WBQX

Last updated

WBQX
Broadcast area Mid Coast
Frequency 106.9MHz
Branding106.9 Frank FM
Programming
Format Classic hits
Ownership
Owner
  • Binnie Media
  • (WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
WBYA
History
First air date
May 29, 1992 (1992-05-29)
Former call signs
WAVX (1990–1998)
Call sign meaning
Station formerly carried WBACH, itself named for Johann Sebastian Bach
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 49564
Class B
ERP 29,500 watts
HAAT 193 meters (633 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 44°6′30.2″N69°9′26.1″W / 44.108389°N 69.157250°W / 44.108389; -69.157250
Links
Public license information
Website 1069frank.com

WBQX (106.9 FM, "Frank FM") is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits music format. Licensed to Thomaston, Maine, United States, it serves the Mid Coast region. It first began broadcasting in 1992 under the call sign WAVX. The station is owned by Binnie Media. The station's competitor is WBAK in Belfast.

Contents

History

The station signed on May 29, 1992, as WAVX, a classical music station owned by Northern Lights Broadcasting [2] and branded as "The Classical Wave". [3] In 1996, the station began simulcasting on WBYA (101.7 FM, now WKVV) in Searsport, which brought its programming to the Bangor area. [4] Mariner Broadcasting bought WAVX in 1998 [5] and made it a part of its WBACH network of classical stations under the call letters WBQX. [6] Nassau Broadcasting Partners acquired Mariner in 2004. [7]

Nassau Broadcasting entered bankruptcy in 2011, which culminated in an auction of its stations. Prior to the conclusion of the auction, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network expressed interest in running the WBACH stations. [8] As part of the bankruptcy proceeding, WBQX, along with 29 other Nassau-owned northern New England radio stations, went to a partnership of WBIN-TV owner Bill Binnie and Jeff Shapiro; 17 of the stations, including WBQX, were acquired by Binnie's WBIN Media Company. [9] [10] [11] The purchase was consummated on November 30, 2012, at a price of $12.5 million.

On August 7, 2012, WBQX was granted a construction permit to increase their ERP to 30,000 watts and to raise their height above sea level up to 232 meters (761 feet). The construction permit expired on August 7, 2015.

WBQX ended the classical music format on February 18, 2017; Binnie Media then transferred its classic hits format, branded "Frank FM", from WBYA (105.5 FM), [12] which changed to country music on February 24. [13] [14] Much of the programming on WBQX is supplied by Portland sister station WFNK; [12] the station also began airing coverage of local high school basketball games, which had previously aired on WBYA. [13]

Related Research Articles

Frank FM is the branding used by Binnie Media for its radio stations airing a classic hits radio format. The Frank FM format was similar to the Jack FM format in that these stations play around 1000 songs in regular rotation at any time as opposed to the average number of 300 to 600 songs heard regularly on most commercial radio stations. In 2023, the station’s programming was changed to a way broader format, which plays songs from every genre and decade. The new playlist includes Rap, hip-hop, R&B, country, and also songs from its older format. During that change, the station changed its slogan to “We Play It All.” Some Frank FM playlists resemble to classic hits stations rather than that of variety hits stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBACH</span> Classical music radio network in Maine (1991–2017)

WBACH was a radio network in the American state of Maine, active from 1991 to 2017. Airing on four stations at its peak, the network broadcast a classical music format from studios in Kennebunk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHTP-FM</span> Radio station in Maine, United States

WHTP-FM is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Kennebunkport, Maine, serving York County and southern Cumberland County, Maine. Its signal is broadcast from the same location. Established in 1994, WHTP-FM is owned by Mainestream Media. The station broadcasts a rhythmic top 40 format.

WMUD is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Brandon, Vermont. WMUD broadcasts an Americana music format featuring recent Americana and country music, with programming focused on Rutland County, Vermont, and surrounding areas. Branded as "Mud Radio", the station features live, daily dialog with community service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHXR</span> Radio station in Maine, United States

WHXR is an active rock radio station licensed to serve Scarborough, Maine, with studios in Portland. Established in 1974, the station is owned by Binnie Media.

Nassau Broadcasting Partners LP was a company based in Princeton, New Jersey that owned radio stations in New England and the Mid-Atlantic United States. Nassau's stations, which included both AM and FM frequencies, were located in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company was owned and headed by Louis F. Mercatanti. Nassau was predominantly an operator of radio stations in medium and small markets. Nassau formerly owned radio station WCRB in Waltham, a Boston suburb, and located in the Boston market, the 11th largest radio market in the US, according to BIA Financial Network. However that station was sold to WGBH in 2009. Nassau operated radio stations in substantially all of the major formats. The company's most common format was classic rock/classic hits. On October 13, 2011 Nassau Broadcasting entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after their senior lenders petitioned for an involuntary Chapter 7 liquidation in September. The stations were auctioned to various bidders in May 2012 subject to bankruptcy judge and FCC approval. Nassau's last station, WPLY in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, lost its license in 2014 after having shut down in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTHT</span> Country music radio station in Auburn, Maine

WTHT is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Auburn, Maine, the station serves Greater Portland. It is owned by Binnie Media, with studios on Thomas Drive in Westbrook. Programming was simulcast on WBQQ in Kennebunk from 2012 until 2024, when WBQQ launched a York County–oriented soft oldies format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNNH</span> Radio station in New Hampshire, United States

WNNH is a commercial radio station owned by Binnie Media. WNNH is licensed to Henniker, New Hampshire, and serves the Concord-Manchester area. Its transmitter is on Watchtower Road in Contoocook and its studios and offices are on Church Street in Concord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWLK-FM</span> Radio station in New Hampshire, United States

WWLK-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Meredith, New Hampshire, and serving the Lakes Region. The station broadcasts a soft adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Dirk Nadon, through licensee Lakes Media, LLC. The studios and offices are on Church Street in Concord, New Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLKZ</span> Radio station in New Hampshire, United States

WLKZ is an American licensed radio station in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, serving the Lakes Region. The station is owned by Dirk Nadon, through licensee Lakes Media, LLC, and carries a classic rock format, under the "104.9 The Hawk" branding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBAK</span> Radio station in Belfast, Maine

WBAK is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Belfast, Maine. It is owned by Blueberry Broadcasting, and broadcasts a classic hits radio format. Its programming is also simulcast on WBKA in Bar Harbor, as well as WABK-FM in Gardiner.

WLVP is a radio station broadcasting an adult standards and oldies format. Licensed to Gorham, Maine, United States, it serves southern Maine, including Portland. Established in 1980 as WDCI, the station is owned by Robert Bittner through licensee Blue Jey Broadcasting Co..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFNQ</span> Radio station in New Hampshire, United States

WFNQ is a radio station in Nashua, New Hampshire, serving the Manchester area with a classic hits radio format. It is owned by Binnie Media. The station's studios are on Church Street in Concord, and its transmitter is located in Merrimack, just west of the Merrimack Premium Outlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNHW</span> Country music radio station in Belmont, New Hampshire

WNHW is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Belmont, New Hampshire, it serves the Concord and Lakes Region areas of New Hampshire. The station is owned by Binnie Media and licensed to WBIN Media Co. Inc.

WLAM is a radio station broadcasting an adult standards and oldies format. Licensed to Lewiston, Maine, United States, the station serves the Lewiston-Auburn area. Established in 1947, the station is owned by Robert Bittner through licensee Blue Jey Broadcasting Co. Its 5,000-watt signal can be heard at day throughout most of Southern Maine and portions of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and at night throughout most of New England and portions of New York and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBYA</span> Radio station in Islesboro, Maine

WBYA is a radio station licensed to Islesboro, Maine, United States. The station serves the Mid Coast area with a country music format. The station is owned by Binnie Media, and broadcasts from a transmitter on U.S. 1 south of Northport. The station's competitor is WMCM in Rockland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEMJ</span> Radio station in Laconia, New Hampshire

WEMJ is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Laconia, New Hampshire, United States, the station is owned by Binnie Media and licensed to WBIN Media Co., Inc. WEMJ features programming from ABC News Radio. WEMJ is known on-air as 107.3 WEMJ. It is part of the "Pulse of NH" trimulcast with 107.7 WTPL in the Manchester area and 98.1 WTSN in the Seacoast Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRFK (FM)</span> Radio station in Vermont, United States

WRFK is an FM radio station licensed to Barre and serving central Vermont. Established in 1974, the station is owned by Jeffrey Shapiro's Great Eastern Radio. WRFK airs a classic rock format, and is simulcast in the Champlain Valley on WWFK in Plattsburgh West, New York. The transmitter is located off Websterville Road and the studios and offices are on Jacques Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSNO (AM)</span> Radio station in Barre, Vermont

WSNO was an AM radio station licensed to serve Barre, Vermont. The station, which operated from 1959 to 2023, was owned by Jeffrey Shapiro's Great Eastern Radio. It had most recently broadcast an adult hits format, simulcast from Burlington-market WSNO-FM in Au Sable, New York, and also heard on translator W289CH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFYX</span> Radio station in New Hampshire, United States

WFYX is a radio station broadcasting an adult hits music format. Licensed to Walpole, New Hampshire, United States, it serves the Monadnock Region in Southwestern New Hampshire and Southeastern Vermont. It first began broadcasting in 2001 under the call sign WLPL. The station is owned by Great Eastern Radio. Programming is simulcast with the third HD Radio channel of WHDQ in Claremont and translator W294AB in Hanover, which serve the Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction area; a second translator, W293AB, serves Keene.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WBQX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1993 (PDF). 1993. pp. B-161–2. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  3. ↑ Fybush, Scott (June 28, 1999). "The 1998 Trip Revisited". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ Fybush, Scott (October 9, 1996). "Meet the New 'FNX..." New England RadioWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ Fybush, Scott (July 18, 1998). "Lobel Leaves BZ Radio". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  6. ↑ Fybush, Scott (October 9, 1998). "Clear Channel Gets Jacor". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Stations sold". Sun Journal . Associated Press. December 12, 2003. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  8. ↑ MPBN Going Commercial? Al Diamon, Downeast.com, April 23, 2012
  9. ↑ Nassau’s Maine Stations Split Up Al Diamon, Downeast.com, May 4, 2012
  10. ↑ "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  11. ↑ Venta, Lance (May 22, 2012). "Nassau Broadcasting Auction Results". RadioInsight. Retrieved May 24, 2012. (updated May 23, 2012)
  12. 1 2 Venta, Lance (February 20, 2017). "W-Bach Signs Off In Maine". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Betts, Stephen (February 20, 2017). "Local classical music station shifts to classic hits". Courier-Gazette. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Another Classical Station Comes To An End". Radio Ink . February 20, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
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