brian Hadad
[54]
Outdoors with Ricky Mathews
[51]
Garden Mama
[55]
The Handy Man Radio Show
[51]
Richard Schwartz Legal Power Hour
[51]
National
The JT and Dave Show
JT Williamson and Dave Ingram began to co-host the JT & Dave Show on SuperTalk in 2002. Long-time producer and occasional on-air contributor was “Scary” Gary O’Cain. Their guests on the show were often prominent Mississippi politicians and the pair addressed controversial topics in the state from a conservative perspective. The daily, three-hour shows campaigned for
charter schools and to repeal
traffic camera legislation.
Phone-in callers that disagreed with the presenters were characteristically dealt with in a robust manner. Ingram left the show in 2010 and the abrupt nature of his departure prompted speculation on internet forums.
[56]
[57]
[58]
[59]
[60]
[61]
The show was briefly renamed Air Bubba , then the JT Show , and in a departure from interviewing Mississippi's state politicians in 2016, it hosted British campaigner
Nigel Farage . Williamson announced he had been diagnosed with
Lymphoma in 2020 and died that year.
[62]
[63]
[59]
[64]
[65]
News networks
As of 2022
[update] , SuperTalk's general, statewide news service is carried by 48 Mississippi affiliate radio stations. Thirty-six broadcast its Agrinews package covering commodity prices and farming topics.
[66]
[67]
College athletes' image rights
Telesouth Communications Inc was one of the defendants in a putative
class action lawsuit brought by
Steven Clarke and nine other
amateur college athletes. They alleged
athletic conferences ,
broadcast networks and licensing agencies (including Telesouth) improperly colluded to exclude them from the market for their
image rights , and set those fees they received at zero or lower than what they would otherwise have achieved.
[68]
[69]
[70]
[71]
Judge Kevin H Sharp's 2015 decision in the
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee accepted that
college sports was "big business", but concluded the way athletes had been required to surrender their images rights was lawful.
[72]
[68]
References
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
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h
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j
k
l
m
n
o
"About Us" . Supertalk Mississippi . May 2, 2018.
Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h Combest, Casey.
"Steve Davenport of TeleSouth Communications from Made In Mississippi on Hark" . Hark .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
a
b
c
"Jackson County Chamber Spotlight: SuperTalk 103.1 brings conservative news to coast" . gulflive . April 15, 2015.
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
a
b
"Hattiesburg :: 97.3" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
a
b
"Tupelo :: 101.9" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Ole Miss Extends Contract with TeleSouth; New Media Rights Agreement Worth $27 Million Minimum Over 10 Years" . Ole Miss Athletics . August 15, 2007.
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^ Hopper, David (September 12, 2008).
"Green Initiative Tries to Improve Jumbotron" .
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the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009 .
^ Jacobson, Adam (March 1, 2019).
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^
a
b
c
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f
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h
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"Stations" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WFMM-FM 97.3 MHz - Sumrall, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WFMN-FM 97.3 MHZ - Flora, MS" . Radio Locator . Archived from
the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Jackson :: 97.3" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WFTA-FM 101.9 MHz - Fulton, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WKBB-FM 100.9 MHz - Mantee, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on December 22, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Golden Triangle :: 100.9" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WLAU-FM 99.3 MHz - Heidelberg, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Laurel :: 99.3" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WOSM-FM 103.1 MHz - Ocean Springs, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"MS Gulf Coast :: 103.1" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WTNM-FM 93.7 MHz - Courtland, MS" . radio-locator.com . Archived from
the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"North MS :: 93.7" . Supertalk Mississippi . November 12, 2013.
Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WRQO-FM 102.1 MHz - Monticello, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Southwest MS :: 102.1" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WTCD-FM 96.9 MHz - Indianola, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Delta :: 96.9" . Supertalk FM .
Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WXRZ-FM 94.3 MHz - Corinth, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Corinth :: 94.3" .
Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WZKR-FM 103.3 MHz - Collinsville, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Meridian :: 103.3" .
Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Pike County :: 93.5" .
Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WMPK-FM 93.5 MHz - Summit, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
"Music Stations" .
Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"W225BN-FM 92.9 MHz - Corinth, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WKCU-AM 1350 kHz - Corinth, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WCNA-FM 95.9 MHz - Potts Camp, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WOXF-FM 105.1 MHz - Oxford, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WQLJ-FM 105.5 MHz - Water Valley, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WYMX-FM 99.1 MHz - Greenwood, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Radio Station Information Page" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Radio Station Information Page" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Radio Station Information Page" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Radio Station Information Page" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Radio Station Information Page" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"Radio Station Information Page" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"WGBL-FM 96.7 MHz - Gulfport, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
"WANG-AM 1490 kHz - Biloxi, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on December 21, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
"WTNI-AM 1640 kHz - Biloxi, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
"W292GD-FM 106.3 MHz - Biloxi, MS" . radio-locator.com .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
"The Gallo Radio Show" . Supertalk Mississippi . October 17, 2013.
Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^ Middleton, Christian (December 3, 2020).
"State Auditor, Talk Radio Host Deride Attorney Rob McDuff, 'Strike Prof' on Air" . Mississippi Free Press .
Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
a
b
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f
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i
j
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^ Hendrick, Ryan (September 9, 2021).
"Gerard Gibert to Host New Show on Super Talk Mississippi - Barrett Media" . Barrett Sports Media .
Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2022 .
^
"Good Things with Rebecca Turner" . Supertalk Mississippi . March 18, 2018.
Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"SportsTalk Mississippi" . Supertalk Mississippi . August 27, 2018.
Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^ Caverlee, William.
"Monroe native Nellie Neal is a nationally known garden expert" . The News Star .
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
"Meet our Team" . Supertalk Mississippi . April 27, 2015.
Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
"J T and Dave Broadcast Live" . Greenwood Commonwealth . July 1, 2011.
Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^ Simon, Perry Michael (August 2, 2021).
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^
a
b
"Jackson Area Radio: What happened to Dave?" . Six Pack Speak . July 1, 2010.
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^
"What happened to Dave from the J T and Dave Show" . Radio Discussions . August 2, 2010.
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^
"Farewell to Dave" . Blogspot . June 30, 2010.
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^
"Longtime radio host passes away after battle with cancer" . WTOK . August 2, 2021.
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^ Gagliano, Steven (July 31, 2021).
"SuperTalk Mississippi Host J.T. Williamson Passes Away After Cancer Battle" . Supertalk Mississippi .
Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022 .
^
"OT: JT from Supertalk" . Six Pack Speak . May 2, 2020.
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^
"News Network" . Supertalk Mississippi . January 18, 2021.
Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
"Agrinews" . Supertalk Mississippi . December 12, 2020.
Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
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External links
32°23′51″N 90°08′37″W / 32.3975°N 90.1435°W / 32.3975; -90.1435