File:WTHT logo.png | |
City of license | WTHT: Auburn, Maine WBQQ: Kennebunk, Maine |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Portland, Maine |
Slogan | 99.9 the Wolf |
Frequency | WTHT: 99.9 MHz WBQQ: 99.3 MHz |
Repeaters | 96.9 W245AA (Portland) |
Format | Country music |
Audience share | 15.9 (Fa'07, R&R[1]) |
ERP | WTHT: 28,500 watts WBQQ: 3,000 watts |
HAAT | WTHT: 196 meters WBQQ: 100 meters |
Class | WTHT: B WBQQ: A |
Facility ID | WTHT: 24949 WBQQ: 69854 |
Transmitter coordinates | WTHT: 43°57′7.00″N 70°17′46.00″W / 43.95194°N 70.29611°W WBQQ: 43°24′16.00″N 70°26′15.00″W / 43.40444°N 70.4375°W |
Former callsigns | WTHT: WWAV (?-1983) WKZS (1983-1998) WMWX (1998-2000) WMEK-FM (2000-2004) WBQQ: WKME (1991) WJIB (1991) |
Owner | Nassau Broadcasting Partners (sale to WBIN Media Company pending) (Nassau Broadcasting III, LLC) |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | 999thewolf.com |
WTHT (99.9 FM; "The Wolf") is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Auburn, Maine, USA, the station serves the Portland ME area. The station is currently owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners.[2]
Contents |
The WTHT call letters were once assigned to 102.9 FM under the moniker of "FM 103", playing Contemporary Hits Radio (CHR) licensed to Portland and operating at 100,000 watts ERP from roughly the mid-1980s until 1989.
In 1989 an agreement was made between WBLM, which at the time was broadcasting on 107.5 FM, and WTHT to swap transmitters while retaining their respective call letters. At the time of the swap the 107.5 FM transmitter had an ERP of 50,000 watts and was licensed to Lewiston (Auburn). This swap was intended to give WBLM a significantly stronger signal in Portland, as well as, Central and Southern Maine, Eastern New Hampshire, and Northeastern Massachusetts; however, once the swap was complete, WTHT lost a significant amount of coverage especially in extreme Southern Maine and Southeastern New Hampshire. In fact, during the summer tropospheric ducting season, WTHT at 107.5 FM often suffered from significant interference from WFCC, also on 107.5 FM, broadcasting from the Cape Cod town of Chatham, MA. This interference was often so significant that, at times, WTHT's signal was completely replaced by WFCC's signal in Southeastern New Hampshire and along the Maine coast from Kittery to the Biddeford/Saco area. (Note: At some point during the late 90s/early 2000s, the ERP of 107.5 FM was raised to 100,000 watts, thus restoring much of the same coverage WTHT had at 102.9 FM)
Once the swap with WBLM was complete, WTHT re-branded themselves as "Thunder 107", and retained their CHR format with a bit of a rhythmic lean which was popular at the time. That format continued for a few years before being dropped in favor of an Oldies format with a new moniker of "Oldies 107.5". Later, the Oldies format was replaced by a Country format and again the station was re-branded to reflect the new format as "107.5 The Wolf". In April 2004, as stated below, the WTHT calls, the country format, and for the most part, the moniker, were moved to 99.9 FM. The 107.5 FM transmitter was then assigned the call letters WFNK and launched with a Classic Hits format under the name "107.5 Frank FM". This arrangement continues to this day.
The station was once known as "Kiss 99.9" with a top-40 format. WKZS was an affiliate during the short syndication run of "Matty in the Morning" from WXKS-FM in Boston.
Over time, WKZS adjusted its presentation to become a Hot AC, and in March 1997 the station reimaged to become "Mix 96.9 and 99.9", with the call letters WMWX following. In September 2000, the station brought back the "Kiss 99.9" name, this time using the call letters WMEK. Promos at the time occasionally alluded to the station's translator, W245AA, on 96.9 FM in downtown Portland. The station's ratings, however, were relatively low.
On April 6th, 2004[3], WMEK, along with its WMTW Broadcast Group radio sister stations, was sold to Nassau Broadcasting. In April 2004, Nassau moved the country format of WTHT, then known as "107.5 The Wolf", to the 99.9 FM frequency, clearing the way for the launch of WFNK on the powerful 107.5 FM frequency. Since arriving on the frequency, WTHT "99.9 The Wolf" has remained relatively unchanged.
WTHT, 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 owns WBIN-TV in Derry, New Hampshire.[4][5]
WBQQ was originally classical as part of WBACH before a 2008 format flip simulcasting WTHT. WBQQ was purchased on May 22, 2012 by WBIN Media Company in the same bankruptcy auction as WTHT.[4][5]
In addition to the main station, WTHT is relayed by an additional translator to widen its broadcast area.
Call sign | MHz | City of license | Power (W) |
Class |
Additional Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
W245AA | 96.9 | Portland, Maine | 250 | D | FCC |
|
|
|
![]() ![]() |
This article about a radio station in Maine is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead;
I just need some place where I can lay my head.
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No!", was all he said.
(Chorus:)
Take a load off Annie, take a load for free;
Take a load off Annie, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.
I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide;
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side.
I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown."
She said, "I gotta go, but m'friend can stick around."
(Chorus)
Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say
It's just ol' Luke, and Luke's waitin' on the Judgement Day.
"Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?"
He said, "Do me a favor, son, woncha stay an' keep Anna Lee company?"
(Chorus)
Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.
He said, "I will fix your rack, if you'll take Jack, my dog."
I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man."
He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can."
(Chorus)
Catch a cannon ball now, t'take me down the line
My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time.
To get back to Miss Annie, you know she's the only one.
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.