WTIC 1080 in Hartford
WTIC 1080 Ads, from $50 a Spot.
WTIC signed on in 1925 and never left: a century of Hartford news, traffic and UConn broadcasts, with the most habit-driven audience on the dial. Here is what a spot on it really costs.
Country 92.5 pulls an 11 share in Hartford. Every rep knows it. Now you do too.
The Straight Answer
A century of Hartford habit, for sale by the spot.
WTIC 1080 first aired on February 10, 1925, became one of NBC's first affiliates, and remains the news-talk anchor of the Audacy Hartford cluster: news, traffic on the eights, and Connecticut sports.
News-talk audiences skew older, wealthier and locked in: the same listeners at the same hours every weekday. That habit is the product, and it fits banks, lawyers, healthcare, home services and anyone selling trust.
1925 is when WTIC first went on the air, making it one of the oldest continuously operating stations in America.
Source: Station history / broadcast archives
The Rate Card
What WTIC 1080 Actually Costs.
Independently researched starting costs, checked against published materials and market data.
| Buy | Starting Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Off-Peak Spot | from $50/spot | Middays and evenings alongside the news wheel |
| Drive-Time Spot | from $90/spot | Morning and afternoon news blocks |
| Traffic Sponsorship | from $300/wk | Your name on the report every driver waits for |
Last verified August 2026. Floors reflect published market rate data with a news-talk premium; the Hartford and New Haven market averages about $279 a spot. WTIC'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 WTIC's FCC File
The station's political file at publicfiles.fcc.gov lists actual recent rates by daypart, the honest baseline for any negotiation.
Buy the Wheel, Not One Spot
News listeners return at the same minutes daily. Sponsoring traffic or news segments beats scattered spots at the same money.
Sell Trust, Not Hype
This audience responds to credentials and longevity. Plain-spoken creative with a phone number outperforms clever on news talk.
Priced by Town
Where This Reaches.
Our town guides price WTIC 1080 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 WTIC 1080 and we don’t take a side: we tell you which option fits your towns and your budget.
Audacy Hartford cluster
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All Connecticut radio prices
Every market and buy priced, from $15 small-market spots up. Compare Prices
Questions
WTIC 1080 Questions, Answered Straight.
How much does advertising on WTIC 1080 cost?
Off-peak spots start around $50, drive-time news blocks around $90, and traffic sponsorships from about $300 a week. The Hartford and New Haven market average is about $279 a spot, and WTIC's news-talk loyalty carries a premium over entry rates.
Who listens to WTIC?
Hartford's most habitual audience: older, higher income, heavy on homeowners and business owners, tuned to the same news and traffic blocks every weekday, plus Connecticut sports loyalists around game coverage.
Is news-talk radio good for small businesses?
For trust-based services, some of the best radio there is: law, finance, medical, home improvement and insurance advertisers renew here for years. For youth brands and nightlife, the audience is simply elsewhere on the dial.
What is a traffic sponsorship worth?
Traffic on the eights is the most-awaited content on AM radio, and your name rides every report. From about $300 a week it delivers the frequency of dozens of spots, attached to the one segment nobody skips.
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
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- The right two stations, not the whole dial
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Rate sources: FCC public inspection files, political rates (publicfiles.fcc.gov); Station history and broadcast archives; 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 WTIC 1080, 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.