History
WATS-AM signed on as Bradford County’S first radio station in July of 1950. Its call letters stand for Waverly, Athens, Towanda, Sayre. then station owner Robert Kloss added WAVR-FM in 1974.
Current owners Chuck Carver, Larry Brown and Todd Bowers purchased the stations in 1986, and immediately institued an adult contemporary sound…coupled with an extensive commitment to community events & local news and sports programming.
The stations have won more than 60 state and national awards for programming excellence for their news, sports, editorials and community service programming…including the Twin Tiers most honored radio broadcast “Scholarship Challenge.” the 24 team high school quiz show is in its 29th year, and has awarded more than $140,000 in prize money to area school districts. The “Christmas is for Kids” toy drive for the Salvation Army collects approximately $40,000 in cash during its three hour December broadcast…and receives twice that amount in toys. In 1998, WATS/WAVR was named of the top 50 community service radio stations in the U-S, by the National Association Of Broadcasters.
The station offices were once located on Elmer Avenue, but they were severely damaged in a fire in the 1950s. after several years in the old Pennsylvania Water Company building in downtown Sayre, WATS/WAVR Radio is now housed at 204 Desmond Street.
About Us
Chuck Carver
Chuck Carver is the region's most respected journalist, having joined WATS Broadcasting, Inc., right after receiving his journalism degree from the Ohio State University in 1976.
Chuck has served the stations as Announcer, News Director, Sports Director, Station Manager, and in his current post as President, General Manager & Managing Partner.
Chuck has won more that 50 State and National Broadcast Awards for his News & Sportscasts, Scholarship Challenge and Editorial writing.
Chuck's an active community servant and a popular lay speaker in the area. He is also the recipient of the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship, as past President of the Sayre Rotary Club.
Chuck and his wife Michele have 2 grown sons and they live in Sayre.
Todd Bowers
Todd Bowers is back on the Choice! The popular show host from the late '80s returns to join Chuck Carver, weekdays from 6-10am.
Todd is Vice President at WATS Broadcasting, Inc. and an equal partner in the business. He spent 10 years in corporate communications at Guthrie Health Care System and retired from Ithaca College's development department.
Todd is a former Sayre Library Board President, member of Sayre Rotary and the Sayre United Methodist Church and helped found the New York-Penn Leadership Council. Todd and his wife Missy reside in Sayre and have 3 grown children.
Larry Brown
Born in Towanda in 1942, he moved with the family to the Valley when he was six. He attended Sayre schools, graduating in 1959. While studying Electrical Engineering at Penn State for four years he acquired the broadcasting bug, working summers at WHLD, Niagara Falls. After PSU, he was employed briefly by Northeast Radio Network before returning home to work for WATS. Soon the draft called and after two years at Fort Hood, he exited as a sergeant in charge of a crypto platoon of the Second Armored Division in 1966. Following military service, he began a 33 year career with WNBF-AM,FM,TV which evolved to WBNG-TV, with a brief period at WSYE-TV, now WETM-TV. In about 1970, he returned to WATS to work for Bob Klose part time and engineered the addition of WAVR, stereo FM, in 1974 and the power increase of WATS to 5 kilowatts in 1980. In 1986 he joined with Chuck Carver, Todd Bowers, and Peggy Croft to purchase the stations. He concluded his career at WBNG-TV in 2002, having attained the position of chief engineer.
He still resides in Sayre with wife Ruth, the head teacher at Litchfield Elementary School. Daughter Rebecca has completed the interior design study at Philadelphia University and is now employed in her field. Son Andrew is in his senior year at Edinborough University with the double majors of animation and computer science.
Meade Murtland
Station Manager Meade T. Murtland came to WATS Broadcasting in the fall of 2001 just prior to the 9/11 attacks. Prior to that he had been the Majors Account Executive with Elmira Star Gazette in Elmira New York. And then for 25 years prior to that he had held various positions with Green Group Broadcasting Inc. owners of WENY Radio and WENY – TV 36 in Elmira New York. After working as on-air talent for a few years he moved in the business side of broadcasting where he held positions in radio and television sales, sales management and finally Television Station Manager for WENY-TV 36 until it was sold in 1999.
Meade is a 1977 Graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Additionally he attended Utica College of Syracuse University as a Public Relations Major. As well as doing additional education at the Roy Park School of Broadcasting at Ithaca College, Ithaca New York and attended Elmira College in Elmira New York for Computer Science.
As a youth he attained the Eagle Scout Award for the Boy Scouts of America. Meade is an avid Amateur Radio enthusiast first licensed in 1978. He serves as a member of the board of Trustees for the Guthrie Healthcare System and is a member of the Long Term Healthcare Board. In addition he is a member of the Athens Township Parks and Recreation Committee. He is the 2005 06 Athens Rotary Club President, the Public Relations Chairman for the Andaste District of the Boy Scouts of America. A member of the Troop 4009 BSA committee and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sayre. He lives in Athens Township and has two sons.
As a Syracuse alumni he follows the Orange extensively. GO Orange!!!!!
He enjoys every facet of broadcasting and particularly the small station environment where you can do a little bit of everything
Joel Clawson
Joel Clawson began his radio career in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1961. In the years since he has worked in radio and television in Erie, Pennsylvania, Elmira, New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Clawson started and operated radio stations in Troy, Pennsylvania and Ithaca New York as well as founded an advertising agency in Elmira, New York.
Joel tells people that he left factory work in Erie in 1961 and went into broadcasting and "hasn't worked a day in his life since" (He really enjoys what he does.)
In addition to his radio duties, Clawson on the board of the Legacy Charity festival and the Choices Program for 8th grade students in the valley.
Ron Ferro
Ron Ferro brings over 25 years of radio broadcast experience to Choice Radio. After having worked in the Elmira radio market for many years. Ron has worked extensively both in front of and behind the mic for years. As an advertising and marketing consultant Ron can take your idea from concept to finished ad product. Ron will take the advertising monkey off your back to help broaden your customer base and increase you business. When it comes to broadcast marketing, come to the pros at the Choice Radio and Ron Ferro.
Radio. ….that’s all we do.
Sheri Eyer
Sheri has been with WATS Broadcasting since January of 2002. At the office, she is responsible for traffic and billing. Occasionally, you’ll hear her on the air in a commercial or two. Also a full time student at Keystone College, she has Graduated From Keystone College with a degree in Human Resource Management. When not at work or busy with schoolwork, Sheri enjoys spending time and traveling with her children and husband. An avid New York Giants fan, she thrives on the Giants beating up on her husband’s favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles.