W-BACH
Encyclopedia
WBACH is a network of FM
radio stations in Maine
owned by Nassau Broadcasting. The network consists of WBQW 104.7 Kennebunkport
, WBQX 106.9 Thomaston
and WBQI 107.7 Bar Harbor
. Currently the stations air a classical music format.
. The station was founded by Mariner Broadcasting, and (after assembling its network) was acquired by Nassau in 2003.
WBQW' s history originated with the sign-on of 106.3 in Scarborough in 1974 as WJBQ
(no relation to the current WJBQ in Portland) changing calls to WDCS and adopting a classical music format in September 1981 involving a frequency swap with 97.9 (Portland, Maine). It later changed to WPKM before adopting the WBQW call sign. It became part of the WBACH network in 1998.
WBQX signed on in 1992 and was previously known as WAVX "The Classical Wave" (then simulcasted with 101.7, the current WFZX
). 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.
On October 6, 2008, some of the WBACH stations were realigned. WBQQ was removed from the network completely, shifting to a simulcast of WTHT
, while WBQW moved from 106.3 to 104.7, a frequency that had previously been in first an adult contemporary format with Bob & Sheri in the morning as WQEZ, and later active rock
as WHXQ, a simulcast with WHXR
; in the latter capacity, it had planned to switch to sports talk provided by Boston's WEEI
in January 2008, but the deal between Nassau and Entercom ended up collapsing.
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
radio stations in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
owned by Nassau Broadcasting. The network consists of WBQW 104.7 Kennebunkport
Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,720 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford metropolitan statistical area....
, WBQX 106.9 Thomaston
Thomaston, Maine
Thomaston, Maine is a town on the coast of Maine the United States. The name may also refer to:*Thomaston , Maine, a census-designated place comprising the center of the town*South Thomaston, Maine, an adjacent town...
and WBQI 107.7 Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor is a town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population is 5,235. Bar Harbor is a famous summer colony in the Down East region of Maine. It is home to the College of the Atlantic, Jackson Laboratory and Mount Desert Island...
. Currently the stations air a classical music format.
History
The WBACH format was launched in November 1991, initially airing on WBQQ 99.3 in KennebunkKennebunk, Maine
Kennebunk is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,075 people at the 2000 census. Including Kennebunkport , the population totals 14,196 people...
. The station was founded by Mariner Broadcasting, and (after assembling its network) was acquired by Nassau in 2003.
WBQW
WJBQ
WJBQ is a radio station in Portland, Maine, United States, which airs a contemporary hit radio format.-Programming:...
(no relation to the current WJBQ in Portland) changing calls to WDCS and adopting a classical music format in September 1981 involving a frequency swap with 97.9 (Portland, Maine). It later changed to WPKM before adopting the WBQW call sign. It became part of the WBACH network in 1998.
WBQX signed on in 1992 and was previously known as WAVX "The Classical Wave" (then simulcasted with 101.7, the current WFZX
WFZX
WKVV and WKVZ are radio stations licensed to Searsport and Dexter, Maine USA, the stations serve the Bangor area. The stations are currently owned by the Educational Media Foundation...
). 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.
On October 6, 2008, some of the WBACH stations were realigned. WBQQ was removed from the network completely, shifting to a simulcast of WTHT
WTHT
-External links:*...
, while WBQW moved from 106.3 to 104.7, a frequency that had previously been in first an adult contemporary format with Bob & Sheri in the morning as WQEZ, and later active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
as WHXQ, a simulcast with WHXR
WHXR
WXTP is an FM radio station licensed to North Windham, Maine, serving the Portland area from studios in Freeport.-History:The station signed on in 1996 as WVYH, and featured an adult standards format known as "The Jewel". The station was simulcast on sister stations WLAM in Gorham and WZOU in...
; in the latter capacity, it had planned to switch to sports talk provided by Boston's WEEI
WEEI
WEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
in January 2008, but the deal between Nassau and Entercom ended up collapsing.