WSGW (AM)
 | |
| City | Saginaw, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater Tri-Cities & Northern Michigan Daytime Nighttime: |
| Branding | NewsRadio 790 - WSGW |
| Slogan | Your Connection to the Great Lakes Bay Region and the World |
| Frequency | 790 kHz |
| First air date | 1950 |
| Format | News-Talk |
| Power |
5,000 watts (day) 1,000 watts (night) |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 22674 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 43°27′40″N 83°48′48″W / 43.46111°N 83.81333°W |
| Callsign meaning | Saginaw, Michigan |
| Affiliations |
CBS Radio Michigan IMG Sports Network Michigan Radio Network |
| Owner |
Alpha Media (Alpha Media Licensee LLC) |
| Sister stations | WCEN-FM, WGER, WSGW-FM, WTLZ |
| Website | http://www.wsgw.com/ |
WSGW (790 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news-talk format. Licensed to Saginaw, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1950. WSGW also has a sister station, WSGW-FM 100.5, which also has a news-talk format. The two stations identify themselves separately on air. WSGW-AM is branded as NewsRadio 790, while WSGW-FM is branded as FM Talk 100.5. The station, is owned by Alpha Media, the nation's fourth largest owner of radio stations.
History
WSGW's first broadcast was August 11, 1950 from their studios at Genesee and Washington Avenues on the third floor of the Mason Building in downtown Saginaw. The 6 tower directional antenna complex is near Indiantown north of M-81 east of Saginaw. The station was started by John Lord Booth, of Detroit who founded Booth American Company. In 1973 Booth built new studios at 1795 Tittabawassee Road shared with then sister station WIOG. Then in 1988 the facility was tripled in size with a major expansion. The Booth family operated the station for 45 years until 1995 when the station was sold to another Detroit area media family called Fritz Broadcasting. During the period of deregulation just prior to the turn of the century, the station changed hands several times with brief ownerships by 62nd Street Broadcasting, Citadel Communications and Wilks Broadcasting before being bought by the NextMedia in 2002. Digity acquired WSGW in 2014, which was sold to Alpha Media in 2015.[1]
Programming
Local programs on WSGW include: The Morning Team; The Art Lewis Show; Listen to the Mrs. (the longest running talk show in the state); and Farm Service 790. The station is an affiliate of CBS Radio News, the Michigan Radio Network, and the Associated Press. WSGW is home to the only 24-hour news operation in the market.
WSGW was the home for big-name syndicated personalities Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity throughout the 2000s. However, in January 2009, WSGW swapped programming with its FM sister station. The swap meant WSGW no longer had to interrupt their shows for sports broadcasts while still keeping top rated The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Sean Hannity Show in the market. WSGW 790 AM subsequently picked up personalities Tom Sullivan and Dennis Miller, replacing the latter with Dave Ramsey in 2015.
The station is a longtime affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, as well as the University of Michigan Wolverines and Detroit Red Wings. In 2015 it was announced that WSGW would become the new home of the Detroit Lions as well
Coverage area
WSGW AM's low dial position and corresponding long wavelength, along with a complex antenna array provides a strong signal to the Tri-Cities area and eastern portions of the Thumb. The station can be received throughout Mid Michigan, west to Grand Rapids, and far north to places like West Branch and Gaylord. Adjacent channel interference from AM 800 CKLW in Windsor, Ontario limits WSGW's signal to the south and east.
References
External links
- Michiguide.com - WSGW History
- Query the FCC's AM station database for WSGW
- Radio-Locator Information on WSGW
- Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for WSGW