WLIR-FM

WLIR-FM (107.1 FM, "Talkradio 77 WABC") is a radio station licensed to Hampton Bays, New York, and serving eastern Long Island. The station's transmitter is located in Northampton, Suffolk County, New York. WLIR-FM simulcasts the talk radio format of WABC in New York City, and is operated under a local marketing agreement by the station's owner Red Apple Media.

This article is about the Hampton Bays, New York radio station at 107.1 FM. For the internet radio station and history of WLIR/WDRE at 92.7 FM (and 98.5 FM and 107.1 FM), see WLIR. For other uses, see WLIR (disambiguation).
WLIR-FM
Semi-satellite of WABC, New York City
CityHampton Bays, New York
Broadcast areaEastern Long Island
Frequency107.1 MHz
BrandingTalkradio 77 WABC
SloganWhere New York Comes To Talk
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatTalk radio
AffiliationsWestwood One
Westwood One News
Ownership
OwnerVMT Media, Inc.
OperatorRed Apple Media (under LMA)
Sister stationsWABC
History
First air dateNovember 14, 1980 (1980-11-14)
Former call signsWWHB (1980–97)
WWVY (1997–99)
WWXY (1999–03)
WBON (2003–04)[1]
Call sign meaningCarried over from the former WLIR (92.7 FM), now WQBU-FM
Technical information
Licensing authorityFCC
Facility ID61089
ClassA
ERP4,100 watts
HAAT121 meters (397 ft)
Transmitter coordinates40°53′07.8″N 72°41′33.0″W
Translator(s)W245BA 96.9 MHz (Manorville)
Links
Public license informationProfile
LMS
Websitewabcradio.com

History

The station went on the air on November 14, 1980 as WWHB under the moniker "The New 107 FM WWHB", with an adult contemporary music format.[2] In 1984, Eddie Simon along with his brother, singer Paul Simon, purchased the station.[3][4] Its format then shifted to a Top 40/CHR format as "Laser Hot HB107." On September 1, 1990, WWHB began simulcasting AOR station WNEW-FM from New York City.

Country and Spanish quadcasts (1996–2003)
Further information on the country and Spanish quadcasts: WYNY (defunct)

On December 7, 1996, the station became part of the Big City Radio trimulcast (and eventual quadcast) with other 107.1 stations in Briarcliff Manor, New York and northern New Jersey and later, the Lehigh Valley/Allentown, Pennsylvania area. WWHB and the other two multicast stations switched formats to country as "Y-107." The call sign was changed to WWVY on May 16, 1997, then to WWXY on March 22, 1999 (after 107.1 FM in Briarcliff Manor, New York changed from WWXY to WYNY).[5] On May 9, 2002, after a day of stunting with construction noises, the quadcast adopted a Tropical music format branded "Rumba 107."[6] The format was ill-suited to the quadcast suburban signals, and at the end of the year, Big City Radio filed for bankruptcy and sold the quadcast to Nassau Broadcasting, who broke up the quadcast and sold the individual stations.

Modern rock, ESPN, and Christian (2003–2011)
Further information on the modern rock simulcast and Jarad Broadcasting years: WLIR

Jarad Broadcasting picked up WWXY in April 2003.[7] 107.1 FM initially simulcasted WLIR (92.7 FM) from Garden City, New York, but in January 2004, 92.7 FM was purchased by Univision and flipped to Spanish language "Latino Mix" WZAA, simulcasting WCAA.[8] 107.1 FM then became a fully transplanted WLIR, taking on a modern rock format and the WLIR-FM call sign, turning into "THE BOX."[8] This format lasted until September 2005, when a smooth jazz/chill music format called "NeoBreeze" was adopted. This format was a failure, and the modern rock format returned in December 2005. In January 2008, the music ended and WLIR began simulcasting WEPN (ESPN Radio, 1050 AM) in a local marketing agreement.[9] WLIR was sold to Livingstone in 2011[10] and flipped to a Christian format branded as "Hope Radio."

Christian and sports flips (2011–2017)

On August 5, 2013, Livingstone Broadcasting shifted the "Hope Radio" Christian format to WBLI-HD2 along with translators 94.9 W235BB Hauppauge, New York; 96.5 W243BF Shirley, New York; 101.5 W268AN Plainview, New York and 104.5 W283BA Selden, New York. WLIR-FM dropped the Christian format and became "Champions Radio" touted as "Long Island's First & Only Sports Radio Station". WLIR-FM was broadcast on 107.1 and 96.9 W245BA in Suffolk County, New York. The format was short lived.[11]

On February 24, 2014, WLIR-FM dropped all sports programming and reverted to Christian formatted "Hope Radio."[12]

On August 1, 2014 Pillar of Fire began a lease of WLIR-FM. WAWZ-FM, Zarephath, New Jersey (STAR 99.1) was broadcast on WLIR-FM as well as its translators as "STAR 107.1." The lease ended in April 2015 and WLIR-FM reverted to Christian formatted "Hope Radio."

On July 1, 2017 the station was sold to VMT Media Inc. and continued to air the "Hope Radio" format.

Real-FM (2018–2020)
Logo as Real-FM.

On January 1, 2018, the station dropped "Hope Radio" and began broadcasting an unbranded mix of oldies and classic rock music as a transitional format, simulcasting on 96.9 W245BA.[13] On April 20, 2018, the station officially re-launched as classic hits "Real-FM".[14]

WABC simulcast (2020–present)

On July 1, 2020, Red Apple Media — owner of WABC in New York City — began operating the station through a local marketing agreement, and converted it to a near-simulcast of WABC's talk programming. An exception to the simulcast is a local morning program hosted by Frank Morano, which replaces Brian Kilmeade (as it is already cleared by competitor WRCN-FM).[15][16]

gollark: It's a lot.
gollark: Anyway, if you want a challenge, build a Powder Toy (https://powdertoy.co.uk/) computer.
gollark: **1MB**?!
gollark: ... SUBLEQ?
gollark: implement x87

References
  1. "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  2. Davidoff, Jon (November 13, 1980). "A New Voice To Hit The Air" (PDF). The Southampton Press. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  3. "LOOKING BACK ON 1984: WHAT THEY'LL REMEMBER MOST". The New York Times. December 30, 1984. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  4. "Long Island Guide". The New York Times. August 19, 1990. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  5. "WLIR-FM Call sign Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  6. Northeast Radio Watch
  7. Fybush, Scott (April 15, 2013). "Chaos at WEEI (From the NERW Archives, April 14, 2003)". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  8. Fybush, Scott (January 12, 2004). "WLIR Legend Ends at 92.7". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  9. Fybush, Scott (January 21, 2008). "NY Talker's Award un-Grant-ed". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  10. Seyler, Dave (February 28, 2011). "Jarad sells Hampton Bays FM". Radio Business Report. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  11. Best, Neil (July 29, 2013). "ESPN Radio coming to East End". Newsday. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  12. Best, Neil (February 25, 2014). "WLIR drops ESPN, reverts to Christian format". Newsday. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  13. Venta, Lance. "WLIR Loses Its Hope". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  14. Venta, Lance. "107.1 WLIR Flips To Classic Hits Real-FM". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  15. "WABC Adds Long Island Simulcast". RadioInsight. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  16. "Frank Morano To Host Midday Show On 107.1 WLIR-FM". RadioInsight. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
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