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WJBQ

Coordinates:43°51′07″N70°19′37″W/ 43.852°N 70.327°W/43.852; -70.327
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WJBQ
Broadcast areaSouthern and WesternMaine
Frequency97.9MHz
BrandingQ97 dot 9
Programming
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
Ownership
Owner
WBLM,WCYY,WHOM,WPKQ
History
First air date
June 1960(1960-06)(as WLOB-FM)
Former call signs
  • WLOB-FM (1960–1971)
  • WDCS (1971–1980)
  • WJBQ-FM (1980–1986)
  • WWGT (6/1986–8/1986)
  • WWGT-FM (1986–1991)
  • WCSO (1991–1997)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID3134
ClassB
ERP16,000watts
HAAT271 meters (889 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°51′07″N70°19′37″W/ 43.852°N 70.327°W/43.852; -70.327
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewjbq

WJBQ(97.9FM;Q97 dot 9) is acommercialradio stationinPortland, Maine.It is owned byTownsquare Mediaand it airs atop 40 (CHR)format.Thestudiosand offices are at One City Center in Downtown Portland.

WJBQ has aneffective radiated power(ERP) of 16,000wattsas aClass Bstation. Itstransmitteris on Eagles Nest Road inGray, Maine,near theMaine Turnpike.The signal can be heard throughout Southwestern Maine, into portions of adjacentNew Hampshire,and occasionally in theCanadianprovince ofNova Scotia.[2]

History[edit]

WLOB-FM and WDCS history[edit]

In June 1960, the stationsigned onas WLOB-FM,simulcastwith co-owned 1310WLOB.Over time, WLOB-AM-FM became Portland's highest-rated Top 40 radio stations, although in those days, few people had FM radios and most were listening to 1310 WLOB. WLOB-AM-FM were sold to Portland Broadcasting Corporation on March 3, 1965.[3]The AM and FM simulcast ended on March 1, 1971 when the two stations were acquired by separate companies.

WLOB (AM) went to Aurovideo Incorporated while still maintaining a Top 40 format. Meanwhile, WLOB-FM went to Dirigo Communications Incorporation, changing itscall signto WDCS-FM and switching to aclassical musicformat.[4]The commercial classical station on 97.9 FM lasted nine years.

WJBQ[edit]

See also:WHXR

WJBQ-FM debuted on July 15, 1974, as a 3,000-watt Top 40 station. It broadcast on 106.3 FM licensed toScarborough, Maine,just outside Portland. It wassimulcastwithWJBQ (1440 AM)in nearbyWestbrook, Maine.The main competition for WJBQ-AM-FM was WLOB, which was one of the highest rated contemporary hits stations in the country. In its first Arbitron ratings, WJBQ-AM-FM edged WLOB by about three points. As the audience shifted to FM from AM, it meant a gradual decline for WLOB.

WLOB continued as an AM Top 40 station for a while longer, probably because it had the backing of legendary consultant Paul Drew protege Ron Foster and others. Meanwhile, WJBQ was staffed by Wally Brine doing mornings (later atWROR-FMinBoston), Joe McMillan in middays (who went on toWHDHin Boston andKABLinSan Francisco), and Jeff Ryder in the afternoon slot (also the station's program director, who went on toWBBFinRochester, New York,andWOKYinMilwaukee). By 1977, WLOB had changed formats to an older-targetedadult contemporaryformat.

In September 1980, WJBQ's owner John Bride swapped frequencies and formats with Portland classical music station WDCS on 97.9 FM. This would make WJBQ a full-power 50,000-watt facility, with the lower-rated classical programming moving to the 3,000-watt signal at 106.3. The move proved to be profitable for WJBQ. High-profile names like Andy Carey, Brian Phoenix, and Harry Nelson took turns as the station's program directors, and brought it continued high ratings.

In August 1986, Bride sold WJBQ in order to launch independent UHF TV stationWPXT.The new owner was formerWJTOandWIGYowner Turner Porter, who launched an ambitious full-service adult contemporary format featuring Joe McMillan in morning drive andNBC Talknetat night. It took new call letters, WWGT, or "The Great 98". Jack O'Brien was imported from sister stationWERZinExeter, New Hampshire,as program director. This "AM on FM" approach did not garner the success that was hoped for, and the station changed format again in November 1987.

The full-service AC format was replaced withCHRas "G-98" with Jon Holiday as the programming consultant. Under Holiday's guidance, the station achieved ratings success and remained CHR as G-98 until 1991. Beginning that year, the station changed on-air slogans several times (asOcean,Coast,etc.) It remained an adult contemporary station with the WCSO call sign for several years. It returned to its Top 40 roots for a third time and original WJBQ call letters in November 1996, under the ownership ofFuller-Jeffrey Radio.Fuller-Jeffrey later sold the station toCitadel Broadcasting.Citadel merged withCumulus Mediaon September 16, 2011.[5]

Previous logo

On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in whichTownsquare Mediawould acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including WJBQ, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition ofDial Global;Townsquare and Dial Global were both controlled byOaktree Capital Management.[6][7]The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Facility Technical Data for WJBQ".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^Radio-Locator /WJBQ
  3. ^Broadcasting Yearbook 1966(PDF).1966. p. 66.RetrievedMarch 4,2012.
  4. ^Broadcasting Yearbook 1973(PDF).1973. p. 90.RetrievedMarch 4,2012.
  5. ^"Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting".Atlanta Business Journal.September 16, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 16,2011.
  6. ^"Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus".All Access.August 30, 2013.RetrievedAugust 30,2013.
  7. ^"Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official".RadioInsight.August 30, 2013.RetrievedAugust 30,2013.
  8. ^"Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes".All Access.November 15, 2013.RetrievedNovember 16,2013.

External links[edit]

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