I was reading on the company's web page www.moreyorg.com and it said that WLIR is ESPN 107.1 FM.
What happened to WLIR FM?
Why did they flip it?
Can anyone help me?
What happened to WLIR FM?
Why did they flip it?
Can anyone help me?
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WLIR's Death
- Thread starter BJSteigner
- Start date
From Wikipedia:
On January 9, 2004, Univision bought the 92.7 frequency and other assets for $56.9 million dollars and began simulcasting the Spanish radio format of WCAA Newark, NJ. on 92.7 under the call letters WZAA. The Last song played on WLIR that day was "Forever Young", the upbeat version by Alphaville. The WLIR call letters moved to the 107.1 frequency on Eastern Long Island, which was earlier part of the simulcast of Spanish "Rumba 107" WYNY. The new WLIR adopted an Active Rock/Alternative format and new image as "THE BOX". Since the 107.1 version of WLIR is located about 50 miles east of the original WLIR, many of the station's fans in New York City, southwestern Connecticut, southern Westchester County, New York, northeastern New Jersey, and even the western parts of Long Island itself could not easily receive the station (many of these areas were closer geographically to other 107.1s, WXPK in central Westchester County and WWZY in Long Branch, New Jersey, which hindered reception).
On September 15, 2005, WLIR changed formats to a block-sponsored smooth jazz/chill music format known as "FM Channel 107: NeoBreeze." As a result of the format change, which was also instituted at two other stations owned by the WLIR's owners (The Morey Organization), all of the on-air staff was fired. This truly marked the end of WLIR's unique "new music" format after almost three decades. In addition, with the new format, the station would run commercial-free during the day, with the actual airtime during this period paid for by advertisers. According to the station's owners, this move was made as an attempt to take on satellite radio and MP3 players, which had been cutting into listeners of traditional radio.
On December 20, 2005, after three months of low ratings, the NeoBreeze format was dumped, and the WLIR alternative format returned.
On December 26, 2006 BusinessTalkRadio.net President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Metter announced the purchase of three Long Island radio stations: Alternative WLIR-FM (107.1), Classic Rocker WBON-FM (98.5), and Top 40/Rhythmic WDRE (105.3). WBON was renamed WBZB and flipped to a business talk format on January 2, 2007. The sales of WLIR-FM and WBZB were approved on February 27, 2007 and according to the FCC database, the selling price for WLIR-FM was expected to be $1,750,000 and the selling price for WBON-FM was also expected to be $1,750,000. The sale of these stations, however, was never completed.
On October 11, 2007, WLIR-FM began simulcasting on translator 96.9 FM Manorville (W245BA), expanding its coverage area into western Suffolk County and a portion of eastern Nassau County. On November 18, 2007, this simulcast of WLIR-FM ended with the simulcast of 98.5 WBON, "La Fiesta", taking over the 96.9 frequency.
In what seemed like an annual ritual, on January 3, 2008, WLIR-FM began simulcasting programming from sister station WDRE (Party 105), fueling speculation that a change in format to ESPN was imminent.
WLIR today
On January 21, 2008, WLIR-FM became an ESPN Radio affiliate via an LMA with New York City radio station WEPN (1050 AM).
You must've been living under a rock BJ. I hated to see WLIR go, but it's the unfortuante reality in the corporate radio world.
On January 9, 2004, Univision bought the 92.7 frequency and other assets for $56.9 million dollars and began simulcasting the Spanish radio format of WCAA Newark, NJ. on 92.7 under the call letters WZAA. The Last song played on WLIR that day was "Forever Young", the upbeat version by Alphaville. The WLIR call letters moved to the 107.1 frequency on Eastern Long Island, which was earlier part of the simulcast of Spanish "Rumba 107" WYNY. The new WLIR adopted an Active Rock/Alternative format and new image as "THE BOX". Since the 107.1 version of WLIR is located about 50 miles east of the original WLIR, many of the station's fans in New York City, southwestern Connecticut, southern Westchester County, New York, northeastern New Jersey, and even the western parts of Long Island itself could not easily receive the station (many of these areas were closer geographically to other 107.1s, WXPK in central Westchester County and WWZY in Long Branch, New Jersey, which hindered reception).
On September 15, 2005, WLIR changed formats to a block-sponsored smooth jazz/chill music format known as "FM Channel 107: NeoBreeze." As a result of the format change, which was also instituted at two other stations owned by the WLIR's owners (The Morey Organization), all of the on-air staff was fired. This truly marked the end of WLIR's unique "new music" format after almost three decades. In addition, with the new format, the station would run commercial-free during the day, with the actual airtime during this period paid for by advertisers. According to the station's owners, this move was made as an attempt to take on satellite radio and MP3 players, which had been cutting into listeners of traditional radio.
On December 20, 2005, after three months of low ratings, the NeoBreeze format was dumped, and the WLIR alternative format returned.
On December 26, 2006 BusinessTalkRadio.net President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Metter announced the purchase of three Long Island radio stations: Alternative WLIR-FM (107.1), Classic Rocker WBON-FM (98.5), and Top 40/Rhythmic WDRE (105.3). WBON was renamed WBZB and flipped to a business talk format on January 2, 2007. The sales of WLIR-FM and WBZB were approved on February 27, 2007 and according to the FCC database, the selling price for WLIR-FM was expected to be $1,750,000 and the selling price for WBON-FM was also expected to be $1,750,000. The sale of these stations, however, was never completed.
On October 11, 2007, WLIR-FM began simulcasting on translator 96.9 FM Manorville (W245BA), expanding its coverage area into western Suffolk County and a portion of eastern Nassau County. On November 18, 2007, this simulcast of WLIR-FM ended with the simulcast of 98.5 WBON, "La Fiesta", taking over the 96.9 frequency.
In what seemed like an annual ritual, on January 3, 2008, WLIR-FM began simulcasting programming from sister station WDRE (Party 105), fueling speculation that a change in format to ESPN was imminent.
WLIR today
On January 21, 2008, WLIR-FM became an ESPN Radio affiliate via an LMA with New York City radio station WEPN (1050 AM).
You must've been living under a rock BJ. I hated to see WLIR go, but it's the unfortuante reality in the corporate radio world.
I think BJ's reaction is likely typical of those who don't venture into eastern Suffolk. For the vast majority of 'non radio geek' WLIR fans, the station died on January 9, 2004. Other than anecdotal comments here and there, 'west-enders' haven't suffered though the death throes of 'LIR over the years. All they know is that that station went to 107.1 out east (many don't likely even know that) and was just 'gone' to them. They haven't suffered through 'chill', channel casting, LMAs, sales attempts, staff firings, staff re-hirings and staff firings again, etc.
And now, back to real radio...
And now, back to real radio...
Michael D said:
For some of us radio geeks, that is also the case. WLIR (WDRE) stopped being itself when the 92.7 station was sold off.
But unfortunately by then, 92.7 was a shadow of its former great self. It wasn't the station that the "too cool for the room" kids listened to...and I for one welcomed the sale to Univision Radio and the subsequent format change to Mexican regional pop. :-\
I actually like stations that expose me to music from other ethnicities.
Not to go off topic, but....
If you go to other countries (that allow private radio station ownership) with significant "minority" ethnic populations, you are likely to find stations broadcasting in languages other than the official tongue of the country in question.
Canada is one prime example (In Montreal, for instance, you have stations broadcasting in Greek, Italian, Yiddish, Spanish, and even English! The official language is French.).
I don't know, maybe I'm biased. I grew up mostly listening to ethnic radio stations (even in languages I couldn't understand) . While most people were digging the stations at the low end of the AM dial (66, 710, 77, 88, 1010), I was usually digging around the area between 12 and 16, finding a plethora of non-English language stations. Oh, and also 1050 AM when it became WEVD!
;D
Not to go off topic, but....
If you go to other countries (that allow private radio station ownership) with significant "minority" ethnic populations, you are likely to find stations broadcasting in languages other than the official tongue of the country in question.
Canada is one prime example (In Montreal, for instance, you have stations broadcasting in Greek, Italian, Yiddish, Spanish, and even English! The official language is French.).
I don't know, maybe I'm biased. I grew up mostly listening to ethnic radio stations (even in languages I couldn't understand) . While most people were digging the stations at the low end of the AM dial (66, 710, 77, 88, 1010), I was usually digging around the area between 12 and 16, finding a plethora of non-English language stations. Oh, and also 1050 AM when it became WEVD!
;D
M
motnow
Guest
I've read posts on this board and others, and have seen youtube clips of people showing their frustration about the English-NonEnglish transitions. To me, the frustration of the 92.7 frequency going Spanish was the fact that it was WLIR that was leaving the area's airwaves. It wasn't a commonplace Top40, ClassicRock or HipHop station that was departing. If it was a common format getting canned, it would have eventually popped up somewhere else on the dial. WLIR was the one and only alternative station in the Tri-state area; might I add the only one that made a good go of it too. I think the LIR fans knew the format wasn't ever going to resurface somewhere else on the dial; thus the frustration. Why couldn't it have been some other station to have gotten sold !
BTW, I followed that station to its bitter end, right to its demise on the East End, and now there's absolutely nothing on FM to tune to for alternative.
Ahh but wait! I can get La Nueva Fiesta on, count 'em, two frequencies out here now. Oh joy !
BTW, I followed that station to its bitter end, right to its demise on the East End, and now there's absolutely nothing on FM to tune to for alternative.
Ahh but wait! I can get La Nueva Fiesta on, count 'em, two frequencies out here now. Oh joy !
I
Indielover
Guest
I always thought that WLIR should have continued on 98.5...I know this signal didn't reach into the city, however when I lived in Norwalk in the 90's I could get it fine, sometimes better than 92.7....A moot point I know, Morey would have only screwed it up anyway...
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