WSKO (AM)
Encyclopedia
WPRV is a radio station
located in Providence, Rhode Island
. The station is owned by Cumulus Media
, and airs a news/talk
format.
. This would form the cornerstone of the Yankee Network, a regional radio service feeding newscasts and other programs throughout the region.
In the early 1950s, WEAN was sold to the Providence Journal-Bulletin.
By the 1960s, WEAN was a Middle-Of-The-Road outlet, transitioning to Adult Contemporary by the 1970s. For a time in the mid-to-late 1970s, WEAN was an affiliate of NBC's short-lived News And Information Service, going back to music when NIS folded.
After ownership changes, WEAN eventually changed call letters to WWAZ and its format to first classical, then adult standards under the call letters WLKW.
The station then broadcast a sports
format as WSKO ("The Score"), airing local and national sports programming (including ESPN Radio
programs), with most programs simulcast with WSKO-FM/99.7 (which was replaced by WEAN-FM, an FM simulcast of WPRO
); this format was dropped in March 2008. Hosts over the years included John "Coach" Colletto, Andy Gresh
, Scott Cordischi, John Rooke
, Steve Hyder, Jess Atkinson, Amy Lawrence, Scott Zolak
, John Crowe, and Bryan Morry.
After dropping sports, the station took on its current call letters, as well as an oldies
format, largely provided by Scott Shannon
's The True Oldies Channel
from ABC Radio; this was replaced by the current format on April 13, 2009.
on mornings, Joe Scarborough
on middays, Dave Ramsey
on afternoons, Lou Dobbs
on evenings, and Curtis Silwa at night, as well as Bloomberg Radio programming. It also serves as the Providence affiliate for New York Yankees
baseball as well as Brown University
Football and Men's Basketball.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
located in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. The station is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
, and airs a news/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format.
History
WPRV was originally WEAN, Rhode Island's first radio station (those call letters now belong to a sister FM station). It was originally owned by the Shepard Stores of Boston, and starting in the late 1920s, it received programming from sister station WNACWRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
. This would form the cornerstone of the Yankee Network, a regional radio service feeding newscasts and other programs throughout the region.
In the early 1950s, WEAN was sold to the Providence Journal-Bulletin.
By the 1960s, WEAN was a Middle-Of-The-Road outlet, transitioning to Adult Contemporary by the 1970s. For a time in the mid-to-late 1970s, WEAN was an affiliate of NBC's short-lived News And Information Service, going back to music when NIS folded.
After ownership changes, WEAN eventually changed call letters to WWAZ and its format to first classical, then adult standards under the call letters WLKW.
The station then broadcast a sports
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format as WSKO ("The Score"), airing local and national sports programming (including ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
programs), with most programs simulcast with WSKO-FM/99.7 (which was replaced by WEAN-FM, an FM simulcast of WPRO
WPRO (AM)
WPRO is a radio station located in Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and airs a talk format. WPRO's studio and transmitter are located in East Providence, at the Salty Brine Broadcast Center, named after WPRO's longtime morning host...
); this format was dropped in March 2008. Hosts over the years included John "Coach" Colletto, Andy Gresh
Andy Gresh
Andy Gresh is an American sports broadcaster. He is a national and New England media personality and college football color analyst. He is host of The Gresh Show heard on Sirius XM satellite radio Monday-Friday 8 p.m.–1 a.m. He has also been seen doing work for SportsNet New York in New York City....
, Scott Cordischi, John Rooke
John Rooke
John Rooke is an award-winning broadcaster, and is a new inductee into the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame. He currently serves in several broadcast capacities, including 22 years as the play-by-play voice for Providence Friars men's basketball; Big East Conference football and basketball...
, Steve Hyder, Jess Atkinson, Amy Lawrence, Scott Zolak
Scott Zolak
Scott David Zolak is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for nine seasons...
, John Crowe, and Bryan Morry.
After dropping sports, the station took on its current call letters, as well as an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format, largely provided by Scott Shannon
Scott Shannon
Michael Scott Shannon is a radio disc jockey, current co-host of the "Scott and Todd in the Morning" show on WPLJ, host of The True Oldies Channel, and the official voice of The Sean Hannity Show.-Early Radio Career:...
's The True Oldies Channel
The True Oldies Channel
The True Oldies Channel is a syndicated radio programming stream begun in the spring of 2004, hosted by American radio personality Scott Shannon...
from ABC Radio; this was replaced by the current format on April 13, 2009.
Programming
Current programming includes Imus in the MorningImus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
on mornings, Joe Scarborough
Joe Scarborough
Charles Joseph "Joe" Scarborough is an American cable news and talk radio host, lawyer, author, and former politician. He is currently the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, and previously hosted Scarborough Country on the same channel...
on middays, Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
David L. Ramsey III is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker.Ramsey's syndicated radio program The Dave Ramsey Show is promoted with a tagline that "It's about your life and your money," and it is heard on over 450 radio stations throughout the...
on afternoons, Lou Dobbs
Lou Dobbs
Louis Carl "Lou" Dobbs is an American journalist, radio host, television host on the Fox Business Network, and author. He anchored CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight until November 2009 when he announced on the air that he would leave the 24-hour cable news television network.He was born in Texas and lived...
on evenings, and Curtis Silwa at night, as well as Bloomberg Radio programming. It also serves as the Providence affiliate for New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
baseball as well as Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
Football and Men's Basketball.