WBQX
 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Mid Coast |
| Frequency | 106.9MHz |
| Branding | 106.9Frank FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBYA | |
| History | |
First air date | May 29, 1992 |
Former call signs | WAVX (1990–1998) |
Call signmeaning | Station formerly carriedWBACH,itself named forJohann Sebastian Bach |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 49564 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 29,500watts |
| HAAT | 193 meters (633 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°6′30.2″N69°9′26.1″W/ 44.108389°N 69.157250°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | 1069frank |
WBQX(106.9FM,"Frank FM") is aradio stationbroadcasting aclassic hitsmusic format. Licensed toThomaston, Maine,United States, it serves theMid Coastregion. It first began broadcasting in1992under thecall signWAVX.The station is owned by Binnie Media. The station's competitor isWBAKinBelfast.
History
[edit]The station signed on May 29, 1992, as WAVX, aclassical musicstation owned by Northern Lights Broadcasting[2]and branded as "The Classical Wave".[3]In 1996, the station began simulcasting on WBYA (101.7 FM, nowWKVV) inSearsport,which brought its programming to theBangorarea.[4]Mariner Broadcasting bought WAVX in 1998[5]and made it a part of itsWBACHnetwork of classical stations under the call letters WBQX.[6]Nassau Broadcasting Partnersacquired 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, theMaine Public Broadcasting Networkexpressed 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 ofWBIN-TVownerBill Binnieand 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 aconstruction permitto increase theirERPto 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 itsclassic hitsformat, branded "Frank FM",fromWBYA(105.5 FM),[12]which changed tocountry musicon February 24.[13][14]Much of the programming on WBQX is supplied byPortlandsister stationWFNK;[12]the station also began airing coverage of local high school basketball games, which had previously aired on WBYA.[13]
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for WBQX".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1993(PDF).1993. pp. B-161–2.RetrievedNovember 12,2017.
- ^Fybush, Scott (June 28, 1999)."The 1998 Trip Revisited".North East RadioWatch.RetrievedNovember 13,2017.
- ^Fybush, Scott (October 9, 1996)."Meet the New 'FNX..."New England RadioWatch.RetrievedNovember 13,2017.
- ^Fybush, Scott (July 18, 1998)."Lobel Leaves BZ Radio".North East RadioWatch.RetrievedNovember 13,2017.
- ^Fybush, Scott (October 9, 1998)."Clear Channel Gets Jacor".North East RadioWatch.RetrievedNovember 13,2017.
- ^"Stations sold".Sun Journal.Associated Press.December 12, 2003.RetrievedNovember 4,2012.
- ^MPBN Going Commercial?Al Diamon, Downeast, April 23, 2012
- ^Nassau’s Maine Stations Split UpAl Diamon, Downeast, May 4, 2012
- ^"Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations".All Access.May 22, 2012.RetrievedMay 22,2012.
- ^Venta, Lance (May 22, 2012)."Nassau Broadcasting Auction Results".RadioInsight.RetrievedMay 24,2012.(updated May 23, 2012)
- ^abVenta, Lance (February 20, 2017)."W-Bach Signs Off In Maine".RadioInsight.RetrievedNovember 13,2017.
- ^abBetts, Stephen (February 20, 2017)."Local classical music station shifts to classic hits".Courier-Gazette.RetrievedFebruary 26,2017.
- ^"Another Classical Station Comes To An End".Radio Ink.February 20, 2017.RetrievedNovember 12,2017.
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 49564 (WBQX)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WBQXinNielsen Audio's FM station database