WATR: Difference between revisions

WATR
Waterbury, Connecticut; United States;
Frequency	1320 kHz
Branding	97.7 WATR
Programming
Format	Full service (news-talk; classic and modern hits, adult contemporary)
Affiliations	ABC News Radio; UCONN Radio Network;
Ownership
Owner	Kurt Jackson and David Webster; (WATR Radio, LLC);
Sister stations	WWCO, WARE, WRYM
History
First air date	June 15, 1934; 90 years ago
Call sign meaning	Waterbury
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	71102
Class	B
Power	5,000 watts (day); 1,000 watts (night);
Transmitter coordinates	41°32′12.35″N 73°1′50.39″W / 41.5367639°N 73.0306639°W
Translator(s)	97.7 W249DY (Waterbury)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Website	www.watr.com

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Latest revision as of 17:21, 14 July 2024

WATR (1320 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Waterbury, Connecticut, and the Naugatuck Valley. The station is owned by WATR Radio, LLC. It airs a full-service format featuring news–talk, as well as classic and modern hits. It was until May 2022 the oldest privately owned station in the state of Connecticut, never having been sold outside the family of its founder, Harold Thomas (1902–1968).

History

The station has been assigned the WATR call letters by the Federal Communications Commission since it was initially licensed in 1934.^[1]^[3]

WATR once had sister television and FM stations: WATR-TV (now WCCT-TV), established in 1953, and WATR-FM (now WWYZ), established in 1961.

The station was also home to the "Polish Eagle Show", originated in 1934 on WATR by bandleader Victor Zembruski (1912–1976). His widow, Sophie Zembruski (1918–2010),^[4] hosted the show from 1976 to 2008, at which time the couple's daughter, Loretta Hoxie, took over hosting duties. "The Zembruski Family Polka Hour", hosted by Nathaniel Zembruski, succeeded Hoxie shortly after she retired in 2013. Zembruski, at age 17, decided to end the show as his junior year of high school concluded. Its finale aired on May 31, 2020.

The station also maintains a decades-long tradition of broadcasting play-by-play of local high school football and basketball. WATR was a member of the University of Connecticut sports radio network from 2018 to 2023.

It was announced on February 24, 2020, that the station was up for sale.^[5] A partnership between WWCO owner David Webster and WARE owner Kurt Jackson purchased the station and translator W249DY effective August 24, 2022, for $320,000.^[6]

Translator

Broadcast translator for WATR
Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP (W)	Class	Transmitter coordinates	FCC info
W249DY	97.7 FM	Waterbury, Connecticut	203226	250	D	41°33′47.3″N 72°50′40.3″W / 41.563139°N 72.844528°W / 41.563139; -72.844528 (W249DY)	LMS

References

^ ^a ^b Collins, Michael. "Time Line For Connecticut Broadcasting". Connecticut Broadcaster's Association.
^ "Facility Technical Data for WATR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
^ "Host of Polka Radio Program Dies". Republican-American.
^ Puffer, Michael (February 24, 2020). "WATR up for sale". Republican-American. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020.
^ "Station Sales Week of 5/20". May 20, 2022.

External links

Facility details for Facility ID 71102 (WATR) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
WATR in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
FCC History Cards for WATR

FM Translator

Facility details for Facility ID 203226 (W249DY) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
W249DY at FCCdata.org

[cttl-1] Collins, Michael. "Time Line For Connecticut Broadcasting". Connecticut Broadcaster's Association.

[2] "Facility Technical Data for WATR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.

[fcc1-3] "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.

[4] "Host of Polka Radio Program Dies". Republican-American.

[5] Puffer, Michael (February 24, 2020). "WATR up for sale". Republican-American. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020.

[6] "Station Sales Week of 5/20". May 20, 2022.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
 {{Short description|Radio station in Waterbury, Connecticut, United States}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
+{{more citations needed|date=August 2023}}
 {{Infobox radio station
 | name             = WATR
-| logo             = [[File:WATR 1320 AM logo.jpg|200px]]
+| logo             = WATR 1320 AM logo.jpg
-| logo_size        = 10kb
+| logo_size        = 200px
 | city             = [[Waterbury, Connecticut]]
-| area             =
+| country          = US
+| area             =
 | branding         = 97.7 WATR
 | frequency        = 1320 [[Hertz#SI multiples|kHz]]
 | translator       = {{Radio Relay|97.7|W249DY|Waterbury}}
-| airdate          = [[1934 in radio|1934]]<ref name="cttl" />
+| airdate          = {{start date and age|1934|6|15}}<ref name="cttl" />
-| format           = [[Full-service radio|Full service]] ([[Talk radio|news-talk]]; [[classic hits]])
+| format           = [[Full-service radio|Full service]] ([[news-talk]]; classic and modern hits, adult contemporary)
-| power            = 5,000 [[watt]]s (day)<br>1,000 watts (night)
+| power            = {{ubl|5,000 watts (day)|1,000 watts (night)}}
 | class            = B
 | licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
 | facility_id      = 71102
-| coordinates      = {{coord|41|32|12|N|73|1|52|W|display=inline, title}}
+| coordinates      = {{coord|41|32|12.35|N|73|1|50.39|W|region:US-CT_type:landmark|display=inline, title}}
 | callsign_meaning = Waterbury
 | former_callsigns =
 | affiliations     = {{ubl|[[ABC News Radio]]|UCONN Radio Network}}
 | owner            = Kurt Jackson and David Webster
 | licensee         = WATR Radio, LLC
-| sister_stations  = [[WWCO]], [[WARE (AM)|WARE]], [[WRYM]]
+| sister_stations  = [[WWCO]], [[WARE]], [[WRYM]]
-| webcast          = [https://www.watr.com/listen-live.html Listen Live]
+| webcast          =
 | website          = {{URL|www.watr.com}}
 }}
-'''WATR''' (1320 [[AM broadcasting|AM]]) is a [[radio station]] licensed to serve [[Waterbury, Connecticut]] and the Naugatuck Valley.  The station is owned by WATR, Inc.  It airs a [[Full-service radio|full-service]] format featuring [[Talk radio|news/talk]], as well as [[classic hits]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?srvy_id=WI08&surveyID=WI08&band=fm&callLetter=WATR |title=Winter 2008 Station Information Profile |work=Arbitron}}</ref> It was until May 2022 the oldest privately owned station in the state of [[Connecticut]], never having been sold outside the family of its founder, Harold Thomas (1902–1968).
+'''WATR''' (1320 [[AM broadcasting|AM]]) is a radio station licensed to serve [[Waterbury, Connecticut]], and the Naugatuck Valley.  The station is owned by WATR Radio, LLC.  It airs a [[Full-service radio|full-service]] format featuring [[Talk radio|news–talk]], as well as classic and modern hits. It was until May 2022 the oldest privately owned station in the state of [[Connecticut]], never having been sold outside the family of its founder, Harold Thomas (1902–1968).
+==History==
-The station is host to "Tom Chute & You," the weekday morning drive program hosted by general manager and program director Thomas J. Chute with news director Christopher M. Fortier, veteran regional journalist, anchoring news reports through the noon hour. It is the fourth-longest continuously running morning drive radio program in Connecticut, having debuted on January 2, 1986. Chute will retire after his final program on Sept. 29, 2023. Fortier succeeds him in the role of Director of Operations & Programming on Sept. 16, 2023 and takes the helm of the AM drive program on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.
+The station has been assigned the WATR call letters by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] since it was initially licensed in 1934.<ref name="cttl">{{cite web |work=Connecticut Broadcaster's Association |title=Time Line For Connecticut Broadcasting |first=Michael |last=Collins |url=http://www.wwuh.org/history/CTtimeline.htm}}</ref><ref name="fcc1">{{cite web |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=71102&Callsign=WATR  |title=Call Sign History |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database}}</ref>
+WATR once had sister television and FM stations: WATR-TV (now [[WCCT-TV]]), established in 1953, and WATR-FM (now [[WWYZ]]), established in 1961.
-Barbara Hart Davitt, who marked 59 years at the station on November 22, 2022, hosts "Coffee Break" at 9:30 a.m. four days a week. Debuting in the mid-1960s, it is one of the longest-running radio shows in the U.S. Davitt in 2018 was the first Waterbury-area radio personality inducted into the Connecticut Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
+The station was also home to the "Polish Eagle Show", originated in 1934 on WATR by bandleader Victor Zembruski (1912–1976). His widow, Sophie Zembruski (1918–2010),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.rep-am.com/2010/09/28/host-of-polka-radio-program-dies-at-92/|title=Host of Polka Radio Program Dies |work=Republican-American}}</ref> hosted the show from 1976 to 2008, at which time the couple's daughter, Loretta Hoxie, took over hosting duties. "The Zembruski Family Polka Hour", hosted by Nathaniel Zembruski, succeeded Hoxie shortly after she retired in 2013. Zembruski, at age 17, decided to end the show as his junior year of high school concluded. Its finale aired on May 31, 2020.
-"Talk of the Town," WATR's flagship talk show since 1972, airs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a focus on local and state issues. The program has been hosted by veteran journalist and broadcaster Bud Wilkinson since July 17, 2023. Previous hosts include Thomas Hill III, Steven Noxon, Larry Rifkin, Ed Flynn, James Senich and Jay Clark. Fortier serves as the program's executive producer.
+The station also maintains a decades-long tradition of broadcasting play-by-play of local high school football and basketball. WATR was a member of the [[University of Connecticut]] sports radio network from 2018 to 2023.
-The station, as of January 14, 2023, is an [[ABC News Radio]] affiliate.
+It was announced on February 24, 2020, that the station was up for sale.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Puffer |first1=Michael |title=WATR up for sale |url=https://www.rep-am.com/local/localnews/2020/02/24/watr-up-for-sale/https://www.rep-am.com/local/localnews/2020/02/24/watr-up-for-sale/ |work=[[Republican-American]] |date=February 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226064529/https://www.rep-am.com/local/localnews/2020/02/24/watr-up-for-sale/ |archive-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> A partnership between [[WWCO]] owner David Webster and [[WARE]] owner Kurt Jackson purchased the station and translator W249DY effective August 24, 2022, for $320,000.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/226253/station-sales-week-of-5-20/ | title=Station Sales Week of 5/20 | date=May 20, 2022 }}</ref>
-Weekend programming highlights include the Sunday morning "Carosello Italiano," hosted by Joe Costa and featuring music and news from the Italian community, and the Sunday night "Music Museum" hosted by long-time Connecticut broadcaster Jay Crawford.
-The station was also host to the popular "Polish Eagle Show," originated in 1934 on WATR by bandleader Victor Zembruski (1912–1976). His widow, Sophie Zembruski (1918–2010),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.rep-am.com/2010/09/28/host-of-polka-radio-program-dies-at-92/|title=Host of Polka Radio Program Dies |work=Republican-American}}</ref> hosted the show from 1976 to 2008, at which time the couple's daughter, Loretta Hoxie, took over hosting duties. "The Zembruski Family Polka Hour," hosted by Nathaniel Zembruski, succeeded Hoxie shortly after she retired in 2013. Zembruski, at age 17, decided to end the show as his junior year of high school concluded. Its finale aired on May 31, 2020.
-The station also maintains a decades-long tradition of broadcasting play-by-play of local high school football and basketball, led by Director of Sports Programming Christopher Saunders. WATR was a member of the [[University of Connecticut]] sports radio network from 2018 to 2023.
-WATR once had sister FM and television stations: WATR-FM, established in 1961, now [[WWYZ]], and [[WATR-TV]], established in 1953, later WTXX and now [[WCCT-TV]].
-It was announced on February 24, 2020, that the station was up for sale.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rep-am.com/local/localnews/2020/02/24/watr-up-for-sale/|title=WATR Up For Sale |work=Republican-American}}</ref> A partnership between [[WWCO]] owner David Webster and [[WARE (AM)|WARE]] owner Kurt Jackson purchased the station and translator W249DY effective August 24, 2022, for $320,000.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/226253/station-sales-week-of-5-20/ | title=Station Sales Week of 5/20 | date=May 20, 2022 }}</ref>
-The station has been assigned the WATR call letters by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] since it was initially licensed in 1934.<ref name="cttl">{{cite web |work=Connecticut Broadcaster's Association |title=Time Line For Connecticut Broadcasting |first=Michael |last=Collins |url=http://www.wwuh.org/history/CTtimeline.htm}}</ref><ref name="fcc1">{{cite web |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=71102&Callsign=WATR  |title=Call Sign History |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database}}</ref>
 ==Translator==
@@ Line 60: / Line 53: @@
 | class1   = D
 | city1    = Waterbury, Connecticut
-| coord1   = {{coord|41|33|47.00|N|72|50|42.00|W|region:US-CT_type:landmark|name=W249DY}}
+| coord1   = {{coord|41|33|47.3|N|72|50|40.3|W|region:US-CT_type:landmark|name=W249DY}}
 | notes1   =
 }}
@@ Line 68: / Line 61: @@
 ==External links==
+{{AM station data|71102|WATR}}
-*{{Official website|www.watr.com|WATR official website}}
+* {{FCC letter|letterid=49859|callsign=WATR|hcards=yes}}
-{{AM station data|WATR}}
+;FM Translator
-*{{FMQ|W249DY}}
-*{{FXL|W249DY}}
+* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|203226|W249DY}}
+* {{FXL|W249DY}}
-*{{FCC letter|letterid=49859|callsign=WATR|hcards=yes}}
 {{Hartford Radio}}
@@ Line 78: / Line 71: @@
 {{Authority control}}
-[[Category:Radio stations in Connecticut|ATR]]
+[[Category:1934 establishments in Connecticut]]
+[[Category:Classic hits radio stations in the United States]]
+[[Category:Full service radio stations in the United States]]
 [[Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States]]
-[[Category:Classic hits radio stations in the United States]]
 [[Category:Radio stations established in 1934]]
-[[Category:1934 establishments in Connecticut]]
+[[Category:Radio stations in Connecticut|ATR]]
-[[Category:Full service radio stations in the United States]]

v t e Other radio stations in the state of Connecticut
By frequency	940 1310 1320 1380 1420 88.9 89.5 89.9 90.3 91.9 93.3 94.5 103.5
By callsign	WAPJ WATR WERB WFAR WFNW WICH WINE WLIS WJMJ WNHH-LP WPKN WSLX WWPT
By community of license	Berlin Bridgeport Brookfield Danbury Hartford Naugatuck New Canaan New Haven Norwich Old Saybrook Torrington Waterbury Westport
Defunct	WBVC (91.1 FM) WWEB/89.9
See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in Connecticut See also Classical Jazz Religious Spanish Smooth Jazz Other

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States