Wsar Information

WSAR is the number one AM radio station on the South Coast. With its studios and transmitter in Somerset, Massachusetts, it broadcasts on 1480 kHz. Its transmitter power output is 5,000 watts (unlimited hours) using two towers at 1 Home St. in Somerset. WSAR's original owner was the Doughty & Welch Electric Company. The station's first air date was July 3, 1923. At that time, WSAR broadcasted on 1180kc with 10 watts. It stayed on 1180 through 1926, and in 1926 power was increased to 100 watts. WSAR then moved to Portsmouth, Rhode Island and changed frequency to 1190kc, still with 100 watts, by June 30, 1927. In 1928, WSAR moved back to Fall River and changed frequency again, to 1410kc. During the late 1920s the power was increased to 1,000 watts. An early slogan used by WSAR (sometime between 1926 and 1932) was "Fall River Looms Up." WSAR was on 1450kc with 2,500 watts of power by June 30, 1930. The owner at the time was still the Doughty & Welch Electric Company. With the adoption of the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, WSAR's frequency shifted from 1450 to 1480kc, effective @ 03:00 Eastern Time on March 29, 1941. In 1941-42 WSAR was an affiliate of both the Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves networks. In 1945 the Doughty & Welch Electric Company finally sold WSAR to K&M Publishing. In 1948, WSAR was a Mutual affiliate with 5,000 watts of power & had a license for WSAR-FM/103.7 (Channel 279). However, by 1950 WSAR-FM was no longer in operation. In 1989, Fall River entrepreneurs Jim and Bob Karam purchased local AM station WALE, changing the station's call letters to WHTB - Hometown Broadcasting. Then, in 1992, the Karams acquired WSAR, marking the first time in FCC history that an AM radio duopoly - two AM stations licensed to one market - existed. Both WSAR and WHTB still exist and thrive under the Karams today. WSAR prides itself on keeping its listeners informed and up to date. WSAR was the area's sole live news source during Winter Storm Nemo (the Blizzard of 2013) remaining on the air around ...