WPPI

Last updated

WPPI
Simulcast of WPEI
Broadcast area Portland, Maine
Frequency 95.5 MHz
Branding95.5 and 95.9 WPEI
Programming
Format Sports
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner Atlantic Coast Radio
WJJB-FM, WLOB, WRED, WPEI
History
First air date
1993 (1993) (as WPME)
Former call signs
  • WLLB (1989–1993)
  • WPME (1993–1994)
  • WXGL-FM (1994–2000)
  • WCLZ (2000–2001)
  • WJJB-FM (2001–2008)
  • WUEI (2008)
  • WGEI (2008–2009)
  • WLOB-FM (2009–2011)
Call sign meaning
similar to WPEI
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 12160
Class A
Power 3,000 watts
HAAT 139 meters (456 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°54′12″N70°2′13″W / 43.90333°N 70.03694°W / 43.90333; -70.03694
Links
Public license information
Website weei.com

WPPI (95.5 FM) is a sports radio station in the Portland, Maine, area. The station is owned by Atlantic Coast Radio.

Contents

WPPI serves as a simulcast of WPEI (95.9 FM) in Saco. Both stations, in turn, mostly carry the same programs as WEEI-FM from Boston. Some local commercials take the place of Boston commercials, and some WEEI-FM game broadcasts are substituted with Fox Sports Radio. WPPI also carries University of Maine Black Bear football and ice hockey, [2] and Portland Pirates ice hockey. [3]

History

The 95.5 frequency began operations in 1993 as WPME, simulcasting a country music format with 96.7 WCME from Boothbay Harbor (now WBQA). [4] A year later, the station converted to an oldies format as WXGL-FM. [4] Atlantic Coast Radio purchased the station in 1999, [5] and in January 2000, the station switched to an adult album alternative format as WCLZ. [6] A few months later, WCLZ adopted a sports talk format, initially as a simulcast of WJAE; [7] the next year, the station took the call letters WJJB-FM. [8]

On August 25, 2008, 96.3 WLOB-FM was converted to a simulcast of WJJB (which WJAE had become by that time), resulting in WLOB's programming being heard only on the AM signal. This was part of a shuffle of Atlantic Coast Radio's FM stations as a result of the conversion of two of its stations, including WJJB-FM, on September 1, 2008 to simulcasts of WEEI. [9] Shortly after the completion of these format changes, 95.5's call letters were changed to WGEI (it had initially planned to use the WTEI call sign, [10] and for a week in September 2008 used the WUEI call letters [11] ).

On April 1, 2009, WGEI converted to a simulcast of WLOB; it became WLOB-FM a few days later. [11] In August 2011, WLOB-FM returned to simulcasting WEEI. On September 7, 2011, WLOB-FM changed its call letters to WPPI.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WPPI". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ of Maine Official Athletic Site
  3. ↑ Pirates Announce New Radio Home
  4. 1 2 Fybush, Scott. "Maine Radio History, 1971–1996". Archives @ BostonRadio.org. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  5. ↑ Fybush, Scott (August 27, 1999). "Maine Station Owner Dies in Plane Crash". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  6. ↑ Fybush, Scott (January 28, 2000). "Welcome Back WMEX, and We Take On LPFM". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  7. ↑ Fybush, Scott (October 10, 2000). "Spinning the Dial in Connecticut". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  8. ↑ Fybush, Scott (September 3, 2001). "Labor Day Update". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  9. ↑ Routhier, Ray (August 19, 2008). "WEEI to air in Maine Sept. 1". Portland Press Herald . Archived from the original on August 26, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  10. ↑ "WEEI Sports Radio Network Expands to Portland, Bangor & Keene" (PDF) (Press release). Entercom Communications. August 20, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
  11. 1 2 "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved November 28, 2023.