WSJW

Last updated
WSJW
Broadcast area Providence, Rhode Island
Frequency 550 kHz
Branding Relevant Radio
Programming
Format Catholic talk
Affiliations Relevant Radio
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
February 12, 1950 [1]
Former call signs
WPAW (1950–1961)
WXTR (1961–1972)
WGNG (1972–1985)
WICE (1985–1995)
WPNW (1995–1997)
WLKW (1997–2000)
WICE (2000–2001)
WDDZ (2001–2011)
WBZS (2011–2012)
Call sign meaning
 St. Joseph the Worker
Technical information
Facility ID 67578
Class B
Power 1,000 watts day
500 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
 41°54′18″N71°23′58″W / 41.90500°N 71.39944°W / 41.90500; -71.39944 (WSJW)
Translator(s) 107.5 MHz  W298DE (Warwick)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website relevantradio.com

WSJW (550 AM) is a radio station licensed to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, serving the Providence area. Established in 1950 as WPAW, the station is owned by Relevant Radio, Inc. and airs Catholic talk programming.

Contents

History

In 1948, a construction permit was issued for 500 watts on 1380 kHz for Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The station went on the air in 1950 as WPAW with local origination studios and transmitter originally located on the grounds of the affiliated "Peoples Coal Company" coal yard at 75 Mill Street in Cumberland, Rhode Island. In 1952, it moved to 550 kHz, and on October 13, 1961, the station was renamed WXTR. Broadcast studios and transmitter were moved to along the Blackstone River at 101 John Street in Cumberland, Rhode Island. On March 25, 1972 the call letters changed to WGNG ("Gold-N-Great") with the station adopting an oldies format. It quickly switched to top 40 in early 1973, then to "mellow rock" in the spring of 1977.

Around 1980, the station returned to its "Gold-N-Great" format. The next callsign change occurred on Halloween 1985 when the station changed its call to WICE (which were vacated from 1290 in Providence, now WPVD). [2] In 1992, WICE took on a country music format as "WHIM Country", though the WICE call sign was retained; during this period, the format and WHIM call sign had been vacated from WHIM's longtime home on 1110 (now WPMZ) in favor of CNN Headline News station WWRX. [3] After 1110 returned to the WHIM call sign and country format in 1993, WICE moved to a sports talk format. [4]

In 1995, WICE was sold to Back Bay Broadcasters, owner of Boston business-talk station WBNW, with the intention of making it a Providence-market simulcast of WBNW; [5] the callsign was changed to WPNW on June 16, 1995. [2] WPNW, while largely a simulcast of WBNW, aired separate advertisements, [6] along with Providence-market news, weather, and traffic inserts from Metro Networks. [7] The format was retained when WBNW was sold in December 1996; [8] however, WBNW's local programming was cancelled, and virtually all of WPNW's programming was thereafter provided by Bloomberg Radio. [9] After two years of business talk, WPNW took on the adult standards programming of WLKW (790 AM, now WPRV), which had switched to a sports format, on October 20, 1997, [10] with the WLKW call sign following suit on December 12, 1997. [2]

WLKW relaunched as a talk radio station, "Talk 550 the Buzz", on September 20, 1999. [11] On July 17, 2000, the WICE calls returned. [2] On April 2, 2001, the station joined Radio Disney after being sold by AAA Entertainment (the former Back Bay Broadcasters) to ABC, Inc.; WICE replaced WHRC (1450 AM, now WWRI) as Providence's Radio Disney affiliate. [12] [13] On May 16, 2001, the station became WDDZ. [2]

The Walt Disney Company took WDDZ, and three other stations slated to be sold, off the air on September 30, 2010. [14] A deal to sell the station to Salem Communications was reached that November; after returning to the air, it ran in conjunction with Boston sister station WEZE (the descendant of WBNW). [15] The callsign was changed to WBZS on January 1, 2011, [2] when the WDDZ callsign was moved to the Radio Disney affiliate in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; [16] on March 14, 2011, the station relaunched with a business talk format. [17] The call sign changed to WSJW when the station was acquired by Starboard Media Foundation [18] and the format changed to Catholic radio on March 17, 2012. [19]

Former logo WSJW Relevant Radio 550 logo.jpg
Former logo

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWRI (AM)</span> Radio station in West Warwick, Rhode Island

WWRI is a radio station licensed to West Warwick, Rhode Island, and serving the Providence metropolitan area. The station is owned by Chris DiPaola, through licensee DiPonti Communications, LLC, and broadcasts a classic rock radio format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSNE-FM</span> Radio station in Massachusetts, United States

WSNE-FM is a commercial radio station, licensed to Taunton, Massachusetts, and serving Southeastern Massachusetts and the Providence, Rhode Island, area. It broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format branded as Now 93.3, and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The radio studios and offices are on Oxford Street in Providence. The station carries the syndicated On Air with Ryan Seacrest in afternoons. Several of the other shifts are voicetracked by DJs working at other iHeart stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBIX</span> Portuguese-language radio station in Boston

WBIX – branded Nossa Rádio USA – is a commercial Brazilian Portuguese radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, serving Greater Boston. Owned by the International Church of the Grace of God, the WBIX studios are located in the Boston suburb of Somerville, while the station transmitter resides in Quincy, on the southern banks of the Neponset River near the Southeast Expressway. Besides its main analog transmission, WBIX is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEZE</span> Religious radio station in Boston

WEZE – branded 590 AM The Word – is a commercial Christian radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, serving Greater Boston and much of surrounding New England. Owned by Salem Communications, WEZE is the Boston affiliate for the Salem Radio Network. The WEZE studios are located in the Boston suburb of North Quincy, and the station transmitter resides in neighboring Medford. Besides a standard analog transmission, WEZE is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPRO (AM)</span> Radio station in Providence, Rhode Island

WPRO is a commercial radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. It is owned by Cumulus Media, broadcasting a talk radio format, simulcast on co-owned 99.7 WEAN-FM. The studios for WPRO and other Cumulus Providence stations are on Wampanoag Road in East Providence, at the Salty Brine Broadcast Center, named after WPRO's longtime morning host.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBNW (AM)</span> Radio station in Concord, Massachusetts

WBNW is a business talk radio station in the Boston market. The station is owned by Money Matters Radio, Inc. and is licensed to Concord, Massachusetts. It is simulcast on translator station W275CM in Concord. WBNW's flagship program, The Financial Exchange, is syndicated to several other stations in New England through the Money Matters Radio Network. Among the talk hosts have been Michael Graham, Don Imus, and John Batchelor were added to the lineup.

WAZN is an ethnic radio station in the Boston, Massachusetts market, licensed to Watertown. It is owned by Multicultural Broadcasting, and as of February 1, 2016 broadcasts Chinese language programming, simulcast from M.R.B.I.'s New York City station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCTK</span> Country music radio station in New Bedford, Massachusetts, serving Providence, Rhode Island

WCTK is a country-formatted radio station serving Southern New England, with studios in Providence, Rhode Island, and transmitter in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Hall Communications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPLM-FM</span> Radio station in Plymouth, Massachusetts

WPLM-FM is a soft adult contemporary music station licensed to Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is owned by Plymouth Rock Broadcasting Co. and has a sister AM station by the same callsign. Its transmitter is located in Plymouth. With a 50,000 watt signal, WPLM-FM can be received in Boston, Cape Cod, the South Coast region, and Providence, Rhode Island, in addition to the South Shore.

WARA is a radio station in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Its transmitter is located in North Attleborough, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Attleboro Access Cable Systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSDK</span> Radio station in Bloomfield, Connecticut

WSDK is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Bloomfield, Connecticut, and serving the Hartford metropolitan area. It is owned by Blount Communications and broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on WSDK include Chuck Swindoll, John Daly, June Hunt, David Jeremiah and John MacArthur. WSDK uses a brokered programming plan, where hosts pay for time on the station and they may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVEI-FM</span> Radio station in Westerly, Rhode Island

WVEI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI-FM. Licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, United States. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. In addition to WEEI programming, WVEI-FM carries Providence Friars men's basketball, Boston Bruins hockey, and ESPN Radio. Its transmitter is in Exeter, Rhode Island but due to it being mostly a simulcast, its operations are run out of WEEI-FM's studios in Boston's Brighton neighborhood.

WHIM was a country music radio station in the Providence, Rhode Island, market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPVD</span> Radio station in Providence, Rhode Island

WPVD is a public radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. It is owned by Rhode Island Public Radio. The station simulcasts WNPN 89.3 FM.

WBLQ is a radio station licensed to serve Westerly, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Diponti Communications.

WALE was a radio station licensed to the community of Greenville, Rhode Island, and serving the Providence, Rhode Island, area. The station was last owned by Cumbre Communications Corp. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that the station's license was deleted on April 1, 2014.

WPMZ is a radio station licensed to serve East Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The station is owned by Video Mundo Broadcasting Co., LLC. It airs a Spanish Tropical format. WPMZ is relayed on an FM translator: W271CR on 102.1 MHz. The station has been assigned the callsign WPMZ by the Federal Communications Commission since November 1, 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPKZ</span> Radio station in Fitchburg, Massachusetts

WPKZ is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format and licensed to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, United States. The station is owned by John Morrison through licensee K-Zone Media Group, LLC, and features programming from Westwood One, Fox News Radio, Premiere Networks, and Fox Sports Radio. WPKZ's studios are located on Water Street in Fitchburg, across the street from the Wachusett Potato Chip Company factory; its transmitter is located on Alpine Road, also in Fitchburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPVQ (AM)</span> Radio station in Orange–Athol, Massachusetts

WPVQ is a radio station licensed to serve Orange–Athol, Massachusetts, United States. The station is owned by Saga Communications of New England, LLC, a subsidiary of Saga Communications. It broadcasts a classic country radio format, under the "92.3 The Outlaw" branding.

WLKW is a radio station broadcasting a Christian adult contemporary music format. Licensed to Celoron, New York, United States, the station serves the Jamestown, New York area. The station is owned by Educational Media Foundation (EMF), and carries EMF's K-Love format.

References

  1. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-390. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "WSJW Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ↑ "Format Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. January 20, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Format Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. May 5, 1993. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Elsewhere" (PDF). The M Street Journal. March 8, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates" (PDF). The M Street Journal. June 28, 1995. p. 2. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  7. ↑ "The Boston Radio Dial: WEZE(AM)". The Archives @ BostonRadio.org. March 26, 2005. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates" (PDF). The M Street Journal. December 18, 1996. p. 2. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  9. ↑ Fybush, Scott (December 12, 1996). "WEZE Moves to 590". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  10. ↑ Fybush, Scott (October 23, 1997). "Sales and Format Changes Everywhere..." North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  11. ↑ Fybush, Scott (September 17, 1999). "Hello, Floyd!". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Elsewhere" (PDF). The M Street Journal. April 4, 2000. p. 7. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  13. ↑ Fybush, Scott (April 4, 2001). "Take Me Out to the Ban Game". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  14. ↑ Fybush, Scott (September 27, 2010). "Disney Shutters AMs in RI, CT". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Radio Disney spins another AM". Radio Business Report. November 10, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  16. ↑ Fybush, Scott (January 3, 2011). "New Year Dawns with Format Changes". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  17. ↑ Fybush, Scott (March 21, 2011). "Will ABC Dump WLNE?". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Media Bureau Call Sign Actions" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. March 9, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  19. ↑ "NorthEast Radio Watch by Scott Fybush". Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.