WSAR owners Jim and Bob Karam have announced that they have established a Joint Venture with Fall River businessmen Cliff Ponte and Fall River Reporter publisher Michael Silvia, who will take over day-to-day management of Fall River area radio station 1480 AM / 95.9 FM WSAR, in coordination with Jim and Bob Karam.

“I’d like to thank Jim and Bob Karam for their confidence in us,” stated Silvia. “They are two successful and respected businessmen in the Region, and we appreciate their commitment to continuing to provide quality local broadcasting.”

“This station has been a part of my life for more than two decades,” said Ponte. “I got my start behind the microphone here as a teenager, learning the ropes at WSAR, and later moved to stations at other stations in Cape Cod and Providence. The early years in local radio shaped how I communicate, how I serve, and how I lead in business and in public life. WSAR has always been the region’s hometown voice, and our team is committed to strengthening that legacy, expanding local programming, and bringing this iconic station back home to Fall River.”

Jim Karam provided the following statement:

“My brother Bob and I are very confident about the role that Michael and Cliff can bring to WSAR in carrying on the tradition that has taken place at WSAR for many decades throughout the South Coast region.  When we first negotiated the purchase of WSAR many years ago, Norman Knight, who operated one of the major radio groups in New England, indicated to us that he wanted to sell the station to us, as people with a commitment and stake in the region.  He wanted buyers from the community, who would focus on the community and assist it to move forward.

As my brother Bob is retired and I will be doing the same in a few years, we both wanted to make sure that we followed in the footsteps of Mr. Knight and handled this important community asset of the region to a group who will focus on the South Coast region and specifically, Fall River and its suburbs in a meaningful and positive format.  We wanted a format open to discussions, ideas and concerns about the region in an accessible and positive format.

We could not be more pleased than by this partnership we have established with Cliff Ponte and Michael Silvia, two well-known names in the South Coast, who understand the region and its needs and will use the station in creating a positive format to discuss the latest issues, solutions and news affecting Fall River and its suburbs.

We wish them and our current General Manager, Sue, great success and we are confident they will take this station to a new, higher level.”

In this new management Joint Venture, Silvia will take over the role of General Manager, Ponte Program Director, and current General Manager Sue Nedar will transition to Sales Manager. An initial goal is to bring WSAR and its transmission infrastructure back to a Fall River location in 2026.

Also, the programming format will transition the primetime focus of its content to 100% local content, focusing on Fall River and its suburbs. Of course, the Celtics and Patriots Broadcast will continue as a prime feature of WSAR. It will also provide this content through WSAR 1480 AM and its broadcasting applications that allow listeners to access WSAR online.

Along with these changes, a major feature and addition will expand content to be on WSAR, the partnership with Fall River Reporter, and New Bedford Guide will provide listeners and advertisers the best combination of radio and digital programming and advertising throughout Bristol County.