Audacy in Hartford
Audacy Hartford Radio, from $40 a Spot.
One rep sells four of Hartford's biggest signals: WTIC 1080 news talk, 96.5 TIC-FM, Lite 100.5 and Hot 93.7. Off-peak spots start around $40, drive time around $75, and the FCC file shows what others paid.
Country 92.5 pulls an 11 share in Hartford. Every rep knows it. Now you do too.
The Straight Answer
Half of Hartford's big dial, sold by one rep. Here is the math.
Audacy's Hartford cluster pairs the state's heritage news station, WTIC 1080, on the air since 1925, with three big FMs. In the July 2026 book, Lite 100.5 and Hot 93.7 each pull an 8.0 share, near the top of the market.
Cluster selling cuts both ways: packages across four stations stretch a budget, and they also hide weak dayparts inside strong ones. Price each station and daypart separately before you accept any bundle.
8.0 share each for Lite 100.5 and Hot 93.7 in the July 2026 Hartford ratings, near the top of the market.
Source: Nielsen Audio PPM, July 2026
The Rate Card
What Audacy Hartford Actually Costs.
Independently researched starting costs, checked against published materials and market data.
| Buy | Starting Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Off-Peak Spot | from $40/spot | Middays and evenings across the cluster's FMs |
| Drive-Time Spot | from $75/spot | The 6 to 10am and 3 to 7pm commute blocks |
| Weekly Schedule | from $300/wk | 15 to 20 spots across the cluster, enough to stick |
Last verified August 2026. Floors reflect published market rate data; the Hartford and New Haven market averages about $279 per 30-second spot. Each station's political file at publicfiles.fcc.gov shows real recent rates by daypart.
The Process
How Buying Works
Three steps from budget to live, in plain English.
Check the FCC File First
Every broadcast station files its political rates publicly at publicfiles.fcc.gov. Look up WTIC, WRCH or WZMX and see actual recent prices before any call.
Buy Stations, Not the Bundle
Ask for per-station, per-daypart pricing. Take the bundle only when it beats the two stations you actually wanted.
Hold One Message for a Month
15 to 20 spots a week on the right station beats a thin spread across four. Audacy produces your spot free with a schedule.
Priced by Town
Where This Reaches.
Our town guides price Audacy Hartford against every other option in the same market, so you can see what it beats and what beats it before you call anyone.
The Alternatives
Before You Buy, Compare.
We don’t sell for Audacy Hartford and we don’t take a side: we tell you which option fits your towns and your budget.
iHeart Hartford
The other Hartford heavyweight, led by Country 92.5's 11.0 share. Compare Prices
WDRC-FM 102.9
Connecticut's oldest station, independently owned, still top five. Compare Prices
All Connecticut radio prices
Every market and buy priced, from $15 small-market spots up. Compare Prices
Questions
Audacy Hartford Questions, Answered Straight.
How much does Audacy Hartford advertising cost?
Off-peak spots start around $40 and drive time around $75 across the cluster's FMs, against a published market average of about $279 per spot in Hartford and New Haven. A useful weekly schedule of 15 to 20 spots starts around $300 across the cluster.
Which stations does Audacy sell in Hartford?
WTIC 1080 (news talk, on the air since 1925), WTIC-FM 96.5 (Hot AC, 6.3 share), Lite 100.5 WRCH (AC, 8.0) and Hot 93.7 WZMX (hip hop, 8.0), all July 2026 book numbers. One sales team covers all four.
How do I see what Audacy really charges?
The FCC requires every station to publish its political advertising rates, which track lowest unit costs, in its public inspection file at publicfiles.fcc.gov. Search the call letters and read real recent invoices before you negotiate.
Who should buy this cluster?
Lite 100.5 owns adult women at work, Hot 93.7 owns younger Hartford, WTIC owns news and sports loyalists. If your customer is all of Hartford, the cluster works; if it is one of those audiences, buy that station alone and skip the bundle.
Also Asked
How much does radio advertising cost in Connecticut?
Off-peak spots start around $25 in Danbury, $30 in New Haven and $40 in Hartford, with drive time costing considerably more. Weekly schedules generally begin near $200. Production is usually included free by the station. Radio rates
Is radio advertising still effective?
Yes, where frequency is affordable. Radio still reaches most American adults weekly, and in Connecticut's smaller markets $500 a month buys enough spots to be remembered. In Hartford the same money buys too few spots to register. Radio rates
How many radio markets does Connecticut have?
Three rated ones: Hartford at number 57, New Haven at 123, and Metro Fairfield County at 73, which Nielsen created in 2020 by merging the old Bridgeport and Stamford-Norwalk markets. Danbury and New London are rated separately and smaller. Radio rates by station
Stop Guessing. Price Your Airtime.
Tell us your budget and your towns, and we'll come back with per-station, per-daypart Audacy numbers against the rest of the dial, free, in one business day.
Price My AirtimeTakes 2 minutes · Free · Real rates in writing
Get Started
Get On the Air.
Tell us the basics. We'll match your budget to the stations and dayparts that actually reach your customers. Here's what you get:
- The exact stations and spot counts for your budget
- Real airtime rates for your towns, in writing
- The right two stations, not the whole dial
Takes 2 minutes. Free. Real rates in writing.
Rate sources: FCC public inspection files, political rates (publicfiles.fcc.gov); Nielsen Audio PPM, Hartford, July 2026; Published radio market rate data. Last verified August 2026.
AdvertisingCT.com is an independent guide for Connecticut advertisers. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of Audacy Hartford, and all names and trademarks belong to their owners. Rates shown are independently researched estimates of typical starting costs as of August 2026, drawn from published rate materials, public filings, market data and advertiser reports. They are not offers or quotes. Actual pricing is set solely by the vendor and varies by availability, season, placement and negotiation. Spot an outdated number? Tell us and we’ll verify it.