WEGP
Encyclopedia
WEGP is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information
format. Licensed to Presque Isle, Maine
, USA, the station serves the Northern Maine, Western New Brunswick, and Downeast area. The station is currently owned by Northern Maine Broadcasting Inc. and features programing from Premiere Radio Networks
and Westwood One
.
and was started by Edward G. Perrier. WEGP gets its name from its founder's initials. At the time, Mr. Perrier was the Engineer for WAGM-TV
. When Mr. Perrier decided to start WEGP, WAGM-TV
was looking for a way to carry its signal into the Houlton
area. In an effort to assist WAGM in broadening their signal range, Mr. Perrier searched for and found land (an old horse pasture)in Presque Isle, Maine. He performed all the required testing and design and presented it to WAGM. WAGM changed hands and the new owners were not interested in using Mr. Perrier's ideas. Mr. Perrier and "Skippy" Caroll (it is believed) decided to put WEGP on the air making WEGP one of the original radio stations in Aroostook County. On March 18, 1994, the station underwent a transformation and changed its call sign to WTMS. After a single day, that change was reversed back and the station became WEGP again.
WEGP went dark
for a couple years during the mid 1990s. It was revived in 1997 by Paul Decelles, Owner and President of Decelles Media, Inc. In an effort to broaden the listening audience, WEGP was simulcast from 1997 to April 2007 on WREM
. At that time, the LMA with WREM was dropped. In August 2006, WEGP applied for an upgrade of its signal, In late 2007, the upgrade was complete, boosting power from 5,000 watts to 25,000 watts. In August 2010 the station was bought by Gregory McNeil, founder of Northern Maine Broadcasting, Inc. The simulcast with WREM, now known as WXME, was brought back in February 2011.
and as such, carries many top level talk shows such as Dave Ramsey
, Rush Limbaugh
, The Howie Carr Show
, Glenn Beck
, Free Talk Live
and Coast to Coast
. The station also carries Boston Red Sox
baseball, New England Patriots
football, local high school basketball and news updates from Fox News Radio
every half hour as well as local news updates 7 times each day. Weekend programming includes Yahoo! Sports Radio. In October 2010 WEGP also added two locally originated morning programs. WEGP's Morning Edition, which is less politically oriented and covers events going on in Northern Maine, airs from weekday mornings at 7 and Borderline AM provides more politically oriented talk centered around Aroostook County and airs immediately after. WXME in Monticello
simulcasts most WEGP programming, except for the locally-produced "Aroostook Watchmen Radio Program" with Steve Martin and Jack McCarthy which airs Monday through Saturday mornings at 8.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format. Licensed to Presque Isle, Maine
Presque Isle, Maine
Presque Isle is the commercial center and largest city in the sparsely populated Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,692 at the 2010 census...
, USA, the station serves the Northern Maine, Western New Brunswick, and Downeast area. The station is currently owned by Northern Maine Broadcasting Inc. and features programing from Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
and Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
.
History
WEGP went on the air in 19601960 in radio
The year 1960 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 25 - In Washington, DC, the National Association of Broadcasters reacts to the Payola scandal by threatening fines for any disc jockeys who accepted money for playing particular records.*February 8 - Congressional...
and was started by Edward G. Perrier. WEGP gets its name from its founder's initials. At the time, Mr. Perrier was the Engineer for WAGM-TV
WAGM-TV
WAGM-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Northern Maine, United States and Western New Brunswick, Canada. Licensed to Presque Isle, Maine, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter on the northern section of Mars Hill Mountain among the wind...
. When Mr. Perrier decided to start WEGP, WAGM-TV
WAGM-TV
WAGM-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Northern Maine, United States and Western New Brunswick, Canada. Licensed to Presque Isle, Maine, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter on the northern section of Mars Hill Mountain among the wind...
was looking for a way to carry its signal into the Houlton
Houlton, Maine
Houlton is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, on the United States – Canada border, located at . As of the 2010 census, the town population was 6,123. It is perhaps best known as being at the northern terminus of Interstate 95 and for being the birthplace of Samantha Smith...
area. In an effort to assist WAGM in broadening their signal range, Mr. Perrier searched for and found land (an old horse pasture)in Presque Isle, Maine. He performed all the required testing and design and presented it to WAGM. WAGM changed hands and the new owners were not interested in using Mr. Perrier's ideas. Mr. Perrier and "Skippy" Caroll (it is believed) decided to put WEGP on the air making WEGP one of the original radio stations in Aroostook County. On March 18, 1994, the station underwent a transformation and changed its call sign to WTMS. After a single day, that change was reversed back and the station became WEGP again.
WEGP went dark
Off-the-air
In telecommunication, the term off-air or off-the-air has the following meanings:# In radio communications systems, pertaining to a radio station or television station that is completely shut down, i.e. that is not transmitting any signal, not even an un-modulated carrier wave...
for a couple years during the mid 1990s. It was revived in 1997 by Paul Decelles, Owner and President of Decelles Media, Inc. In an effort to broaden the listening audience, WEGP was simulcast from 1997 to April 2007 on WREM
WXME
WXME is a radio station located in Monticello, Maine, United States serving the Northern Maine market and broadcasts a News/Talk format simulcasting Presque Isle based WEGP. The station is owned and operated by Allan Weiner, who also owns the shortwave station WBCQ...
. At that time, the LMA with WREM was dropped. In August 2006, WEGP applied for an upgrade of its signal, In late 2007, the upgrade was complete, boosting power from 5,000 watts to 25,000 watts. In August 2010 the station was bought by Gregory McNeil, founder of Northern Maine Broadcasting, Inc. The simulcast with WREM, now known as WXME, was brought back in February 2011.
Programming
WEGP The Talk of The County is one of only two talk stations north of BangorBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
and as such, carries many top level talk shows such as Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
David L. Ramsey III is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker.Ramsey's syndicated radio program The Dave Ramsey Show is promoted with a tagline that "It's about your life and your money," and it is heard on over 450 radio stations throughout the...
, Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, The Howie Carr Show
The Howie Carr Show
The Howie Carr Show is an American radio talk-show presented by journalist and author Howie Carr. Its flagship station is WRKO AM 680, based in Boston, Massachusetts, on which the show airs every weekday between 3 and 7 PM. It is syndicated throughout northern New England and northeastern New York...
, Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, Free Talk Live
Free Talk Live
Free Talk Live is an American call-in radio talk show heard seven nights a week. The program is hosted by Ian Freeman and Mark Edge on Tuesday through Saturday, Mark Edge and Stephanie Murphy on Sunday, and Ian Freeman and Dale Everett on Monday. It is a chiefly libertarian political talk show and...
and Coast to Coast
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
. The station also carries Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
baseball, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
football, local high school basketball and news updates from Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio is an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel.- History :In 2003, Fox News began syndicating one minute radio updates to radio stations via syndication service Westwood One. On June 1, 2005, Fox News Radio employed 60 people and provided five minute newscasts at the top...
every half hour as well as local news updates 7 times each day. Weekend programming includes Yahoo! Sports Radio. In October 2010 WEGP also added two locally originated morning programs. WEGP's Morning Edition, which is less politically oriented and covers events going on in Northern Maine, airs from weekday mornings at 7 and Borderline AM provides more politically oriented talk centered around Aroostook County and airs immediately after. WXME in Monticello
Monticello, Maine
Monticello is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States on the northern branch of the Meduxnekeag River. The population was 790 at the 2000 census...
simulcasts most WEGP programming, except for the locally-produced "Aroostook Watchmen Radio Program" with Steve Martin and Jack McCarthy which airs Monday through Saturday mornings at 8.