Unique Formats That Are No Longer Around

[WMC2006]

I remember Seacoast 102 (WZEA?), it was a good station!

Yes, WZEA, and I personally thought it was a great station. They certainly promoted themselves around southern NH and the Hampton Beach area. In fact, they had the Beach Patrol out every weekend during the summer with one of the female interns driving the Seacoast 102 VW Bug. I'm reasonably certain that, after Seacoast 102 left the airwaves, that WERZ picked up the Beach Patrol duties the following summer.

 

[JIBGUY]

Back around 1995 or 1996, 102.1 out of Portsmouth was Seacoast 102, sort of a Top 40 pop station. That went away and became The Stage.

But not until they did (and were the first? to do) all Xmas music in December. And wasn't it then owned by Peter Arpin (former owner of WRCA-1330 after the Broadway format)& Co.?

Back to the Broadway format of 1330.... A risky move (owner: LaMarca?) considering that just down the road to the east in Medford, WXKS-1430 was "playing the hits".

 

[WMC2006]

But not until they did (and were the first? to do) all Xmas music in December. And wasn't it then owned by Peter Arpin (former owner of WRCA-1330 after the Broadway format)& Co.?

Geez, people keep bringing back memories. You're right, too. I think it was an All-Christmas music (no-jock) "bridge" between the end of Seacoast 102 and the beginning of The Stage.

 

[LA_Guy]

If I recall now, it was Back Bay Broadcasting who owned them, at least on paper anyway. AAA did indeed buy them later on, that is WPNW in Providence I think.

If I recall, Salem was already in line to buy WBNW, but the sale got expedited due to the owner of Back Bay Broadcasting's brother untimely dying.

The first name of the principal owner of the old WBNW 590 was Peter. I can't recall his last name now but if somebody mentioned it, I think I would say "oh yeah." IIRC, the name began with the letter O. (Overmeyer? Don't think so, but the real name might have four syllables.)

A complicated deal between Salem and ARS brought 590 ino the Salem fold (so to speak). I believe that Salem held an option to buy an FM in Portland OR from ARS and somehow was able to trade that option for an option to buy WBNW. Salem then immediately exercised the option to buy WBNW and moved the WEZE calls and format there from 1260, which then became WPZE until it was sold to a company that was acquiring affiliates for Radio Disney and ultimately transferred all of those stations directly to Disney, which then renamed it WMKI.

Peter Ottmar.

 

[WVCAfan]

And speaking of AOR, remember when WBCN was freeform? OK, getting a little off topic now here Hardly off topic. Of course music and formats always change, but who can forget Mississippi Fats introducing the flip from Boston Concert Network to freeform/underground. He played 3 songs, Zappa, Cream and ?.

 

[Sibilant]

Anyone remember WCAS ?

And yes, WBCN's 'freeform' days qualifies as a format that would sound very refreshing today. Seems commercially viable given the success of Emmis owned KGSR in Austin TX .

 

[DanStrassberg]

Peter Ottmar.

Thanks, Dana!

 

[wavelength9]

Back in 1998 AM 1430 WXKS was Bloomberg Business Radio for about 6 weeks then they went back to Adult Standards.

But who can forget The Daytime Night Club All Disco during the daylight hours on WNTN. I think that was back in 84 or 85 and Disco Vinny was the PD

 

[Retro]

Before Bob Bitner flipped the format to WJIB, he had a very interesting format with WWEA, it seemed to play just about everything. It was a really unique format!