WEZR (AM)

WEZR (1240 AM, "Z105.5 & 96.9") is a radio station licensed to serve Lewiston, Maine. The station is owned by Mountain Valley Broadcasting, Inc. WEZR is silent; it most recently aired a hot adult contemporary music format.[3] Its programming was also heard on translator station W288CW (105.5 FM) in Lewiston and WPNO (1450 AM) and W245CQ (96.9 FM) in South Paris. In addition to music, WEZR broadcast Lewiston–Auburn area high school sports.

WEZR
CityLewiston, Maine
Broadcast areaLewiston–Auburn
Frequency1240 kHz
BrandingZ105.5 & 96.9
SloganMaine's Hit Music Station
Programming
FormatSilent (was hot adult contemporary)
Ownership
OwnerMountain Valley Broadcasting, Inc. (sale pending to Bennett Radio Group)
Sister stationsWOXO-FM, WPNO, WRMO-FM, WTME
History
First air dateAugust 21, 1938 (1938-08-21) (as WCOU)[1]
Former call signsWCOU (1938–1988)
WXGL (1988–1991)
WTME (1991–2001)
WCNM (2001–2007)[2]
Technical information
Facility ID11031
ClassC
Power1,000 watts day
860 watts night
Transmitter coordinates44°06′55″N 70°14′55″W
Translator(s)105.5 W288CW (Lewiston)
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitemainesbigz.com

The station was assigned the WEZR call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on January 18, 2007.[2]

History
Logo as "Z105.5", used from March 31, 2014 until August 1, 2016
Logo as "Maine's Big Z", used from 2016 until 2019

On March 31, 2014, WEZR began simulcasting on 105.5 FM, via translator W288CW, and rebranded as Z105.5. On August 1, 2016, the station began simulcasting on WEZR-FM (92.7, formerly WOXO-FM, whose country music format was transferred to 1450 AM and 96.9 FM), expanding the format's reach to the Oxford Hills area; as a result, the station rebranded to "Maine's Big Z".[4][5] In April 2019, WEZR rebranded as "Z105.5 & 96.9", reflecting the move of its Oxford Hills simulcast from WEZR-FM to WOXO (now WPNO).[6]

WEZR, along with its sister stations, went off the air March 29, 2020, citing financial considerations that included expected reduction in advertising revenue attributed to COVID-19.[7] The stations had been up for sale following the death of owner Dick Gleason in February 2019.[8] A sale of the Gleason Media Group stations to Bennett Radio Group is pending.[9]

Translator
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseFacility
ID		ERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))		ClassTransmitter coordinatesFCC info
W288CW105.5Lewiston, Maine15228325058.2 m (191 ft)D44°6′54″N 70°14′52″WFCC
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References
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-199. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  2. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  3. "Summer Station Information Profile". Nielsen Audio.
  4. Crosby, Christopher (August 1, 2016). "Radio station WOXO changes frequencies". Sun Journal. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  5. Venta, Lance (July 29, 2016). "WEZR & WOXO Lewiston On The Move". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  6. WOXO & WEZR Swap Frequencies Radioinsight - April 4, 2019
  7. "WOXO says farewell to listeners; Gleason Radio Group to go silent after 45 years". Lewiston Sun Journal. March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  8. Venta, Lance (March 25, 2020). "Gleason Media To Shut Down Cluster In Lewiston/Auburn". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  9. Binnie VP/Programming Stan Bennett Acquires Silent Maine Cluster Lance Venta, Radio Insight, May 26, 2020.


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