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WHTP-FM

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Coordinates:43°24′16.3″N70°26′13.1″W/ 43.404528°N 70.436972°W/43.404528; -70.436972
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WHTP-FM
Broadcast areaSouthern Maine
Frequency104.7MHz
BrandingHot Radio Maine
Programming
FormatRhythmic contemporary hit radio
Ownership
OwnerMainestream Media, LLC
WHTP,WHZP
History
First air date
December 1,1994(as WQEZ)[1]
Former call signs
  • WXPT (1990–1994)
  • WBQW (1994)
  • WQEZ (1994–2004)
  • WHXQ (2004–2008)
  • WBQW (2008–2012)
  • WHTP (2012–2020)
Call signmeaning
"Hot Portland"
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID69855
ClassA
ERP6,000watts
HAAT87 meters (285 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°24′16.3″N70°26′13.1″W/ 43.404528°N 70.436972°W/43.404528; -70.436972
Repeater(s)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitehotradiomaine

WHTP-FM(104.7MHz) is an Americanradio stationlicensed to serve thecommunityofKennebunkport, Maine,servingYork Countyand southernCumberland County, Maine.Its signal is broadcast from the same location. Established in 1994, WHTP-FM is owned by Mainestream Media. The station broadcasts arhythmic top 40format.[3]

WHTP-FM is simulcast in theLewiston-AuburnandAugustametro areas onWHTP(1280 AM and 100.3 FM), as well as inBangorand surrounding areas onWHZP(1400 AM and 102.9 FM).[4]

History

[edit]

WHTP-FM began broadcasting December 1, 1994, as WQEZ, aneasy listening/adult contemporarystation owned by Vega Corporation, which also ownedWBQQ(99.3 FM).[1][5]Vega sold the stations to Mariner Broadcasting on June 16, 1997.[6]Mariner sold its stations toNassau Broadcasting Partnersin 2004.[7]That April, Nassau relaunched the station as WHXQ, aclassic rockstation branded asThe Boneand simulcasting with WHXR (106.7 FM, nowWXTP).[8]During the summer of 2006, WHXQ/WHXR expanded their playlist and shifted toactive rock.WHXQ and WHXR had planned to switch tosports talkprovided byBoston'sWEEIin January 2008,[9]but the deal between Nassau and WEEI ownerEntercomended up collapsing.[10]

Logo as WBQW

WHXQ swapped formats and call signs with WBQW (106.3 FM, now the currentWHXR) on October 6, 2008, and began to carryWBACH'sclassical musicprogramming (which had originated on WBQQ in 1991; concurrent with the WHXQ/WBQW swap, WBQQ became a simulcast ofWTHT).[11]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.[12]As part of the bankruptcy proceeding, WBQW was auctioned in May 2012 to local owner Mainestream Media for $150,000, while the other WBACH stations (WBQXinThomastonandWBQIinBar Harbor) went toBill Binnie's WBIN Media Company.[13][14][15]

Mainestream Media dropped WBACH's programming at 5 p.m. on September 13, 2012,[16][17]and beganstuntingwithChristmas music,making the claim of being the first station to switch to Christmas music in 2012, and promoting the "104 Days Of Christmas", saying they would give Portland special "gifts" through the holidays, with the first to come the following day at 5 p.m..[18]At that time, the station adopted its permanentrhythmic top 40format, branded as "Hot 104.7".[3][19][20]On October 1, WBQW's call letters were changed to WHTP, fitting the "Hot" branding. WHTP currently competes with longtime Top 40 stationWJBQ,which has a more mainstream feel to it as compared to WHTP's Rhythmic approach (similar to the formerWRED). In February 2013, WHTP was added toMediabase's Rhythmic panel, reflecting its choice of musical direction.

WHTP began simulcasting onWJYE(1280 AM and 100.3 FM) inGardinerandWCYR(1400 AM and 102.9 FM) inVeazieon January 13, 2020; to reflect its expanded reach, the station rebranded as "Hot Radio Maine".[4]The station added the "-FM" suffix to its call sign on March 6, 2020.[21]

References

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  1. ^abBroadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995(PDF).1995. p. B-182.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  2. ^"Facility Technical Data for WHTP-FM".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ab"WBQW Lights Up Top 40 'Hot 104.7'".All Access.September 14, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  4. ^abVenta, Lance (January 13, 2020)."Hot 104.7 Portland Expands To Bangor & Lewiston".RadioInsight.RetrievedMarch 15,2020.
  5. ^Fybush, Scott."Maine Radio History, 1971–1996".Archives @ BostonRadio.org.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  6. ^Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999(PDF).1999. p. D-199.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  7. ^"Stations sold".Sun Journal.Associated Press.December 12, 2003.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  8. ^"Stern's The" Maine Man "For Nassau".FMQB.April 14, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  9. ^Whitehouse, Randy (October 23, 2007). "Boston's WEEI coming to Maine".Sun Journal.
  10. ^"Entercom-Nassau Deal Falls Through".Radio Ink.January 4, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  11. ^"Atlantic Coast, Nassau Shake Up Maine".August 25, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 28,2009.
  12. ^MPBN Going Commercial?Al Diamon, Downeast, April 23, 2012
  13. ^Nassau’s Maine Stations Split UpAl Diamon, Downeast, May 4, 2012
  14. ^Venta, Lance (May 22, 2012)."Nassau Broadcasting Auction Results".RadioInsight.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.(updated May 23, 2012)
  15. ^"104.7 WBQW Portland to Launch New Format".
  16. ^"104.7 Change of Ownership".wbachradio.RetrievedSeptember 6,2012.
  17. ^"Southern Maine radio station to stop airing classical music".Portland Press Herald.September 7, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 7,2012.
  18. ^"Radio's first all-Christmas station arrives".Inside Radio.September 13, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  19. ^"Hot 104.7 Debuts in Southern Maine".
  20. ^"WBQW Becomes Hot 104.7".September 14, 2012.
  21. ^"Call Sign History (WHTP-FM)".CDBS Public Access.Federal Communications Commission.RetrievedMarch 15,2020.
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