WBZ (AM)
|
|
WBZ (AM) is the callsign for an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Viacom.
WBZ radio, which broadcasts at 1030 kHz, is the oldest surviving commercial radio station in New England, starting in 1921 (a smaller operation has been forgotten by history). It currently runs an all-news format, with popular hosts like Gary Lapierre in the morning and talk show host Paul Sullivan at night. The station is the most listened-to radio station in the Boston area, and covers much of the eastern United States at night with its 50,000-watt signal. Its transmitter is located in Hull, Massachusetts.
During the daytime hours, WBZ's programming is also well-known for Traffic on the threes which provides a detailed summary of traffic on all major highways in Boston, MA and throughout Massachusetts. Much news and commentary is from the ABC Information network and parent company CBS Radio, including noted radio raconteur Paul Harvey, but almost all programming, including the nighttime talk shows, are produced in-house. WBZ has also been heavily involved in charitable work, with its annual Christmastime fund drive for Boston's Children's Hospital being the most high-profile.
WBZ has consistently been the #1 station in the Boston market for decades, and was the home for a great many years of talkmaster David Brudnoy until the day before his death in 2005. Other notable personalities included jazz DJ Norm Nathan, late-night talker and humorist Larry Glick, and morning personalities Tom Bergeron and Dave Maynard.
During the 1940s WBZ operated a shortwave station using the callsign WBOS; this station has long been dark and the callsign reassigned to what is now an AAA station. Additionally, during the 1970s, WBZ was one of a number of clear channel AM stations that petitioned to be allowed to increase their power; WBZ would have used half a megawatt out of Provincetown, Massachusetts to reach all of New England during the day. A backlash from smaller stations led to a denial of the petition and a limitation for station protections of 750 miles radius.