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WOON

Woonsocket, Rhode Island United States
Broadcast area	Blackstone Valley
Frequency	1240 kHz
Branding	O-N AM & FM
Programming
Format	Full service
Affiliations	Compass Media Networks Metro Networks Boston Bruins Radio Network Boston Celtics Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	O-N Radio, Inc.
History
First air date	November 11, 1946; 78 years ago (1946-11-11)
Former call signs	WWON (1946–1992)
Call sign meaning	Woonsocket
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	73676
Class	C
Power	1,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates	42°0′58.35″N 71°29′28.22″W / 42.0162083°N 71.4911722°W / 42.0162083; -71.4911722
Translator(s)	99.5 W258DU (Woonsocket)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Website	www.woonsocketradio.com

WOON (1240 AM) 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 105.5 MHz, later moving to 106.3 MHz. 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 and 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 and 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 and evening. Weekend programs consist of easy listening music and oldies as well as sports and programs in the Portuguese, Polish and Spanish languages. WOON also serves as the home station for Bryant University athletics and 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

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

WWON is listed as a Mutual Broadcasting System affiliate along with WWON-FM in 1976. Current morning personality Dave Richards took over the slot in 1978.

In the 1980s, WWON is part of the Boston Bruins Radio Network. Later that decade, WWON-FM is spun off from the AM station, eventually becoming WWKX.

On February 3, 1992, WWON changed its call sign to WOON after that call becomes available. On July 24, 2018, WOON added FM service on 99.5 via translator W258DU.

FM translator

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for WOON". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. "FCCInfo Results".

• 1992 Broadcasting & Cable Marketplace, p. A-306
• Notice about WOON carrying Celtics games when WEEI-FM is carrying Red Sox Games on the WEEI Celtics Radio Network page

External links

• Official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 73676 (WOON) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WOON in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
• Facility details for Facility ID 201051 (W258DU) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• W258DU at FCCdata.org

• Radio stations in Rhode Island
• Full service radio stations in the United States
• Radio stations established in 1946
• Woonsocket, Rhode Island
• 1946 establishments in Rhode Island