WFNK

WFNK
City Lewiston, Maine
Broadcast area Portland, Maine
Branding 107.5 Frank FM
Slogan Maine's #1 for Classic Hits
Frequency 107.5 MHz
First air date March 1973 (1973-03) (as WBLM)
Format Classic hits
ERP 100,000 watts
HAAT 283 meters
Class C1
Facility ID 65675
Transmitter coordinates 44°0′12″N 70°25′24″W / 44.00333°N 70.42333°W / 44.00333; -70.42333Coordinates: 44°0′12″N 70°25′24″W / 44.00333°N 70.42333°W / 44.00333; -70.42333
Callsign meaning W FraNK
Former callsigns WBLM (1973–1989)
WTHT (1989–2004)
Owner Binnie Media
(WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
Sister stations WBQQ, WHXR, WTHT
Webcast Listen Live
Website wfnk.nh1.com

WFNK (107.5 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format, known on air as Frank FM. Licensed to Lewiston, Maine, United States, the station serves the Portland, Maine area. The station is owned by Binnie Media.[1] WFNK operates at 100,000 watts from a transmitter in Poland, Maine, making it among the highest-powered FM stations in New England.

WFNK is classified as a Classic Hits station, but it leans more toward classic rock. Core artists played include The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen, but the station avoids more pop-leaning artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince. Once a year, WFNK has a 1,000-song countdown of the greatest Frank FM songs, ending with the #1 song on Memorial Day. The station also plays its classic hits library from A to Z every September. WFNK is also known for its long-running campaigns in support of Portland's Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and Maine's Make-a-Wish chapter.

History

In March 1973, 107.5 launched as rocker WBLM, and by 1989, switched calls and frequencies with 102.9 WTHT and became "Thunder 107", airing a Top 40/CHR format. WTHT's next format was oldies, and a few years later, went country, first as "New Country WTHT 107.5", and then "107-5 The Wolf." On April 6, 2004, WTHT began running a loop directing listeners to 99.9 FM, where "The Wolf" was relocated to. A week later, WTHT became current WFNK.

WFNK, along with 16 other stations in northern New England formerly owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners, 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.[2][3] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[4]

Personalities

WFNK began jockless and commercial-free in the spring of 2004. Personalities were added by fall, including longtime morning host Bill Fox, midday jock Chrissy Cavotta, and afternoon drive DJ Jim Kenton. Kenton was replaced by Leif Erickson in 2005, and Cavotta would depart for WFLY-FM in 2006. Heidi Knight became morning co-host in 2008, and Program Director Stan Bennett would replace Fox in the morning slot in 2010. Other morning co-hosts included market veterans Joe Lerman, Teddy McKay and Rick Johnson. The late Mike "Roberts" Tibbetts served as evening host for many years. Legendary radio host Mark Persky, formerly of WBLM, had a short stint on the morning show as well. Local music blogger Holly Nunan joined on middays in 2015. WFNK ended a streak of 100% local programming with the debut of former WEEI sports host Mikey Adams via co-owned WFNQ in Nashua, New Hampshire in afternoons in late 2016, moving longtime host Erickson to evenings.[5][6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "WFNK Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ↑ "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  3. ↑ "WBIN Media acquires 17 N.E. radio stations". New Hampshire Union Leader. May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ Kitch, Michael (December 1, 2012). "Binnie closes on purchase of WLNH". Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  5. ↑ "107.5 Frank - Portlands' #1 for Classic Hits". 2005-02-20. Archived from the original on 2005-02-20. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  6. ↑ "107.5 Frank FM Portland #1 for classic Hits". 2010-11-19. Archived from the original on 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  7. ↑ "Mike Adams returning to radio - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.