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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Frequency | 890kHz |
| Branding | La Mega 96.5 |
| Programming | |
| Language | Spanish |
| Format | Latin pop–reggaeton–tropical music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | October 1994 (1994-10) |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | "Mega" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 6475 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
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Transmitter coordinates | 42°14′50.35″N71°25′29.22″W / 42.2473194°N 71.4247833°W /42.2473194; -71.4247833 (WAMG) |
| Translator(s) | 96.5 W243DC (Boston) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | mimusicaboston |
WAMG (890kHz, "La Mega 96.5") is a commercialAM radio station in the Boston market licensed toDedham, Massachusetts. It is owned by Gois Broadcasting. It broadcasts in Spanish, and playsbachata,merengue,salsa andLatin pop.WLS in Chicago is the dominant (class A) station on 890 AM; WAMG must reduce power during the nighttime hours and uses a directional antenna to protect the nighttime skywave signal of WLS.
WAMG also operatestranslator W243DC (96.5FM) in Boston.
WAMG first came on the air in 1994 as WBMA, initially airing a Spanish-languagereligious format that gradually migrated from WBIV (nowWQOM). In 1995, the station adopted asports radio format, affiliated with the Prime Sports network. The station also adopted the call letters of WBPS at this time, which remained with the station for many years, even after the station dropped sports forbrokered ethnic programs in 1996.
In 1998, WBPS was acquired by Mega Communications, and on December 1, the station adopted aSpanishadult contemporary format, initially as "Estrella 890" before becoming "Amor 890".[2]
After the failure of a Spanish-languageall-news radio format on WNNY (nowWKDM) in New York City, Mega began to broker many of the company's stations. Consequently, on December 1, 2001, Mega began leasing WBPS toCNET, at which time the station adopted the technologynews/talk format of "CNET Radio", as a simulcast ofKNEW.
After CNET's programming left WBPS in 2002, Mega began leasing the station to Chicago-based Air Time Media. This group launched aconservative talk radio format on WBPS, which was known as the "Boston Talk Party".
In 2003, Mega sold the company's other Boston station, WAMG ("Mega 1150"), toSalem Communications. In order to retain the successful Spanish-languagetropical music format of WAMG, Mega moved the format and call letters to the 890 frequency, canceling Air Time's lease on the station. Some of the hosts which were dropped from WBPS landed on 1150, which Salem re-launched as conservative talk station WTTT (that station is nowWWDJ).
Additionally, when WAMG relocated to 890 as "Mega 890", the frequency inherited the format's simulcast onWLLH (1400 AM) inLowell andLawrence, which was not included in 1150's sale to Salem.
In 2005, Mega Communications announced the sale of WAMG and WLLH to WallerSutton 2000, an investment firm, in cooperation with locally owned "J Sports". Upon closure of the sale, WAMG dropped the Spanish tropical format and reverted to a sports format, this time affiliated withESPN Radio. The station also added a local afternoon show featuringMichael Felger, and used the branding of "ESPN Boston". (The last broadcast ofThe Mike Felger Show was on July 10, 2008). Other local programs heard on the station includedSalk & Halloran,Lew & Mike,Celtic Pride, andThe New England Hockey Journal. The station was also the home ofNortheastern University football and men's hockey. Through its ESPN Radio affiliation, WAMG also served as the Boston outlet forMike and Mike in the Morning,The Herd with Colin Cowherd,The Scott Van Pelt Show,The Doug Gottlieb Show, andAll Night with Jason Smith, as well as ESPN Radio's play-by-play broadcasts, such asBowl Championship Series, theWorld Series, and theNational Invitation Tournament.
On August 3, 2006, WAMG was the first to report that veteran major league catcherJavy López was being traded from theBaltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox. The trade was designed to fill a hole caused by the recent injury toJason Varitek. The next day, the trade was announced as official; the Orioles received cash and a player to be named later (Adam Stern) in return.
WAMG discontinued ESPN Radio programming on September 14, 2009; the transmitter was shut off at 5:00 p.m.[3] Gois returned the station to the air on December 3, 2009, reverting it again to Spanish-language programming with the current format, branded "La Nueva Mega"; simulcast partner WLLH had returned to the air with this format in late October. Initially operating the station under alocal marketing agreement, Gois purchased WAMG outright in January 2010.[4]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W243DC | 96.5 FM | Boston, Massachusetts | 148707 | 99 | D | 42°21′8.1″N71°3′22.6″W / 42.352250°N 71.056278°W /42.352250; -71.056278 (W243DC) | LMS |
Gois Broadcasting announced its purchase of W243DC in late 2023;[5] this facility, which transmits fromOne Financial Center, had previously been owned by Northeast Broadcasting as a translator ofWXRV.[6] WAMG was previously relayed by W235CS (94.9 FM) in Dedham; that translator was sold to Blount Masscom in 2024 to relayWILD.[7]
