WMRQ-FM

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Coordinates: 41°33′40″N 72°50′38″W / 41.561°N 72.844°W / 41.561; -72.844 (WMRQ-FM)
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WMRQ-FM
FCC
Facility ID74279
ClassB
ERP14,000 watts
HAAT255 meters (837 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°33′40″N 72°50′38″W / 41.561°N 72.844°W / 41.561; -72.844 (WMRQ-FM)
Translator(s)HD2, and HD3: See § Translators
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Website

WMRQ-FM (104.1 MHz) is an

Connecticut Route 187) in Bloomfield, Connecticut
, with its other co-owned radio stations.

The station broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 digital subchannel carries a Spanish

Bridgeport. Much of the programming is also broadcast on WSPR (1490 AM) and W283CK (104.5 FM) in West Springfield, Massachusetts, as well as 98.5 W253BQ in Meriden, and 104.5 W283BW in New London. At times, Bomba FM has higher ratings than its originating station, WMRQ-FM. Its HD3 subchannel carries a simulcast of WFAR, an ethnic and Christian radio station in Danbury; the subchannel also feeds WFAR's programming to translator station 92.1 W221CQ in Naugatuck
and the HD2 subchannel of W283BS in Bridgeport.

History

Country music

On December 25, 1967, the station

signed on as WWCO-FM. It was the sister station to WWCO (1240 AM), and carried a country music format.[4] Most radios at the time did not receive FM signals, so the station was largely automated
, with pre-recorded announcements.

It was acquired by entertainer and TV host

Nashville Connecticut
, W-104".

Magic 104

In 1978, the station dropped country to become

soft adult contemporary-formatted "Magic 104" using the syndicated "TM Beautiful Rock" service. During the switch to "Magic", WIOF upgraded its signal by moving its transmitter from near its studios in Prospect to West Peak in Meriden
.

Lou Terri was the program director and midday host until his death in an automobile accident in 1989. Steve Wiersman later became Program Director until 1994. Morning announcers included Bill Cleveland, Greg O'Brien and Ray Petraca. Jack Carney, who was also the voice of WVIT at the time, hosted the afternoon show. Jim Scott did nights, followed by Joe Dufrat who did the Mid-6 am shift. Rick O'Connor did middays, later replaced by Ron O'Brien (also known as Ron O, who later went to WZMX). Weekend DJs included Greg LaPorta and Don Clark.

Star 104.1

In 1992, the station rebranded as "Star 104.1", WYSR, with a more uptempo

adult contemporary sound. DJs on "Star" included Brett Provo in mornings, then afternoons (later becoming afternoon drive/production director at WMAS in Springfield); Paul DeFrancisco in afternoons; Jay Hanson (later at WFMX in Skowhegan, Maine) and Long John on weekends; Jim Severine; Rich Kilbourne (also known as Big Rich Baker) on news; Cathy Foxx in middays; Neil Jackson in mornings; Lee Gordon as Production Director; and Race Bannon, who later stayed on the station after the flip to modern rock
. Ron O became WYSR's PD after Steve Wiersman departed.

Star 104.1 was competing with other AC stations in the Hartford

radio market
and was unable to capture a sizable audience. In October 1994, all programming staff and disc jockeys were released.

Radio 104

On October 31, 1994, at midnight, the format flipped to

Wilcow
, Chaz, "Darkside Dave," The Carlito Show, and Logan following after the mornings.

The station also hosted popular annual events such as "The Big Day Off" and "104fest". Lee Gordon remained as production director, and Bud Fisher became WMRQ's first sales manager. (Bud had appeared on "Magic 104" as "Gary Hunter".)

Power 104

Due to struggling ratings, the station flipped to WPHH, "Power 104.1", at 5:00 p.m. on September 15, 2003.

rhythmic CHR WZMX
.

Nicole Siedman served as program director for a short period until 2004. Mychal Maguire assumed the Program Director position thereafter. Spank Buda served as Assistant Program Director and night host for the entire duration of WPHH. Popular events included the "Hoop It Up" basketball tournament and the "Legends of Hip Hop" concert. Other DJs on "Power" were Mia Mendez, DJ Showtime, TT Torrez, DJ Londonn, and PJ.

Return to alternative rock

On October 25, 2007, at 10:00 am, WPHH flipped back to

Clear Channel
launched "FM 104-One", the station named a program director, Becky Pohotsky, who had been the station's APD/MD and de facto PD for most of its existence.

On August 4, 2008, Clear Channel placed the station's assets into an entity called the

Bain Capital Partners
on July 30, 2008.

Full Power Radio

On February 19, 2009,

doing business as Full Power Radio) who owns WBMW and WWRX in the New London
area, announced that it had agreed to buy WURH for $8,000,000. On May 14, 2009, Red Wolf Broadcasting took over control of the station. The first action was to change the station's callsign to WMRQ-FM, and restore the "Radio 104.1" moniker.

Bomba HD radio and translators

In November 2009, a Spanish-language

Bridgeport
.

W272DO was sold to Red Wolf Broadcasting from Connoisseur Media in January 2018. On January 15, the translator immediately ceased simulcasting WPLR-HD2, the alternative format known as "Mod," and began carrying "Bomba."[8]

Translators

Broadcast translators
for WMRQ-HD2
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W)
HAAT
 Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W246CC 97.1 FM Bolton, Connecticut 82412 100 189 m (620 ft) D 41°48′10″N 72°26′30″W / 41.80278°N 72.44167°W / 41.80278; -72.44167 (W246CC) LMS
W283BS 104.5 FM Bridgeport, Connecticut 15398 250 81.4 m (267 ft) D 41°13′10″N 73°12′6″W / 41.21944°N 73.20167°W / 41.21944; -73.20167 (W283BS) LMS
W258AL 99.5 FM Clinton, Connecticut 139348 200 159 m (522 ft) D 41°34′11″N 73°01′5″W / 41.56972°N 73.01806°W / 41.56972; -73.01806 (W258AL) LMS
W272DO 102.3 FM New Haven, Connecticut 138034 250 112 m (367 ft) D 41°20′58″N 72°58′22″W / 41.34944°N 72.97278°W / 41.34944; -72.97278 (W272DO) LMS
Broadcast translator
for WMRQ-HD3
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W)
HAAT
 Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W221CQ 92.1 FM Naugatuck, Etc., Connecticut 15397 125 17 m (56 ft) D 41°29′45″N 73°2′35″W / 41.49583°N 73.04306°W / 41.49583; -73.04306 (W221CQ) LMS

References

  1. ^ "WIOF (WMRQ-FM) history cards" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. December 20, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  3. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WMRQ-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-25
  5. ^ "RR-1994-11-04" (PDF).
  6. ^ "RR-2003-09-19" (PDF).
  7. ^ "DCRTV".
  8. ^ Venta, Lance (January 15, 2018). "Red Wolf Broadcasting Acquires Connoisseur Media's Hartford Properties". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 18, 2018.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WMRQ-FM&oldid=1218797676"