WHXR
Encyclopedia
WXTP is an FM
radio station licensed to North Windham, Maine
, serving the Portland
area from studios in Freeport.
format known as "The Jewel". The station was simulcast on sister stations WLAM (870; now WLVP
) in Gorham
and WZOU (1470) in Lewiston
. A few months after signing on, the station became WLAM-FM to match the Gorham station. Portland radio legend Bud Sawyer was one of WLAM's morning hosts.
Original owner Wireless Talking Machine Company sold its stations to Harron Communications in late 1999. Harron also owned WMTW-TV, and in May 2001, the station's format changed to news/talk
. The call letters of WLAM-FM became WMTW-FM, with WLAM becoming WMTW, and WZOU picking up the WLAM
call letters and format for several months before reverting to a simulcast of WMTW-FM. The new station was initially known as "News/Talk WMTW"; however, soon after 1470 rejoined the simulcast, talk
programming was removed from the stations in favor of an all-news
format, mainly from the Associated Press
's All-News Radio service. At that point, the station was rebranded to "Newsradio WMTW".
Despite advertising campaigns on WMTW-TV, the all-news format on WMTW-FM suffered low ratings. In late 2003, Harron sold its radio stations to Nassau Broadcasting. Shortly afterward, Nassau acquired Mariner Broadcasting. It became evident that changes were in the works for the Portland market.
In April 2004, "Newsradio WMTW" was discontinued. Nassau also introduced three separate formats to the stations, with WMTW-FM gaining a new simulcast partner in York County
's WQEZ (104.7), and both stations relaunched as classic rock
-formatted "104.7/106.7 The Bone". WMTW-FM became WHXR, with WQEZ becoming WHXQ. The station attempted to go head-to-head with existing classic rock station WBLM
, and added The Howard Stern Show during the mornings.
However, with Stern's decision to leave terrestrial radio, WHXR/WHXQ's mornings were put in disarray. Finally, in March 2006, WHXR/WHXQ added the Michigan-based The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
. Free Beer and Hot Wings would become one of the highest rated morning shows in the market in their target male demos, far exceeding Stern's ratings. During summer 2006, WHXR/WHXQ expanded their playlist to become an active rock
station.
WHXR and WHXQ had planned to switch to sports talk provided by Boston's WEEI
in January 2008, but the deal between Nassau and WEEI owner Entercom ended up collapsing.
On April 27, 2009, Nassau Broadcasting revealed to employees that WHXR will be placed in trust and divested due to a change in the corporate structure of the company. The change ended Nassau's grandfathered status regarding how many stations in the Portland market it could own. WHXQ, by then relocated to 106.3 in a frequency swap with WBQW, will remain owned by the company and continue with the 'Bone' format. The simulcast continued until April 9, 2010, when WHXR began airing a loop redirecting listeners to WHXQ. The call letters were changed to WXTP on June 11, 2010, in advance of the a sale to The Presence Radio Network; on July 7, the station relaunched as "The Presence", a Catholic talk station airing largely EWTN
programming.
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 station licensed to North Windham, Maine
North Windham, Maine
North Windham is a census-designated place within the town of Windham in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,568 at the 2000 census...
, serving the Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
area from studios in Freeport.
History
The station signed on in 1996 as WVYH, and featured an adult standardsAdult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
format known as "The Jewel". The station was simulcast on sister stations WLAM (870; now WLVP
WLVP
WLVP is a radio station broadcasting an Oldies format. Licensed to Gorham, Maine, USA, it serves southern Maine, including Portland. The station is currently owned by Nassau Broadcasting and is simulcasted with WLAM .-History:...
) in Gorham
Gorham, Maine
Gorham is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 16,381 at the 2010 census. In addition to an urban village center known as Gorham Village or simply "the Village," the town also encompasses a number of smaller, unincorporated villages and hamlets with distinct...
and WZOU (1470) in Lewiston
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
. A few months after signing on, the station became WLAM-FM to match the Gorham station. Portland radio legend Bud Sawyer was one of WLAM's morning hosts.
Original owner Wireless Talking Machine Company sold its stations to Harron Communications in late 1999. Harron also owned WMTW-TV, and in May 2001, the station's format changed to news/talk
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...
. The call letters of WLAM-FM became WMTW-FM, with WLAM becoming WMTW, and WZOU picking up the WLAM
WLAM
WLAM is a radio station broadcasting an oldies, news and sports format. Licensed to Lewiston, Maine, USA, the station serves the Lewiston-Auburn area. The station is currently owned by Nassau Broadcasting and simulcasts with WLVP .-History:...
call letters and format for several months before reverting to a simulcast of WMTW-FM. The new station was initially known as "News/Talk WMTW"; however, soon after 1470 rejoined the simulcast, talk
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...
programming was removed from the stations in favor of an all-news
All-news radio
All-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcast of news.All-news radio is available in both local and syndicated forms, and is carried in some form on both major US satellite radio networks...
format, mainly from the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
's All-News Radio service. At that point, the station was rebranded to "Newsradio WMTW".
Despite advertising campaigns on WMTW-TV, the all-news format on WMTW-FM suffered low ratings. In late 2003, Harron sold its radio stations to Nassau Broadcasting. Shortly afterward, Nassau acquired Mariner Broadcasting. It became evident that changes were in the works for the Portland market.
In April 2004, "Newsradio WMTW" was discontinued. Nassau also introduced three separate formats to the stations, with WMTW-FM gaining a new simulcast partner in York County
York County, Maine
York County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, the population was 197,131. Its county seat is Alfred.Founded in 1636, it is the oldest county in Maine and one of the oldest in the United States....
's WQEZ (104.7), and both stations relaunched as classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
-formatted "104.7/106.7 The Bone". WMTW-FM became WHXR, with WQEZ becoming WHXQ. The station attempted to go head-to-head with existing classic rock station WBLM
WBLM
WBLM 102.9 FM is a classic rock radio station servicing the southern Maine and southeastern New Hampshire listening areas from Portland, Maine. The station has a studio in One City Center, along with WJBQ and WHOM...
, and added The Howard Stern Show during the mornings.
However, with Stern's decision to leave terrestrial radio, WHXR/WHXQ's mornings were put in disarray. Finally, in March 2006, WHXR/WHXQ added the Michigan-based The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated talk radio show based at WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels with Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, "Producer" Joseph Gasmann, Jr, Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan, and Robot. The...
. Free Beer and Hot Wings would become one of the highest rated morning shows in the market in their target male demos, far exceeding Stern's ratings. During summer 2006, WHXR/WHXQ expanded their playlist to become an 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:...
station.
WHXR and WHXQ 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 WEEI owner Entercom ended up collapsing.
On April 27, 2009, Nassau Broadcasting revealed to employees that WHXR will be placed in trust and divested due to a change in the corporate structure of the company. The change ended Nassau's grandfathered status regarding how many stations in the Portland market it could own. WHXQ, by then relocated to 106.3 in a frequency swap with WBQW, will remain owned by the company and continue with the 'Bone' format. The simulcast continued until April 9, 2010, when WHXR began airing a loop redirecting listeners to WHXQ. The call letters were changed to WXTP on June 11, 2010, in advance of the a sale to The Presence Radio Network; on July 7, the station relaunched as "The Presence", a Catholic talk station airing largely EWTN
Eternal Word Television Network
The Eternal Word Television Network is an American cable television network which presents Catholic-themed programming. It was founded in 1980 by Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA...
programming.