Wikipedia

WSCO

WSCO (1570 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Appleton, Wisconsin, the station serves the Appleton-Oshkosh area. The station is owned by Woodward Communications, Inc. and features local, state, and National Programming.[2] WSCO is also heard on FM translators W237AA 95.3 MHz in Appleton and W256DD 99.1 MHz in Oshkosh. WSCO's studios are located on College Avenue in Appleton, while its AM transmitter is located in Menasha. WSCO serves as the local affiliate for several major Wisconsin sports entities, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Marquette Golden Eagles, and NASCAR.[3]

WSCO
Studios of WSCO and Woodward Communications
Broadcast areaAppleton-Oshkosh
Frequency1570 kHz
BrandingAM 1570 The Score
Programming
FormatSports
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerWoodward Communications, Inc.
History
First air date
1952 (as WAPL)
Former call signs
  • WAPL (1952–1978)
  • WVMS (1978–1985)
  • WRJQ (1985–2002)
Call sign meaning
"The Score" (alternately Wisconsin)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID72941
ClassB
Power
  • 1,000 watts day
  • 331 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
44°13′4″N 88°24′33″W / 44.21778°N 88.40917°W / 44.21778; -88.40917
Translators
  • 95.3 W237AA (Appleton)
  • 99.1 W256DD (Oshkosh)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.thescorewi.com

History

edit

WSCO began broadcasting in 1952 as WAPL, founded by the Bartell family.[4] It was the third AM station to enter the Appleton market but distinguished itself by being the first to target a younger audience with rock and roll music. [5] In 1965, the station added an FM sister station, WAPL-FM (105.7), which shared its tower in Menasha.[6] The AM signal eventually transitioned through various formats including easy listening and country before the call letters were changed to WVMS ("The Valley's Music Station") on October 4, 1978.[7][8]

On September 1, 1985, the station was rebranded as WRJQ and adopted an all-polka and big band format.[9] This format proved remarkably durable, lasting nearly 17 years. The station became a cultural fixture in the Fox Valley, specifically known for its "Goodtime Radio" branding and local polka remotes.[10] In early 2002, Woodward Communications purchased the station and decided to flip the format to sports talk. The final song played during the WRJQ era was "Polka Medley #2" by Dick Rodgers, after which the station went dark for a month to prepare for its relaunch.[11]

The final polka era was so beloved that a former employee, Aaron Schuelke, eventually launched an internet-only version of "WRJQ" to keep the station's memory and music alive for the local community.[12]

The station returned to the air on January 31, 2002, as WSCO, branded as "AM 1570 The Score."[13] Since its inception, the sports format has combined national syndicated content from Fox Sports Radio and SportsMap with significant local high school sports coverage.[14] On October 4, 2021, the station's reach was expanded with the launch of FM translators in Appleton (95.3 FM) and Oshkosh (99.1 FM).[15]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSCO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WSCO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ "Shows on The Score". The Score WI. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  4. ^ "WAPL radio made its on-air debut in 1952" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. 1954. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  5. ^ "About Us - WRJQ Goodtime Radio". WRJQ Goodtime Radio. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  6. ^ "WAPL-FM History". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  7. ^ "Call Sign History: WSCO". FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  8. ^ "WAPL radio made its on-air debut in 1952" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. 1954. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  9. ^ "Oshkosh Herald October 11, 2023" (PDF). Oshkosh Herald. October 11, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  10. ^ "The Polka Heritage of 1570 AM". WRJQ Radio. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  11. ^ "WRJQ to WSCO: The Final Sign-Off". WRJQ Goodtime Radio. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  12. ^ "WRJQ - Polka Memorial". WRJQ Goodtime Radio. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "WSCO Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  14. ^ "WSCO Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  15. ^ "Cumulus Media Adds FM Signal to Heritage News/Talk Radio Station WOSH". Cumulus Media. October 4, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
edit


 

This article about a radio station in Wisconsin is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WSCO&oldid=1328287197"