WOON

For people surnamed Woon, see Woon (surname).
WOON
City Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Broadcast area Blackstone Valley
Branding O-N 1240
Slogan "The Blackstone Valley's Superstation"
Frequency 1240 kHz
First air date Veterans Day 1946
Format Full Service
Power 1,000 watts
Class C
Facility ID 73676
Transmitter coordinates 42°0′58″N 71°29′30″W / 42.01611°N 71.49167°W / 42.01611; -71.49167
Callsign meaning WOONsocket
Former callsigns WWON (1946-1992)
Affiliations Metro Networks, Boston Celtics Radio Network
Owner O-N Radio, Inc.
(O-N Radio, Inc.)
Website http://www.on1240.com

WOON (1240 AM, "O-N 1240") is Woonsocket, Rhode Island's oldest radio station, having taken to the air on November 11, 1946 as WWON, a callsign it kept until the current WOON became available in 1992. The change in call became effective on February 3, 1992. On June 26, 1949 WWON added a sister station with WWON-FM on 105.5Mc/s. later moving to 106.3Mc/s. That station is now WWKX.

WWON was owned by the local newspaper The Woonsocket Call for a time. It is currently owned by O-N Radio, Inc. WOON's programming day consists of almost exclusively locally originating programming with a few exceptions (Cowboy Corner, Old Time Radio, The Cowboy Show, and a few other shows). WOON's format is "full-service" meaning it mixes news/talk and music (in WOON's case: oldies & Adult Contemporary among others).

Technical parameters

WOON operates on 1240 kHz with an unlimited power level of 1,000 watts unlimited hours, diplexing off of the WNRI tower. Originally it was licensed at 250 watts, later upgrading to 1,000 watts day/250 watts night before receiving authorization to increase nighttime power to 1,000 watts as well.

Programming

WOON is a full service station. On weekdays WOON begins with morning host Joe Callahan followed by a roundtable discussion program entitled "Coffee An'". Coffee An' is billed by the station as the longest running panel discussion program in American Radio. Following that, WOON's programs consist of a nutrition show, a nostalgia show ("Do You Remember?"), an Astrology show, old-time radio, a midday music/trivia/interview show, varied programs in the mid-afternoon & evening. Weekend programs consist of easy listening music and oldies as well as sports and programs in the Portuguese, Polish & Spanish languages. WOON also serves as the home station for Bryant University athletics & Woonsocket Villanovans sports.

Internet-only stations

Besides its primary AM signal on 1240 kHz, it operates several internet stations including all-news "O-N2", all-sports "O-N3", and internet TV station "O-N TV" plus an on-demand service.

History

1940s

WWON signs on the air with 250 watts (day & night) on November 11, 1946 as Woonsocket's lone radio station. It would add F.M. service with WWON-FM/105.5 on June 26, 1949.

1970s

1980s

WWON is part of the Boston Bruins Radio Network. Later that decade, the F.M. station is spun off from the A.M. & becoming WWKX.

1990s

On February 3, 1992 WWON changes calls to WOON after that call becomes available.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/12/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.