WTHT

WTHT (99.9 FM) 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 Iii, LLC.^[2]

WTHT 102.9 History

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.

WTHT 107.5 History

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.

WTHT 99.9 History

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.

WBQQ 99.3 History

WBQQ was originally classical as part of WBACH before a 2008 format flip simulcasting WTHT.

Translators

In addition to the main station, WTHT is relayed by an additional translator to widen its broadcast area.

References

External links

• Query the FCC's FM station database for WTHT
• Radio-Locator information on WTHT
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WTHT
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WBQQ
• Radio-Locator information on WBQQ
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WBQQ
• Query the FCC's FM station database for W245AA
• Station history