WCHR (AM)

Infobox Radio station
name = WCHR


city = Trenton, New Jersey
area = Trenton, New Jersey Bucks County, Pennsylvania
branding = "WCHR 920 AM"
slogan = "Your Station for Inspiration"
airdate =
owner = Nassau Broadcasting Partners
frequency = 920 (kHz)
power = 1,400 watts (day) 1,000 watts (night)
class = B
facility_id = 25011
format = Religious
website = http://www.wchram.net/
callsign_meaning = CHRist|

WCHR (920 AM) is a religious radio station in Trenton, New Jersey. The station is owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners.

History

Before switching to its current format, the station was WPHY, "ESPN Radio 920", which it became when WTTM, ESPN's previous affiliate in the area, changed to an Asian format in 2002 (prior to that, it was a former home of WCHR, while the ESPN format had temporarily moved to WJHR (1040) [cite news |first=Scott |last=Fybush |title=Labor Day Follies |url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-020904.html |work=North East RadioWatch |date=2002-04-02 |accessdate=2008-01-11 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ] ). ESPN Radio programming was supplemented by local shows, such as Philly Sports Live hosted by Dan Schwartzman and the Reggie Brown (NFL wide receiver) Show. Local sports coverage included covering the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia 76ers, and college sports of Drexel University, Lasalle University, University of Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph's University (Hawks), Temple University Owls, and Villanova University.

On January 7, 2008, WPHY dropped the ESPN format and returned to WCHR's religious programming, which was done to preserve the format (as 1040, WCHR's then-home, was subsequently converted into WNJE, a simulcast of ESPN Radio's New York City affiliate, WEPN).cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Wielgus |title=ESPN pulls plug on local station |url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/108-01082008-1467506.html |work=Bucks County Courier Times |date=2008-01-08 |accessdate=2008-01-11 ]

The WCHR call letters and religious format originated on 94.5 FM in Trenton in 1965. After Nassau acquired WCHR, it decided that the powerful FM station had more profit potential as a secular broadcaster, and moved the WCHR call sign and programming to the former WTTM on 920 AM. The switch began with a period of simulcasting that started in November 1997; by the end of February 1998 WCHR was heard on AM only. The call sign and programs moved again in 2002 to 1040 AM in Flemington, where they remained until their 2008 return to 920.

References

External links

*AMQ|WCHR
*AML|WCHR
*AMARB|WCHR