WBYA

WBYA (105.5 FM; "The Wolf") is a radio station licensed to Islesboro, Maine, United States. The station serves the Mid Coast area with a country music format. The station is owned by Binnie Media,[1] and broadcasts from a transmitter on U.S. 1 south of Northport. The station's competitor is WMCM in Rockland.

WBYA
CityIslesboro, Maine
Broadcast areaMid Coast
Branding105.5 The Wolf
Frequency105.5 MHz
First air dateFebruary 1999 (1999-02)
FormatCountry music
ERP25,000 watts
HAAT93 meters (305 ft)
ClassB1
Facility ID41105
Transmitter coordinates44°18′58″N 68°58′12″W
Call sign meaningBYA = Bay (former branding)
Former call signsWAYD (1999–2001)
OwnerBinnie Media
(WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
Sister stationsWBQX

History

The station went on the air as WAYD in February 1999,[2] programming an adult standards format branded as "The Bay."[3] It was owned by Gopher Hill Communications, who also owned WQSS in Camden and WABI and WWBX in Bangor; the station was based out of the WQSS studios in Camden.[3] On April 16, 2001, the station changed its call sign to the current WBYA, which had just been dropped by WFZX in Searsport.[4][5] Gopher Hill sold WBYA to Mariner Broadcasting in 2003;[6] this came after the other three Gopher Hill stations were sold to Clear Channel Communications.[7][8] Mariner kept the standards format, but dropped locally-produced programming in favor of the Music of Your Life service.[6]

WBYA's logo as "105.5 Frank FM", used from April 2005 through February 2017

Nassau Broadcasting Partners acquired Mariner in 2004;[9] under Nassau, the station switched to the "Frank FM" classic hits format on April 1, 2005.[10] WBYA simulcast the morning show of Portland sister WFNK, and in addition to the classic hits format broadcast local high school basketball games and Boston Red Sox baseball.

WBYA, 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.[11][12] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[13]

On February 18, 2017, Binnie Media moved the classic hits format to WBQX (106.9 FM), replacing the classical music programming of WBACH; WBYA then began stunting with a loop directing listeners to WBQX.[14] On February 24, 2017, WBYA changed to a country music format, branded as "105.5 The Wolf";[15][16] the new format includes a simulcast of Portland sister station WTHT's morning show.[17] Following the format changes, WBYA retained Boston Red Sox broadcasts, while its high school basketball coverage was transferred to WBQX.[15]

References
  1. "WBYA Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. Fybush, Scott (February 26, 1999). "A Time For Farewells..." North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  3. Groening, Tom (December 31, 1998). "Camden station ready to debut". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  4. "WBYA Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  5. Fybush, Scott (April 30, 2001). "Quebec Tower Comes Down". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  6. Fybush, Scott (January 13, 2003). "Citadel Gets "Hot" in Providence". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  7. Fybush, Scott (April 16, 2001). "Clear Channel Buys Two in Maine". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  8. Fybush, Scott (January 23, 2002). "Big Changes at WAVZ". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  9. "Stations sold". Sun Journal. Associated Press. December 12, 2003. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  10. Fybush, Scott (April 4, 2005). "A Vermont TV Pioneer Dies". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  11. "Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations". All Access. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  12. "WBIN Media acquires 17 N.E. radio stations". New Hampshire Union Leader. May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  13. Kitch, Michael (December 1, 2012). "Binnie closes on purchase of WLNH". Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  14. W-Bach Signs Off in Maine Radioinsight - February 20, 2017
  15. Betts, Stephen (February 20, 2017). "Local classical music station shifts to classic hits". Courier-Gazette. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  16. "Another Classical Station Comes To An End". Radio Ink. February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  17. "Binnie Flips Country In Maine". Country Aircheck. February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
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