Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 19, 2026

WSTL

WSTL is a radio station licensed to serve Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Nelson Diaz's Diaz Holdings, LLC, and broadcasts a Spanish tropical format programmed by Radio Sharon Foundation. Its programming is also heard on translator station W235CN.

Last revised
Jun 19, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
600 w
Citations
13
Source
Wikipedia ↗
WSTL
Broadcast area
Providence metropolitan area
Frequency1220 kHz
BrandingLa Mega 94.9
Programming
FormatSpanish tropical
Ownership
Owner
  • Nelson Diaz
  • (Diaz Holdings, LLC)
OperatorRadio Sharon Foundation
History
First air date
1947 (1947)
Former call signs
WRIB (1947–2006)1
Call sign meaning
We Shine The Light
Technical information2
Licensing authority
FCC
9183
ClassD
Power
  • 1,000 watts (day)
  • 166 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
41°49′15.36″N 71°23′5.2″W / 41.8209333°N 71.384778°W / 41.8209333; -71.384778
Translator94.9 W235CN (Providence)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.lamega949fm.com

WSTL (1220 AM, "La Mega 94.9") is a radio station licensed to serve Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Nelson Diaz's Diaz Holdings, LLC, and broadcasts a Spanish tropical format programmed by Radio Sharon Foundation. Its programming is also heard on translator station W235CN (94.9 FM).

Known as WRIB from 1947 to July 7, 2006, the station changed its call sign to WSTL on July 7, 2006.1

History

The station was started in 1947 as a 250-watt daytimer, WRIB with studios at the old Narragansett Hotel.3 In 1952, WRIB increased its daytime power to the current 1 kilowatt.

For many years, WRIB had aired mostly brokered programming, serving as an outlet for primarily ethnic broadcasters. Faith Christian Center, an evangelical megachurch in nearby Seekonk, Massachusetts, bought WRIB in 2005. While the station's time brokers had expected to be forced to find new homes for their programming, Faith Christian took WRIB off the air at 12:30 on July 7, 2006, with no advance warning, angering many of WRIB's former time brokers. The church only gave the time brokers a few hours to get their equipment out of the studios or face charges for trespassing.45 Some shows continue on other stations (e.g.: the Armenian Radio Hour is now on WARA) but others disappeared.

On the morning of Friday, June 23, 2017, the station reported to be going off the air soon; it then went silent.6789 On November 29, 2017, WSTL returned to the air with Spanish tropical, branded as "Mega 94.9" (simulcast on FM translator W235CN 94.9 FM Providence).10

Translators

Broadcast translator for WSTL
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W235CN 94.9 FM Providence, Rhode Island 41191 250 D 41°49′40″N 71°22′7″W / 41.82778°N 71.36861°W / 41.82778; -71.36861 (W235CN) LMS

WSTL previously operated a second translator, W229AN (93.7), which began carrying the station's programming in December 2008.11 While still owned by Diaz Holdings, in January 2025 W229AN began simulcasting the second HD Radio channel of WVEI-FM, which is programmed by The Juice Broadcasting Network.12

References

References

  1. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. "Facility Technical Data for WSTL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. Boston Radio essays. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  4. "Providence Journal story from September 9, 2006". Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  5. All Access.com; July 11, 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  6. WSTL Radio Ministry's Facebook Page
  7. radio-locator.com
  8. Remain silent authority request from the FCC's CDBS, filed June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  9. W229AN's request for silent authority, filed June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  10. Mega 94.9 Launches in Providence Radioinsight - November 29, 2017
  11. Fybush, Scott (December 22, 2008). "MPBN Threatens Service Cuts". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  12. Venta, Lance (January 20, 2025). "Providence To Get Juiced With Hip Hop/R&B". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
External links