WPPI
WPPI (95.5 FM) is a sports radio station in the Portland, Maine, area. The station is owned by Atlantic Coast Radio.
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Broadcast area | Portland, Maine |
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Frequency | 95.5 MHz |
Branding | 95.5 and 95.9 WPEI |
Programming | |
Format | Sports |
Affiliations | |
Ownership | |
Owner | Atlantic Coast Radio |
WJJB-FM, WLOB, WRED, WPEI | |
History | |
First air date | 1993 | (as WPME)
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | similar to WPEI (simulcast partner) |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 12160 |
Class | A |
Power | 3,000 watts |
HAAT | 139 meters (456 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°54′12″N 70°2′13″W |
Links | |
Website | weei.com |
WPPI serves as a simulcast of WPEI (95.9 FM) in Saco. Both stations, in turn, mostly carry the same programs as WEEI-FM from Boston. Some local commercials take the place of Boston commercials, and some WEEI-FM game broadcasts are substituted with Fox Sports Radio. WPPI also carries University of Maine Black Bear football and ice hockey,[1] and Portland Pirates ice hockey.[2]
History
The 95.5 frequency began operations in 1993 as WPME, simulcasting a country music format with 96.7 WCME from Boothbay Harbor (now WBQA).[3] A year later, the station converted to an oldies format as WXGL-FM.[3] Atlantic Coast Radio purchased the station in 1999,[4] and in January 2000, the station switched to an adult album alternative format as WCLZ.[5] A few months later, WCLZ adopted a sports talk format, initially as a simulcast of WJAE;[6] the next year, the station took the call letters WJJB-FM.[7]
On August 25, 2008, WLOB-FM was converted to a simulcast of WJJB (which WJAE had become by that time), resulting in WLOB's programming being heard only on the AM signal. This was part of a shuffle of Atlantic Coast Radio's FM stations as a result of the conversion of two of its stations, including WJJB-FM, on September 1, 2008 to simulcasts of WEEI.[8] Shortly after the completion of these format changes, 95.5's call letters were changed to WGEI (it had initially planned to use the WTEI call sign,[9] and for a week in September 2008 used the WUEI call letters[10]).
On April 1, 2009, WGEI converted to a simulcast of WLOB; it became WLOB-FM a few days later.[10] In August 2011, WLOB-FM returned to simulcasting WEEI. On September 7, 2011, WLOB-FM changed its call letters to WPPI.
References
- of Maine Official Athletic Site
- Pirates Announce New Radio Home
- Fybush, Scott. "Maine Radio History, 1971–1996". Archives @ BostonRadio.org. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
- Fybush, Scott (August 27, 1999). "Maine Station Owner Dies in Plane Crash". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
- Fybush, Scott (January 28, 2000). "Welcome Back WMEX, and We Take On LPFM". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
- Fybush, Scott (October 10, 2000). "Spinning the Dial in Connecticut". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
- Fybush, Scott (September 3, 2001). "Labor Day Update". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
- Routhier, Ray (August 19, 2008). "WEEI to air in Maine Sept. 1". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on August 26, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
- "WEEI Sports Radio Network Expands to Portland, Bangor & Keene" (PDF) (Press release). Entercom Communications. August 20, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
- "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
External links
- WEEI official website
- WPPI in the FCC FM station database
- WPPI on Radio-Locator
- WPPI in Nielsen Audio's FM station database