WABY (AM)

WABY (900 AM) is a radio station licensed to Watervliet, New York. The station is owned by Loud Media.[1]

WABY
CityWatervliet, New York
Broadcast areaCapital District
BrandingStar Radio
SloganYour Station, Your Music.
Frequency900 kHz
Translator(s)94.1 W231DU (Albany)
First air date1964
FormatClassic Hits
Power400 watts Daytime
70 watts Nighttime
ClassD
Facility ID72620
Transmitter coordinates43°04′24″N 73°48′07″W
Call sign meaningAlBanY
(former call sign of WAMC and WSSV)
Former call signsWSPN (1950s–1964)
WKAJ (1964–1992)
WBGG (1992–1994)
WCKM (1994–1996)
WKAJ (1996–1999)
WUAM (1999–2014)
OwnerLoud Media LLC
Sister stationsWSSV,
Webcasthttps://www.starsaratoga.com/player/
Websitehttps://www.starsaratoga.com

History
WUAM's logo while simulcasting Capital News 9, as Capital News 900

The station went on the air as WSPN in the 1950s, in Saratoga Springs, later changing call letters to WKAJ, in 1964. For many years the station broadcast an MOR type of format. In 1992, the call letters were changed to WBGG, and the format to Country. In 1994, the station changed its call sign to WCKM, and its format to Oldies. In 1996, the call letters reverted to WKAJ, and the format was changed to Nostalgia. In 1999, WKAJ became WUAM; the antenna was moved to Watervliet in April 2008, splitting from the simulcast with WABY to repeat Capital News 9's television audio. Since April 2011, the station has been relayed on 106.1 FM via translator W291BY, broadcasting from Albany, New York at 250 watts ERP.

Ernie Anastos sold his Albany-area stations—WUAM and its translator, WABY, WQAR, and WVKZ—to Empire Broadcasting Corporation in June 2012 at a purchase price of $1.2 million.[2] The transaction was consummated on September 7, 2012.

On May 27, 2014, WUAM changed its format to adult standards, branded as "Moon Radio". The station became WABY on July 3, 2014;[3] the call sign was previously used by sister station WAIX, and before then on what are now WAMC and WYKV.[4] On March 12, 2018, the adult standards format was dropped when Empire Broadcasting transferred its "The X" adult album alternative format from WAIX to WABY.[5]

On May 15, 2018, WABY and its sister AM stations went silent (off the air). The stations' owner noted that, although the sale of an FM sister station cleared all of the stations' debts, the stations were still operating at a loss and that until a freeze on FM translator awards was lifted, the stations could not be sustained.[6]

The station was acquired by Saratoga Radio LLC on October 1, 2019 and the FCC approved the transaction on December, 16 2019.[7] The station now simulcasts with WSSV and is known as 'Saratoga's Star Radio'

References
  1. "WABY Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. Pickney, Barbara (June 14, 2012). "Joe Reilly purchases 4 Albany area radio stations". The Business Review. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  3. "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  4. New Mix in Albany
  5. Venta, Lance (March 12, 2018). "The Jockey Returns To Albany". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  6. Trio of Albany AMs Go Silent RadioInsight - May 17, 2018
  7. "Saratoga Radio Acquires WABY". RadioInsight - Oct 1, 2019.


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