WBAZ
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This article covers a radio station which may have undergone a recent format, ownership or other change. Please update this page with updated format, ownership, history and any other information that has changed. Please remove this template after editing. |
| WBAZ | |
| City of license | Bridgehampton, New York |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Eastern Long Island, southeastern Connecticut |
| Slogan | "The Lite on the Bays" |
| Frequency | 102.5 MHz |
| First air date | 1996 |
| Format | Adult Contemporary |
| ERP | 4,800 watts |
| HAAT | 106 meters |
| Class | A |
| Callsign meaning | W BAZ="Bays" |
| Former callsigns | WLIE (1996-98) WBSQ (1998-01) WCSO (2001) |
| Owner | Long Island Radio Broadcasting |
WBAZ is the callsign of an adult contemporary radio station licensed to Bridgehampton, New York and serving the east end of Long Island and southeastern Connecticut. The station is owned by Long Island Radio Broadcasting (a division of Cherry Creek Radio) and broadcasts on 102.5 MHz with 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower in Southampton.
[edit] History
- (For information on WBAZ pre-2001, see the WBEA article)
The 102.5 frequency first signed on in 1996 as WLIE (no relation to the current holder of the calls in Islip), put on the air by WBAZ-owner Mel Kahn and his MAK Communications. At the outset, the new frequency went through some difficulties as a planned launch with AP All News Radio went awry and the station instead signed on with a satellite-fed country music format. Less than a year later, the country format would be replaced with classic rock
In early 1998, the 102.5 frequency changed again as it took on new calls, WBSQ, and a new Hot Adult Contemporary format (again satellite-fed) as Q-(Bright)102.5. Launched as a compliment to WBAZ and not much else, the station remained an afterthought in the scheme of East End radio.
When Kahn sold WBAZ and WBSQ to AAA Entertainment, owner of locally-run rival WBEA, in 2000, the future of WBSQ's Hot AC format was limited. Studies by AAA showed that the majority of WBAZ's listeners were concentrated in the Southampton/Bridgehampton area and that the slightly worse 102.5 MHz signal would be ideal for the station. In April 2001, WBSQ took the WCSO calls used by AAA as placeholders and would simulcast and assume WBAZ's format and calls that May. The 101.7 frequency would soon become home to WBEA whereas WBEA's former home at 104.7 MHz would become home to a classic hits station targeted to New London, Connecticut.
In 2005, WBAZ, WBEA, and sister stations WEHM and WHBE would be purchased by Long Island Radio Broadcasting, a unit of Cherry Creek Radio.
John Lynch was the Program Director and morning show host from 2003 to 2007.
Current Morning Show Host of 'BAZ IN THE MORNING, Walker Vreeland, joined 102.5 WBAZ in May of 2007.
