The Shark is an American FM radio Classic Hits-formatted duopoly in the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire, United States. Its two stations are WSAK (102.1 MHz; Hampton) and WSHK (105.3 MHz; Kittery, Maine), with broadcast studios located in Dover.[2] The station's program format is almost exclusively classic hits. A few specialty programs are carried: The House of Blues Radio Hour with Dan "Elwood Blues" Aykroyd,[3] and "The Reporter's File", a public affairs program, both on Sundays. The station was previously the only New Hampshire station to carry the syndicated Bob & Tom Show morning show. It no longer carries that program, instead using its own local DJs on The Shark Morning Show.
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| Broadcast area | WSHK: Seacoast Region (New Hampshire) & Southern York County, Maine WSAK: southern Seacoast Region (New Hampshire), Merrimack Valley and North Shore (Massachusetts) |
| Frequency | WSAK: 102.1 MHz WSHK: 105.3 MHz |
| Branding | 102-1 & 105-3 - The Shark |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic Hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| WOKQ | |
| History | |
First air date | WSAK: August 1992 (as WZEA) WSHK: November 1992 (as WXBB)[1] |
Former call signs | WSAK: WZEA (1991-1995) WSTG (1995-1997) WXBP (1997-2000) WSHK: WKCD (1989-1992) WHIM-FM (1/1992-11/1992) WXBB (1992-2000) |
Call sign meaning | WSAK: The ShArK WSHK: The SHarK |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | WSAK: 12155 WSHK: 4380 |
| Class | WSAK: A WSHK: A |
| ERP | WSAK: 3,000 watts WSHK: 2,200 watts |
| HAAT | WSAK: 100 meters WSHK: 113 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | WSAK: 42°53′53″N 70°52′59″W / 42.898°N 70.883°W WSHK: 43°10′28.0″N 70°46′50.0″W / 43.174444°N 70.780556°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | shark1053.com |
The station is owned by Townsquare Media. It formerly broadcast as "Arrow", on the same frequencies and with a similar format, but using call letters WXBB and WXBP. The change to the new name and call was made in March 2000.[4] Citadel Broadcasting acquired the station in August 1999 when it purchased Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting Companies.[5] Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[6]
On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including WSAK/WSHK, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global are both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management.[7][8] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[9]
References
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-199; D-280. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ "The Shark – Contact Us". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ "HOB Affiliate Radio Stations". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ Scott Fybush (2000-03-03). "North East RadioWatch". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ "Citadel, Form 8-K/A, Filing Date Dec 3, 1999". secdatabase.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
- ^ "Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official". RadioInsight. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes". All Access. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
External links
- Shark 102.1 & 105.3 official website
- Facility details for Facility ID WSAK ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID WSHK ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database