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Coordinates: 41°32′12.35″N 73°1′50.39″W / 41.5367639°N 73.0306639°W / 41.5367639; -73.0306639
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| logo_size = 200px
| logo_size = 200px
| city = [[Waterbury, Connecticut]]
| city = [[Waterbury, Connecticut]]
| country = US
| area =
| area =
| branding = 97.7 WATR
| branding = 97.7 WATR
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| power = {{ubl|5,000 watts (day)|1,000 watts (night)}}
| power = {{ubl|5,000 watts (day)|1,000 watts (night)}}
| class = B
| class = B
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| facility_id = 71102
| 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
| callsign_meaning = Waterbury
| former_callsigns =
| former_callsigns =
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| licensee = WATR Radio, LLC
| licensee = WATR Radio, LLC
| sister_stations = [[WWCO]], [[WARE]], [[WRYM]]
| sister_stations = [[WWCO]], [[WARE]], [[WRYM]]
| webcast = [https://www.watr.com/listen-live.html Listen Live]
| webcast =
| website = {{URL|www.watr.com}}
| website = {{URL|www.watr.com}}
}}
}}
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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>
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.
WATR's weekday morning drive program, "Mornings with Chris & Allison" is hosted by Christopher Fortier and Allison Demers. The show debuted on Oct. 9, 2023.

"Coffee Break" airs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. hosted by Barbara Davitt, who began at WATR on Nov. 22, 1963. She is to date the only Waterbury-area radio personality inducted into the Connecticut Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame (2018).


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


==Translator==
==Translator==
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| class1 = D
| class1 = D
| city1 = Waterbury, Connecticut
| 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 =
| notes1 =
}}
}}
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==External links==
==External links==
⚫
{{AM station data|71102|WATR}}
* {{Official website|www.watr.com|WATR official website}}
⚫
{{AM station data|WATR}}
⚫
* {{FMQ|W249DY}}
* {{FXL|W249DY}}
* {{FCC letter|letterid=49859|callsign=WATR|hcards=yes}}
* {{FCC letter|letterid=49859|callsign=WATR|hcards=yes}}
;FM Translator
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|203226|W249DY}}
⚫
* {{FXL|W249DY}}


{{Hartford Radio}}
{{Hartford Radio}}

Latest revision as of 17:21, 14 July 2024

WATR
Frequency1320 kHz
Branding97.7 WATR
Programming
FormatFull service (news-talk; classic and modern hits, adult contemporary)
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
  • Kurt Jackson and David Webster
  • (WATR Radio, LLC)
WWCO, WARE, WRYM
History
First air date
June 15, 1934; 90 years ago (1934-06-15)[1]
Call sign meaning
Waterbury
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID71102
ClassB
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 / 41.5367639; -73.0306639
Translator(s)97.7 W249DY (Waterbury)
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.watr.com

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Collins, Michael. "Time Line For Connecticut Broadcasting". Connecticut Broadcaster's Association.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WATR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  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.
[edit]
FM Translator
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