 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Southern Rhode Island, Southeastern Connecticut |
| Frequency | 1230kHzC-QUAMAM stereo |
| Branding | Stereo 1230 and 103.1 FM WBLQ |
| Programming | |
| Format | Full service |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WWRI | |
| History | |
First air date | July 1, 1949 (1949-07-01) |
Former call signs |
|
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 71722 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°21′57.26″N71°50′9.25″W / 41.3659056°N 71.8359028°W /41.3659056; -71.8359028 |
| Translator | 103.1 W276DF (Westerly) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WBLQ (1230AM) is a radio station licensed to serveWesterly, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Rick W. Schmidt's Turn Up Your Radio, LLC. Its programming is also carried onFM translator W276DF (103.1).
The station, then called WERI, began broadcasting on 1230 kHz on July 1, 1949, using a daytime and nighttime power of 250 watts, non-directional. The station still uses its original 185-foot,Blaw-Knox, self-supporting tower, on Margin Street, beside thePawcatuck River.
In the 1960s, theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) increased the daytime power of all Class IV[3] AM stations to 1,000 watts. WERI still had to reduce power to 250 watts at night, as did all other stations on the same frequency.
In 1966, WERI added FM service with WERI-FM (103.7, nowWVEI-FM). The FM antenna is initially mounted to the side of the AM tower on Margin Street in downtown Westerly. The FM station broadcasts for only a few days from this location before it is shut down due to harmonic interference toTV channel 12. In 1968, WERI-FM moved its transmitter to a new location onRoute 3 in Ashaway, and begins regular broadcasting.
In the 1970s, the FCC increased the nighttime power of all Class IV stations from 250 to 1,000 watts, including WERI.
In the 1980s, WERI-FM moved its transmitter closer toProvidence, changed callsign to WWRX, and effectively became a Providence station. In the 1990s, WWRX was sold to an independent owner from WERI.
In 1999, WERI was sold toBoston University, and the callsign was changed to WXNI on January 4.[1] As WXNI, it aired a format ofnews andtalk fromNational Public Radio.[4] It was a repeater ofWRNI in Providence, and the two stations combined to provide a locally focused NPR member for Rhode Island–the forerunner of what evolved into Rhode Island Public Radio (nowThe Public's Radio).
In December 2007, BU reached an agreement to sell WXNI to Diponti Communications for a reported $350,000.[5] The move came after a local group took control of WRNI and acquired WAKX (later WRNI-FM, nowWNPE) inNarragansett Pier to serve as its southern satellite. Diponti Communications announced its intention to move the local news and variety programming ofWBLQ-LP (96.7FM,Ashaway, Rhode Island) to WXNI's more powerful AM signal.[5] On November 29, 2009, WXNI changed its callsign to WBLQ; it would begin broadcasting inC-QUAM AM Stereo.
WBLQ began broadcasting on FM translator W276DF (103.1 MHz) in November 2019.
On December 1, 2001, WBLQ began airing the "Time Machine", Weekends presented By Chris Dipaola, Tommy Stafford, DJ Gadget and the Cali Kid.
On the night of October 13, 2022, WBLQ owner Chris DiPaola died unexpectedly from an apparent heart attack.[6] This came shortly after the station had settled with the city of Westerly on a five-year lease extension.
In May 2025, Turn Up Your Radio LLC filed to acquire WBLQ, translator W276DF, along withWest Warwick sister stationWWRI and translator W288EE on 105.5 MHz, in a $250,000 deal.[7] The sale was completed in October 2025; principal Rick W. Schmidt vowed to continue the stations' local programming.[8]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W276DF | 103.1FM | Westerly, Rhode Island | 26347 | 250 | D | 41°21′57.4″N71°50′9.2″W / 41.365944°N 71.835889°W /41.365944; -71.835889 (W276DF) | LMS |
 AM stereo radio stations in the United States | |
|---|---|
| By callsign | |
| By frequency | |
The following 107 stations broadcast inC-QUAM A.M. stereo. | |||
 Canada (CF, CH-CK, VO) | |||
 Philippines (DW-DZ) | |||
 Republic of Korea (HL) | |||
 Panama (HO) |
| ||
 Japan (JO) |
| ||
 United States (K, W) | |||
 Brazil (ZYI-ZYL) |
| ||
 Australia | |||
 Greece |
| ||
 Ireland |
| ||
 Italy |
| ||
 Netherlands |
| ||
 People's Republic of China |
| ||
 Thailand |
| ||
| By frequency |
| ||
