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| Broadcast area | Providence metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 92.3MHz (HD radio) |
| Branding | 92 Pro FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | April 17, 1948; 77 years ago (1948-04-17) |
Call sign meaning | Providence (call sign originated with sister station WPRO) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 64841 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 39,000 watts |
| HAAT | 168 meters (551 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°48′17″N71°28′22″W / 41.80472°N 71.47278°W /41.80472; -71.47278 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WPRO-FM (92.3MHz "92 PRO-FM") is a commercialcontemporary hit radio American radio station inProvidence, Rhode Island, United States, owned byCumulus Media.
The station's studios and offices are located in theBrine Broadcasting Center on Wampanoag Trail on theEast Providence–Barrington line. Itstransmitter is located on Neuticonacanut Hill inJohnston, Rhode Island.[2] WPRO-FM is unique in the Providencemedia market in keeping the samecall sign since itssign-on in 1948; and the same format, top 40, since 1974.
Cherry & Webb Broadcasting Company, owners ofWPRO (AM 630), applied for aconstruction permit for a new high frequency broadcasting station on 47.5 MHz on October 29, 1940. An amended application was filed January 15, 1941, and was finally granted by theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) on June 12, 1947, with its new frequency of 92.3 MHz in the new FM band.[3] WPRO-FM began broadcasting on April 17, 1948.[4] The Cherry & Webb Broadcasting Company,[5] in turn, was owned by the Cherry & Webb Department Store. (In the early days of broadcasting, it was common for department stores to own radio stations, to provide programming for customers who bought receivers.) At first, WPRO-FMsimulcast itsAMsister station, WPRO. In 1959,Capital Cities Communications acquired both WPRO and WPRO-FM. Through the 1960s and early 1970s, WPRO-FM aired abeautiful music format, while WPRO AM enjoyed high ratings with a top 40 format.
On April 29, 1974, at 3:00 pm, WPRO-FM changed formats fromeasy listening, joining its AM counterpart as a top 40 outlet.[6] The influential sound and feel of the station's new format was crafted by WPRO-FM's first program director Gary Berkowitz. The initial on-air staff included up-and-coming radio luminaries including Big John Bina, Tony Bristol, Tom Cuddy, Daniel 'Giovanni' Centofanti (who celebrated 50 years on the air in April 2024), and Jimmy Gray, in addition to future music industry executives and radio broadcasters includingAl Gomes, Vic Michaels, and John Leahy.Howard Hoffman,Rocky Allen, andBruce Diamond would later join the station as its popularity surged.
Over time, the AM moved toward anadult top 40 direction, adding more information and service features, while WPRO-FM continued as a music-intensive top 40 outlet. Capital Cities andABC merged in 1985, and WPRO-AM-FM were then under the ownership of one of America's biggest broadcasting companies.
In December 1992, Capital Cities/ABC announced that the WPRO stations would be sold to Tele-Media, with the sale being consummated the following April.[7] This put the stations under common ownership withWLKW (the former WEAN) andWWLI. Tele-Media, in turn, sold its stations toCitadel Broadcasting in 1997.[8] Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[9]