WESO explained

WESO
City:Southbridge, Massachusetts
Country:US
Area:South County
Branding:The Station of the Cross
Frequency:970 kHz
Airdate:March 20, 1955[1]
Format:Catholic radio
Network:The Station of the Cross
Class:D
Facility Id:18309
Licensing Authority:FCC
Coordinates:42.0665°N -71.9906°W
Callsign Meaning:Webster-Southbridge[2]
Owner:Holy Family Communications
Sister Stations:WNEB

WESO (970 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Catholic radio format, simulcasting sister station WNEB in Worcester. Established in 1955, the station is licensed to serve Southbridge, Massachusetts, United States. WESO is owned by Holy Family Communications,[3] and operates as part of The Station of the Cross.

History

WESO broadcast a country music format as "The Spirit 970" until October 2008, when the station began to simulcast the business talk programming of then-sister station WBNW in Concord. On June 13, 2014, Money Matters Radio, Inc. reached a deal to sell WESO to Emmanuel Communications, Inc., the owner of WNEB. The deal closed on August 29, 2014, at a purchase price of $250,000. Following the sale, WESO was converted to noncommercial operation[4] and began to carry WNEB's "Emmanuel Radio" programming, which included programming from EWTN Radio.[5]

Holy Family Communications, owner of WQOM in Natick and stations in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, began operating WESO and WNEB under a local marketing agreement on January 1, 2022. The stations became part of Holy Family's The Station of the Cross network.[6] In early 2024, Holy Family bought the stations outright for $1,000.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999. 1999. D-213. PDF. January 27, 2012.
  2. Web site: Call Letter Origins . Radio History on the Web .
  3. Web site: WESO Facility Record . United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division .
  4. Web site: APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE. June 23, 2014. CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. June 25, 2014.
  5. News: Boynton. Donna. Worcester Catholic radio to buy WESO station. April 18, 2017. Worcester Telegram and Gazette. June 28, 2014. en.
  6. News: Venta . Lance . Holy Family Communications Expands In Massachusetts . November 30, 2023 . RadioInsight . December 9, 2021.
  7. News: Venta . Lance . Station Sales Week of 1/5 . April 7, 2024 . RadioInsight . January 5, 2024.