WPKZ: Difference between revisions

WPKZ
Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Vereinigte Staaten;
Broadcast area	Montachusett-North County
Frequency	1280 kHz
Branding	WPKZ AM 1280 and 105.3 FM
Programmierung
Format	News/talk/sports
Affiliations	Fox News Radio; Fox Sports Radio; Compass Media Networks; Premiere Networks; Radio America; Boston Red Sox Radio Network; New England Patriots Radio Network;
Ownership
Owner	John Morrison; (K-Zone Media Group, LLC);
History
First air date	October 6, 1941
Former call signs	WEIM (1941–2009)
Call sign meaning	"K-Zone"
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	71434
Class	B
Power	5,000 watts day; 1,000 watts night;
Transmitter coordinates	42°35′40.32″N 71°50′10.27″W / 42.5945333°N 71.8361861°W
Translator(s)	105.3 W287BT (Fitchburg)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live
Website	wpkz.net

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WPKZ (1280 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news–talk and sports format and licensed to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, United States. The station is owned by John Morrison through licensee K-Zone Media Group, LLC, and features programming from Fox News Radio, Fox Sports Radio, Compass Media Networks, Premiere Networks, Radio America, and Westwood One. WPKZ's studios are located on Water Street in Fitchburg, across the street from the Wachusett Potato Chip Company factory; its transmitter is located on Alpine Road, also in Fitchburg.

History

In 2001, Fillipone's WEIM Corp. sold to David Wang's LiveAir Communications, Inc. LiveAir changed format to news/talk/sports and began 24-hour programming, airing local, regional, and national talk. LiveAir sold the station in 2005 to Central Broadcasting Company, who returned music programming to the station and relaunched it as "AM 1280 The Blend" on October 2, 2006.^[3]

In 2007, longtime morning host Ray Chalifoux ("Ray C") concluded an over-30-year full-time run with the station. "Ray C" began a part-time stint as Public Service Director and co-host of the Saturday morning program Smart Shopper which he did from 2007 until his death on March 13, 2016. In November 2007, the station began airing a Spanish tropical format during the evening hours, branded "Mega 1280".^[4]

On April 6, 2009, after nearly 68 years as WEIM, the call sign was changed to WPKZ in anticipation of its new FM translator which went on the air on March 28, 2010 on a frequency of 105.3 MHz. The station remains mostly a news and talk station, with some sports programming. The station also discontinued its music programming (including the nighttime Spanish tropical format), with Fox Sports Radio being broadcast in the evening hours, except when professional sports run.^[5] WPKZ became one of several radio stations in New England to carry the New York Yankees in 2012; it had previously carried the Boston Red Sox for 45 years,^[6] but Entercom, owner of Red Sox flagship station WEEI, did not offer a renewal of WPKZ's contract. However, the Red Sox returned to the station the following season. An ownership change occurred in August 2015 when the station was purchased by an entity headed by John Morrison, a local businessman and owner of local baseball team the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs.

Translators

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP (W)	HAAT	Class	Transmitter coordinates	FCC info
W287BT	105.3 FM	Fitchburg, Massachusetts	146879	150	80.6 m (264 ft)	D	42°35′40.3″N 71°50′10.2″W / 42.594528°N 71.836167°W / 42.594528; -71.836167 (W287BT)	LMS

After the callsign change to WPKZ, the owners bought a Gloucester translator, W245CD at 96.5 FM, and through a series of 13 location and frequency change filings, moved it to Fitchburg.^[7]

References

^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-210. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
^ "Facility Technical Data for WPKZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ Fybush, Scott (October 2, 2006). "Liu Moves Into TV Arena". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
^ Fybush, Scott (November 26, 2007). "Entercom/CBS Deal Gets FCC Blessing". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
^ "New Radio Station for Central New England". Leominster Champion. April 24, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
^ Hartwell, Michael (March 2, 2012). "SAY IT AIN'T SO! Fitchburg station swaps Red Sox for pinstripes". Sentinel & Enterprise. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
^ Fybush, Scott (November 30, 2009). "WGBH Readies Radio Switch". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved February 13, 2017.

External links

Official website
Facility details for Facility ID 71434 (WPKZ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
WPKZ in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
Facility details for Facility ID 146879 (W287BT) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
W287BT at FCCdata.org

[by1999-1] Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-210. Retrieved March 3, 2012.

[2] "Facility Technical Data for WPKZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.

[nerw-theblend-3] Fybush, Scott (October 2, 2006). "Liu Moves Into TV Arena". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 2, 2009.

[nerw-mega1280-4] Fybush, Scott (November 26, 2007). "Entercom/CBS Deal Gets FCC Blessing". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved June 2, 2009.

[lc-wpkzlaunch-5] "New Radio Station for Central New England". Leominster Champion. April 24, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2009.

[s&e-wpkzyankees-6] Hartwell, Michael (March 2, 2012). "SAY IT AIN'T SO! Fitchburg station swaps Red Sox for pinstripes". Sentinel & Enterprise. Retrieved March 3, 2012.

[7] Fybush, Scott (November 30, 2009). "WGBH Readies Radio Switch". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved February 13, 2017.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox radio station
-| name                 = WPKZ
+| name             = WPKZ
-| image                = WPKZ1280.png
+| logo             = WPKZ1280.png
-| city                 = [[Fitchburg, Massachusetts|Fitchburg]], [[Massachusetts]]
+| city             = [[Fitchburg, Massachusetts]]
-| area                 = [[Montachusett-North County]]
+| country          = US
+| area             = [[Montachusett-North County]]
-| branding             = ''WPKZ AM 1280 and 105.3 FM''
+| branding         = ''WPKZ AM 1280 and 105.3 FM''
-| slogan               = ''"The K-Zone"''
+| frequency        = 1280 [[kHz]]
+| translator       = {{Radio Relay|105.3|W287BT|Fitchburg}}
-| frequency            = 1280 [[kHz]]
+| airdate          = October 6, [[1941 in radio|1941]]<ref name=by1999>{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999|year=1999|page=D-210|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1999/D-Radio-AL-NE-BC-YB-1999..pdf|accessdate=March 3, 2012}}</ref>
-| translator           = W287BT (105.3, [[Fitchburg, Massachusetts|Fitchburg]])
+| format           = [[Talk radio|News/talk]]/[[Sports radio|sports]]
-| airdate              = October 6, [[1941 in radio|1941]]<ref name=by1999>{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999|year=1999|page=D-210|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1999/D-Radio-AL-NE-BC-YB-1999..pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=March 3, 2012}}</ref>
-| share                =
+| power            = {{ubl|5,000 [[watt]]s day|1,000 watts night}}
-| share as of          =
+| erp              =
-| share source         =
+| haat             =
-| format               = [[Talk radio|News/talk]]/[[Sports radio|sports]]
+| class            = B
+| facility_id      = 71434
-| power                = WPKZ: 5,000 [[watt]]s daytime, 1,000 watts nighttime
+| coordinates      = {{coord|42|35|40.32|N|71|50|10.27|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WPKZ|display=inline,title}}
-| erp                  = W287BT: 150 [[watt]]s
+| callsign_meaning = "K-Zone"
-| haat                 =
+| former_callsigns = WEIM (1941–2009)
-| class                = B
+| affiliations     = {{ubl|[[Fox News Radio]]|[[Fox Sports Radio]]|[[Compass Media Networks]]|[[Premiere Networks]]|[[Radio America (United States)|Radio America]]|[[Boston Red Sox Radio Network]]|[[New England Patriots Radio Network]]}}
-| facility_id          = 71434
+| owner            = John Morrison
-| coordinates          = {{coord|42|35|40.00|N|71|50|12.00|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=WPKZ|display=inline,title}}
+| licensee         = K-Zone Media Group, LLC
-| callsign_meaning     =
+| sister_stations  =
-| former_callsigns     = WEIM (1941–2009)
+| webcast          = {{listenlive|url=http://wpkz.net/pages/?page_id=971}}
-| affiliations         = [[Westwood One (current)|Westwood One]]<br />[[Fox News Radio]]<br />[[Premiere Networks]]<br />[[Fox Sports Radio]]
-| owner                = John Morrison
+| website          = [http://www.wpkz.net/ wpkz.net]
+| licensing_authority= [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
-| licensee             = K-Zone Media Group, LLC
-| sister_stations      =
-| webcast              = {{listenlive|url=http://wpkz.net/pages/?page_id=971}}
-| website              = [http://www.wpkz.net/ wpkz.net]
 }}
-'''WPKZ''' (1280 [[AM broadcasting|AM]]) is a 5,000-watt [[radio station]] broadcasting a [[News Talk Information]] format and licensed to [[Fitchburg, Massachusetts]], United States.  The station is owned by John Morrison through licensee K-Zone Media Group, LLC, and features programming from [[Westwood One (current)|Westwood One]], [[Fox News Radio]], [[Premiere Radio Networks]], and [[Fox Sports Radio]].
+'''WPKZ''' (1280 [[AM broadcasting|AM]]) is a [[radio station]] broadcasting a [[News Talk Information|news–talk]] and [[Sports radio|sports]] format and licensed to [[Fitchburg, Massachusetts]], United States.  The station is owned by John Morrison through licensee K-Zone Media Group, LLC, and features programming from [[Fox News Radio]], [[Fox Sports Radio]], [[Compass Media Networks]], [[Premiere Networks]], [[Radio America (United States)|Radio America]], and [[Westwood One]]. WPKZ's studios are located on Water Street in Fitchburg, across the street from the [[Wachusett Potato Chip Company]] factory; its transmitter is located on Alpine Road, also in Fitchburg.
 ==History==
-The station signed on in 1941 as '''WEIM''', a general entertainment station with a variety of shows, ranging from dramas to talk to sports to popular music to news and information. By the mid 1950s, WEIM was primarily a popular music station, playing the hits of that time; also included in the stations' programming were sports and large amounts of local news. The station was sold to Knight Quality Stations in 1959.
+In 2001, Fillipone's WEIM Corp. sold to David Wang's LiveAir Communications, Inc. LiveAir changed format to [[Talk radio|news/talk/sports]] and began 24-hour programming, airing local, regional, and national talk. LiveAir sold the station in 2005 to Central Broadcasting Company, who returned music programming to the station and relaunched it as "AM 1280 The Blend" on October 2, 2006.<ref name="nerw-theblend">{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/061002/nerw.html|title=Liu Moves Into TV Arena|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=October 2, 2006|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=June 2, 2009}}</ref>
-With the advent of rock-and-roll music, WEIM evolved into a [[Top 40]] station by the late 1950s, a format that would remain throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the WEIM DJs in 1966/1967 included Russ Karon, Jerry Olin, Phil Dirkin, Gordy Sinclair, Dick Masterman and Joe Anthony as well as part-timer Jim Bohannon, now a nationally syndicated radio talk show host. During this period, WEIM's main competitor for the Top 40 audience was Boston's 1030/WBZ, which left the format in 1968. In 1969, WEIM, facing competition from new Boston area Top 40 stations 680/[[WRKO]] and 105.7/WKOX-FM (now [[WROR-FM]]), streamlined their sound, becoming a much hipper-sounding Top 40 station, with the addition of DJs Jim Conlee, Mike Ivers, Dan Gifford, and Gil Lawrence, as well as adding a progressive rock hour, late at night. The station sounded far more professional, than what one would expect in a market the size of Fitchburg-Leominster [[Leominster, Massachusetts|Leominster]]. During this era, the station was known as "Fitchburg's Famous" and "The Famous 1280".
-In the 1970s, WEIM continued to be well known as a Top 40 station with personalities such as "Ray C", "Jack Raymond", "Floyd Wright",   Rick Williams, John Driscoll, P.J. Scott, Don Russell, Randy Pierce, Thom Whetston, Gary Berkowitz, known as Dave Gary and Jay Richards... many of whom went on to stations in larger markets. Additionally, the station had its music tracked by national publications (such as ''[[Radio and Records]]''), giving the station an impact much greater than its size would dictate. By the early 1980s, WEIM had evolved into more of a [[Hot Adult Contemporary]] format, with [[oldies]] mixed in on weekends; nevertheless, current music remained a significant part of the station's programming. Although as a local radio station WEIM had aired local sports programming from the 1970s onward (including Joe White and "Sportstalk") it added more sports programming in the 1980s as well.
-In 1987, Knight Quality Stations sold WEIM to its longtime general manager, Frank Fillipone. It continued as a Hot Adult Contemporary station into the 1990s. More specialty shows, such as evening sports talk, local community focus programs, more professional sports, and news specials were added on weekends but the station continued to be relatively music-intensive. By the mid 1990s, WEIM evolved into more of a mainstream [[adult contemporary]] format, and became more gold-based by the late 1990s.
-In 2001, Fillipone's WEIM Corp. sold to David Wang's LiveAir Communications, Inc. LiveAir changed format to [[Talk radio|News/Talk/Sports]] and began 24-hour programming, airing local, regional, and national talk. LiveAir sold the station in 2005 to Central Broadcasting Company, who returned music programming to the station, and relaunched it as "AM 1280 The Blend" on October 2, 2006.<ref name="nerw-theblend">{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/061002/nerw.html|title=Liu Moves Into TV Arena|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=October 2, 2006|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=June 2, 2009}}</ref>
 In 2007, longtime morning host Ray Chalifoux ("Ray C") concluded an over-30-year full-time run with the station.  "Ray C" began a part-time stint as Public Service Director and co-host of the Saturday morning program Smart Shopper which he did from 2007 until his death on March 13, 2016. In November 2007, the station began airing a [[Tropical music|Spanish tropical]] format during the evening hours, branded "Mega 1280".<ref name="nerw-mega1280">{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2007/071126/nerw.html|title=Entercom/CBS Deal Gets FCC Blessing|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=November 26, 2007|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=June 2, 2009}}</ref>
-On April 6, 2009, after nearly 68 years as WEIM, the call sign was changed to WPKZ in anticipation of its new FM translator which went on the air March 28, 2010 on a frequency of 105.3 FM. The station remains mostly a news and talk station, with some sports programming. The station also discontinued its music programming (including the nighttime Spanish tropical format), with [[Fox Sports Radio]] being broadcast in the evening hours, except when professional sports run.<ref name="lc-wpkzlaunch">{{cite news|url=http://www.leominsterchamp.com/news/2009/0424/business/045.html|title=New Radio Station for Central New England |date=April 24, 2009|work=Leominster Champion|accessdate=June 2, 2009}}</ref> WPKZ became one of several radio stations in [[New England]] to carry the [[New York Yankees]] in 2012; it had previously carried the [[Boston Red Sox]] for 45 years,<ref name=s&e-wpkzyankees>{{cite news|last=Hartwell|first=Michael|title=SAY IT AIN'T SO! Fitchburg station swaps Red Sox for pinstripes|url=http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_20086301|accessdate=March 3, 2012|newspaper=[[Sentinel & Enterprise]]|date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> but [[Entercom]], owner of Red Sox flagship station [[WEEI (AM)|WEEI]], did not offer a renewal of WPKZ's contract. However, the Red Sox returned to the station the following season.   An ownership change occurred in August 2015 when the station was purchased by an entity headed by John Morrison, a local businessman and owner of local baseball team the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs.
+On April 6, 2009, after nearly 68 years as WEIM, the call sign was changed to WPKZ in anticipation of its new FM translator which went on the air on March 28, 2010 on a frequency of 105.3&nbsp;MHz. The station remains mostly a news and talk station, with some sports programming. The station also discontinued its music programming (including the nighttime Spanish tropical format), with [[Fox Sports Radio]] being broadcast in the evening hours, except when professional sports run.<ref name="lc-wpkzlaunch">{{cite news|url=http://www.leominsterchamp.com/news/2009/0424/business/045.html|title=New Radio Station for Central New England |date=April 24, 2009|work=Leominster Champion|accessdate=June 2, 2009}}</ref> WPKZ became one of several radio stations in [[New England]] to carry the [[New York Yankees]] in 2012; it had previously carried the [[Boston Red Sox]] for 45 years,<ref name=s&e-wpkzyankees>{{cite news|last=Hartwell|first=Michael|title=SAY IT AIN'T SO! Fitchburg station swaps Red Sox for pinstripes|url=http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_20086301|accessdate=March 3, 2012|newspaper=[[Sentinel & Enterprise]]|date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> but [[Entercom]], owner of Red Sox flagship station [[WEEI (AM)|WEEI]], did not offer a renewal of WPKZ's contract. However, the Red Sox returned to the station the following season.   An ownership change occurred in August 2015 when the station was purchased by an entity headed by John Morrison, a local businessman and owner of local baseball team the [[Wachusett Dirt Dawgs]].
 ==Translators==
@@ Line 51: / Line 42: @@
 | freq1            = 105.3
 | watts1           = 150
+| haat1            = 80.6
 | class1           = D
 | fid1             = 146879
 | city1            = Fitchburg, Massachusetts
-| coord1           = {{coord|42|35|40|N|71|50|12|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=W287BT}}
+| coord1           = {{coord|42|35|40.3|N|71|50|10.2|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|name=W287BT}}
 }}
 After the callsign change to WPKZ, the owners bought a [[Gloucester, Massachusetts|Gloucester]] translator, W245CD at 96.5 FM, and through a series of 13 location and frequency change filings, moved it to Fitchburg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2009/091130/nerw.html|title=WGBH Readies Radio Switch|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=November 30, 2009|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=February 13, 2017}}</ref>
@@ Line 63: / Line 55: @@
 ==External links==
 * {{Official website|http://www.wpkz.net/}}
+{{AM station data|71434|WPKZ}}
+* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|146879|W287BT}}
-; WPKZ data
-{{AM station data|WPKZ}}
-* {{FCC History Cards|71434|WPKZ}}
-; Translator data
-* {{FMQ|W287BT}}
 * {{FMXL|W287BT}}
 {{Worcester Radio}}
 {{News/Talk Radio Stations in Massachusetts}}
 {{clear}}
@@ Line 80: / Line 66: @@
 [[Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States]]
 [[Category:Radio stations established in 1941]]
+[[Category:1941 establishments in Massachusetts]]
 [[Category:Fitchburg, Massachusetts]]
-[[Category:Media in Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:Mass media in Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:Fox Sports Radio stations]]

v t e News/Talk radio stations in the state of Massachusetts
By callsign	WBEC WBNW WBSM WBZ WCAP WCRN WGAW WHMP WHYN WJMN-HD2 WPKZ WRKO WSAR WSNE-FM HD2 WTAG WVBF WXKS WXKS-FM HD2 WXTK WZLX-HD2 W235AV W240EB
By frequency	560 580 680 830 980 1030 1120 1200 1280 1340 1400 1420 (WBEC) 1420 (WBSM) 1480 1530 93.3-2 94.5-2 94.9 95.1 95.9 100.7-2 107.9-2
By community of license	Boston (WBZ) Boston (WJMN-HD2) Boston (WRKO) Boston (WZLX-HD2) Concord Fall River Fitchburg Gardner Lowell Medford Middleborough Center New Bedford Newton Northampton Pittsfield Springfield Tatnuck Taunton West Yarmouth Worcester (WCRN) Worcester (WTAG)
See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in Massachusetts