WGGO

Infobox Radio station
name = WGGO


city = Salamanca, New York
area = Western Twin Tiers
branding = "ESPN 1590 WGGO"
slogan = "Twin Tiers' Sports Leader"
airdate = June 19, 1957
frequency = 1590 kHz
format = Sports radio
power = 5000 Watts day, 14 Watts night
erp =
class = D
callsign_meaning = Great Golden Oldies
former_callsigns = WNYS
owner =
webcast =
website = [http://www.pembrookpines.com/Stations/default.asp?Stations=6 WGGO]
affiliations = ESPN Radio

WGGO is an AM radio station located in Salamanca, New York, United States. The station broadcasts at 1590 kHz and is branded as "ESPN 1590 WGGO: The Twin Tiers' Sports Leader," affiliated with ESPN Radio (one of three stations in western New York to carry the network, the others being WJTN in Jamestown and WGR in Buffalo).

History

WGGO signed on June 19, 1957 under the guidance of religious broadcaster George Thayer as WNYS, although they changed their call signs fairly early in their existence. (Thayer is still alive today and continues to produce religious broadcasts. [http://www.christiantvservices.com/page2.htm] )

One of WGGO's most notable alumni is CBS weatherman Ira Joe Fisher, who worked at the station for his first job in 1963.

WGGO was a local operation well into the 1990s, when it ran a country music and variety format. Some time in the late 1990s, WGGO switched to a satellite nostalgia format ("America's Best Music") from Westwood One. In 2003, the station moved to an adult contemporary format ("Unforgettable Favorites") from ABC Radio, with ABC News Radio updates at the top of each hour.

Prior to 2003 the station was a daytime-only station that, regardless of time of year, would always sign off at 5:00 PM each day. The station now broadcasts at a nominal power level at night.

In 2006, its current owner, Pembrook Pines Media Group (an ownership group led by Robert Pfuntner), took over the station and changed the format to sports radio along with sister stations WELM in Elmira and WPIE in Ithaca.

Programming

WGGO currently runs a direct feed from ESPN Radio and has no local programming; the last local program on the station, Tradio, was dropped unceremoniously in 2008.

Sports programming on WGGO includes Penn State Nittany Lions football and the Cleveland Browns (these teams primarily play during the day and thus make the best use of the station's signal), as well as local high school sports. Buffalo Sabres hockey remains on sister station WMXO because of WMXO's stronger nighttime signal. The Browns likely are broadcast because the Buffalo Bills are on elsewhere in the market (WPIG and WBRR); airing Browns games was done in the early 1990s on then-Pembrook Pines station WNNR and in the late 1990s on WMXO. The rationale was that there was (and remains) a large contingent of Browns fans in the region, particularly older ones whose fandom predates the existence of the Bills and those who view the Browns as a favorite "second team."

External links

* [http://www.pembrookpines.com/Stations/default.asp?Stations=6 WGGO at pembrookpines.com]