WBEC-FM

WBEC-FM (95.9 MHz) is a commercial station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts an Adult Top 40 radio format.

WBEC-FM
Broadcast areaBerkshire Mountains
Frequency95.9 MHz
BrandingLive 95-9
Programming
FormatAdult Top 40
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
United Stations Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner
WBEC, WNAW, WSBS, WUPE, WUPE-FM
History
First air date
1975 (1975)
Former call signs
WGRG-FM (1975–77)
WUPE-FM (1977–79)
WUPE (1979–2006)
WUPE-FM (April 7–14, 2006)
WMNB (April 14–May 2, 2006)
Call sign meaning
taken from sister station WBEC (AM), originally owned by the Berkshire Eagle Company
Technical information
Facility ID71437
ClassA
ERP1,000 watts
HAAT170 meters (560 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
42.412°N 73.284°W / 42.412; -73.284
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitelive959.com

WBEC-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,000 watts. The transmitter is off Alpine Trail in Pittsfield, near South Street (U.S. Route 20).[1]

History

In 1975, the station signed on as WGRG-FM, airing a free form progressive rock sound. At that time, it was not associated with WBEC 1420 AM. WBEC had an FM station at 94.3 MHz dating back to the late 1940s, but gave it up in an era when few people owned FM receivers. It later put another FM station on the air at 105.5 MHz; that station moved to Easthampton, Massachusetts, becoming WVEI-FM, in 2006.

From 1977 to 2006, the station was known as WUPE-FM. WUPE began operations in 1977 simulcasting the top 40 sound heard on WUPE 1110 AM. WUPE-AM-FM later switched to soft adult contemporary and then oldies. After oldies, the WUPE-FM call sign and format were moved to 100.1 FM.

In August 2013, Gamma Broadcasting reached a deal to sell its Berkshire County radio stations, including WBEC-FM, to Reed Miami Holdings.[2] The sale was canceled on December 30, 2013.[3] In October 2016, Gamma agreed to sell its stations to Galaxy Communications.[4] That sale also fell through, and in 2017 the stations were acquired by Townsquare Media.[5]

References
  1. Radio-Locator.com/WBEC-FM
  2. "Western Massachusetts Cluster Sold". All Access. August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  3. Venta, Lance (January 14, 2014). "Pittsfield Cluster Sale Withdrawn". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  4. Venta, Lance (October 17, 2016). "Galaxy Communications Acquires Pittsfield Cluster". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  5. Venta, Lance (July 18, 2017). "Townsquare Media Acquires Six In Massachusetts". RadioInsight. Retrieved November 14, 2017.


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