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| Broadcast area | Portland, Maine,Lewiston–Auburn |
| Frequency | 99.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 99.9 the Wolf |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| WFNK,WHXR | |
| History | |
First air date | February 1977; 48 years ago (1977-02) |
Former call signs |
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| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 24949 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 28,500 watts |
| HAAT | 196 meters (643 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°57′7.3″N70°17′44.2″W / 43.952028°N 70.295611°W /43.952028; -70.295611 |
| Translator(s) | WTHT: 96.9 W245AA (Portland) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | 999thewolf |
| Former simulcast | |
| WBQQ | |
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| Broadcast area | York County, Maine |
| Frequency | 99.3 MHz |
| Branding | 99.3 The Wave |
| Programming | |
| Format | Soft oldies |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | November 1991; 33 years ago (1991-11) |
Call sign meaning | Bach (station formerly carriedWBACH) |
| Technical information[2] | |
| Facility ID | 69854 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,000 watts |
| HAAT | 100 meters (330 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°24′16.3″N70°26′13.1″W / 43.404528°N 70.436972°W /43.404528; -70.436972 (WBQQ) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | 993thewavemaine |
WTHT (99.9FM; "The Wolf") is a radio station broadcasting acountry music format. Licensed toAuburn, Maine, the station servesGreater Portland. It is owned by Binnie Media, with studios on Thomas Drive inWestbrook.[3] Programming was simulcast onWBQQ (99.3 FM) inKennebunk from 2012 until 2024, when WBQQ launched aYork County–orientedsoft oldies format.
WTHT is aClass B station. It has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 28,500 watts. Thetransmitter is roughly halfway betweenLewiston-Auburn andPortland, on Gloucester Hill Road inNew Gloucester.[4]
The first usage of the WTHT call sign in the Portland area was on 102.9 FM under the moniker of "FM 103", playingCHR/Top 40 music, licensed to Portland, and operating at 100,000 watts ERP from June 1987 until December 1989.
In 1989, an agreement was made betweenalbum rock stationWBLM, which at the time was broadcasting on 107.5 FM, and WTHT to swap frequencies while retaining their respective call letters. At the time of the swap, the 107.5 FM frequency had an ERP of 50,000 watts and was licensed to Lewiston, a twin city with 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 often suffered from significant interference fromWFCC-FM inChatham, Massachusetts, also on 107.5 FM. 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 fromKittery to theBiddeford/Saco area.
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 replaced in 1992 witholdies under a new moniker of "Oldies 107.5". Later, the oldies format was replaced by a country format known 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 frequency was then assigned the call lettersWFNK and re-launched with aclassic hits format under the name "107.5 Frank FM". This arrangement continues to this day.
The 99.9 FM facility signed on in February 1977 as WWAV, "Wave 100", which aired aneasy listening format. In 1983, WWAV became "Kiss 99.9" with aTop 40 format, and used the call letters WKZS. WKZS was an affiliate during the shortsyndicated run ofMatty in the Morning fromWXKS-FM inBoston.
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-FM. 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 6, 2004, WMEK, along with its WMTW Broadcast Group radio sister stations, was sold toNassau Broadcasting Partners.[5] That same month, 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 has remained relatively unchanged.
WTHT, along with 16 other Nassau stations in northern New England, was purchased at bankruptcy auction by WBIN Media Company, a company controlled byBill Binnie, on May 22, 2012. Binnie already ownedWBIN-TV inDerry, New Hampshire.[6][7] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[8]
WBQQ signed on in November 1991 as aclassical music station, branded as "WBACH". The station's programming would subsequently be expanded to several other Maine radio stations (including existing classical music stationsWPKM inScarborough andWAVX inThomaston); in a 2008 format shuffle, WBACH programming in southern Maine was consolidated at104.7 FM, and WBQQ was made a simulcast of WTHT. WBQQ was purchased on May 22, 2012, by WBIN Media Company in the same bankruptcy auction as WTHT.[6][7]
On January 1, 2024, WBQQ split from its simulcast with country-formatted WTHT and launched a soft oldies format, branded as "99.3 The Wave".[9]
In addition to the main station, WTHT is relayed by an additional translator to widen its broadcast area.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W245AA | 96.9 FM | Portland, Maine | 24950 | 250 | 64 m (210 ft) | D | 43°39′13.2″N70°15′46.1″W / 43.653667°N 70.262806°W /43.653667; -70.262806 (W245AA) | LMS |
As of April 2013[update], W245AA began serving as a repeater of WTHT's HD2 channel, which simulcast theWBACH classical music format of Thomaston sister stationWBQX. This returned the format to Portland for the first time since the 104.7 FM frequency becamerhythmic top 40 stationWHTP in September 2012.[10] On February 18, 2017, W245AA switched back to a simulcast of WTHT's main signal.
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