The Point (radio network)
The Point ("Independent Radio, The Point") is a radio network operating in the state of Vermont. The flagship station is WNCS (104.7 FM) in Montpelier, which signed on in 1977. It was started by Jeb Spaulding who later served as Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges, State Treasurer of Vermont, and Secretary of Administration under Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin. Although at that time there was no designated adult album alternative format, The Point's programming format has been solidly adult album alternative/progressive rock for its entire history.
Broadcast area | Northern Vermont |
---|---|
Branding | Independent Radio, The Point |
Programming | |
Format | Adult album alternative |
Ownership | |
Owner | Northeast Broadcasting |
Coverage | |
Stations | See § Frequencies |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | pointfm.com |
The Point has won numerous national awards over the course of its history, including trade publication Radio and Records' AAA Station of the Year (markets 101+) in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, which was the publication's final year of operation. In 2008, The Point was inducted into the trade publication FMQB's Hall Of Fame for AAA Stations in markets 51 and smaller, and in 2013 The Point was named FMQB's AAA Station of the Year (markets 50+).
Frequencies
The Point broadcasts on five FM stations. They are:
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | State | Facility ID | Class | Power (W) |
ERP (W) |
Height (m (ft)) |
First air date | Broadcast area | Former call signs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WIFY | 93.7 FM | Addison | Vermont | 83867 | C3 | — | 21,000 | 108 m (354 ft) | 2014[lower-alpha 1] | Addison Middlebury Burlington | WWFY (1996-1999) WRRO (1999-2001) WXAL-FM (2001-2005) WUSX (2005-2010) |
WDOT | 95.7 FM | Danville | Vermont | 4001 | A | — | 3,800 | 75 m (246 ft) | 1996[1] | Danville Saint Johnsbury | WSHX (1989-1999) |
WNCS[lower-alpha 2] | 104.7 FM | Montpelier | Vermont | 43655 | C2 | — | 1,900 | 634 m (2,080 ft) | 1977 | Montpelier Burlington | — |
Notes:
- WIFY has operated since 1999, but carried other formats prior to joining The Point in 2014.
- Flagship station
Call sign | Frequency (MHz) |
City of license | State | Facility ID | Rebroadcasts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
W227AQ | 93.3 | Burlington | Vermont | 145050 | WNCS |
W262AA | 100.3 | Montpelier | Vermont | 43656 | WNCS |
All of the stations are owned by Montpelier Broadcasting Inc., which, in turn, is owned by Northeast Broadcasting, Inc., (based in Bedford, New Hampshire), which also owns WWMP (and owned WCAT) in Burlington; WSKI in Montpelier; and other stations in Andover, Massachusetts, and in Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming.
Former stations
The Point was also carried by WRJT (103.1 FM) in Royalton, serving the White River Junction–Lebanon–Hanover area,[2] from its 1996 sign on[3] until its sale to the Educational Media Foundation in 2020;[4] it is now K-Love station WZKC.[5] WRJT also operated translator W299AM (107.7 FM) in Lebanon, New Hampshire;[6] since 2021, that facility, while still owned by Northeast Broadcasting, has carried separately-owned WFRD.[7]
WFAD (1490 AM) and translator W266CU (101.1 FM) in Middlebury carried The Point in the early 2020s, prior to its 2022 sale to Christian Ministries.[8]
References
- "Format Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. November 27, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- Fybush, Scott (August 22, 1996). "WROR is Back in Beantown". New England RadioWatch. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- "Format Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. August 21, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- Venta, Lance (August 27, 2020). "EMF Acquires Four In Northern New England". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- "FCC: 19 Call Letter Changes During January". Inside Radio. February 19, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- Venta, Lance (November 20, 2020). "Station Sales Week Of 11/20: WJAS Heads To A Nursing Home Operator". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- Flanagan, Edward (December 30, 2021). "Amendment to Renewal of License". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- Venta, Lance (December 16, 2022). "Station Sales Week of 12/16". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
External links
- Official website
- WNCS in the FCC FM station database
- WNCS on Radio-Locator
- WNCS in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
———
- WDOT in the FCC FM station database
- WDOT on Radio-Locator
- WDOT in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- WIFY in the FCC FM station database
- WIFY on Radio-Locator
- WIFY in Nielsen Audio's FM station database