
WACE (AM)

WACE (730 kHz) is an AM radio radio station broadcasting a mixed Christian radio and infomercial radio format. Licensed to Chicopee, Massachusetts, United States, the station serves the Springfield radio market and has been permitted to identify itself as "Chicopee-Springfield" since 1969. The station is currently owned by Carter Broadcasting.
History.
On December 1, 1946, WACE first signed on the air. It was owned by the Regional Broadcasting Company on Chicopee Street in Springfield. WACE was a daytimer, broadcasting at 1,000 watts by day. But because AM 730 is a clear channel frequency, reserved for CKAC in Montreal and XEX in Mexico City, WACE had to sign-off at sunset to prevent interference. In the 1960s, the power was increased to 5,000 watts but still as a daytime-only station.
During the 1970s, the station broadcast a popular Oldies format. In 1977, Ace Broadcasting bought the station. As music listening shifted to FM radio, the new owners tried an all-news radio format, as a network affiliate of CBS Radio News.
The news format didn't last very long and by 1980, WACE was airing religious programming, where national preachers bought blocks of time on the station to discuss their faith and seek donations.