WBYY

WBYY (98.7 FM; "Frank FM") is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Somersworth, New Hampshire, United States, with studios in Dover, New Hampshire, the station serves the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine. The station is owned by Binnie Media.[2]

WBYY
CitySomersworth, New Hampshire
Broadcast areaSeacoast Region
Branding98.7 Frank FM
SloganNew Hampshire's Greatest Hits
Frequency98.7 MHz
First air dateJanuary 25, 1995 (1995-01-25) (as WRGW)[1]
FormatClassic hits (WFNQ simulcast)
ERP6,000 watts
HAAT96 meters (315 ft)
ClassA
Facility ID23253
Transmitter coordinates43°14′11.00″N 70°53′37.00″W
Call sign meaningThe BaY (previous format)
Former call signsWTSN-FM (1991–1993, CP)
WRZY (1993–1994, CP)
WRGW (1994–1996)
WRDX (1996)
OwnerBinnie Media
(WBIN Media Co., Inc.)
Sister stationsWTSN
WebcastListen Live (via WFNQ)
Websitewfnq.nh1.com

History

The station was assigned the call letters WTSN-FM on September 6, 1991. On October 15, 1993, the station changed its call sign to WRZY, and on April 18, 1994 to WRGW;[3] under that call sign, the station took to the air January 25, 1995 with an adult contemporary format branded as "The Rock Garden."[1][4] The station changed its call letters to WRDX on April 15, 1996,[3] concurrent with a switch to an adult standards format branded "Radio Deluxe;" however, the AC format returned a month later,[5] and the station became WBYY on June 14, 1996[3] to reflect its "98.7 The Bay" branding.[6][7]

On August 31, 2015, WBYY and its sister station WTSN announced plans to merge with Port Broadcasting's WNBP and WWSF as well as Aruba Capital Holdings' WXEX and WXEX-FM to form Coastal Radio Partners, however the merger failed to close. On September 29, 2016, WBYY and WTSN were sold to Binnie Media for $2.1 million.[8]

On May 24, 2019, WBYY changed its format from adult contemporary to classic hits, branded as "Frank FM"; the programming is largely simulcast with Nashua sister station WFNQ, though WBYY breaks away for local commercials.[9]

References
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-282. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  2. "WBYY Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. "WBYY Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. Fybush, Scott (May 15, 1996). "New England RadioWatch". Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  5. Fybush, Scott (May 21, 1996). "New England RadioWatch". Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  6. Fybush, Scott (July 5, 1996). "WRKO Fun, and San Juan too!". New England RadioWatch. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  7. Official Former Logo Of WBYY, Under The "98.7 The Bay" Branding
  8. Binnie Media to acquire WTSN and WBYY Nik Beimler, Fosters Daily Democrat, April 11, 2016
  9. Binnie Media Makes Trio of Flips in New Hampshire Radioinsight - May 24, 2019
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