WTHT

WTHT/WBQQ
City WTHT: Auburn, Maine
WBQQ: Kennebunk, Maine
Broadcast area Portland, Maine north to Augusta on 99.9, south to Portsmouth NH on 99.3
Branding 99.9 the Wolf
Slogan Maine's #1 Country Station
Frequency WTHT: 99.9 MHz (also on HD Radio)
WBQQ: 99.3 MHz
Translator(s) 96.9 W245AA (Portland, relays WTHT-HD2)
First air date WTHT: February 1977 (as WWAV)
WBQQ: November 1991
Format Country music
HD2: Classical music (WBQX simulcast)
Audience share 15.9 (Fa'07, R&R[1])
ERP WTHT: 28,500 watts
WBQQ: 3,000 watts
HAAT WTHT: 196 meters
WBQQ: 100 meters
Class WTHT: B
WBQQ: A
Facility ID WTHT: 24949
WBQQ: 69854
Transmitter coordinates WTHT:
43°57′7″N 70°17′46″W / 43.95194°N 70.29611°W / 43.95194; -70.29611
WBQQ:
43°24′16″N 70°26′15″W / 43.40444°N 70.43750°W / 43.40444; -70.43750
Former callsigns WTHT:
WWAV (1977-1983)
WKZS (1983-1998)
WMWX (1998-2000)
WMEK-FM (2000-2004)
Owner Binnie Media
(WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
Sister stations WFNK, WHXR, WLAM, WLVP
Webcast Listen Live
Website www.999thewolf.com
www.wbachradio.com (HD2)

WTHT (99.9 FM; "The Wolf") is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Auburn, Maine, the station serves the Portland area. The station is currently owned by Binnie Media.[2] Programming is simulcast on WBQQ (99.3 FM) in Kennebunk.

History

WTHT intellectual property

The WTHT call letters were once assigned to 102.9 FM under the moniker of "FM 103", playing CHR/Top 40 music, licensed to Portland and operating at 100,000 watts ERP from roughly the mid-1980s until 1989.

In 1989, an agreement was made between WBLM, which at the time was broadcasting on 107.5 FM, and WTHT to swap transmitters while retaining their respective call letters. At the time of the swap, the 107.5 FM transmitter had an ERP of 50,000 watts and was licensed to Lewiston (Auburn). This swap was intended to give WBLM a significantly stronger signal in Portland, as well as Central and Southern Maine, Eastern New Hampshire, and Northeastern Massachusetts; however, once the swap was complete, WTHT lost a significant amount of coverage, especially in extreme Southern Maine and Southeastern New Hampshire. In fact, during the summer tropospheric ducting season, WTHT ()at 107.5 FM often suffered from significant interference from WFCC-FM in Chatham, Massachusetts, also on 107.5 FM. This interference was often so significant that, at times, WTHT's signal was completely replaced by WFCC's signal in Southeastern New Hampshire and along the Maine coast from Kittery to the Biddeford/Saco area.

Once the swap with WBLM was complete, WTHT re-branded themselves as "Thunder 107", and retained their CHR format with a bit of a rhythmic lean, which was popular at the time. That format continued for a few years before being dropped in favor of an Oldies format with a new moniker of "Oldies 107.5". Later, the Oldies format was replaced by a Country format known as "107.5 The Wolf". In April 2004, as stated below, the WTHT calls, the country format, and for the most part, the moniker, were moved to 99.9 FM. The 107.5 FM transmitter was then assigned the call letters WFNK and re-launched with a Classic Hits format under the name "107.5 Frank FM". This arrangement continues to this day.

99.9 frequency

The station was once known as "Kiss 99.9" with a Top 40 format. WKZS was an affiliate during the short syndication run of "Matty in the Morning" from WXKS in Boston.

Over time, WKZS adjusted its presentation to become a Hot AC, and in March 1997, the station reimaged to become "Mix 96.9 and 99.9", with the call letters WMWX following. In September 2000, the station brought back the "Kiss 99.9" name, this time using the call letters WMEK. Promos at the time occasionally alluded to the station's translator, W245AA, on 96.9 FM in downtown Portland. The station's ratings, however, were relatively low.

WTHT's logo before adding its simulcast on 99.3

On April 6, 2004,[3] WMEK, along with its WMTW Broadcast Group radio sister stations, was sold to Nassau Broadcasting Partners. That same month, Nassau moved the country format of WTHT, then known as "107.5 The Wolf", to the 99.9 FM frequency, clearing the way for the launch of WFNK on the powerful 107.5 FM frequency. Since arriving on the frequency, WTHT has remained relatively unchanged.

WTHT, along with 16 other Nassau stations in northern New England, was purchased at bankruptcy auction by WBIN Media Company, a company controlled by Bill Binnie, on May 22, 2012. Binnie already owns WBIN-TV in Derry, New Hampshire.[4][5] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[6]

WBQQ

WBQQ signed on in November 1991 as a classical music station, branded as "WBACH." The station's programming would subsequently be expanded to several other Maine radio stations (including existing classical music stations WPKM in Scarborough and WAVX in Thomaston); in a 2008 format shuffle, WBACH programming in southern Maine was consolidated at 104.7 FM, and WBQQ was made a simulcast of WTHT. WBQQ was purchased on May 22, 2012 by WBIN Media Company in the same bankruptcy auction as WTHT.[4][5]

Translators

In addition to the main station, WTHT is relayed by an additional translator to widen its broadcast area.

Call sign Frequency
(MHz) 		City of license ERP
W 		Class FCC info
W245AA 96.9 Portland, Maine 250 D FCC

As of April 2013, W245AA serves as a repeater of WTHT's HD2 channel, which simulcasts the WBACH classical music format of Thomaston sister station WBQX. This returned the format to Portland for the first time since the 104.7 FM frequency became rhythmic top 40 station WHTP in September 2012.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Ratings". Radio and Records. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  2. ↑ "WTHT Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ↑ "Nassau Shake up in Maine". Scott Fybush. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  4. 1 2 "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "WBIN Media acquires 17 N.E. radio stations". New Hampshire Union Leader. May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ Kitch, Michael (December 1, 2012). "Binnie closes on purchase of WLNH". Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  7. ↑ Routhier, Ray (April 9, 2013). "WBACH coming back on Portland airwaves". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
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