WSBS

Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Broadcast area	The Berkshires
Frequency	860 kHz
Branding	860 AM/94.1 FM WSBS
Programming
Format	Full Service adult contemporary
Affiliations	ABC News Radio Boston Red Sox Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	Townsquare Media (Townsquare Media Pittsfield License, LLC)
Sister stations	WBEC, WBEC-FM, WNAW, WUPE, WUPE-FM
History
First air date	December 24, 1956; 65 years ago (1956-12-24)
Call sign meaning	Southern Berkshire Station[1]
Technical information
Facility ID	4820
Class	D
Power	2,700 watts day 250 watts critical hours 4 watts night (translator 250 watts)
Transmitter coordinates	42°12′52″N 73°20′45″W / 42.21444°N 73.34583°W / 42.21444; -73.34583Coordinates: 42°12′52″N 73°20′45″W / 42.21444°N 73.34583°W / 42.21444; -73.34583
Translator(s)	W231AK 94.1 Great Barrington
Links
Webcast	Listen live
Website	wsbs.com

WSBS (860 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and has a full service adult contemporary radio format, mixed with local news, talk and sports. World and national news is supplied by ABC News Radio. WSBS is an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox Radio Network.

By day, WSBS is powered at 2,700 watts. But because 860 AM is a Canadian clear channel frequency reserved for CJBC Toronto, WSBS must greatly reduce nighttime power to four watts, to avoid interference. It uses a non-directional antenna at all times. Programming is also heard on FM translator W231AK at 94.1 MHz.^[2]

History

On December 24, 1956; 65 years ago (1956-12-24), the station first signed on the air.^[1] For most of its history, WSBS was a daytimer, required to go off the air at sunset. Through the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s, WSBS broadcast a middle of the road format, with local news and sports prominent on its schedule. By the 1990s, the music had moved to an adult contemporary playlist.

In August 2013, Gamma Broadcasting reached a deal to sell its Berkshire County radio stations, including WSBS, to Reed Miami Holdings;^[3] the sale was canceled on December 30, 2013.^[4] In October 2016, Gamma agreed to sell its stations to Galaxy Communications;^[5] that sale also fell through, and in 2017 the stations were acquired by Townsquare Media.^[6]

Technical information

WSBS transmits 2,700 watts daytime with a Marconi 1959 Series fed 1/4 wave tower. The primary transmitter is a Harris SX2.5, and a backup Gates 250GY. The nighttime transmitter is an LPB.