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| Broadcast area | Long Island |
| Frequency | 106.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 106.1 BLI |
| Programming | |
| Languages | English |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBAB,WHFM | |
| History | |
First air date | December 13, 1957; 67 years ago (1957-12-13) |
Former call signs | WPAC-FM (1957–1971) |
Call sign meaning | We're the Best onLong Island! |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 37235 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 49,000 watts |
| HAAT | 152 meters (499 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°50′32″N73°02′25″W / 40.84222°N 73.04028°W /40.84222; -73.04028 |
| Translator(s) | 94.5 MHz W231CX (Shirley) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | wbli |
WBLI (106.1FM) is acommercial radio station owned byCox Radio andlicensed toPatchogue, New York. It airs acontemporary hit radio format. The station mainly servesSuffolk County, New York onLong Island. Its studios and offices are located onSunrise Highway (NY 27) inWest Babylon, New York.
WBLI is aClass B FM station with aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 49,000 watts, the highest powered station on Long Island. To protect twoadjacent channel stations from interference,WQXR-FM inNewark, New Jersey andWHCNHartford, Connecticut (both on 105.9 FM), WBLI uses adirectional antenna.[2] The station'stransmitter is located inFarmingville, New York.
The stationsigned on the air on December 13, 1957, as WPAC-FM, the FM counterpart toWPAC.[3][4] The two stations were owned by the Patchogue Broadcasting Company. Because WPAC was adaytimer, WPAC-FMsimulcast its programming in the daytime and continued it after WPAC signed off the air at sunset.
At first, it was only powered at 7,800 watts on a 115-foot tower, only heard in and around Western Suffolk County. It would take several decades before the station expanded its coverage area.
In January 1971, the station was purchased by Beck-Ross Communications, owner ofWGLI inBabylon, New York.[5] The station'scall sign was changed to WBLI, and switched to a contemporary hits format asFM 106 WBLI. After Beck-Ross took ownership, the station initially broadcast from a trailer located behind theWPAC building inMedford, New York. In March 1971, WBLI moved to new studios at 31 West Main Street in Patchogue.[6] WBLI's DJ staff has includedGeorge Taylor Morris[7] andAl Bandiero.
On September 27, 1985, WBLI's transmission tower was toppled byHurricane Gloria.
By August 1991, with the CHR format on the decline across the country, WBLI evolved into more of ahot adult contemporary format. Steve Harper[8] and news directorKen Rhodes, hosted the morning show. The station often ran special weekend programming, such as the "Almost Made It But Didn't Weekend" and "The Ladies of the 80s Weekend." Musically, the station was slightly hotter than New York City's WPLJ andWMXV.
In March 1994, Beck-Ross Communications was acquired by Liberty Broadcasting, the owners of two other Long Island stations,WGBB andWBAB-FM.[9]
Atlanta-basedCox Media acquired the station in 1998.[10] When Cox Radio acquired WBLI, it evolved into a more mainstream CHR with less dance product (though still more than most other CHR's) and a tighterplaylist of hits.
In June 2019, Cox announced it would sell the majority interest in its radio stations to Apollo Global Management.[11] The company retained use of the Cox Media name.
Steve Harper (later withWKJY) had hosted "'BLI in the AM" for 25 years before being let go in the summer of 2006. Maria Garcia (now an anchor withWCBS New York City) was the co-host since 1998. The show was called "Steve and Maria in the Morning." Maria left in 2005.[12] Dana DiDonato (later withKBZT inSan Diego) joined Harper in January 2006.[13] Harper's last show was on July 19, 2006.[14] Dana then assumed hosting duties along with Randy Spears and Drew Appelbaum. Randy and Drew exited the station on December 16, 2010.[15]
On January 10, 2011, the radio station introduced "The New BLI in the Morning," which featured Dana with new co-host Jeffrey Jameson (later withWNEW-FM in New York City)[15] Shawn "Puffy The Producer" Novatt also returned. The show was syndicated to Coxsister station "Hot 100.9"WHTI inRichmond, Virginia, and renamed "Dana and Jeffrey in the Morning" on Monday, June 4, 2012. Syndication ended when WHTI was sold to another owner in June 2013.
Jeffrey Jameson announced he was leaving in December 2013. Jayson Prim (later withKBZT inSan Diego) debuted on January 6, 2014.[16]
On June 30, 2016, the station announced on its Facebook page thatDana and Jayson in the Morning had ended its run.[17] It featured Dana DiDonato, Jayson Prim, John Mingione (John Online), Shawn "Puffy The Producer" Novatt, and Ted Lindner with news and traffic.
On July 11, 2016, Cooper Lawrence, formerly ofWPLJ, and Anthony Michaels, took over mornings 5:30 - 9am on the station.[18] The show had its last broadcast on September 14, 2018.
On Wednesday, February 27, 2008, Randy of the "BLI in the Morning" show made a remark that offended a caller fromMastic, Long Island. He joked that she lived in atrailer park.[19] After the station received complaints regarding the remarks, and after Randy's refusal to apologize, he was suspended by station management.[20]