WLIR-FM

WLIR-FM (107.1 FM, "Real-FM") is a radio station licensed to Hampton Bays, New York and serving eastern Long Island with a classic hits format. The station's transmitter is currently located in Northampton, Suffolk County, New York.

This article is about the Hampton Bays, New York radio station at 107.1 FM. For the internet radio station and history of WLIR/WDRE at 92.7 FM (and 98.5 FM and 107.1 FM), see WLIR. For other uses, see WLIR (disambiguation).
WLIR-FM
CityHampton Bays, New York
Broadcast areaEastern Long Island
BrandingReal-FM
SloganLong Island's Real Mix of Classic Hits
Frequency107.1 MHz
Translator(s)96.9 W245BA (Manorville)
First air date1980 (40 years ago) as WWHB
FormatClassic hits
Language(s)English
ERP4,100 watts
HAAT121 meters (397 ft)
ClassA
Facility ID61089
Transmitter coordinates40°53′07.8″N 72°41′33.0″W
Call sign meaningWe Are Long Island Radio
Former call signsWWHB (1980–1997)
WWVY (1997–1999)
WWXY (1999–2003)
WBON (2003–2004)[1]
OwnerVMT Media, Inc.
WebcastListen Live
Websitemyrealfm.com

History

107.1 FM began as WWHB under their moniker "The New 107 FM WWHB" in 1980, with an adult contemporary format. In 1984, Eddie Simon along with his brother, singer Paul Simon, purchased the station.[2][3] Its format then shifted to a Top 40/CHR format as "Laser Hot HB107." On September 1, 1990, WWHB began simulcasting AOR station WNEW-FM from New York City.

Country and Spanish quadcasts (1996–2003)
Further information on the country and Spanish quadcasts: WYNY (defunct)

On December 7, 1996, the station became part of the Big City Radio trimulcast (and eventual quadcast) with other 107.1 stations in Briarcliff Manor, New York and northern New Jersey and later, the Allentown/Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania area. WWHB and the other two multicast stations switched formats to country as "Y-107." The call sign was changed to WWVY on May 16, 1997, then to WWXY on March 22, 1999 (after 107.1 FM in Briarcliff Manor, New York changed from WWXY to WYNY).[4] On May 9, 2002, after a day of stunting with construction noises, the quadcast adopted a Tropical music format branded "Rumba 107."[5] The format was ill-suited to the quadcast suburban signals, and at the end of the year, Big City Radio filed for bankruptcy and sold the quadcast to Nassau Broadcasting, who broke up the quadcast and sold the individual stations.

Modern rock, ESPN, and Christian (2003–2011)
Further information on the modern rock simulcast and Jarad Broadcasting years: WLIR

Jarad Broadcasting picked up WWXY in April 2003.[6] 107.1 FM initially simulcasted WLIR (92.7 FM) from Garden City, New York, but in January 2004, 92.7 FM was purchased by Univision and flipped to Spanish language Latino Mix WZAA, simulcasting WCAA.[7] 107.1 FM then became a fully transplanted WLIR, taking on a modern rock format and the WLIR-FM call sign, turning into "THE BOX."[7] This format lasted until September 2005, when a smooth jazz/chill music format called "NeoBreeze" was adopted. This format was a failure, and the modern rock format returned in December 2005. In January 2008, the music ended and WLIR began simulcasting WEPN (ESPN Radio, 1050 AM) in a local marketing agreement.[8] WLIR was sold to Livingstone in 2011[9] and flipped to a Christian format branded as "Hope Radio."

Christian and sports flips (2011–2017)

On August 5, 2013, Livingstone Broadcasting shifted the "Hope Radio" Christian format to WBLI-HD2 along with translators 94.9 W235BB Hauppauge, New York; 96.5 W243BF Shirley, New York; 101.5 W268AN Plainview, New York and 104.5 W283BA Selden, New York. WLIR-FM dropped the Christian format and became "Champions Radio" touted as "Long Island's First & Only Sports Radio Station". WLIR-FM was broadcast on 107.1 and 96.9 W245BA in Suffolk County, New York. The format was short lived.[10]

On February 24, 2014, WLIR-FM dropped all sports programming and reverted to Christian formatted "Hope Radio."[11]

On August 1, 2014 Pillar of Fire began a lease of WLIR-FM. WAWZ-FM, Zarephath, New Jersey (STAR 99.1) was broadcast on WLIR-FM as well as its translators as "STAR 107.1." The lease ended in April 2015 and WLIR-FM reverted to Christian formatted "Hope Radio."

On July 1, 2017 the station was sold to VMT Media Inc. and continued to air the "Hope Radio" format.

Real-FM (2018–present)

On January 1, 2018, the station dropped "Hope Radio" and began broadcasting a mix of oldies and classic rock, simulcasting on 96.9 W245BA.[12]

On April 20, 2018, the station switched to Long Island's "Real-FM", with a mix of classic hits, 1970s–1980s rock, pop and new wave hits.[13]

References
  1. "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  2. "LOOKING BACK ON 1984: WHAT THEY'LL REMEMBER MOST". The New York Times. December 30, 1984. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  3. "Long Island Guide". The New York Times. August 19, 1990. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  4. "WLIR-FM Call sign Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  5. Northeast Radio Watch
  6. Fybush, Scott (April 15, 2013). "Chaos at WEEI (From the NERW Archives, April 14, 2003)". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  7. Fybush, Scott (January 12, 2004). "WLIR Legend Ends at 92.7". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  8. Fybush, Scott (January 21, 2008). "NY Talker's Award un-Grant-ed". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  9. Seyler, Dave (February 28, 2011). "Jarad sells Hampton Bays FM". Radio Business Report. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  10. Best, Neil (July 29, 2013). "ESPN Radio coming to East End". Newsday. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  11. Best, Neil (February 25, 2014). "WLIR drops ESPN, reverts to Christian format". Newsday. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  12. Venta, Lance. "WLIR Loses Its Hope". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  13. Venta, Lance. "107.1 WLIR Flips To Classic Hits Real-FM". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
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