WBQX

WBQX (106.9 FM, "Frank FM") is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits music format. Licensed to Thomaston, Maine, United States, it serves the Mid Coast region. It first began broadcasting in 1992 under the call sign WAVX. The station is owned by Binnie Media. The station's competitor is WBAK in Belfast.

WBQX
CityThomaston, Maine
Broadcast areaMid Coast
Frequency106.9 MHz
Branding106.9 Frank FM
SloganMid Coast Maine's Classic Hits Station
Programming
FormatClassic hits
Ownership
OwnerBinnie Media
(WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
WBYA
History
First air date
May 29, 1992 (1992-05-29)
Former call signs
WAVX (1990–1998)
Call sign meaning
BQ = Bach
(station formerly carried WBACH)
Technical information
Facility ID49564
ClassB
ERP29,500 watts
HAAT193 meters (633 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
44°06′29.3″N 69°09′26.1″W

History

The station signed on May 29, 1992 as WAVX, a classical music station owned by Northern Lights Broadcasting[1] and branded as "The Classical Wave".[2] In 1996, the station began simulcasting on WBYA (101.7 FM, now WKVV) in Searsport, which brought its programming to the Bangor area.[3] Mariner Broadcasting bought WAVX in 1998[4] and made it a part of its WBACH network of classical stations under the call letters WBQX.[5] Nassau Broadcasting Partners acquired Mariner in 2004.[6]

Nassau Broadcasting entered bankruptcy in 2011, which culminated in an auction of its stations. Prior to the conclusion of the auction, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network expressed interest in running the WBACH stations.[7] As part of the bankruptcy proceeding, WBQX, along with 29 other Nassau-owned northern New England radio stations, went to a partnership of WBIN-TV owner Bill Binnie and Jeff Shapiro; 17 of the stations, including WBQX, were acquired by Binnie's WBIN Media Company.[8][9][10] The purchase was consummated on November 30, 2012, at a price of $12.5 million.

On August 7, 2012, WBQX was granted a construction permit to increase their ERP to 30,000 watts and to raise their height above sea level up to 232 meters (761 feet). The construction permit expired on August 7, 2015.

WBQX ended the classical music format on February 18, 2017; Binnie Media then transferred its classic hits format, branded "Frank FM", from WBYA (105.5 FM),[11] which changed to country music on February 24.[12][13] Much of the programming on WBQX is supplied by Portland sister station WFNK;[11] the station also began airing coverage of local high school basketball games, which had previously aired on WBYA.[12]

References
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1993 (PDF). 1993. pp. B-161–2. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  2. Fybush, Scott (June 28, 1999). "The 1998 Trip Revisited". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  3. Fybush, Scott (October 9, 1996). "Meet the New 'FNX..." New England RadioWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  4. Fybush, Scott (July 18, 1998). "Lobel Leaves BZ Radio". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  5. Fybush, Scott (October 9, 1998). "Clear Channel Gets Jacor". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  6. "Stations sold". Sun Journal. Associated Press. December 12, 2003. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  7. MPBN Going Commercial? Al Diamon, Downeast.com, April 23, 2012
  8. Nassau’s Maine Stations Split Up Al Diamon, Downeast.com, May 4, 2012
  9. "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  10. Venta, Lance (May 22, 2012). "Nassau Broadcasting Auction Results". RadioInsight. Retrieved May 24, 2012. (updated May 23, 2012)
  11. Venta, Lance (February 20, 2017). "W-Bach Signs Off In Maine". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  12. Betts, Stephen (February 20, 2017). "Local classical music station shifts to classic hits". Courier-Gazette. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  13. "Another Classical Station Comes To An End". Radio Ink. February 20, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
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