WTHT

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WTHT/WBQQ
WTHT 99.9 the Wolf logo.png
Broadcast areaWTHT: Portland, Maine, Lewiston–Auburn
WBQQ: York County, Maine
FrequencyWTHT: 99.9 MHz (HD Radio)
WBQQ: 99.3 MHz
Branding99.9 the Wolf
Programming
FormatCountry music
HD2: Classic hits "Frank FM" (WBQX simulcast)
Ownership
Owner
  • Binnie Media
  • (WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
WFNK, WHXR
History
First air date
WTHT: February 1977; 45 years ago (1977-02) (as WWAV)
WBQQ: November 1991; 31 years ago (1991-11)
Former call signs
WTHT:
WWAV (1977–1983)
WKZS (1983–1998)
WMWX (1998–2000)
WMEK-FM (2000–2004)
Technical information
Facility IDWTHT: 24949
WBQQ: 69854
ClassWTHT: B
WBQQ: A
ERPWTHT: 28,500 watts
WBQQ: 3,000 watts
HAATWTHT: 196 meters (643 ft)
WBQQ: 100 meters (330 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
WTHT:
43°57′7″N 70°17′46″W / 43.95194°N 70.29611°W / 43.95194; -70.29611Coordinates: 43°57′7″N 70°17′46″W / 43.95194°N 70.29611°W / 43.95194; -70.29611
WBQQ:
43°24′16″N 70°26′15″W / 43.40444°N 70.43750°W / 43.40444; -70.43750 (WBQQ)
Translator(s)96.9 W245AA (Portland, relays WTHT)
Links
WebcastListen live
Website999thewolf.com

WTHT (99.9 FM; "The Wolf") is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Auburn, Maine, the station serves the Portland area. The station is owned by Binnie Media.[1] Programming is simulcast on WBQQ (99.3 FM) in Kennebunk.

History[edit]

WTHT intellectual property[edit]

The first known usage of the WTHT call letters occurred in 1936 in Hartford, Connecticut for a radio station named after The Hartford Times. 25 years later the call letters appeared again, this time in Hazleton, Pennsylvania for a Daytime-only station. The WTHT call letters were later once assigned to 102.9 FM under the moniker of "FM 103", playing CHR/Top 40 music, licensed to Portland, and operating at 100,000 watts ERP from June 1987 until December 1989.

In 1989, an agreement was made between WBLM, which at the time was broadcasting on 107.5 FM, and WTHT to swap frequencies while retaining their respective call letters. At the time of the swap, the 107.5 FM frequency had an ERP of 50,000 watts and was licensed to Lewiston (Auburn). This swap was intended to give WBLM a significantly stronger signal in Portland, as well as Central and Southern Maine, Eastern New Hampshire, and Northeastern Massachusetts; however, once the swap was complete, WTHT lost a significant amount of coverage, especially in extreme Southern Maine and Southeastern New Hampshire. In fact, during the summer tropospheric ducting season, WTHT often suffered from significant interference from WFCC-FM in Chatham, Massachusetts, also on 107.5 FM. This interference was often so significant that, at times, WTHT's signal was completely replaced by WFCC's signal in Southeastern New Hampshire and along the Maine coast from Kittery to the Biddeford/Saco area.

Once the swap with WBLM was complete, WTHT re-branded themselves as "Thunder 107", and retained their CHR format with a bit of a rhythmic lean, which was popular at the time. That format continued for a few years before being dropped in 1992 and flipped to an Oldies format with a new moniker of "Oldies 107.5". Later, the Oldies format was replaced by a Country format known as "107.5 The Wolf". In April 2004, as stated below, the WTHT calls, the country format, and for the most part, the moniker, were moved to 99.9 FM. The 107.5 FM frequency was then assigned the call letters WFNK and re-launched with a Classic Hits format under the name "107.5 Frank FM". This arrangement continues to this day.

99.9 frequency[edit]

99.9 FM signed on in February 1977 as WWAV, "Wave 100", which aired an easy listening format. In 1983, WWAV became "Kiss 99.9" with a Top 40 format, and used the call letters WKZS. WKZS was an affiliate during the short syndication run of "Matty in the Morning" from WXKS-FM in Boston.

Over time, WKZS adjusted its presentation to become a Hot AC, and in March 1997, the station reimaged to become "Mix 96.9 and 99.9", with the call letters WMWX following. In September 2000, the station brought back the "Kiss 99.9" name, this time using the call letters WMEK. Promos at the time occasionally alluded to the station's translator, W245AA, on 96.9 FM in downtown Portland. The station's ratings, however, were relatively low.

WTHT's logo before adding its simulcast on 99.3

On April 6, 2004,[2] WMEK, along with its WMTW Broadcast Group radio sister stations, was sold to Nassau Broadcasting Partners. That same month, Nassau moved the country format of WTHT, then known as "107.5 The Wolf", to the 99.9 FM frequency, clearing the way for the launch of WFNK on the powerful 107.5 FM frequency. Since arriving on the frequency, WTHT has remained relatively unchanged.

WTHT, along with 16 other Nassau stations in northern New England, was purchased at bankruptcy auction by WBIN Media Company, a company controlled by Bill Binnie, on May 22, 2012. Binnie already owned WBIN-TV in Derry, New Hampshire.[3][4] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[5]

WBQQ[edit]

WBQQ signed on in November 1991 as a classical music station, branded as "WBACH." The station's programming would subsequently be expanded to several other Maine radio stations (including existing classical music stations WPKM in Scarborough and WAVX in Thomaston); in a 2008 format shuffle, WBACH programming in southern Maine was consolidated at 104.7 FM, and WBQQ was made a simulcast of WTHT. WBQQ was purchased on May 22, 2012 by WBIN Media Company in the same bankruptcy auction as WTHT.[3][4]

Translators[edit]

In addition to the main station, WTHT is relayed by an additional translator to widen its broadcast area.

Call sign Frequency
(MHz)		 City of license Facility
ID		 ERP
(W)		 Height
(m (ft))		 Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W245AA 96.9 Portland, Maine 24950 250 64 m (210 ft) D 43°39′13″N 70°15′48″W / 43.65361°N 70.26333°W / 43.65361; -70.26333 (W245AA) FCC LMS

As of April 2013, W245AA began serving as a repeater of WTHT's HD2 channel, which simulcast the WBACH classical music format of Thomaston sister station WBQX. This returned the format to Portland for the first time since the 104.7 FM frequency became rhythmic top 40 station WHTP in September 2012.[6] On February 18, 2017, W245AA switched back to a simulcast of WTHT's main signal.

Previous logos[edit]

WTHT999.png

References[edit]

  1. ^ "WTHT Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ^ "Nassau Shake up in Maine". Scott Fybush. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  3. ^ a b "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "WBIN Media acquires 17 N.E. radio stations". New Hampshire Union Leader. May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  5. ^ Kitch, Michael (December 1, 2012). "Binnie closes on purchase of WLNH". Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  6. ^ Routhier, Ray (April 9, 2013). "WBACH coming back on Portland airwaves". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2013.

External links[edit]

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