WTHT

For the radio station in Hartford, Connecticut (1936–1954), see WTHT (Connecticut). For the Maine radio stations that previously used this call sign, see WBLM and WFNK.
WTHT
Broadcast areaPortland, Maine, Lewiston–Auburn
Frequency99.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding99.9 the Wolf
Programming
FormatCountry
Ownership
Owner
  • Binnie Media
  • (WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
WFNK, WHXR
History
First air date
February 1977; 47 years ago (1977-02)
Former call signs
  • WWAV (1977–1983)
  • WKZS (1983–1998)
  • WMWX (1998–2000)
  • WMEK-FM (2000–2004)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID24949
ClassB
ERP28,500 watts
HAAT196 meters (643 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°57′7.3″N 70°17′44.2″W / 43.952028°N 70.295611°W / 43.952028; -70.295611
Translator(s)WTHT: 96.9 W245AA (Portland)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Website999thewolf.com
Former simulcast
WBQQ
Broadcast areaYork County, Maine
Frequency99.3 MHz
Branding99.3 The Wave
Programming
FormatSoft oldies
Ownership
Owner
  • Binnie Media
  • (WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
History
First air date
November 1991; 32 years ago (1991-11)
Call sign meaning
Bach (station formerly carried WBACH)
Technical information[2]
Facility ID69854
ClassA
ERP3,000 watts
HAAT100 meters (330 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°24′16.3″N 70°26′13.1″W / 43.404528°N 70.436972°W / 43.404528; -70.436972 (WBQQ)
Links
Public license information
Website993thewavemaine.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.[3] Programming was simulcast on WBQQ (99.3 FM) in Kennebunk from 2012 until 2024, when WBQQ launched a York County–oriented soft oldies format.

History[edit]

WTHT intellectual property[edit]

The first usage of the WTHT call sign in the Portland area was on 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]

The 99.9 FM facility 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-FM. 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.

On April 6, 2004,[4] 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.[5][6] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[7]

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.[5][6]

On January 1, 2024, WBQQ split from its simulcast with country-formatted WTHT and launched a soft oldies format, branded as "99.3 The Wave".[8]

Translators[edit]

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

Broadcast translator for WTHT
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W245AA 96.9 FM 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) 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.[9] On February 18, 2017, W245AA switched back to a simulcast of WTHT's main signal.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WTHT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBQQ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "WTHT Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. ^ "Nassau Shake up in Maine". Scott Fybush. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "WBIN Media acquires 17 N.E. radio stations". New Hampshire Union Leader. May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  7. ^ Kitch, Michael (December 1, 2012). "Binnie closes on purchase of WLNH". Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  8. ^ 99.3 The Wave Dubuts in Southern Maine Radioinsight - January 1, 2024
  9. ^ 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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