WEEI

WEEI
Name	WEEI
City	Boston, Massachusetts
Area	Greater Boston
Branding	WEEI Sports Radio Network
Frequency	850 kHz
Airdate	September 1925
Power	50,000 watts (day), 1,000 watts (night)
Class	A (clear-channel)
Owner	Audacy, Inc.
Website	https://www.audacy.com/weei

WEEI is a commercial sports talk radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, serving the Greater Boston area. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts on 850 kHz with a powerful clear-channel signal and is the flagship station for the WEEI Sports Radio Network. The station's programming is dominated by local and national sports talk shows and is the longtime radio home for broadcasts of Boston Red Sox baseball and New England Patriots football games.

History

The station first signed on in September 1925 under the ownership of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, with its call letters reflecting the company's initials. For decades, WEEI was a primary affiliate for the NBC Red Network, carrying its schedule of dramas, comedies, and news, including broadcasts from iconic figures like President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his Fireside chats. Following the dissolution of the NBC radio networks, it evolved into a full-service news/talk station, competing directly with WBZ. In the early 1990s, facing increased competition from FM news outlets, the station's then-owner, Entercom (later merged into Audacy, Inc.), shifted its format to all-sports talk on July 1, 1991, becoming a direct rival to WFAN in New York City and establishing the foundation for the modern WEEI Sports Radio Network.

Programming

WEEI's schedule consists almost entirely of locally produced sports talk programming, covering teams like the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and New England Patriots. The station holds exclusive local radio rights to Major League Baseball games for the Boston Red Sox and National Football League games for the New England Patriots, with broadcasts often featuring legendary announcers such as Joe Castiglione. National programming from partners like CBS Sports Radio typically fills overnight hours. Special event coverage includes the Boston Marathon, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup Finals, and the station has historically produced popular, debate-driven shows like The Big Show and Dennis & Callahan.

On-air personalities

The station has featured numerous prominent local sports media figures over its decades in the sports format. Current and former hosts include longtime Boston sports columnist and radio voice Michael Holley, former NFL quarterback Scott Zolak, and veteran broadcaster Andy Gresh. Past personalities who gained national recognition include Mike Gorman, the longtime television voice of the Boston Celtics, and controversial talk host Glenn Ordway. Many hosts have backgrounds as Boston Globe sportswriters or as former athletes from local franchises, contributing to the station's deep integration with the New England sports scene.

Ownership and management

WEEI is owned and operated by Audacy, Inc., one of the largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States, which was formed from the merger of Entercom and CBS Radio. Previous corporate owners have included American Radio Systems and the Edison Electric Illuminating Company. The station is managed as part of Audacy's Boston cluster, which also includes WBMX and WRKO, with general oversight from regional and corporate executives based in Philadelphia and New York City. The WEEI Sports Radio Network extends the brand's programming to affiliate stations throughout New England.

Signal and coverage

WEEI broadcasts on 850 kHz, a clear-channel frequency where it is the dominant station, with a daytime power of 50,000 watts. This powerful signal provides groundwave coverage throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and parts of Connecticut and Maine. At night, its power reduces to 1,000 watts, and its signal direction is aimed slightly southwest to protect other stations on the frequency, such as KOA in Denver, though it remains audible across much of New England. The station also streams online via the Audacy app and is available on various smart speaker platforms.

Awards and recognition

WEEI and its personalities have received numerous accolades from industry organizations. The station has been honored multiple times with the Marconi Award for "Sports Station of the Year" from the National Association of Broadcasters. Individual hosts have been recognized by the Associated Press and the Radio Television Digital News Association for sports reporting and commentary. Its play-by-play coverage of the Boston Red Sox, particularly during the 2004 World Series and 2013 World Series championship seasons, has been cited for excellence by the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Category:Radio stations in Boston Category:Sports radio stations in the United States Category:Audacy Category:Radio stations established in 1925