WSSP
| Broadcast area | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1250 kHz |
| Branding | SportsRadio 1250 WSSP |
| Programming | |
| Format | sports radio |
| Affiliations | Fox Sports Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Entercom |
| WMYX, WXSS | |
| History | |
First air date | 1940s |
Former call signs | WMAW, WCAN, WEMP |
Call sign meaning | WiSconsin SPorts |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| Power | 5,000 watts |
| Links | |
| Website | [1] |
WSSP (1250 AM) is a Milwaukee-based sports talk station owned by Entercom.
WSSP is the secondary home station for any play-by-play sports coverage on WTMJ-AM (620) which conflicts with another event; for instance the Milwaukee Bucks air on WSSP if a Milwaukee Brewers game airs. If a Green Bay Packers game airs at the same time as a Brewers game, the Brewers game air on WSSP. Packers games are almost without exception first priority and never pre-empted on WTMJ except in playoff situations for the other teams depending on how far either team advanced. Since September 2008 however, the secondary rights for Brewers games have moved to WTMJ's FM sister WKTI (94.5).
WSSP is also the play-by-play home of Milwaukee Admirals Hockey.
Syndicated programming includes Fox Sports Radio, The Jim Rome Show and Costas on the Radio.
Early History
The 1250 facility went on the air as WMAW in the mid-late 1940s, but soon changed calls to WCAN. Station owner Lou Poller eventually started an early UHF television, a CBS affiliate on Channel 25 for several years before CBS itself purchased a rival UHF facility. Poller ended up selling the 1250 AM license to the owners of WEMP, which had been operating as a 250-watt signal on 1340 AM. The new owners moved the WEMP call sign to 1250 AM, where it stayed for many years afterward. The station at 1340 AM became WRIT.[2]
Over the years, WEMP aired a variety of formats, including Top 40, Country music and adult contemporary. In the 1980s, WEMP became Milwaukee's first oldies station, featuring personalities such as John Gardner, Dick Alpert and Ernie Bottom. During the 1990s WEMP ran Westwood One's oldies format with Gardner doing the morning drive. In August 1998 WEMP switched format to brokered religious/Christian AC, still under the WEMP calls. This format continued until WSSP launched in December 2004.
The station launched the all-sports format on January 1, 2005 and stunted using Bobby Bear's "Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goalposts of Life." Longtime area broadcaster Chuck Garbedian anchored the morning show with Chicago native Johnny Vonn. Veteran sports talk show host Peter Brown was tabbed to do afternoon drive.
Changes
In late 2006, the station underwent a period of change. Program Director Chip Ramsey, who had been with the station since it signed on in the sports format, was released on August 9th, 2006. His successor, Ryan Maguire, directed a series of massive moves soon after. Weekday afternoon talk show host Peter Brown was released by the station on December 7, 2006. Mid-day hosts Cliff Saunders and Gary Ellerson were moved into Brown's slot. Morning show host Chuck Garbedian was let go in early January 2007. He was replaced by former WTMJ-AM and Sporting News Radio personality Doug Russell, a Milwaukee native. The station also acquired the rights to University of Wisconsin-Madison Hockey games and coaches shows. Mike Wickett, who worked closely with Maguire when both were on the air at WTKA in Ann Arbor, MI, was hired to co-host mornings with Russell. Steve Fifer was tabbed to host mid-days from 9a-11a.
In June 2007, the station acquired the rights to Milwaukee Admirals Hockey, taking them away from cross-town rival WAUK-AM.
In September 2008, the station modified its lineup using existing hosts in new positions. Cliff Saunders was moved into the morning slot after Doug Russell and Mike Wickett. Gary Ellerson stayed in the afternoon drive slot where he is joined by Josh Vernier and former morning host Steve Fifer as part of the "Big Show". Saunders has since been let go in a budgetary move, and the midmorning slot filled by the nationally syndicated Dan Patrick Show.
From 1984-1990, the WSSP call letters were assigned to 104.1 in Orlando (Cocoa Beach, Florida). "WSSPer 104" operated as an easy listening station, and was the #1 Arbitron rated station 12+ in the Orlando market for several years. Whisper 104's morning show featured Chuck Bennett and Reagan Smith. Mike Kaye was the midday host, afternoons Allen Jackson, evenings Tom Brooks and overnights Rich Kennedy. Rich remained with 104.1 for over 12 years under numerous format and ownership changes.
External links
- WSSP Sportsradio 1250 Official Site
- Template:AMQ
- Template:AML
- WSSP in Nielsen Audio's AM station database