WCHR (AM)

WCHR
Broadcast areaTrenton, New Jersey
Frequency1040 kHz
BrandingWCHR 1040 AM
Programming
FormatReligious radio
AffiliationsUSA Radio Network
Ownership
Owner
WPST, WKXW, WNJE
History
First air date
1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Former call signs
  • WJHR (1987–2002)
  • WCHR (2002–2008)
  • WNJE (2008–2013)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID28130
ClassB
Power
Transmitter coordinates
40°30′18.0″N 74°58′37.0″W / 40.505000°N 74.976944°W / 40.505000; -74.976944
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewchram.com

WCHR (1040 kHz) is a religious AM radio station in Flemington, New Jersey serving Trenton, New Jersey which is owned and operated by Townsquare Media.

History

Originally the station operated as WJHR ("Jersey Hometown Radio") with an adult contemporary format. It briefly broadcast a talk format called "Chat Radio" and had short stints as a business talk station and an ESPN Radio affiliate before adopting the call letters and religious format of WCHR, which had been operating on 920 AM in Trenton, in 2002.

On January 3, 2008, Nassau Broadcasting Partners announced that 1040 would drop the religious format and switch to a full-time simulcast of New York City's WEPN.[2] Nassau moved the religious programming and the WCHR call sign back to 920, which had been broadcasting as a Philadelphia-oriented ESPN Radio affiliate under the call letters WPHY.[3] On February 5, 2008, the station took the WNJE call sign.

On May 21, 2012, WNJE ended the simulcast of WEPN and joined ESPN Deportes Radio; this came in advance of WEPN's own switch to ESPN Deportes Radio in September, after ESPN Radio took over the operations of WEPN-FM in April.

The WCHR studios are at the Townsquare Media office in Ewing, co-located with the studios for New Jersey 101.5, 94.5 WPST and 920 WNJE

WNJE, along with nine other Nassau stations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, was purchased at bankruptcy auction by NB Broadcasting in May 2012. NB Broadcasting is controlled by Nassau's creditors — Goldman Sachs, Pluss Enterprises, and P.E. Capital.[4][5] In November, NB Broadcasting filed a motion to assign its rights to the stations to Connoisseur Media.[6]

On December 3, 2012, WNJE dropped ESPN Deportes Radio and began simulcasting the religious format of sister station WCHR 920.

The sale to Connoisseur Media, at a price of $38.7 million, was consummated on May 29, 2013.

On November 13, 2013, the simulcast of the religious format ended, and the Christian programming was subsequently heard only on 1040 as 920 adopted a secular talk format. The WCHR call sign was once again moved to 1040, and 920 became WNJE.

Effective July 2, 2018, WCHR and sister stations WNJE and WPST were sold to Townsquare Media for $17.3 million.

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCHR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WEPN/New York LMAs NJ Station". Radio Ink. January 3, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  3. ^ Wielgus, Jennifer (January 8, 2008). "ESPN pulls plug on local station". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
  4. ^ "10 Nassau Stations Go To NB Broadcasting LLC". All Access. May 30, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  5. ^ Pierce, David (June 12, 2012). "Pocono radio stations now in the hands of creditors". Pocono Record. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  6. ^ "Connoisseur Moves To Assume Debtor's Bid To Buy 10 Nassau Stations, Including WPST". All Access. November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
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