Radio station in Rhode Island, United States
 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Southern Rhode Island, Southeastern Connecticut |
| Frequency | 1230 kHz C-QUAM AM stereo |
| Branding | "Stereo 1230 and 103.1 FM WBLQ" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Full service |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| Sister stations | WWRI, WSUB-LP |
| History | |
| First air date | July 1, 1949; 75 years ago (1949-07-01) |
| Former call signs |
|
| Technical information | |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 71722 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts |
| Transmitter coordinates | 41°21′57.26″N 71°50′9.25″W / 41.3659056°N 71.8359028°W / 41.3659056; -71.8359028 |
| Translator(s) | 103.1 W276DF (Westerly) |
| Links | |
| Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WBLQ (1230 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Westerly, Rhode Island. The station is owned by DiPonti Communications. Its programming is also carried on FM translator W276DF (103.1).
History
WERI
The station, then called WERI, began broadcasting on 1230 kHz on July 1, 1949, using a daytime and nighttime power of 250 watts, non-directional. The station still uses its original 185-foot, Blaw-Knox, self-supporting tower, on Margin Street, beside the Pawcatuck River.
In the 1960s, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) increased the daytime power of all Class IV AM stations to 1,000 watts. WERI still had to reduce power to 250 watts at night, as did all other stations on the same frequency.
In 1966, WERI added FM service with WERI-FM (103.7, now WVEI-FM). The FM antenna is initially mounted to the side of the AM tower on Margin Street in downtown Westerly. The FM station broadcasts for only a few days from this location before it is shut down due to harmonic interference to TV channel 12. In 1968, WERI-FM moved its transmitter to a new location on Route 3 in Ashaway, and begins regular broadcasting.
In the 1970s, the FCC increased the nighttime power of all Class IV stations from 250 to 1,000 watts, including WERI.
In the 1980s, WERI-FM moved its transmitter closer to Providence, changes callsign to WWRX, and effectively became a Providence station. In the 1990s, WWRX was sold to an independent owner from WERI.
WXNI
In 1999, WERI was sold to Boston University, and the callsign was changed to WXNI on January 4. As WXNI, it aired a format of news and talk from National Public Radio. It was a repeater of WRNI in Providence, and the two stations combined to provide a locally focused NPR member for Rhode Island–the forerunner of what evolved into Rhode Island Public Radio (now The Public's Radio).
WBLQ
In December 2007, BU reached an agreement to sell WXNI to Diponti Communications for a reported $350,000. The move came after a local group took control of WRNI and acquired WAKX (later WRNI-FM, now WNPE) in Narragansett Pier to serve as its southern satellite. Diponti Communications announced its intention to move the local news and variety programming of WBLQ-LP (96.7 FM, Ashaway, Rhode Island) to WXNI's more powerful AM signal. On November 29, 2009, WXNI changed its call letters to WBLQ; it would begin broadcasting in C-QUAM AM Stereo.
WBLQ began broadcasting on FM translator W276DF (103.1 MHz) in November 2019.
On December 1, 2001, WBLQ began airing the "Time Machine", Weekends presented By Chris Dipaola, Tommy Stafford, DJ Gadget and the Cali Kid.
On the night of October 13, 2022, WBLQ owner Chris DiPaola died unexpectedly from an apparent heart attack. This came shortly after the station had settled with the city of Westerly on a five-year lease extension.
Translator
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W276DF | 103.1 FM | Westerly, Rhode Island | 26347 | 250 | D | 41°21′57.4″N 71°50′9.2″W / 41.365944°N 71.835889°W / 41.365944; -71.835889 (W276DF) | LMS |
References
- ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
- "Facility Technical Data for WBLQ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- "AM Broadcast Station Classes; Clear, Regional, and Local Channels | FCC.gov". Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
- "Winter 2008 Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (December 24, 2007). "WAMC Backs Down in Noncomm Fight". NorthEast Radio Watch.
- Burns-Fusaro, Nancy (October 14, 2022). "Chris DiPaola, 'the voice of Westerly,' remembered for his reliability, love of radio". The Westerly Sun.
External links
- Official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 71722 (WBLQ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WBLQ in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for WBLQ
- Pictures from NECRAT featuring the installation of the A.M. Stereo exciter.
- WBLQ New Year's Eve show, Interview with Dale Parsons. From Airchexx.com
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