WSRO
Encyclopedia
WSRO is a radio station
broadcasting Portuguese
programming. Licensed to Ashland, Massachusetts
, it serves the MetroWest area. The station is currently owned by Alex Langer.
began operations on 1050 kHz. The station was originally owned by Frank and Beverly Harms of Syracuse, New York, and managed by John Lawrence Scott, who had previously hosted children's television programs in Syracuse, New York
, and also started up an FM
sister station, WSLE 92.1 (now WFEX
). The station continued to serve Peterborough (later under the call signs of WMDK and WRPT) until 1991, when the station closed down.
In 1995, Alex Langer entered into an agreement to pay the then-owners of the station to return the WRPT license to the Federal Communications Commission
in order to upgrade the facilities of his 1060 in Natick, Massachusetts
, WBIV (now WQOM). A few months later, he turned around and purchased WRPT outright, and in 1996 applied to move it to 650 in Ashland, Massachusetts
.
On February 9, 1997, the new WRPT signed on with talk
programming from the Talk America network, operating from a transmitter site in Framingham
shared with WKOX (now WXKS
) (where it remains to this day). Local talk programming was subsequently added to the schedule (such as an afternoon show hosted by Upton Bell
), much of it simulcast on the original WSRO
(1470) in Marlborough
after Langer bought it in 1998.
In October 1999, the station took the WJLT call letters from 1060 as part of a larger format switch that saw the talk format move to the latter frequency as WMEX, with the Contemporary Christian Music
that had been on 1060 migrating to 650; the switch was completed on-air on January 24, 2000. However, one year later, the station began mixing talk programming back onto the afternoon schedule, as WMEX was converted to business talk station WBIX. The next year, the station switched to a religious talk format, and in December assumed the WSRO callsign from 1470, which was sold to Multicultural Broadcasting
and became WAZN
in Watertown
.
WSRO returned to secular talk in February 2003, primarily from the Langer-owned National Radio Network
(which operates out of the same facility in Framingham that WSRO broadcasts from); this would gradually evolve into the current Portuguese format.
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...
broadcasting Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
programming. Licensed to Ashland, Massachusetts
Ashland, Massachusetts
Ashland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the MetroWest region. The population was 16,593 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, it serves the MetroWest area. The station is currently owned by Alex Langer.
History
Although the 650 frequency in Ashland has operated since 1997, the license dates back to May 19, 1970, when WSCV in Peterborough, New HampshirePeterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
began operations on 1050 kHz. The station was originally owned by Frank and Beverly Harms of Syracuse, New York, and managed by John Lawrence Scott, who had previously hosted children's television programs in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, and also started up an FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
sister station, WSLE 92.1 (now WFEX
WFNX
WFNX is a New England commercial alternative rock radio station. The station began broadcasting on Monday, April 11, 1983. It was one of the first American commercial stations to play alternative rock and has become a leading radio station for breaking new alternative music.WFNX broadcasts on 101.7...
). The station continued to serve Peterborough (later under the call signs of WMDK and WRPT) until 1991, when the station closed down.
In 1995, Alex Langer entered into an agreement to pay the then-owners of the station to return the WRPT license to the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
in order to upgrade the facilities of his 1060 in Natick, Massachusetts
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
, WBIV (now WQOM). A few months later, he turned around and purchased WRPT outright, and in 1996 applied to move it to 650 in Ashland, Massachusetts
Ashland, Massachusetts
Ashland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the MetroWest region. The population was 16,593 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
On February 9, 1997, the new WRPT signed on with 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...
programming from the Talk America network, operating from a transmitter site in Framingham
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
shared with WKOX (now WXKS
WXKS (AM)
WKOX is a radio station in the Boston radio market, licensed to Everett, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and carries a Spanish Hits format.- History :...
) (where it remains to this day). Local talk programming was subsequently added to the schedule (such as an afternoon show hosted by Upton Bell
Upton Bell
Upton Bell is a former American football executive. Upton is currently a talk show host and commentator at WCRN Talk AM 830 in Worcester, Massachusetts...
), much of it simulcast on the original WSRO
WAZN
WAZN is an ethnic radio station in the Boston, Massachusetts market, licensed to Watertown. It is owned by Multicultural Broadcasting, who uses it to simulcast WLYN in Lynn.-History:...
(1470) in Marlborough
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,499 at the 2010 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the...
after Langer bought it in 1998.
In October 1999, the station took the WJLT call letters from 1060 as part of a larger format switch that saw the talk format move to the latter frequency as WMEX, with the Contemporary Christian Music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
that had been on 1060 migrating to 650; the switch was completed on-air on January 24, 2000. However, one year later, the station began mixing talk programming back onto the afternoon schedule, as WMEX was converted to business talk station WBIX. The next year, the station switched to a religious talk format, and in December assumed the WSRO callsign from 1470, which was sold to Multicultural Broadcasting
Multicultural Broadcasting
Multicultural Broadcasting is a media company based in New York City founded by Chinese-American businessman Arthur Liu. Multicultural caters mostly to the Asian American community and owns television and radio stations in several of the top markets in multiple languages.-History:This company was...
and became WAZN
WAZN
WAZN is an ethnic radio station in the Boston, Massachusetts market, licensed to Watertown. It is owned by Multicultural Broadcasting, who uses it to simulcast WLYN in Lynn.-History:...
in Watertown
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
.
WSRO returned to secular talk in February 2003, primarily from the Langer-owned National Radio Network
National Radio Network (USA)
National Radio Network is a defunct commercial radio network in United States. It is owned and operated by Langer Broadcasting, which is located in Framingham, Massachusetts, and was operated from flagship station WSRO...
(which operates out of the same facility in Framingham that WSRO broadcasts from); this would gradually evolve into the current Portuguese format.