WBSM explained
WBSM (1420 AM) is a radio station broadcasting in the New Bedford–Fall River market area with a news/talk/sports format. WBSM is under ownership of Townsquare Media, with studios in Fairhaven shared with WFHN.[1]
News and weather
WBSM had a five-person news team in 2016, headed by Taylor Cormier. Anchors and reporters were Cormier, Tim Weisberg, Greg Desrosiers, Jim Phillips and Jim Marshall. Following the departure of Desroisers and Marshall, the station’s news team added Tim Weisberg as afternoon news anchor, and Tim Dunn as a reporter.
Cormier departed the WBSM newsroom in May 2019, joining the Howie Carr Show as the political talk program’s producer.
Over the past year, the station’s news department has seen frequent changes, ultimately dwindling down to a newsroom staffed by just two people as of November 2019.
The station is an affiliate of ABC News Radio for national and world news. Local weather reports are provided by ABC television affiliate WLNE-TV.
Talk and sports
Local personalities include Tim Weisberg, Chris McCarthy, Barry Richard, Ken Pittman, Brian Thomas, and Jim Phillips. Syndicated programs include America in the Morning, The Howie Carr Show, The Mark Levin Show, Charlie Kirk, and Hugh Hewitt.
The station broadcasts Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots games.
Notable alumni
- André Bernier: Weekend weather anchor (1975–1977). André was the first weather anchor seen on The Weather Channel and currently with WJW in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Pete Braley: morning show host and program director (1989–2014),[2]
- Henry Carreiro: Daytime talk show host during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, he also had a speaking role in Jaws as a loudmouth fisherman who among other one-liners tells Matt Hooper to "walk straight ahead" in response to the question about a good hotel or restaurant on the island. (deceased)[3]
- Don Gillis: Sports director (1949–1951), commentator for Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and Bruins broadcasts on WHDH AM 850 (now WEEI) (1950s-1960s), sports director for Channel 5 Boston (1962–1983), host of Candlepin Bowling (1967–1996) (deceased)
- Hal Peterson: Host of "Open Line" from the mid-1950s and thru various periods in the 1960s and 1970s. Hal was the creator of the long-running charity "Quarters for Christmas". It was Hal Peterson that was responsible for giving Gil Santos his first job in radio as Hal's "Color Man" during New Bedford High School basketball broadcasts. (deceased)
- Jack Peterson: news anchor, play-by-play announcer for local sports (1998–2014) (deceased)[4]
- Stan Lipp: Host of "Open Line" from 1964-2001.[5] (deceased)[6]
- Gil Santos: Sports reporter (1950s), play-by-play announcer for Patriots radio broadcasts (1966–2013) (deceased)[7]
References
- 1992 Broadcasting Yearbook, page A-166
External links
41.6507°N -70.9156°W
Notes and References
- News: Townsquare Media Acquires Stations From Cumulus Media. May 5, 2012. Townsquare Media. April 30, 2012.
- News: Guha. Auditi. Longtime on-air personality Pete Braley let go at WBSM. December 6, 2014. The Standard-Times (New Bedford). December 5, 2014.
- News: Henry R. Carreiro Dies, Was Radio Personality. November 17, 2012. Vineyard Gazette. September 3, 2009.
- News: Cormier. Taylor. WBSM's Jack Peterson Passes Away. July 30, 2014. WBSM.com. July 30, 2014.
- News: Ferreira. Joao. How to replace a local legend?. December 6, 2014. The Standard-Times (New Bedford). December 16, 2001.
- News: Cormier . Taylor . Local Talk Radio Legend Stan Lipp Passes Away . March 7, 2019 . WBSM.com . August 28, 2017.
- News: Gil Santos, Legendary Voice Of The New England Patriots, Dies At 80 . . April 19, 2018.
