 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Portland Metropolitan Area |
| Frequency | 107.5MHz |
| Branding | 107.5Frank FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBQQ,WHXR,WTHT | |
| History | |
First air date | March 1, 1973; 52 years ago (1973-03-01) |
Former call signs | |
Call sign meaning | Frank |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 65675 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 276 meters (906 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°0′15″N70°25′24.1″W / 44.00417°N 70.423361°W /44.00417; -70.423361 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | 1075frank |
WFNK (107.5FM) – branded107.5Frank FM – is a commercialclassic hits radio station licensed to serveLewiston, Maine. Owned byBinnie Media, the station services thePortland metropolitan area.[2] WFNK has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, broadcasting from atransmitter inPoland, Maine, making it among the highest-powered FM stations in New England. Some WFNK programming is also heard onsister stationWBQX inThomaston, Maine, which also calls itself Frank FM.
WFNK is classified as a classic hits station, but it leans more towardclassic rock. Core artists played includeThe Eagles,The Rolling Stones,Fleetwood Mac andBruce Springsteen, but the station avoids more pop-leaning artists such asMichael Jackson,Madonna andPrince. Once a year, WFNK has a 1,000-song countdown of the greatest Frank FM songs, ending with the #1 song on Memorial Day. The station also plays its classic hits library from A to Z every September. WFNK is also known for its long-running campaigns in support of Portland's Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and Maine's Make-a-Wish chapter.
On March 1, 1973, a station at 107.5 MHz firstsigned on in Lewiston asWBLM.[3] It was owned by the Stereo Corporation, which owned no other stations. WBLM "The Blimp" was aprogressive rock station, staffed by young disc jockeys playing a mostlyfree form radio format, in contrast to tightly programmed radio found on the AM dial. DJs were given the freedom to choose whatever rock albums they wanted to play and discuss topics in music, politics and lifestyles they felt motivated to cover. Over time, the station moved to a more structuredalbum rock sound. In the 1980s, it was acquired byFuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting, with longtime Maine broadcasterJ. J. Jeffrey serving as co-owner and vice president.[4]
In December 1989, WBLM switchedcall signs and frequencies with WTHT and became "Thunder 107", airing acontemporary hit radio format. WTHT's next format wasoldies, and a few years later, wentcountry, first as "New Country WTHT 107.5", and then "107-5 The Wolf". In 2004, WTHT was acquired byNassau Broadcasting Partners, which had big plans for the station.[5]
Since its founding, the station was hard to hear in parts of Portland and its suburbs, due to its 30,000-watt tower located 25 miles north of Maine's largest city. Nassau Broadcasting worked to give the station a major power boost, going from aClass B to Class C FM outlet. Power was increased to the maximum permitted in the U.S. under current guidelines, 100,000 watts. Thetower height was also increased from 630 feet (190 m) to 928 feet (283 m). This gave the station a coverage area ranging fromBiddeford andSanford to the south, toAugusta andRumford in the north.
On April 6, 2004, WTHT began running a continuous recorded loop directing listeners to 99.9 FM, where "The Wolf" was relocated. A week later, WTHT switched to aclassic hits format as WFNK "Frank FM". The station launch was backed by numerous TV commercials and other promotions, with WFNK quickly becoming a ratings success in the Portlandradio market.
When it was launched, WFNK began jockless and commercial-free in the spring of 2004. Personalities were added by fall, including longtime morning host Bill Fox, midday DJ Chrissy Cavotta, and afternoon drive DJ Jim Kenton. Kenton was replaced by Leif Erickson in 2005, and Cavotta departed forWFLY inAlbany, New York, in 2006. Heidi Knight became morning co-host in 2008, and Program Director Stan Bennett replaced Fox in the morning slot in 2010. Other morning co-hosts included market veterans Joe Lerman, Teddy McKay and Rick Johnson. The late Mike "Roberts" Tibbetts served as evening host for many years. Mark Persky, formerly of WBLM, had a short stint on the morning show as well. Local music blogger Holly Nunan joined on middays in 2015. WFNK had been hosted by all local personalities since its launch, but with other co-owned Frank FM stations around New England, management decided to have some DJs heard on other Frank stations.
On May 22, 2012, WFNK, along with 16 other stations in Northern New England formerly owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners, was purchased at bankruptcy auction by WBIN Media Company, a company controlled byBill Binnie. Binnie already ownedWBIN-TV inDerry, New Hampshire.[6][7] The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.[8]
FormerWEEI sports host Mikey Adams began hosting afternoons on WFNK via co-ownedWFNQ inNashua, New Hampshire, in late 2016, moving longtime host Leif Erickson to evenings;[9][10][11] Erickson later returned to the afternoondrive time slot.
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