WABT (FM)
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| City of license | Mechanicville, New York |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Capital District, Adirondacks |
| First air date | 1993 |
| Frequency | 104.5 MHz |
| Format | Adult Top 40 (format change occurring on December 18, 2006) |
| ERP | 6 kW |
| Class | A |
| Callsign meaning | W Albany's BeaT (former name) |
| Former callsigns | WXLE (1993-99) |
| Owner | Regent Communications |
WABT is a radio station licenced to Mechanicville, New York and serving New York's Capital Region. The station is owned by Regent Communications, and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower in Clifton Park, New York which is shared with WKKF and WPTR.
WABT currently is simulcasting the Adult Top 40 programming of sister station 105.7 WBZZ Malta, a format that was based on WABT's signal until the move of the format to the stronger 105.7 signal on December 4, 2006. On December 18, 2006, WABT will take on a new format and possibly new call letters.
[edit] History
The station served on in 1993 as WXLE, running an Adult Album Alternative format (XL 104.5) with much of its programming satellite-fed. Late in 1995, XL 104.5's programming became all-locally originated. The combination of the somewhat esoteric format and a new frequency led to fairly low ratings for the station and by late 1996 rumors of a format change circulated.
In Spring 1997, Capstar Broadcasting bought WXLE, adding it to a sizable cluster consisting of five other stations. After Capstar took control of the station by a local marketing agreement, they did an evolution of the AAA format into Modern AC 104dot5 The Zone. Going against WRVE and WKLI, the format struggled out of the gate and in the long run there was no change in ratings from XL104.5. In 1998, Capstar was sold to AMFM Inc. and with it came two format changes, first to Hot AC as Magic 104.5 in October as a smokescreen, then in December to the then-popular "Jammin' Oldies" format (which AMFM owned the rights to). With the latter switch came the current calls of WABT.
Like other "Jammin' Oldies" stations, WABT had a short-term uptick in ratings, however the format did not mesh well with the Albany market and ratings fell to levels of that of the prior formats. When AMFM merged with Clear Channel Communications in 2000, WABT was one of several stations which was divested due to market concentration concerns. After being sold to current owner Regent Communications, WABT's format changed to 1980s music as "The Buzz" on December 8, 2000. The "Buzz" format was later expanded to include music from the 1990s in September 2002 and evolved to Adult Top 40 in July 2003.
In mid-2006, reports began circulating that the Buzz format may move to the relocated 105.7 MHz frequency that previously had been licenced to Queensbury. In the wake of landing the Chuck & Kelly morning show from WYJB, these rumors became reality in September 2006. The Buzz format officially moved to 105.7 MHz on December 4, 2006 after spending much of the previous week test simulcasting.
WABT's new format after the simulcasting period ends is unknown, some reports have stated that the station will either take the ESPN Radio format currently heard on WTMM or launch a talk radio format.
[edit] External links
In-Town:
88.3 | 89.1 | 89.7 | 90.3 | 90.7/94.9 | 90.9 | 91.5 | 92.3 | 93.7 | 94.5 | 95.5 | 96.3 | 96.7
98.3 | 99.5 100.9 | 102.3 | 103.1 | 103.9 | 104.5 | 104.9 | 105.7 | 106.5 | 107.7
Outside the Metro
Saratoga Springs/Glens Falls and Vermont: 91.9 | 94.7 | 95.9 | 97.5 | 98.5 | 100.3
101.3 | 101.7 | 102.7 | 107.1
Mohawk Valley: 97.3 | 97.7 | 101.9 | 103.5
Columbia/Greene Counties: 93.5 | 97.9 | 98.5
