Our History

WESR’s beginnings

Eastern Shore Radio, Inc. came into being over breakfast one morning at the old Whispering Pines Motel in Tasley. Charles F. Russell I, owner of the Pines, struck up a conversation with Vernon Baker in the motel’s diner. Baker, a professor at Virginia Tech, was also starting radio stations across the state. Russell owned the farm across the highway and offered the land and to build the building. Baker acquired the license for WESR-AM 1330, a 5,000 watt signal. Brooks Russell, Charles’ youngest son, was set to run the operation. The first broadcast occured on January 23, 1958.

 

WESR’s studios in a 1958 snow storm

WESR’s studios in a 1958 snow storm

 

After running for 10 years, WESR acquired a signal on the yet to be proven FM band. WESR-AM began simulcasting on 103.3 FM in 1968 with a 50,000 watt signal, the largest signal available.

 

A new generation

Charles F. Russell II, grandson of Charles F. Russell I and nephew of Brooks Russell, bought the radio station from Brooks and Baker in 1987, and acquired full ownership in 2006.

Eastern Shore Radio, Inc. has grown. In 2016 it acquired an FM Translator and turned 1330 AM WESR into W289CE Coastal Country and broadcasts on 105.7 FM.

Eastern Shore Radio, Inc.’s website ShoreDailyNews.com has become one of the most popular on the Shore.

We are happy to now offer the Eastern Shore Radio app, which brings all our products to you in one easy to use app available on your iPhone or Android device.

We continue to strive to get the important local information to the citizens of the Eastern Shore.

 

Our Mission

“It is the mission of the management and staff of WESR AM-FM to consistently produce quality radio programming that informs and entertains our listeners and advertisers, responds to the needs and reflects the character of the communities we serve.”

Technical Facilities

WESR is a commercial Class B AM-FM broadcasting facility, operating at 103.3 MHz (channel 277) with 50,000 watts of power. WESR AM operates at 1330 KHz with 5,000 watts of power. Both signals have a transmitter output power rating of 9.3 kW and serve the broadcasting market of Southern Delmarva and the Lower Chesapeake Bay region.

Transmitter and Antenna Specifications 

Our transmitter site is located near U.S. 13, one mile northeast of Tasley, Virginia at Geographical Coordinates N 37 43′ 02″ and W 75 41′ 01″. The transmitter is a CCA Electronics FM A-6811 broadcasting antenna which is mounted 343 feet above ground level (98 m) and 386 feet above mean sea level (107 m). The AM transmitter is a BC-5-P2 broadcasting antenna mounted at the same elevation as the FM transmitter.

Broadcast signal converage for 103.3 FM WESR and 1330 AM WESR.

 

Broadcast coverage for 105.7 FM Coastal Country.

 

Listen Live!

WESR 103.3FM PLAY BUTTON
COASTAL COUNTRY PLAY BUTTON

Local Weather

March 18, 2024, 1:02 pm
Overcast clouds
NW
Overcast clouds
52°F
16 mph
Apparent: 49°F
Pressure: 1010 mb
Humidity: 51%
Winds: 16 mph NW
Windgusts: 29 mph
UV-Index: 5.42
Sunrise: 7:08 am
Sunset: 7:12 pm
 

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