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WPPI

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WPPI
Simulcast of WPEI
Broadcast areaPortland, Maine
Frequency95.5 MHz
Branding95.5 and 95.9 WPEI
Programming
FormatSports
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerAtlantic Coast Radio
WJJB-FM, WLOB, WRED, WPEI
History
First air date
1993 (1993) (as WPME)
Former call signs
  • WLLB (1989–1993)
  • WPME (1993–1994)
  • WXGL-FM (1994–2000)
  • WCLZ (2000–2001)
  • WJJB-FM (2001–2008)
  • WUEI (2008)
  • WGEI (2008–2009)
  • WLOB-FM (2009–2011)
Call sign meaning
similar to WPEI
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID12160
ClassA
Power3,000 watts
HAAT139 meters (456 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°54′12″N 70°2′13″W / 43.90333°N 70.03694°W / 43.90333; -70.03694
Links
Public license information
Websiteweei.com

WPPI (95.5 FM) is a sports radio station in the Portland, Maine, area. The station is owned by Atlantic Coast Radio.

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,[2] and Portland Pirates ice hockey.[3]

History

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The 95.5 frequency began operations in 1993 as WPME, simulcasting a country music format with 96.7 WCME from Boothbay Harbor (now WBQA).[4] A year later, the station converted to an oldies format as WXGL-FM.[4] Atlantic Coast Radio purchased the station in 1999,[5] and in January 2000, the station switched to an adult album alternative format as WCLZ.[6] A few months later, WCLZ adopted a sports talk format, initially as a simulcast of WJAE;[7] the next year, the station took the call letters WJJB-FM.[8]

On August 25, 2008, 96.3 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.[9] 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,[10] and for a week in September 2008 used the WUEI call letters[11]).

On April 1, 2009, WGEI converted to a simulcast of WLOB; it became WLOB-FM a few days later.[11] In August 2011, WLOB-FM returned to simulcasting WEEI. On September 7, 2011, WLOB-FM changed its call letters to WPPI.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WPPI". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ of Maine Official Athletic Site
  3. ^ Pirates Announce New Radio Home
  4. ^ a b Fybush, Scott. "Maine Radio History, 1971–1996". Archives @ BostonRadio.org. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  5. ^ Fybush, Scott (August 27, 1999). "Maine Station Owner Dies in Plane Crash". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  6. ^ Fybush, Scott (January 28, 2000). "Welcome Back WMEX, and We Take On LPFM". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  7. ^ Fybush, Scott (October 10, 2000). "Spinning the Dial in Connecticut". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  8. ^ Fybush, Scott (September 3, 2001). "Labor Day Update". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "WEEI Sports Radio Network Expands to Portland, Bangor & Keene" (PDF) (Press release). Entercom Communications. August 20, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
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