WBYY
Simulcast of MHz (HD Radio) | |
---|---|
Branding | 98.7 Frank FM |
Programming | |
Format | Classic hits |
Subchannels | HD2: News–talk (WTSN simulcast) |
Affiliations | New England Patriots Radio Network |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WTSN | |
History | |
First air date | January 25, 1995[1] | (as WRGW)
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "The Bay" (previous format) |
Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 23253 |
Class | A |
ERP | 6,000 watts |
HAAT | 96 meters (315 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°14′11.3″N 70°53′35.2″W / 43.236472°N 70.893111°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live (via WFNQ) |
Website | frankfmradio |
WBYY (98.7
History
The station was assigned the call letters WTSN-FM on September 6, 1991. The call sign was changed to WRZY on October 15, 1993, and to WRGW on April 18, 1994;
On August 31, 2015, WBYY and its sister station WTSN announced plans to merge with Port Broadcasting's WNBP and WWSF and Aruba Capital Holdings' WXEX and WXEX-FM to form Coastal Radio Partners.[8] The three-way merger was not completed;[9] on September 29, 2016, WBYY and WTSN were instead sold to Binnie Media for $2.1 million.[10]
On May 24, 2019, WBYY changed its format from adult contemporary to classic hits, branded as "Frank FM"; the programming is largely simulcast with Nashua sister station WFNQ, though WBYY breaks away for local commercials and station identifications.[11] The "Frank FM" network, which also includes WLNH-FM in Laconia, transitioned to a hot adult contemporary format during 2021.[12]
After morning host Marc Nazzaro (who used the air name "DJ Nazzy") was laid off from "Frank FM" in January 2023 as part of a refocus of Binnie Media's resources on its news and talk programming, vice president of programming Heath Cole told the Concord Monitor that "the music format that we do will change".[13] On February 1, 2023, WBYY, along with the rest of the "Frank FM" network, returned to a classic hits format; the stations also dropped their remaining on-air staff, who were reassigned to other positions within the company.[14]
References
- ^ a b Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-282. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBYY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WBYY Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ a b c "WBYY Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (May 15, 1996). "New England RadioWatch". Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (May 21, 1996). "New England RadioWatch". Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (July 5, 1996). "WRKO Fun, and San Juan too!". New England RadioWatch. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ Venta, Lance (August 31, 2013). "Three New England Groups Merge Into Coastal Radio Partners". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Venta, Lance (November 29, 2016). "Aruba Capital Holdings & Port Broadcasting Finally Merge". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Binnie Media to acquire WTSN and WBYY Nik Beimler, Fosters Daily Democrat, April 11, 2016
- ^ Binnie Media Makes Trio of Flips in New Hampshire Radioinsight - May 24, 2019
- ^ "Binnie Makes Musical Shifts In New Hampshire". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ Duckler, Ray (January 22, 2023). "Even without his longtime role as on-air disc jockey, Nazzy still knows how to throw a party". Concord Monitor. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ^ New Hampshire's Frank-FM Returns to Classic Hits Radioinsight - February 1, 2023
External links
- Official website
- WBYY in the FCC FM station database
- WBYY in Nielsen Audio's FM station database