WBACH
{{Short description|Classical music radio network in Maine (1991–2017)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = WBACH
| image = W-BACH logo.png
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| type = radio network
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| airdate = November 1991
| country = United States
| available = Maine
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| radiostations = WBQQ Kennebunk (1991–2008)
WBQW Scarborough (1998–2012)
WBQX Thomaston (1998–2017)
WBQI Bar Harbor (2001–2012)
W245AA Portland (2013–2017)
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| owner = Mariner Broadcasting (1991–2003)
Nassau Broadcasting Partners (2003–2012)
Binnie Media (2012–2017)
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| launch_date = November 1991
| dissolved = February 19, 2017
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WBACH was a radio network in the state of Maine in the United States, active from 1991 to 2017. Airing on four stations at its peak, the network broadcast a classical music format from studios in Kennebunk.
Following the bankruptcy of Nassau Broadcasting Partners in 2011, the network's stations were sold off and largely converted to translators of other radio stations. The WBACH format and branding remained on one of the former network's stations, WBQX in Thomaston, and was added in 2013 to a new translator in Portland.{{cite news|last=Routhier|first=Ray|title=WBACH coming back on Portland airwaves|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/wbach-coming-back-on-airwaves_2013-04-09.html|accessdate=April 15, 2013|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=April 9, 2013}} The stations dropped the classical format in 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2017/02/20/business/classical-station-wbach-abruptly-pulled-from-airwaves/|title=Classical station WBACH abruptly pulled from airwaves|last1=Acquisto|first1=Alex|last2=Staff|first2=B. D. N.|website=The Bangor Daily News|date=20 February 2017|access-date=2017-02-20}}
History
The WBACH format was launched in November 1991, initially airing on WBQQ 99.3 in Kennebunk. The station was founded by Mariner Broadcasting,{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-980718.html|title=Lobel Leaves BZ Radio|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=July 18, 1998|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=January 28, 2009}} and (after assembling its network) was acquired by Nassau Broadcasting Partners in 2003.{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/nerw-031215.html|title=WCMF's Unkle Roger Killed|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=December 15, 2003|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=2009-01-28}}
WBACH began to expand in 1998, when it bought another southern Maine classical music station, WPKM (106.3 FM) in Scarborough, and renamed it WBQW. WPKM's classical format, in turn, originated on 97.9 FM (now WJBQ) in 1971 as WDCS, moving to 106.3 in 1980 and becoming WPKM in 1988.
WBQX signed on in 1992 and was previously known as WAVX "The Classical Wave" (then simulcast with 101.7, the current WKVV). It also became part of the WBACH network in 1998.
WBQI was previously WMDI, the call letters standing for Mount Desert Island, the area in which the city of license, Bar Harbor, is located. It joined the WBACH network in 2001.
On October 6, 2008, WBACH realigned its southern Maine frequencies. WBQQ was removed from the network completely, shifting to a simulcast of WTHT,{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2008/080825/nerw.html|title=Atlantic Coast, Nassau Shake Up Maine|date=August 25, 2008|accessdate=January 28, 2009}} while WBQW moved from 106.3 to 104.7, swapping formats with active rock station WHXQ.
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.[http://www.downeast.com/media-mutt/2012/april/maine-broadcasting-commercial MPBN Going Commercial?] Al Diamon, Downeast.com, April 23, 2012
As part of Nassau Broadcasting's bankruptcy proceeding, WBQW was auctioned in May 2012 to Mainestream Media for $150,000, while the other WBACH stations, along with Nassau's 28 other northern New England stations, went to a partnership of WBIN-TV owner Bill Binnie and Jeff Shapiro. As part of the deal, 17 of the stations, including WBQX and WBQI, will be acquired by Binnie's WBIN Media Company.[http://www.downeast.com/media-mutt/2012/may/nassau-maine-stations Nassau’s Maine Stations Split Up] Al Diamon, Downeast.com, May 4, 2012{{cite news|title=Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/106283/carlisle-capital-corp-wins-bidding-for-rest-of-nas|accessdate=May 22, 2012|newspaper=All Access|date=May 22, 2012}}{{cite news|last=Venta|first=Lance|title=Nassau Broadcasting Auction Results|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/57250/nassau-broadcasting-auction-results/|accessdate=May 24, 2012|newspaper=RadioInsight|date=May 22, 2012}} (updated May 23, 2012) The purchase was consummated on November 30, 2012, at a price of $12.5 million. WBIN Media plans to resell WBQI to Blueberry Broadcasting.{{cite news|title=Sold: Maine FM, Massachusetts Noncomm|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/109960/sold-maine-fm-massachusetts-noncomm|accessdate=September 6, 2012|newspaper=All Access|date=September 6, 2012}} Mainestream Media began programming WBQW on September 13 with Christmas music en route to launching a Top 40/CHR format the next day (it now broadcasts as WHTP-FM and has since become a rhythmic contemporary radio station);{{cite news|title=Radio's first all-Christmas station arrives.|url=http://www.insideradio.com/article.asp?id=2532036&spid=32061#.UFKJ-xg2bQQ|accessdate=September 14, 2012|newspaper=Inside Radio|date=September 13, 2012}}{{cite news|title=WBQW Lights Up Top 40 'Hot 104.7'|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/110337/wbqw-lights-up-top-40-hot-104-7|accessdate=September 14, 2012|newspaper=All Access|date=September 14, 2012}} this removed WBACH entirely from its original southern Maine market.{{cite web|title=104.7 Change of Ownership|url=http://www.wbachradio.com/104-7-Change-of-Ownership/14070043|work=wbachradio.com|accessdate=September 6, 2012}}{{cite news|title=Southern Maine radio station to stop airing classical music|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/radio-station-to-stop-airing-classical-music_2012-09-07.html|accessdate=September 7, 2012|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=September 7, 2012}}
On August 7, 2012, WBQX was granted a construction permit to increase their ERP to 30,000 watts and to raise their height above sea level up to 232 meters (761 feet). The construction permit expired on August 7, 2015.
On November 30, 2012, WBQI split from its simulcast with WBQX and began simulcasting classic hits-formatted WABK-FM 104.3 from Gardiner. On January 3, 2013, WBQI changed its call sign to WBKA.
On April 15, 2013, WBQX returned to Portland through FM translator W245AA at 96.9 FM and WTHT's HD2 subchannel. Portland was previously served by WBQW.
On February 19, 2017, WBQX was replaced in Portland with a simulcast of WTHT and in Thomaston with a simulcast of WFNK. No reason was given for the sudden termination of the classical format.
Stations
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.bostonradio.org/essays/maine-hist.html Maine Radio History from bostonradio.org]
Category:Radio stations established in 1991
Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2017
Category:Defunct radio networks in the United States
Category:1991 establishments in Maine