 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Mid Coast |
| Frequency | 106.9MHz |
| Branding | 106.9Frank FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBYA | |
| History | |
First air date | May 29, 1992 (1992-05-29) |
Former call signs | WAVX (1990–1998) |
Call sign meaning | Station formerly carriedWBACH, itself named forJohann Sebastian Bach |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 49564 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 29,500 watts |
| HAAT | 193 meters (633 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°6′30.2″N69°9′26.1″W / 44.108389°N 69.157250°W /44.108389; -69.157250 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | 1069frank |
WBQX (106.9FM, "Frank FM") is a radio station broadcasting aclassic hits music format. Licensed toThomaston, Maine, United States, it serves theMid Coast region. It first began broadcasting in1992 under thecall signWAVX. The station is owned by Binnie Media. The station's competitor isWBAK inBelfast.
The station signed on May 29, 1992, as WAVX, aclassical music station owned by Northern Lights Broadcasting[2] and branded as "The Classical Wave".[3] In 1996, the station began simulcasting on WBYA (101.7 FM, nowWKVV) inSearsport, which brought its programming to theBangor area.[4] Mariner Broadcasting bought WAVX in 1998[5] and made it a part of itsWBACH network of classical stations under the call letters WBQX.[6]Nassau Broadcasting Partners acquired Mariner in 2004.[7]
Nassau Broadcasting entered bankruptcy in 2011, which culminated in an auction of its stations. Prior to the conclusion of the auction, theMaine Public Broadcasting Network expressed interest in running the WBACH stations.[8] As part of the bankruptcy proceeding, WBQX, along with 29 other Nassau-owned northern New England radio stations, went to a partnership ofWBIN-TV ownerBill Binnie and Jeff Shapiro; 17 of the stations, including WBQX, were acquired by Binnie's WBIN Media Company.[9][10][11] The purchase was consummated on November 30, 2012, at a price of $12.5 million.
On August 7, 2012, WBQX was granted aconstruction permit to increase theirERP to 30,000 watts and to raise their height above sea level up to 232 meters (761 feet). The construction permit expired on August 7, 2015.
WBQX ended the classical music format on February 18, 2017; Binnie Media then transferred itsclassic hits format, branded "Frank FM", fromWBYA (105.5 FM),[12] which changed tocountry music on February 24.[13][14] Much of the programming on WBQX is supplied byPortland sister stationWFNK;[12] the station also began airing coverage of local high school basketball games, which had previously aired on WBYA.[13]