https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/95546/saga-prepping-portland-me-changes/ In Portland ME WBAE 1490 simulcasting talk WZAN 970 (1490 was standards).Eventually the talk will stay on 1490 and 970 will become ESPN Portland. 970 can be picked up by day on North Shore
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ESPN 970 Portland
- Thread starter raccoonradio
- Start date
Sorry to hear this. WBAE may be listed as "Standards" but it was a full time affiliate of "America's Best Music," a Westwood One format. Think Neil Diamond and Dionne Warwick, very little Sinatra or Andy Williams. On a radio dial with every other station increasing the tempo, and WHOM sounding more and more like Hot AC, WBAE was a breath of fresh air.
Does Portland need another Sports station? It's got 95.5/95.9, both WEEI affiliates, which uses ESPN overnight. It's got 96.3 WJJB, simulcast on 1440, local sports with Fox nights and weekends. Some parts of the market can hear 930 in Rochester NH, a 5000 watt full time Fox affiliate. And WEEI-AM 850 in Boston, 50,000 watts of ESPN 24/7.
Does Portland need another Sports station? It's got 95.5/95.9, both WEEI affiliates, which uses ESPN overnight. It's got 96.3 WJJB, simulcast on 1440, local sports with Fox nights and weekends. Some parts of the market can hear 930 in Rochester NH, a 5000 watt full time Fox affiliate. And WEEI-AM 850 in Boston, 50,000 watts of ESPN 24/7.
Maybe WPEI/WPPI will drop the overnight ESPN or maybe it'll stay on if 1490 has a poor night signal.Regarding the music, we don't know exactly
what Bob Bittner plans for 870 (see other thread) but he may cover some of it, commercial free.
There indeed is a lot of sports but ESPN wants their brand out there. With 850 WEEI, they pay Entercom to run it. Ratings are low but
Entercom gets some money in the bargain and sports can appeal to younger demos. Many stations can run all ESPN, or mostly ESPN but with
some local shows. I'm thinking of the likes of WBGG 970 Pittsburgh, for example. Again the ratings won't be stellar but there will be some ad
dollars.
what Bob Bittner plans for 870 (see other thread) but he may cover some of it, commercial free.
There indeed is a lot of sports but ESPN wants their brand out there. With 850 WEEI, they pay Entercom to run it. Ratings are low but
Entercom gets some money in the bargain and sports can appeal to younger demos. Many stations can run all ESPN, or mostly ESPN but with
some local shows. I'm thinking of the likes of WBGG 970 Pittsburgh, for example. Again the ratings won't be stellar but there will be some ad
dollars.
WZAN is keeping their calls on 970, and the ESPN site is up etc...station does come in here on North Shore of Boston.
As for Talk 1490 their site is http://wbae-am.sagacom.com/
As for Talk 1490 their site is http://wbae-am.sagacom.com/
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