WHTP-FM

WHTP-FM (104.7 FM; "Hot Radio Maine") is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Kennebunkport, Maine, serving York County and southern Cumberland County, Maine. Its signal is broadcast from the same location. Established in 1994, WHTP-FM is owned by Mainestream Media. The station broadcasts a rhythmic top 40 format.[2]

WHTP-FM
CityKennebunkport, Maine
Broadcast areaSouthern Maine
Frequency104.7 MHz
BrandingHot Radio Maine
SloganMaine's Hit Music Channel
Programming
FormatRhythmic contemporary hit radio
Ownership
OwnerMainestream Media, LLC
Sister stationsWHTP, WHZP
History
First air dateDecember 1, 1994 (as WQEZ)[1]
Former call signsWXPT (1990–1994)
WBQW (1994)
WQEZ (1994–2004)
WHXQ (2004–2008)
WBQW (2008–2012)
WHTP (2012–2020)
Call sign meaningHoT Portland
Technical information
Facility ID69855
ClassA
ERP6,000 watts
HAAT87 meters (285 ft)
Transmitter coordinates43°24′16.00″N 70°26′15″W
Repeater(s)1400/102.9 WHZP (Veazie/Bangor)
1280/100.3 (WHTP, Gardiner/Augusta)
Links
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteHot Radio Maine

WHTP-FM is simulcast in northern Cumberland, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, and Kennebec counties on WHTP (1280 AM and 100.3 FM), as well as in Bangor and surrounding areas on WHZP (1400 AM and 102.9 FM).[3]

History

WHTP-FM began broadcasting December 1, 1994 as WQEZ, an easy listening/adult contemporary station owned by Vega Corporation, which also owned WBQQ (99.3 FM).[1][4] Vega sold the stations to Mariner Broadcasting on June 16, 1997.[5] Mariner sold its stations to Nassau Broadcasting Partners in 2004.[6] That April, Nassau relaunched the station as WHXQ, a classic rock station branded as The Bone and simulcasting with WHXR (106.7 FM, now WXTP).[7] During the summer of 2006, WHXQ/WHXR expanded their playlist and shifted to active rock. WHXQ and WHXR had planned to switch to sports talk provided by Boston's WEEI in January 2008,[8] but the deal between Nassau and WEEI owner Entercom ended up collapsing.[9]

Logo as WBQW

WHXQ swapped formats and call signs with WBQW (106.3 FM, now the current WHXR) on October 6, 2008, and began to carry WBACH's classical music programming (which had originated on WBQQ in 1991; concurrent with the WHXQ/WBQW swap, WBQQ became a simulcast of WTHT).[10] Nassau Broadcasting entered bankruptcy in 2011, which culminated in an auction of its stations. Prior to the conclusion of the auction, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network expressed interest in running the WBACH stations.[11] As part of the bankruptcy proceeding, WBQW was auctioned in May 2012 to local owner Mainestream Media for $150,000, while the other WBACH stations (WBQX in Thomaston and WBQI in Bar Harbor) went to Bill Binnie's WBIN Media Company.[12][13][14]

Mainestream Media dropped WBACH's programming at 5 p.m. on September 13, 2012[15][16] and began stunting with Christmas music, making the claim of being the first station to switch to Christmas music in 2012, and promoting the "104 Days Of Christmas", saying they would give Portland special "gifts" through the holidays, with the first to come the following day at 5 PM.[17][17] At that time, the station adopted its permanent rhythmic top 40 format, branded as "Hot 104.7".[2][18][19] The first song on Hot 104.7 was LMFO's "Party Rock Anthem WHTP currently competes with longtime Top 40 station WJBQ, owned by Townsquare Media, which has a more mainstream feel to it as compared to WHTP's Rhythmic approach (similar to the former WRED). On October 1, WBQW's call letters were changed to WHTP, fitting the "Hot" branding. In February 2013, WHTP was added to Mediabase's Rhythmic panel, reflecting its choice of musical direction.

WHTP began simulcasting on WJYE (1280 AM and 100.3 FM) in Gardiner and WCYR (1400 AM and 102.9 FM) in Veazie on January 13, 2020; to reflect its expanded reach, the station rebranded as "Hot Radio Maine".[3] The station added the "-FM" suffix to its call sign on March 6, 2020.[20]

References
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995 (PDF). 1995. p. B-182. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  2. "WBQW Lights Up Top 40 'Hot 104.7'". All Access. September 14, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  3. Venta, Lance (January 13, 2020). "Hot 104.7 Portland Expands To Bangor & Lewiston". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  4. Fybush, Scott. "Maine Radio History, 1971–1996". Archives @ BostonRadio.org. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  5. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-199. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  6. "Stations sold". Sun Journal. Associated Press. December 12, 2003. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  7. "Stern's The "Maine Man" For Nassau". FMQB. April 14, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  8. Whitehouse, Randy (October 23, 2007). "Boston's WEEI coming to Maine". Sun Journal.
  9. "Entercom-Nassau Deal Falls Through". Radio Ink. January 4, 2008. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  10. "Atlantic Coast, Nassau Shake Up Maine". August 25, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  11. MPBN Going Commercial? Al Diamon, Downeast.com, April 23, 2012
  12. Nassau’s Maine Stations Split Up Al Diamon, Downeast.com, May 4, 2012
  13. Venta, Lance (May 22, 2012). "Nassau Broadcasting Auction Results". RadioInsight. Retrieved September 14, 2012. (updated May 23, 2012)
  14. https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/70388/104-7-wbqw-portland-to-launch-new-format/
  15. "104.7 Change of Ownership". wbachradio.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  16. "Southern Maine radio station to stop airing classical music". Portland Press Herald. September 7, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  17. "Radio's first all-Christmas station arrives". Inside Radio. September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  18. https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/70469/september-means-christmas-in-maine/
  19. http://formatchange.com/wbqw-becomes-hot-104-7/
  20. "Call Sign History (WHTP-FM)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
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