WBACH

WBQX
City Thomaston, Maine
Branding Classical 96.9 and 106.9 WBACH
Slogan Maine's Classical Network
Frequency 106.9 MHz
(also on HD Radio via WTHT-99.9 HD2)
Translator(s) 96.9 W245AA (Portland)
First air date November 1991 (programming, as WBQQ/99.3)
1992 (license, as WAVX)
Format Classical
ERP 29,500 watts
HAAT 193 meters
Class B
Facility ID 49564
Transmitter coordinates 44°6′30.00″N 69°9′28″W / 44.1083333°N 69.15778°W / 44.1083333; -69.15778
Former callsigns WAVX (1992–1998)
Owner Binnie Media
(WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
Website www.wbachradio.com

WBQX (106.9 FM) is a radio station in Thomaston, Maine owned by Bill Binnie's WBIN Media Co., Inc. and branded as WBACH. Currently the station airs a classical music format. The station's programming is also heard in Portland through translator station W245AA (96.9 FM) and on the HD2 channel of WTHT (99.9 FM).[1]

History

The WBACH format was launched in November 1991, initially airing on WBQQ 99.3 in Kennebunk. The station was founded by Mariner Broadcasting,[2] and (after assembling its network) was acquired by Nassau Broadcasting Partners in 2003.[3]

WBACH began to expand in 1998, when it bought another southern Maine classical music station, WPKM (106.3 FM) in Scarborough, and renamed it WBQW. WPKM's classical format, in turn, originated on 97.9 FM (now WJBQ) in 1971 as WDCS, moving to 106.3 in 1980 and becoming WPKM in 1988.

WBQX signed on in 1992 and was previously known as WAVX "The Classical Wave" (then simulcasted with 101.7, the current WKVV). It also became part of the WBACH network in 1998.

WBQI was previously WMDI, the call letters standing for Mount Desert Island, the area in which the city of license, Bar Harbor, is located. It joined the WBACH network in 2001.

WBACH's logo from October 6, 2008 through September 13, 2012. Previous to this, a version of this logo featuring the 99.3 and 106.3 frequencies were used.

On October 6, 2008, WBACH realigned its southern Maine frequencies. WBQQ was removed from the network completely, shifting to a simulcast of WTHT,[4] while WBQW moved from 106.3 to 104.7, swapping formats with active rock station WHXQ.

Nassau Broadcasting entered bankruptcy in 2011, which culminated in an auction of its stations. Prior to the conclusion of the auction, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network expressed interest in running the WBACH stations.[5]

As part of Nassau Broadcasting's bankruptcy proceeding, WBQW was auctioned in May 2012 to Mainestream Media for $150,000, while the other WBACH stations, along with Nassau's 28 other northern New England stations, went to a partnership of WBIN-TV owner Bill Binnie and Jeff Shapiro. As part of the deal, 17 of the stations, including WBQX and WBQI, will be acquired by Binnie's WBIN Media Company.[6][7][8] The purchase was consummated on November 30, 2012, at a price of $12.5 million. WBIN Media plans to resell WBQI to Blueberry Broadcasting.[9] Mainestream Media began programming WBQW on September 13 with Christmas music en route to launching a Top 40/CHR format the next day (it now broadcasts as WHTP);[10][11] this removed WBACH entirely from its original southern Maine market.[12][13]

On August 7, 2012, WBQX was granted a construction permit to increase their ERP to 30,000 Watts and to raise their height above sea level up to 232 meters (761 feet). The construction permit will expire on August 7, 2015.

On November 30, 2012, WBQI split from its simulcast with WBQX and began simulcasting classic hits-formatted WABK-FM 104.3 from Gardiner. On January 3, 2013, WBQI changed its call sign to WBKA.

On April 15, 2013, WBACH returned to Portland through FM translator W245AA at 96.9 FM and WTHT's HD2 subchannel.[1][14]

References

  1. 1 2 Routhier, Ray (April 9, 2013). "WBACH coming back on Portland airwaves". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ Fybush, Scott (July 18, 1998). "Lobel Leaves BZ Radio". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  3. ↑ Fybush, Scott (December 15, 2003). "WCMF's Unkle Roger Killed". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  4. ↑ "Atlantic Coast, Nassau Shake Up Maine". August 25, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  5. ↑ MPBN Going Commercial? Al Diamon, Downeast.com, April 23, 2012
  6. ↑ Nassau’s Maine Stations Split Up Al Diamon, Downeast.com, May 4, 2012
  7. ↑ "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  8. ↑ Venta, Lance (May 22, 2012). "Nassau Broadcasting Auction Results". RadioInsight. Retrieved May 24, 2012. (updated May 23, 2012)
  9. ↑ "Sold: Maine FM, Massachusetts Noncomm". All Access. September 6, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Radio's first all-Christmas station arrives.". Inside Radio. September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  11. ↑ "WBQW Lights Up Top 40 'Hot 104.7'". All Access. September 14, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  12. ↑ "104.7 Change of Ownership". wbachradio.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Southern Maine radio station to stop airing classical music". Portland Press Herald. September 7, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  14. ↑ http://www.wbachradio.com/pages/wbach-on-96-9
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