WSAM
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2016) |
| Broadcast area | Greater Tri-Cities |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1400 kHz |
| Branding | 1400 AM & 104 FM The Bay |
| Programming | |
| Format | Soft Adult Contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | MacDonald Broadcasting |
| WKCQ, WMJO, WSAG | |
| History | |
First air date | Cir. 1960 |
Call sign meaning | SAginaw, Michigan |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 65930 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°25′0″N 83°55′5″W / 43.41667°N 83.91806°W |
| Links | |
| Website | thebay104fm.com |
WSAM (1400 AM) is a radio station licensed to Saginaw, Michigan and broadcasting at 1400 kHz with 1,000 watts of power. The station is simulcasted with FM sister station WSAG-FM at 104.1 mHz and are collectively known as The Bay, in reference to their close proximity to the Saginaw Bay.
History
WSAM was one of the first broadcasters in the Saginaw area, with a first air date in the late 1950s, predated only by WSGW. It was first located on Michigan Avenue on the city's west side when it was bought by Kenneth H. MacDonald in 1962.[1] The station broadcasts on AM 1400, and was moved from Saginaw's west side to Whittier Street on Saginaw's east side shortly after MacDonald's purchase, where it remains to this day. The station's over 300 foot tall self supporting tower is a local eastside Saginaw landmark, and was originally constructed for both the radio station and television station WNEM. The TV station later abandoned their plans to broadcast from the MacDonald tower and moved to Indiantown.
For much of the 60s and 70s, WSAM had a top 40 CHR format at the time. "Sam" saw local competition from 1250 WKNX up until the format gave way to FM radio. In 1968, "Sam" got a sister station at FM 98.1. It was originally known as WSAM-FM and its call letters were changed to WKCQ, and has had a country music format since its inception.
In the 1980s, the station switched to an oldies format. Serendipitously, during WSAM's period as an oldies station, the long-held call letters lent themselves to the tagline "Play it Again, Sam". WSAM eventually becoming an adult standards station in the 90s and early 2000s.
The current format began in April 2005 with the purchase of WSAG at 104.1FM. The two stations are almost completely simulcasted, except for some popular weekend polka shows on WSAM which are a holdover from the now-defunct adult standards format. Like most other adult contemporary music stations, The Bay switches to a format of continuous Christmas music during the months of November and December, competing with crosstown classic hits WHNN for the holiday music audience.
References
- ^ "Ken MacDonald Jr. enters Michigan Broadcasters Hall of Fame". Retrieved 1 June 2016.
Sources
External links
- The Bay website
- Facility details for Facility ID WSAM ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's AM station database