 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Mid Coast |
| Frequency | 105.5MHz |
| Branding | 105.5 The Wolf |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country music |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBQX | |
| History | |
First air date | February 1999; 26 years ago (1999-02) |
Former call signs | WAYD (1999–2001) |
Call sign meaning | "Bay" (former branding) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 41105 |
| Class | B1 |
| ERP | 25,000 watts |
| HAAT | 93 meters (305 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°18′58″N68°58′12″W / 44.31611°N 68.97000°W /44.31611; -68.97000 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | 1055thewolf |
WBYA (105.5FM; "The Wolf") is a radio station licensed toIslesboro, Maine, United States. The station serves theMid Coast area with acountry music format. The station is owned by Binnie Media,[2] and broadcasts from a transmitter onU.S. 1 south ofNorthport. The station's competitor isWMCM inRockland.
The station went on the air as WAYD in February 1999,[3] programming anadult standards format branded as "The Bay".[4] It was owned by Gopher Hill Communications, who also ownedWQSS inCamden andWABI andWWBX inBangor; the station was based out of the WQSS studios in Camden.[4] On April 16, 2001, the station changed its call sign to the current WBYA, which had just been dropped byWFZX inSearsport.[5][6] Gopher Hill sold WBYA to Mariner Broadcasting in 2003;[7] this came after the other three Gopher Hill stations were sold toClear Channel Communications.[8][9] Mariner kept the standards format, but dropped locally-produced programming in favor of theMusic of Your Life service.[7]
Nassau Broadcasting Partners acquired Mariner in 2004;[10] under Nassau, the station switched to the "Frank FM"classic hits format on April 1, 2005.[11] WBYA simulcast the morning show of Portland sisterWFNK, and in addition to the classic hits format broadcast local high school basketball games andBoston Red Sox baseball.
WBYA, 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.[12][13] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[14]
On February 18, 2017, Binnie Media moved the classic hits format toWBQX (106.9 FM), replacing theclassical music programming ofWBACH; WBYA then beganstunting with a loop directing listeners to WBQX.[15] On February 24, 2017, WBYA changed to a country music format, branded as "105.5 The Wolf";[16][17] the new format includes a simulcast of Portland sister stationWTHT's morning show.[18] Following the format changes, WBYA retained Boston Red Sox broadcasts, while its high school basketball coverage was transferred to WBQX.[16]