WSEG (1400 AM, "ESPN Radio FM 104.3") is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Savannah, Georgia, United States, the station serves the Savannah area. The station is currently owned by William Dorminy, through licensee Southern Media Interactive LLC, and features programming from ESPN Radio. In April 2011, WSEG started simulcasting on FM frequency 104.3 MHz in Savannah (translator W282AR licensed to Savannah).

History WDAR The A.C. Neff Company made an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to build a new station in Savannah, in the waning days of World War II.History Cards for WSEG, fcc.gov. Retrieved May 23, 2019. Neff was granted a construction permit for a station to operate at 1400 on the AM dial, with 250 watts full-time. The station, assigned the call letters WDAR, took to the air in 1946, and was an ABC affiliate."WDAR to ABC", Broadcasting — Telecasting. July 29, 1946. p. 104. Retrieved May 23, 2019.Broadcasting — Telecasting Yearbook Number 1948. Broadcasting — Telecasting. 1948. p. 114. Retrieved May 23, 2019.1952 Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting — Telecasting. 1952. p. 120. Retrieved May 23, 2019. Their studios were located at 34 E. Bryan Street, a second floor suite of offices, located over the Georgia State Bank building.

By 1948, Neff had built WDAR-FM, at 96.5 MHz with 12,000 watts ERP."FM Stations", Broadcasting — Telecasting. October 11, 1948. Part II. p. 66. Retrieved May 23, 2019. The ABC affiliation would later move to AM 1230 WFRP.1953 Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting — Telecasting. 1953. p. 122. Retrieved May 23, 2019.

WSGA In 1956, the station was sold to Coastal Broadcasting for $55,000, and its call sign was changed to WSGA (Savannah, GA)."Ownership Changes", Broadcasting — Telecasting. May 14, 1956. p. 115. Retrieved May 24, 2019. The station's studios were moved to Liberty Street. In 1962, the station's daytime power was increased to 1,000 watts.

Prior to 1967, WSGA aired block programming, with Don McNeill's Breakfast Club mornings, Paul Harvey middays, and top 40 between 3 & 6 p.m. and after 8 at night.Larson, Scott. "Savannah loses a radio legend", Savannah Morning News. April 4, 2007. Retrieved May 24, 2019. From 6 'till 8 was alternately "dinner music", or the live call-in show "Talk Back". It signed off each night at midnight. The station was branded "The Goodtimer".Sound of the City Survey. WSGA The Goodtimer. January 26, 1967. Retrieved May 24, 2019.

In October 1967, the station adopted a full-time contemporary hits format."WSGA Into 'Mini'-Spin", Billboard. October 28, 1967. p. 42. Retrieved May 24, 2019. The station began 24 hour a day operations on January 1, 1968."WSGA Rocks Around Clock", Billboard. January 13, 1968. p. 28. Retrieved May 24, 2019. Jerry Rogers was the station's program director and afternoon personality.Fred Directory of Radio. 1980. p. 140. Retrieved May 24, 2019."Format Opinions Differ", Billboard. June 24, 1972. p. 26. Retrieved May 24, 2019. Other DJs included Danny Kramer, Jim Lloyd, Donny Brook, Fred Holland, Bob Roberts, Chris O'Brien, Mike Allen, Jim Lewis, Chuck Cannon, Denis Reid, and Tim McMillian.Hall, Claude. "Vox Jox", Billboard. July 10, 1971. p. 21. Retrieved May 24, 2019.

In the early 1980s, WSGA was facing increased competition from FM top-40 stations. In September 1982, the station adopted an adult standards format, as an affiliate of the syndicated Music of Your Life network."Format Turntable", Billboard. September 18, 1982. p. 18. Retrieved May 24, 2019. In 1988, WSGA was sold to Gulf Atlantic Group, along with 102.1 WZAT, for $4.2 million."Newsline...", Billboard. March 12, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved May 24, 2019."Transactions", Radio & Records. February 26, 1988. p. 8. Retrieved May 24, 2019.

In 1992, the station switched to an all-news format, as an affiliate of CNN Headline News."Vox Jox", Billboard. February 15, 1992. p. 79. Retrieved May 24, 2019."Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 9, No. 5. February 3, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved May 24, 2019. By January 1996, the station had been taken off the air, due to flood damage."Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13, No. 3. January 17, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved May 24, 2019. WSGA returned to the air, with its power reduced to 650 watts, simulcasting the modern rock programming of 102.1 WZAT."Facilities/Parameters: Grants", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13, No. 41. October 9, 1996. p. 5. Retrieved May 26, 2019.Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1997. Broadcasting & Cable. 1997. p. B-118. Retrieved May 24, 2019."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14, No. 41. October 15, 1997. p. 1. Retrieved May 24, 2019.

In 1998, the station was sold to Sarter Enterprises for $200,000."Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. June 29, 1998. p. 80. Retrieved May 25, 2019. The station was taken silent as the purchase was being finalized."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 18. May 6, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved May 25, 2019. The station returned to the air in the summer of 1998, and after stunting for about a month, adopted a Christian talk format, simulcasting WNIV."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 27. July 8, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved May 25, 2019."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 31. August 5, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved May 25, 2019.

WHGM In 1999, the station was sold to Gilliam Communications for $500,000, and its call sign was changed to WHGM."Changing Hands", Broadcasting & Cable. July 5, 1999. p. 40. Retrieved May 25, 2019. The station ended its simulcast with WNIV and adopted an urban contemporary gospel format."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 16, No. 30. July 28, 1999. p. 1. Retrieved May 25, 2019.

WSEG

In 2007, Gilliam Communications Inc. sold WHGM to MarMac Communications for $300,000."Deals", Broadcasting & Cable. May 7, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2019.Public Notice Comment – BAL-20070416ABI, fcc.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2019. The station's call sign was changed to WSEG and it adopted an adult standards format."WHGM-A Becomes WSEG-A 'Star 1400'", All Access Music Group. August 9, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2019. The station was branded "Star 1400" and was an affiliate of America's Best Music. In 2011, the station began to be simulcast on a translator at 104.3 MHz.

In January 2013, WSEG switched to an all-sports format, featuring programming from ESPN Radio, and a local show afternoons."WSEG/Savannah Goes Sports", All Access Music Group. January 3, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2019. Effective March 19, 2013, MarMac sold WSEG and sister stations WFNS and WSFN to Southern Media Interactive LLC, at a purchase price of $1.3 million."Georgia AM trio sold", Radio + Television Business Report. November 7, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2019.Application Search Details – BAL-20121106AAK, fcc.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2019.

On September 4, 2022, it was announced that Shanks Broadcasting will acquire WSEG and will begin carrying the company's "Sports Superstations" network.

Translators WSEG is simulcast on a translator at 104.3 in Savannah, Georgia, and a translator at 92.7 MHz in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

References

External links ESPN Savannah Facebook

TheGoodTimer.com - WSGA history