WCXU
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| Broadcast area | Caribou, Maine |
|---|---|
| Branding | Channel X airdate = 1986 |
| Frequency | 97.7 (MHz) |
| Format | Adult Contemporary |
| ERP | 20,000 watts |
| Class | C |
| Callsign meaning | CanXUs |
| Owner | Canxus Braodcasting Corporation |
| Website | [1] |
[edit] Early years
The CanXus Broadcasting Corporation was founded in Maine in May, 1986 for licenses and operator of radio stations in Aroostook Country. Given that, CanXus submitted an application to put a 3,000 watt transmitter close to the Caribou/Fort Fairfield town line (on the Green Ridge Road in Caribou). On November 15th, 1986 at 6:00PM, WCXU, Caribou began operation on frequency 97.7. The studios and officies were in a single-wide trailer while the transmitter was 400 feet away.
With a small signal like that, people north of Caribou couldn't get the signal clearly enough or at all. Madawaska was the first place to get a translator. On January 30, 1988, WCXX 102.3 Madawaks began atop 11th Avenue Extension in a tiny studio. Most of WCXX is the same as WCXU except for few commericals being different.
Now the problem was Fort Kent. Fort Kent could get WCXX fine execept in many places where sharp terrain degrades FM signals. Knowing that, in late 1994, CanXus made W276AY on 103.1FM. This very small signal is located by the Northern Maine Medical Center and reaches only Fort Kent and surrounding towns.
At the same time WCXU doubled its power to 6,000 Watts, then later under FCC rules to make all FM signals stronger, they increased the output to 20,000 Watts.
Since then, the transmitter building has doubled in size, the transmitter has gotten a little bigger (now HAAAT of 90M) and in 1998, Channel X moved to its new studio-office with state-of-the-art computerized broadcasting equipment
[edit] New Station: WCXV
Since 1995, CanXus broadcasting has tried to put another translator up in Van Buren, Maine. They finally succeeded in April, 2005. In September, 2006, a call sign was assigned to this new station appropriatelynamed WCXV. It broadcasts on 6,000 Watts with a 24 M HAAAT
[edit] Life Today
Still today, Channel X continues to serve the people of Northern Maine and Western New Brunswick. In a blind survey taken from CanXus Broadcasting,more people listen to Channel X in the morning and evening hours than any other station in Northern Maine. Its Morning Show, with Mark Stewart and news with Dougles Christensen ranks at least 30% higher than any other station.
More to come!
