WSRQ (AM)

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WSRQ

| logo =

| city = Sarasota, Florida

| area = Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice

| branding = The New SRQ

| frequency = 1220 kHz

| airdate = {{Start date and age|1961|1|1}} (as WSAF)

| translators = See § Translators

| repeaters = 91.7 WVIJ (Port Charlotte)
106.9 WSRQ-FM (Zolfo Springs)

| format = Classic Hits

| power = 770 watts day
15 watts night

| class = D

| facility_id = 27663

| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|27|19|26.40|N|82|29|45.60|W|region:US_type:city}}}}

| callsign_meaning = SRQ = IATA code for Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

| former_callsigns = WSAF (1961 through mid-1970s, at least)
WQSA (1980s to 2002)
WIBQ (2002–2007)

| affiliations = WWSB-TV
Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network
Tampa Bay Lightning Radio Network

| owner = Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Inc.

| licensee =

| sister_stations = WSRQ-FM, WVIJ

| webcast = [http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/WSRQ Listen Live]

| website = [http://srqfm.com/ srqfm.com]

| licensing_authority = FCC

}}

WSRQ (1220 kHz) is an AM radio station licensed to Sarasota, Florida. It airs a classic hits radio format featuring 1960s, 70s and 80s songs. It also carries live sports including Tampa Bay Rays baseball and Tampa Bay Lightning hockey. It is owned by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Inc.

By day, WSRQ is powered at 770 watts non-directional. But 1220 AM is a clear-channel frequency reserved for XEB Mexico City as a Class A station. So at night, WSRQ reduces power to only 15 watts to avoid interference. WSRQ is also heard in Northern and Central Sarasota County and throughout Manatee County on a pair of 250-watt FM translators: W295BH broadcasts at 106.9 FM in Sarasota and W237FJ broadcasts at 95.3 FM in Venice. Programming is also simulcast on two FM repeater stations: 91.7 WVIJ in Port Charlotte and 106.9 WSRQ-FM in Zolfo Springs.

History

The station signed on the air on {{Start date and age|1961|1|1}}.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1965/B-All-Radio-1965-YB-All.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1965 page B-37. Retrieved Feb. 14, 2025.] Its original call sign was WSAF and it was owned by Pan Florida, Inc. WSAF was a daytimer station, powered at 1,000 watts but required to go off the air at night. It eventually was allowed to broadcast after sunset but using low power.

It was announced on July 14, 2011, that WSRQ would be acquired by Florida Talk Radio, LLC.[http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110714/ARTICLE/110719724/2055/NEWS BUSINESS BUZZ: WSRQ Radio gets new owners]

Prior to June 29, 2018, the station was branded as "The Voice of Sarasota-Manatee" and featured a talk radio format.

WSRQ was granted an FCC construction permit to move to a different transmitter site, decreasing daytime power to 770 watts and nighttime power to 15 watts.{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101668374&qnum=5120©num=1&exhcnum=1 |title=FCC Construction Permit |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}

The station, along with its translators, was sold by Florida Talk Radio to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Inc. effective December 10, 2018. The price tag was $520,000.