WESO

WESO
Broadcast areaSouth County
Frequency970 kHz
BrandingThe Station of the Cross
Programming
FormatCatholic radio
NetworkThe Station of the Cross
AffiliationsEWTN Radio
Ownership
OwnerHoly Family Communications
WNEB
History
First air date
March 20, 1955 (1955-03-20)[1]
Call sign meaning
Webster-Southbridge
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID18309
ClassD
Power
  • 1,000 watts (day)
  • 21 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
42°3′59.35″N 71°59′26.27″W / 42.0664861°N 71.9906306°W / 42.0664861; -71.9906306
Translator101.1 MHz W266DK (Southbridge)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitethestationofthecross.com/stations/southbridge-ma/

WESO (970 AM) is a radio station licensed to Southbridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1955, it broadcasting a Catholic radio format, simulcasting sister station WNEB in Worcester. WESO is owned by Holy Family Communications,[3] and operates as part of The Station of the Cross.

History

WESO broadcast a country music format as "The Spirit 970" until October 2008, when the station began to simulcast the business talk programming of then-sister station WBNW in Concord. On June 13, 2014, Money Matters Radio, Inc. reached a deal to sell WESO to Emmanuel Communications, Inc., the owner of WNEB. The deal closed on August 29, 2014, at a purchase price of $250,000. Following the sale, WESO was converted to noncommercial operation[4] and began to carry WNEB's "Emmanuel Radio" programming, which included programming from EWTN Radio.[5]

Holy Family Communications, owner of WQOM in Natick and stations in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, began operating WESO and WNEB under a local marketing agreement on January 1, 2022. The stations became part of Holy Family's The Station of the Cross network.[6] In early 2024, Holy Family bought the stations outright for $1,000.[7] Holy Family announced its plans to sell WESO, WNEB and WACE in Chicopee to Journey for Life Media for $150,000 in May 2025;[8] the sale was withdrawn that August.[9] Holy Family subsequently reached a deal to sell WESO to Daniel Becker's TLM Communications;[10] that deal was also withdrawn in January 2026.[11]

Translator

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W266DK 101.1 FM Southbridge, Massachusetts 200926 250 D 42°3′59.3″N 71°59′26.3″W / 42.066472°N 71.990639°W / 42.066472; -71.990639 (W266DK) LMS

References

  1. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-213. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WESO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "WESO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. ^ "APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. June 23, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  5. ^ Boynton, Donna (June 28, 2014). "Worcester Catholic radio to buy WESO station". Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  6. ^ Venta, Lance (December 9, 2021). "Holy Family Communications Expands In Massachusetts". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Venta, Lance (January 5, 2024). "Station Sales Week of 1/5". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  8. ^ Station sales week of 5/9: Cumulus sells Buffalo AM. RadioInsight. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  9. ^ Venta, Lance. "Station Sales Week Of 8/8: Family Life Expands Into Harrisburg". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  10. ^ Venta, Lance (August 22, 2025). "Station Sales Week Of 8/22". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  11. ^ "Station Sales Week Of 1/16 - RadioInsight". radioinsight.com. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.


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