3 days ago
Oneonta AM radio station goes off the air
Once a staple of the Oneonta community, radio station 730 WDOS-AM went off the air earlier this month, according to a Federal Communications Commission filing.
A news and sports talk radio format, WDOS broadcasts as CNY News and is owned and operated by Townsquare Media Group. The internet live stream was still broadcasting as of Wednesday, June 11 at
According to a report on Townsquare said the station went silent 'due to economic conditions in the market.' Townsquare Market President Robert Wawrzyniec did not immediately return a request for comment.
Townsquare continues to maintain a presence in the Central New York area, operating FM stations Classic Hits 103.1 WZOZ, Mix 103.9 WSRK, Star 93.9 WKXZ and country music stations Big Cat 92.1 WDLA and 95.3 WBKT.
History of WDOS
Once owned by The Daily Star's predecessor company, WDOS-AM signed on at 6 p.m. December 1, 1947, and its sister station WDOS-FM signed on in early May 1948.
City historian Mark Simonson said the studios at the time were found on the top floor of the Oneonta Hotel, once a ballroom, to host live bands and other entertainment.
The original transmitter was in area of today's Home Depot and currently is located on Swart Hollow Road. WDOS started at a power of 250 watts on 1400 KC with unlimited hours, and later increased power and changed frequency to 730-AM in the 1950s.
In 1952, the station moved from downtown to a building at the corner of Chestnut and West streets. In January 1988, the building was demolished because it had structural deterioration. Radio operations moved inside The Daily Star's building next door.
Radio personalities featured over the years included 'Big Chuck' D'Imperio, who had a long-running morning radio show; Joe Campbell, called the 'Grand Old Man of Radio;' Ron Shapley, who died last month in Oneonta; and Denny Sullivan, who had a Radio Record Club show at 4:30 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday in the early days of the station.
Ownership of the radio station changed hands several times through the years as mergers happened with other independent stations. Townsquare acquired WDOS in the 1980s.
