WBLQ (AM)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WBLQ
WBLQ1230logo.jpg
CityWesterly, Rhode Island
Broadcast areaSouthern Rhode Island, Southeastern Connecticut
Frequency1230 khz in C-QUAM A.M. Stereo
Branding"Stereo 1230 WBLQ"
Programming
FormatFull Service
Ownership
OwnerChristopher DiPaola
(DiPonti Communications)
WWRI, WSUB-LP, WWRI-LP
History
First air date
July 1, 1949
Former call signs
WERI[1] (1949-1999)
WXNI (1999-2009)
Technical information
Facility ID71722
ClassC
Power1,000 watts (unlimited)
Transmitter coordinates
41°21′57″N 71°50′11″W / 41.36583°N 71.83639°W / 41.36583; -71.83639
Translator(s)103.1 W276DF (Westerly)
Links
Webcast[1]
WebsiteWBLQ Online

WBLQ (1230 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Westerly, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Diponti Communications.

History[]

1940s[]

1949[]

The station, then called WERI, began broadcasting on 1230kc. on July 1, 1949 using Day/Night power of 250 watts, non-directional. The station still uses its original 185-foot, Blaw-Knox,[2] self-supporting tower, on Margin Street, beside the Pawcatuck River.[3]

1960s[]

The FCC increases the daytime power of all Class IV[4] AM stations to 1,000 watts. WERI still has to reduce power to 250 watts at night, as did all other stations on the same frequency.

1966[]

WERI adds F.M. service with WERI-FM/103.7 (Channel 279) (now WVEI-FM). The FM antenna is initially mounted to the side of the AM tower on Margin Street in downtown Westerly. The FM station broadcasts for only a few days from this location before it is shut down due to harmonic interference to TV channel 12.

1968[]

WERI-FM moves its transmitter to a new location on Route 3 in Ashaway, and begins regular broadcasting.

1970s[]

The FCC increases the nighttime power of all Class IV stations from 250 to 1,000 watts, including WERI.

1980s[]

WERI-FM moves its transmitter closer to Providence, changes callsign to "WWRX", and effectively becomes a Providence station.

1990s[]

WERI-FM (WWRX) is sold to an independent owner from the AM station (WERI).

1999[]

In a separate transaction, WERI was sold to Boston University, and the callsign was changed to WXNI on January 4.[1] As WXNI It aired a format of news and talk from National Public Radio.[5] It was a repeater of WRNI in Providence, and the two stations combined to provide a locally-focused NPR member for Rhode Island–the forerunner of what evolved into Rhode Island Public Radio (now The Public's Radio).

2000s[]

2007[]

In December, BU reached an agreement to sell WXNI to Diponti Communications for a reported $350,000.[6] The move came after a local group took control of WRNI and acquired WAKX (later WRNI-FM, now WNPE) in Narragansett Pier to serve as its southern satellite.

2009[]

Diponti Communications moved the local news and variety programming of WBLQ-LP (96.7 FM, Ashaway, Rhode Island) to WXNI's more powerful AM signal.[6] WXNI begins broadcasting in C-QUAM A.M. Stereo. WXNI changes call letters to WBLQ November 29.

2019[]

WBLQ begins broadcasting on FM translator W276DF (103.1 MHz) in November.

2021

December 1, WBLQ begins the "Time Machine", weekday evenings and overnights, 6pm to 6am. The Time Machine is a 1960's, 70s and 80s music format based upon the "WNBC Time Machine" aired in New York City, circa 1987-88. The format was built by WBLQ on-air personalities Steve West and Bob Gilmore, with advice from former WNBC PD Dale Parsons.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. ^ Blaw-Knox tower
  3. ^ Pawcatuck River
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-30. Retrieved 2013-02-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Winter 2008 Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  6. ^ a b Fybush, Scott (2007-12-24). "WAMC Backs Down in Noncomm Fight". NorthEast Radio Watch.

External links[]


Retrieved from ""