WTPL
Encyclopedia
WTPL is a radio station
broadcasting a news/talk
/sports
format. Licensed to Hillsborough, New Hampshire
, it serves the Concord
-Manchester
area. The station is currently owned by Great Eastern Radio.
for the station was granted on August 4, 1987, under the call sign of WRCI; a license to cover was granted on September 7, 1990. However, the station's original owners, Empire Radio Partners, filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy
in 1992, and the station was sold to Radioworks in 1993. By 1994, WRCI was serving as a simulcast of then-sister station WJYY
(105.5), an adult contemporary station. The station had switched simulcast partners to WNHI (93.3; now WNHW
), a classic rock
station, by 1996.
Radioworks sold its stations to Vox Media in 1999, and on December 27 the station was converted to the current news/talk format by way of a simulcast with another Vox station, WKXL
, as part of a format shuffle that resulted in WKXL's original FM station, on 102.3, becoming country
station WOTX-FM (now WWHK
). The WKXL-FM call sign would migrate to 107.7 the following February.
Vox sold WKXL to Embro Communications in 2002. The sale did not include WKXL-FM or its programming; as a result, WKXL launched a separate news/talk format, with its prior programming remaining on 107.7 under the new call letters of WTPL. Embro would take over WTPL as well under a local marketing agreement
the next year, and reintroduced some shared programming, including a talk show hosted by Arnie Arnesen
. Vox then sold WTPL to current owner Great Eastern Radio (whose principal, Jeff Shapiro, had co-owned Vox with Bruce Danzinger) in 2004, and soon afterward the station again became independent of WKXL, relocating to studios in Bow, New Hampshire
and a transmitter atop Pats Peak
, both originally constructed for WNNH
(99.1). (Clark Smidt, who founded WNNH, has had involvement with WTPL.)
newscasts on weekdays, including the first hour of the morning newscast, the first segment of the midday newscast, and the 6:00 pm newscast. Sports programming includes Boston Red Sox
baseball, Boston Bruins
hockey, New England Patriots
football, and coverage of college football
. The station is also affiliated with ESPN Radio
, airing it on nights and weekends when no games are airing.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a 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...
/sports
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format. Licensed to Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Hillsborough, frequently spelled Hillsboro, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,011 at the 2010 census...
, it serves the Concord
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
-Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
area. The station is currently owned by Great Eastern Radio.
History
The original construction permitConstruction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
for the station was granted on August 4, 1987, under the call sign of WRCI; a license to cover was granted on September 7, 1990. However, the station's original owners, Empire Radio Partners, filed for Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 1992, and the station was sold to Radioworks in 1993. By 1994, WRCI was serving as a simulcast of then-sister station WJYY
WJYY
WJYY is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 format. Licensed to Concord, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the southern New Hampshire area...
(105.5), an adult contemporary station. The station had switched simulcast partners to WNHI (93.3; now WNHW
WNHW
WNHW is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Belmont, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the Concord area. The station is currently owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners and licensed to Nassau Broadcasting III, LLC.-History:The station was assigned the call...
), a 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...
station, by 1996.
Radioworks sold its stations to Vox Media in 1999, and on December 27 the station was converted to the current news/talk format by way of a simulcast with another Vox station, WKXL
WKXL
WKXL is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Concord, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the Concord area. The station is currently owned by New Hampshire Family Radio LLC and features programing from AP Radio.-External links:...
, as part of a format shuffle that resulted in WKXL's original FM station, on 102.3, becoming country
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...
station WOTX-FM (now WWHK
WWHK
WWHQ is an American licensed radio station with studios located in Hooksett, New Hampshire. The station is owned by Nassau Broadcasting and currently airs a classical music format simulcasting co-owned Maine based WBACH....
). The WKXL-FM call sign would migrate to 107.7 the following February.
Vox sold WKXL to Embro Communications in 2002. The sale did not include WKXL-FM or its programming; as a result, WKXL launched a separate news/talk format, with its prior programming remaining on 107.7 under the new call letters of WTPL. Embro would take over WTPL as well under a local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
the next year, and reintroduced some shared programming, including a talk show hosted by Arnie Arnesen
Deborah Arnie Arnesen
Deborah Arnie Arnesen, known as Deborah L. Arnesen, D. Arnie Arnesen or simply Arnie Arnesen , is a liberal Democratic media personality, a former fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics, and a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives...
. Vox then sold WTPL to current owner Great Eastern Radio (whose principal, Jeff Shapiro, had co-owned Vox with Bruce Danzinger) in 2004, and soon afterward the station again became independent of WKXL, relocating to studios in Bow, New Hampshire
Bow, New Hampshire
Bow is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,519 at the 2010 census.- History :Incorporated in 1727, the town was one of several formed to ease population pressures on the Seacoast. The town's name comes from its establishment along a bend, or "bow", in the...
and a transmitter atop Pats Peak
Pats Peak
Pats Peak is a small, independent alpine ski resort located in Henniker, New Hampshire in the United States. The ski area opened in 1963 and has 22 trails with a vertical drop of . It is roughly a 90-minute drive from Boston, Massachusetts....
, both originally constructed for WNNH
WNNH
WNNH is an American radio station owned by Nassau Broadcasting and licensed to Henniker, New Hampshire. The station is currently airs a classical music format simulcasting co-owned Maine based WBACH.-History:...
(99.1). (Clark Smidt, who founded WNNH, has had involvement with WTPL.)
Programming
107.7 The Pulse/WTPL FM broadcasts 12 hours of local programming every weekday, as well as some local programming on the weekends. No other radio station north of Boston can boast such a locally based talk line-up. Well known and longtime area morning hosts Peter St. James and Ken Cail start the day from 6:00 am to 10:00 am. The issues driven and highly acclaimed, "Bulldog Live with Brian Tilton" airs mid mornings. Money Basics, hosted by "Steve and Cynthia" from Charter Trust host a midday business and financial show. Legendary Boston sportscaster Bob Lobel does a two hour show weekdays, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Jack Heath, former WMUR-TV News Director and a very well respected journalist hosts "NH Today" from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The station also simulcasts several WMUR-TVWMUR-TV
WMUR-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the state of New Hampshire that is licensed to Manchester. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on the south peak of Mount Uncanoonuc in Goffstown. Owned by Hearst Television, the station has studios...
newscasts on weekdays, including the first hour of the morning newscast, the first segment of the midday newscast, and the 6:00 pm newscast. Sports programming includes 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, Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
hockey, 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, and coverage of college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. The station is also affiliated with ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
, airing it on nights and weekends when no games are airing.