WSBS (AM)

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WSBS

| logo =

| logo_size =

| city = Great Barrington, Massachusetts

| country = US

| area = The Berkshires

| branding = 860 AM/94.1 FM WSBS

| frequency = 860 kHz

| translator = {{Radio Relay|94.1|W231AK|Great Barrington}}

| airdate = {{start date and age|1949}}

| format = Full service adult contemporary

| power = {{ubl|2,700 watts day|250 watts critical hours|4 watts night}}

| class = D

| facility_id = 4820

| licensing_authority = FCC

| coordinates = {{coord|42|12|53.32|N|73|20|41.4|W|type:landmark_region:US-MA_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}

| callsign_meaning = Southern Berkshire Station

| former_callsigns = WNAW (1949–1956)

| affiliations = {{ubl|ABC News Radio|Boston Red Sox Radio Network}}

| owner = Townsquare Media

| licensee = Townsquare License, LLC

| sister_stations = {{hlist|WBEC|WBEC-FM|WNAW|WUPE-FM}}

| webcast = {{listenlive|http://wsbs.com/listen-live/}}

| website = {{URL|http://wsbs.com/}}

}}

WSBS (860 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and has a full service adult contemporary radio format, mixed with local news, talk and sports. World and national news is supplied by ABC News Radio. WSBS is an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox Radio Network.

History

The station was first licensed in 1949 as WNAW in North Adams, Massachusetts.{{cite web |title=WSBS history cards |url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=66923 |website=CDBS Public Access |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=June 8, 2024 |format=PDF}} In 1956, it moved to Great Barrington as WSBS; this incarnation first signed on December 24, 1956.{{cite web|title=WSBS reception verification|url=https://nationalradioclub.org/QSLs/Cooper/BCB/MA/cooper-MA-WSBS.pdf|access-date=June 8, 2024|date=February 27, 1957}} For most of its history, WSBS was a daytimer, required to go off the air at sunset. Through the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, WSBS broadcast a middle of the road format, with local news and sports prominent on its schedule. By the 1990s, the music had moved to an adult contemporary playlist.

File:WSBS (AM) logo.png

In August 2013, Gamma Broadcasting reached a deal to sell its Berkshire County radio stations, including WSBS, to Reed Miami Holdings;{{cite news|title=Western Massachusetts Cluster Sold|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/121608/western-massachusetts-cluster-sold|access-date=August 29, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=August 23, 2013}} the sale was canceled on December 30, 2013.{{cite news|last=Venta|first=Lance|title=Pittsfield Cluster Sale Withdrawn|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/87396/pittsfield-cluster-sale-dismissed/|access-date=March 30, 2014|newspaper=RadioInsight|date=January 14, 2014}} In October 2016, Gamma agreed to sell its stations to Galaxy Communications;{{cite news|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=Galaxy Communications Acquires Pittsfield Cluster|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/108748/galaxy-communications-acquires-pittsfield-cluster/|access-date=April 19, 2017|work=RadioInsight|date=October 17, 2016}} that sale also fell through, and in 2017 the stations were acquired by Townsquare Media.{{cite news|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=Townsquare Media Acquires Six In Massachusetts|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/118736/townsquare-media-acquires-six-massachusetts/|access-date=November 14, 2017|work=RadioInsight|date=July 18, 2017}}

Technical information

WSBS transmits 2,700 watts daytime with a Marconi 1959 series-fed {{frac|1|4}}-wave tower. The primary transmitter is a Harris SX2.5, and a backup Gates 250GY. The nighttime transmitter is an LPB.