WYNZ

Last updated

WYNZ
WYNZ Whoopie 100.9 logo.png
Broadcast area Portland metropolitan area
Frequency 100.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingWhoopie 100.9
Programming
Format Adult hits
Subchannels HD2: Oldies "Pure Oldies 105.5"
Ownership
Owner
  • Saga Communications
  • (Saga Communications of New England, LLC)
WBAE, WVAE, WGAN, WZAN, WMGX, WCLZ, WPOR
History
First air date
January 13, 1976 (1976-01-13) (as WRQN, Westbrook)
Former call signs
  • WRQN (1976–1977)
  • WLOB-FM (1977–1980)
  • WYNZ-FM (1980–1993)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 58536
Class B1
ERP 25,000 watts
HAAT 93 meters (305 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 43°41′28″N70°19′05″W / 43.691°N 70.318°W / 43.691; -70.318
Translator(s) HD2: 105.5 W288CU (Portland)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Website

WYNZ (100.9 FM, "Whoopie 100.9"), is a commercial radio station licensed to South Portland, Maine, and serving the Portland metropolitan area. It is owned by Saga Communications and airs an adult hits radio format. The studios and offices are on Western Avenue in South Portland. [2]

Contents

WYNZ has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 25,000 watts, but from a tower at only 93 meters (305 ft) in height above average terrain (HAAT), limiting its coverage area. That contrasts with other Portland stations such as WBLM and WFNK that have taller towers and are powered at 100,000 watts. WYNZ's transmitter is behind the studios in South Portland, near the Maine Turnpike. [3]

History

WRQN and WLOB-FM

On January 13, 1976, the station signed on as WRQN. [4] It was a hot adult contemporary station. WRQN originally was licensed to Westbrook and owned by Japat, Inc.

WRQN was powered at less than 1,000 watts, only heard in Portland and its adjacent suburbs. In 1977, it was sold to the owners of WLOB (1310 AM), whose management changed the FM station to album-oriented rock (AOR) as WLOB-FM.

Portland's Best Rock

In the late 1970s, WLOB-FM was known as "FM 101 - Portland's Best Rock", giving progressive rock station 107.5 WBLM some serious competition and sometimes beating WBLM in the ratings as well. In late 1980, the station was sold to Eastman Broadcasting, which was also in the process of purchasing WCSH (970 AM).

Eastman changed WLOB-FM's call sign to WYNZ-FM in December 1980, while AM 970 became WYNZ, simulcasting the FM station. The AOR format remained. For the next year, the station was known as "Z101 - Portland's Best Rock". Some of the DJs on WYNZ-FM included Danny Shewster, G.V. Rapp, John Clark, Karen (Tucker) Payson, Bennie Green, Scott Schuster, Will Jackson and Jeff Spicer.

Adult contemporary and oldies

Eastman changed WYNZ-FM to an adult contemporary music format in November 1981, calling the station Y101. At that point, Z101 veteran John Clark defected to WBLM and the new on-air line-up included morning man Bob Rose as well as Dean Rogers, Andy Kosinski and later Ted Talbot. WYNZ-AM-FM were sold to Buckley Broadcasting in the mid-1980s with the Y101 adult contemporary format remained in place.

In 1989, WYNZ changed formats to oldies. It was known as "Portland's Solid Gold, Y101-FM" playing hits from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Bob Rose remained on mornings as well as Ted Talbot handling afternoons. Andy Kosinski was the evening voice. Chuck Igo joined the station to handle middays. Bob Rose exited the station in the early 1990s and Dean Rogers returned to the FM side of the WYNZ operation to handle mornings.

Sale to Saga

In 1993, WYNZ-AM-FM were bought by Saga Communications for $350,000. [5] Saga switched AM 970 to a hot talk format as WZAN, while the FM station was re-branded as "Oldies 100.9 WYNZ". The Oldies on-air staff included Dean Rogers, Chuck Igo and Ted Talbot. After the departure of Igo (1994) and Rogers (1997), Bob Anderson assumed mornings until his death in 2003 while hosting his Saturday morning shift Igo, who had returned to the station in late 2001 to handle afternoons, moved into the morning show. Corey Garrison, Ken McGrail, Gary "The K" Koblara, Mike Kimball, Ed Petty, Jeff Pierce, Chris Harper and the late Tom Kelly (Tom Pagnotti) have handled air duties.

In 2007, WYNZ evolved, eliminating the hits of the 1950s, and moving the format forward to incorporate hits from the 1980s, re-branding as "Big Hits Y100.9". In 2009, the station changed its city of license from Westbrook to South Portland.

Rewind 100.9

Logo as "Rewind 100.9" WYNZ.png
Logo as "Rewind 100.9"

In April 2013, WYNZ re-branded to "Rewind 100.9", playing hits from the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Around 2015, the station began focusing on a playlist from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The main competitor for WYNZ is Binnie-owned classic hits station 107.5 WFNK, "Frank FM". While WYNZ plays some pop and dance hits from artists such as Michael Jackson and Madonna, Frank FM leans more toward classic rock.

Whoopie 100.9

On March 27, 2023, WYNZ shifted to adult hits, branded as "Whoopie 100.9", the name coming from the whoopie pie, the official state treat of Maine. With the change, the station expanded the classic hits playlist to include more recent songs, the library now ranging from the 1980s to the early 2010s. [6]

WYNZ-HD2

On November 1, 2019, WYNZ launched an oldies format on its HD2 subchannel, branded as "Pure Oldies 105.5" (simulcast on translator W288CU 105.5 FM Portland). [7]

Broadcast translator for WYNZ-HD2
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class Transmitter coordinatesFCC info
W288CU105.5 FM Portland, Maine 150422200D 43°41′26.3″N70°19′3.2″W / 43.690639°N 70.317556°W / 43.690639; -70.317556 (W288CU) LMS

Related Research Articles

WMNI is a commercial radio station licensed to Columbus, Ohio, known as "Fox Sports 920" with a sports format. Locally owned by North American Broadcasting Company, Inc., WMNI serves the Columbus metropolitan area. WMNI's studios are located in Marble Cliff, Ohio, using a Columbus address, while the transmitter resides in Grove City. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WMNI is available online.

WBIG-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. It has a classic rock radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are in Rockville, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWSW-FM</span> Classic hits radio station in Pittsburgh

WWSW-FM – branded 94.5 3WS – is a commercial radio station that is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It airs a classic hits radio format and switches to all–Christmas music for most of November and December each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQQO</span> Top 40 radio station in Sylvania, Ohio

WQQO is a commercial radio station licensed to Sylvania, Ohio, carrying a hot adult contemporary format known as "Q105". Owned by Cumulus Media, the station serves the Toledo metropolitan area and much of surrounding Northwest Ohio. WQQO's studio is located near UTMC on Arlington near Byrne road. The transmitter is located in Toledo's Scott Park neighborhood. Besides a standard analog transmission, WQQO broadcasts over two HD Radio channels, and is available online; WQQO-HD2 carries a sports talk format branded as "ESPN 100.7 The Ticket", which is relayed over low-power analog translator W264AK.

WLOB is a commercial radio station licensed to Portland, Maine. The station is owned by Atlantic Coast Radio and airs a Talk radio format. The studios and transmitter are on Warren Avenue in Portland. WLOB transmits with 5,000 watts using a directional antenna to protect other stations on its frequency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLXT</span> Radio station in Petoskey, Michigan

WLXT is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to Petoskey, Michigan, at an ERP of 100,000 watts, covering most of northern Michigan. It is owned by Trish MacDonald-Garber, whose family has owned the station for over 30 years. Between mid-November and December each year, WLXT switches to an all-Christmas music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTRY-FM</span> Radio station in Rotterdam, New York

WTRY-FM, is a commercial radio station licensed to Rotterdam, New York. It airs a classic hits format. WTRY-FM serves the New York State Capital District in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy radio market. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, and broadcasts at 6,000 watts ERP from a tower in between Altamont and Duanesburg off U.S. Route 20. Studios and offices are on Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KLTH</span> Radio station in Lake Oswego–Portland, Oregon

KLTH is a commercial FM radio station, licensed to Lake Oswego, Oregon, and serving the Portland metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a classic hits radio format. Specialty programs on KLTH include Casey Kasem's "American Top 40: The 70s" on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Sundays also feature Yacht Rock".

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

KXL-FM is a commercial radio station in Portland, Oregon. It is owned by Alpha Media and broadcasts a news/talk radio format. The studios are on SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland. KXL-FM is the flagship station for the nationally syndicated Lars Larson Show. In addition to news blocks in weekday AM and PM drive time, KXL-FM also carries syndicated shows from Chad Benson, Markley, Van Camp and Robbins, Red Eye Radio, This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal and America in the Morning.

WRDU is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Wake Forest, North Carolina. The station is owned by iHeartMedia though licensee iHM Licenses, LLC and broadcasts a classic rock format. Its broadcast tower is near Middlesex at. The station's service contour covers a large portion of Eastern North Carolina, including the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Rocky Mount, Greenville, and Roanoke Rapids.

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

WJBQ is a commercial radio station in Portland, Maine. It is owned by Townsquare Media and it airs a top 40 (CHR) format. The studios and offices are at One City Center in Downtown Portland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMTR (AM)</span> Oldies radio station in Morristown, New Jersey, United States

WMTR is an American AM radio station owned by Beasley Broadcast Group. It is licensed to Morristown, New Jersey and serves Morris County and surrounding areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBAE</span> Soft adult contemporary radio station in Portland, Maine, United States

WBAE is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Portland, Maine. Owned by Saga Communications, it broadcasts a soft adult contemporary format. Its studios and offices are located on Western Avenue in South Portland, and its transmitter is off Forest Avenue in Portland. The Bay primarily features music from soft rock artists and music of the 1970s and 80s, with a few newer titles mixed in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WREE</span> Radio station in Urbana, Illinois

WREE is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Urbana, Illinois, United States, the station serves the Champaign-Urbana area. The station is owned by Saga Communications under licensee Saga Communications of Illinois, LLC, and operates as part of its Illini Radio Group. The station calls itself "Rewind 92.5." The playlist ranges from hits of the 1960s to the 1990s, switching to Christmas music for part of November and December.

<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">WGAN</span> News/talk radio station in Portland, Maine

WGAN is an commercial radio station licensed to Portland, Maine. The station is owned by Saga Communications and it airs a news/talk radio format. The station calls itself "Newsradio WGAN AM 560 and FM 98.5" The studios and offices are on Western Avenue in South Portland, Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDRR</span> Radio station in Martinez, Georgia

WDRR also known as "93.9 Bob FM", is a classic hits radio station located in Augusta, Georgia. The station is licensed to the town of Martinez, Georgia by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and broadcasts with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 13 kW. The station is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., through licensee Beasley Media Group, LLC. Its studios are located just two blocks from the Augusta-Richmond County border in unincorporated Columbia County, Georgia and the transmitter is in Augusta proper near Fort Eisenhower.

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

WZAN is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a classic country radio format. Licensed to Portland, it is owned by Saga Communications. The studios and offices are on Western Avenue in South Portland, Maine.

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

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFNK</span> Classic hits radio station in Lewiston, Maine

WFNK – branded 107.5 Frank FM – is a commercial classic hits radio station licensed to serve Lewiston, Maine. Owned by Binnie Media, the station services the Portland metropolitan area. WFNK has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, broadcasting from a transmitter in Poland, Maine, making it among the highest-powered FM stations in New England. Some WFNK programming is also heard on sister station WBQX in Thomaston, Maine, which also calls itself Frank FM.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WYNZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Rewind1009.com/contact-us
  3. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WYNZ-FM
  4. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-94
  5. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994 page B-167
  6. ↑ Saga Goes Whoopie For 100.9 Portland Radioinsight - March 27, 2023
  7. ↑ Saga Launches Outlaw and Pure Oldies in Portland ME Radioinsight - November 1, 2019
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.