WFFG-FM
Encyclopedia
WFFG-FM is the callsign of a country music
radio station licenced to Corinth, New York
and serving the Glens Falls
-Lake George, New York
area plus Saratoga County
, the Capital Region
, and western Vermont
. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting
and broadcasts on 107.1 MHz at 6 kilowatts ERP
from a transmitter located outside Corinth.
Later on the calls were changed to WBZA-FM, in the early 70s, when it simulcasted Top 40 WBZA-AM 1410, but went back to Country during the evening hours after WBZA's sunset sign off in those days, since 1410 was originally a daytimer. Eventually WBZA-FM, completely separated its programming from WBZA-AM, and programmed Beautiful music full time for a few years in the mid-1970s. Throughout the rest of the '70s, '80s, and early '90s, the station generally did a variation of what would now be considered Hot Adult Contemporary. After WBZA-FM, numerous call letters appeared on 107.1 including WNIQ from 1979-1986, WAYI from 1986-1993, and WMJR from 1993-1996. In 1996, it flipped to Top 40 as WHTR (Hot 107.1), licenced to Hudson Falls
and owned by Bradmark Communications, owner of several other stations in the market. At its outset, the station had a locally-run Top 40 going against several out-of-market stations. WHTR's most famous alumni of this period was a young Joe Rosati, now better known as "Joey Kidd" of WHTZ
(with stops at WFLY
, WKKF
, and WQSX along the way, who made his debut at the station.
Though WHTR did fairly well in the ratings and was able to sell many ads in the summer months when tourism in the area is high, Bradmark wanted a station that was more compatible with other stations in their cluster. In October 1997, WHTR's format was flipped from Top 40 to oldies
under the new moniker Wheels 107.1. Though all satellite-fed programming, the station got a small but steady listener base to the south of listeners who were tired of Capital District oldies station WTRY-FM
, however its ratings were worse than that of Hot 107.1 and the revenues were only marginally better overall.
In 2000, Bradmark Communications was sold to Vox Media
. Unlike Bradmark, Vox was committed to locally based radio and planned to take the oldies format local until a construction permit was filed to move sister station WZZM-FM into the Albany market. At the start of 2001, the country format of WZZM-FM was moved to the 107.1 frequency, localized, and became WFFG with the "Froggy" branding popular in other markets throughout the Northeast. WHTR and its satellite-fed oldies format were moved to WZZM-FM's 93.5 MHz frequency and remained there until the station moved to the Albany market in April 2002 where it is today WYAI, an affiliate of the Air 1
network. With that move, WFFG's community of licence changed to Corinth to satisfy FCC
community of license concerns.
The new format of the 107.1 frequency was a success of sorts from the outset. Ratings in both the Glens Falls area and in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy market where it resides increased with WFFG beating some in-market FM's in the latter and proving to be a threat to that market's powerhouse, WGNA-FM
, outrating it in some key suburban towns in Saratoga County. This trend has held up through the several years the station has had a country format.
In 2004, Vox Media sold its Glens Falls cluster minus WNYQ
(which itself would move into the Albany market in 2006) to Pamal Broadcasting
. Pamal decided to celebrate the purchase, in some way, by giving WFFG an Albany market simulcast when that market's 104.9 WZMR
began to simulcast WFFG in February 2005. Though Pamal had hoped that the simulcast would push WGNA down enough to make their WYJB
#1 in the market, instead WFFG's Albany market numbers declined and in January 2006 WZMR flipped to active rock
. WZMR would later revisit a country music format four years later, dumping its Edge format as 104.9 The Cat.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
radio station licenced to Corinth, New York
Corinth, New York
Corinth is the name of three places in the state of New York:*Corinth , New York, a town*Corinth , New York, located in the Town of Corinth...
and serving the Glens Falls
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
-Lake George, New York
Lake George (town), New York
Lake George is a town in Warren County, New York, USA. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the lake, Lake George. Within the town is a village also named Lake George. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The lake was...
area plus Saratoga County
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
, the Capital Region
Capital region
A capital region, also called a national capital region, capital district or capital territory is a common term for the region or district surrounding the capital city of a country or any other administrative division...
, and western Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. is a family-owned radio ownership with stations in medium-to-small markets in the Northeast and Florida. Based in the Albany suburb of Latham, New York, Pamal Broadcasting was founded in 1986 as Albany Broadcasting when business man James J. Morrell entered broadcast...
and broadcasts on 107.1 MHz at 6 kilowatts ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
from a transmitter located outside Corinth.
History
The 107.1 frequency signed on in June 1967 as Country station WXQL-FM.Later on the calls were changed to WBZA-FM, in the early 70s, when it simulcasted Top 40 WBZA-AM 1410, but went back to Country during the evening hours after WBZA's sunset sign off in those days, since 1410 was originally a daytimer. Eventually WBZA-FM, completely separated its programming from WBZA-AM, and programmed Beautiful music full time for a few years in the mid-1970s. Throughout the rest of the '70s, '80s, and early '90s, the station generally did a variation of what would now be considered Hot Adult Contemporary. After WBZA-FM, numerous call letters appeared on 107.1 including WNIQ from 1979-1986, WAYI from 1986-1993, and WMJR from 1993-1996. In 1996, it flipped to Top 40 as WHTR (Hot 107.1), licenced to Hudson Falls
Hudson Falls, New York
Hudson Falls is a village located in Washington County, New York, USA. The village is in the southwest part of the town of Kingsbury, on US Route 4. Hudson Falls is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 6,927...
and owned by Bradmark Communications, owner of several other stations in the market. At its outset, the station had a locally-run Top 40 going against several out-of-market stations. WHTR's most famous alumni of this period was a young Joe Rosati, now better known as "Joey Kidd" of WHTZ
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
(with stops at WFLY
WFLY
WFLY is a Contemporary Hit Radio station licensed to Troy, New York and serving New York's Capital District as well as the surrounding areas, including the Adirondacks...
, WKKF
WKKF
WKKF is a Contemporary Hit Radio radio station licensed to Ballston Spa, New York and serving the Capital District and Adirondacks...
, and WQSX along the way, who made his debut at the station.
Though WHTR did fairly well in the ratings and was able to sell many ads in the summer months when tourism in the area is high, Bradmark wanted a station that was more compatible with other stations in their cluster. In October 1997, WHTR's format was flipped from Top 40 to oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
under the new moniker Wheels 107.1. Though all satellite-fed programming, the station got a small but steady listener base to the south of listeners who were tired of Capital District oldies station WTRY-FM
WTRY-FM
WTRY-FM, or 98.3 WTRY, is an oldies station licensed to Rotterdam, New York and serving New York's Capital District and Mohawk Valley. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications, and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower in between Altamont and Duanesburg, New York off U.S...
, however its ratings were worse than that of Hot 107.1 and the revenues were only marginally better overall.
In 2000, Bradmark Communications was sold to Vox Media
Vox Media
Vox Media Inc. is an American global internet media company that currently has two major editorial brands, SB Nation and The Verge . Vox is headquartered at 1740 N St NW in Washington...
. Unlike Bradmark, Vox was committed to locally based radio and planned to take the oldies format local until a construction permit was filed to move sister station WZZM-FM into the Albany market. At the start of 2001, the country format of WZZM-FM was moved to the 107.1 frequency, localized, and became WFFG with the "Froggy" branding popular in other markets throughout the Northeast. WHTR and its satellite-fed oldies format were moved to WZZM-FM's 93.5 MHz frequency and remained there until the station moved to the Albany market in April 2002 where it is today WYAI, an affiliate of the Air 1
Air 1
Air1 is a Christian music radio network in the United States, operated by the non-profit organization EMF Broadcasting. Air 1 is essentially a Top-40 station with Christian Music - so many of the rules that commercial Top-40 stations use for musical rotation apply.-History:In 1986, KLRD began...
network. With that move, WFFG's community of licence changed to Corinth to satisfy FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
community of license concerns.
The new format of the 107.1 frequency was a success of sorts from the outset. Ratings in both the Glens Falls area and in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy market where it resides increased with WFFG beating some in-market FM's in the latter and proving to be a threat to that market's powerhouse, WGNA-FM
WGNA-FM
WGNA-FM is a country music-formatted radio station licensed to Albany, New York and serving New York's Capital District. The station is owned by Townsquare Media, and broadcasts at 12.5 kilowatts from the Helderberg Mountains tower farm in New Scotland...
, outrating it in some key suburban towns in Saratoga County. This trend has held up through the several years the station has had a country format.
In 2004, Vox Media sold its Glens Falls cluster minus WNYQ
WNYQ
WQSH are the call letters of a radio station licensed to Malta, New York and playing a 90s Hits format. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts with 25 kilowatts ERP from the Bald Mountain tower formerly used by the now-defunct analog signal of WNYT in the hamlet of Speigletown, in...
(which itself would move into the Albany market in 2006) to Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. is a family-owned radio ownership with stations in medium-to-small markets in the Northeast and Florida. Based in the Albany suburb of Latham, New York, Pamal Broadcasting was founded in 1986 as Albany Broadcasting when business man James J. Morrell entered broadcast...
. Pamal decided to celebrate the purchase, in some way, by giving WFFG an Albany market simulcast when that market's 104.9 WZMR
WZMR
WZMR is a country music formatted radio station licensed to Altamont and serving New York's Capital District and surrounding areas. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting, and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from the Helderberg Mountains antenna farm in New Scotland...
began to simulcast WFFG in February 2005. Though Pamal had hoped that the simulcast would push WGNA down enough to make their WYJB
WYJB
WYJB is an adult contemporary formatted radio station licensed to Albany, New York and serving New York's Capital District as well as the surrounding areas, including the Adirondacks...
#1 in the market, instead WFFG's Albany market numbers declined and in January 2006 WZMR flipped to 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:...
. WZMR would later revisit a country music format four years later, dumping its Edge format as 104.9 The Cat.