WBAK

WBAK signed on the air on March 7, 1986, as WWFX. It was a contemporary hit radio station known as "The Fox" and was owned by Sunnie Silverman. Silverman sold the station to Bruce Mittman, owner of WICE in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, that December.{{cite news|title=Newsline|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tiQEAAAAMBAJ&q=WWFX+%22hot+hits%22&pg=PA12|page=12|access-date=February 6, 2012|newspaper=Billboard|date=December 27, 1986}}{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (1)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=93972|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=February 6, 2012}} WWFX was taken over in 1991 by Union Financial Services.{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (2)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=161521|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=February 6, 2012}} The station was sold to Group H Radio on March 17, 1993.{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (3)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=177089|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=February 6, 2012}}

Group H announced on September 18, 1996, that it would sell WWFX to Star Broadcasting, a company owned by Mark Osborne and Natalie Knox (current owners of WNSX) that already owned WKSQ and WLKE (now WBFE).{{cite news|last=Nessell|first=Doug|title=Kiss 94.5 a winner in Fox hunt|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lSpfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5600%2C684841|page=A4|access-date=February 6, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=September 19, 1996}} To minimize playlist overlap with WKSQ, on September 20, Star changed the station's format to country music as "The Bear."{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=Meet the New 'FNX...|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-961009.html|access-date=February 6, 2012|newspaper=New England RadioWatch|date=October 9, 1996}}{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=Kidstar Débuts!|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-961018.html|access-date=February 6, 2012|newspaper=New England RadioWatch|date=October 18, 1996}} The first song was "Gone Country" by Alan Jackson. The change gave rival WQCB its first competition since WYOU-FM became modern rock station WWBX a year earlier. The WWFX call letters were replaced with WBFB on April 25, 1997, after the station attempted to obtain the WEBR call sign.{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=Changes in the Morning|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-970515.html|access-date=February 6, 2012|newspaper=North East RadioWatch|date=May 15, 1997}}{{cite web|title=Call Sign History|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=25411&Callsign=WBAK|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=February 7, 2012}}

Osborne and Knox sold WBFB, WKSQ, and WLKE to Communications Capital Managers in February 2000;{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=Consolidating in Bangor|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-000218.html|access-date=February 6, 2012|newspaper=North East RadioWatch|date=February 18, 2000}} that July, CCM announced that it would sell the group (which through other purchases also included WBYA, WGUY, and WVOM) to Clear Channel Communications.{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=An End to Jukebox's Legal Troubles|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-000721.html|access-date=February 6, 2012|newspaper=North East RadioWatch|date=July 21, 2000}} Clear Channel announced on November 16, 2006, that it would sell its Bangor stations after being bought by private equity firms,{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/061120/nerw.html|title=Dark Days All Around|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=November 20, 2006|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|access-date=June 3, 2010}} resulting in a sale to Blueberry Broadcasting to 2008;{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2008/080505/nerw.html|title=The Sales Market Heats Up|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=May 5, 2008|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|access-date=March 13, 2010}} on September 28, 2009, Blueberry began simulcasting WBFB on WLKE and WMCM, replacing their separate country formats. The station swapped formats and call letters with 97.1 FM (the former WYOU-FM) on September 1, 2011, and became sports radio station WAEI-FM, simulcasting with WAEI (WLKE and WMCM continue to simulcast WBFB on its new frequency).{{cite news|last=Venta|first=Lance|title=Bangor, ME Bear Moves|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/53177/bangor-me-bear-moves/|access-date=February 6, 2012|newspaper=RadioInsight|date=August 18, 2011}} The call letters were changed to WBAK on February 5, 2012; the next day, the format was changed to classic hits, leaving the sports format exclusively on WAEI's 910 AM frequency.

WBKA went on the air May 6, 1995, as WMDI (for its location on Mount Desert Island), programming 1970s' music.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1996|year=1996|pages=B-186|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1996/B-GA-MA-BC-YB-1996.pdf|access-date=January 3, 2013}} Original owner MDI Communications sold the station to Bridge Broadcast Corporation in 1997; the new owners changed the station's format to adult album alternative.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-970508.html|title=May Miscellany|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=May 8, 1997|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=January 3, 2013}} WMDI was simulcast on WNSX from that station's launch in July 2000{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-000714.html|title=Saga Swallows Ithaca; We Go To Ohio|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=July 14, 2000|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=January 3, 2013}} until February 2001, when WNSX was sold to Clear Channel Communications and began to simulcast WFZX.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-010226.html|title=WBUF Rocks Again...|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=February 26, 2001|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=January 3, 2013}} In January 2001, Bridge reached a seal to sell WMDI to Mariner Broadcasting;{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-010129.html|title=Andy Moes, 1950-2001|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=January 29, 2001|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=January 3, 2013}} after the sale was completed in April 2001, the station temporarily left the air,{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-010416.html|title=Clear Channel Buys Two in Maine|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=April 16, 2001|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=January 3, 2013}} returning on April 23 as WBQI, part of Mariner's WBACH network of classical music stations.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-010430.html|title=Quebec Tower Comes Down|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=April 30, 2001|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=January 3, 2013}} Mariner sold its stations to Nassau Broadcasting Partners in 2004.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Stations sold|url=http://www.sunjournal.com/node/251502|access-date=January 3, 2013|newspaper=Sun Journal|date=December 12, 2003}}

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 the bankruptcy proceeding, WBQI, along with 29 other Nassau-owned northern New England radio stations, went to a partnership of WBIN-TV owner Bill Binnie and Jeff Shapiro; 17 of the stations, including WBQI, were 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|access-date=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/|access-date=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 promptly announced 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|access-date=September 6, 2012|newspaper=All Access|date=September 6, 2012}} on November 30, 2012, the station began to simulcast WBAK.{{Cite web|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/79804/northern-new-england-change-rundown/|title=Northern New England Change Rundown}} On January 3, 2013, the station changed its call sign to WBKA.

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Official website|https://www.big104fm.com}}
• {{FM station data|25411|WBAK}}
• {{FM station data|40925|WBKA}}

{{Bangor Radio}}

{{Mid-Coast Maine Radio}}

{{Classic Hits Radio Stations in Maine}}

{{Blueberry Broadcasting}}

BAK

Category:Classic hits radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 1986

Category:1986 establishments in Maine

Category:Belfast, Maine

Category:Blueberry Broadcasting radio stations