WIGY (AM)
{{short description|Radio station in Lewiston, Maine}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WIGY
| logo = WIGY (AM) logo.png
| city = Lewiston, Maine
| country = US
| area = Lewiston–Auburn
| frequency = {{Frequency|1240|kHz}}
| branding = 105.5 & 95.7 WIGY
| languages = English
| format = Classic hits
| affiliations = CBS News Radio
| owner = Bennett Radio Group
| licensee = Bennett Radio Group, LLC
| sister_stations = Channel X Radio, WEZR, WIGY-FM, WOXO-FM, WPNO
| airdate = {{start date and age|1938|8|21}}{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999|year=1999|page=D-199|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1999/D-Radio-AL-NE-BC-YB-1999..pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=August 27, 2016}}
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WCOU (1938–1988)|WXGL (1988–1991)|WTME (1991–2001)|WCNM (2001–2007)|WEZR (2007–2020)}}
| callsign_meaning =
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 11031
| class = C
| translator = {{ubl|{{Radio Relay|95.7|W239ET|Lewiston}}|{{Radio Relay|105.5|W288CW|Lewiston}}}}
| power = {{ubl|1,000 watts (day)|860 watts (night)}}
| coordinates = {{coord|44|6|55.26|N|70|14|53.2|W|region:US-ME_type:landmark|name=WIGY|display=inline,title}}
| webcast = {{ubl|{{listenlive|https://live365.com/station/WIGY---The-80s-and-Beyond-a58158}} (via Live365)|{{listenlive|https://das-edge15-live365-dal02.cdnstream.com/a58158.m3u}} (via MP3)}}
| website = {{URL|https://wigyradio.com/}}
}}
WIGY (1240 kHz) is an AM radio station owned by Bennett Radio Group that is licensed to serve Lewiston, Maine. WIGY airs a classic hits radio format.{{cite web |work=Nielsen Audio |url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SU16&band=am&callLetter=WEZR |title=Summer Station Information Profile}} In addition to music, WIGY broadcasts Lewiston–Auburn area high school sports.
History
The station was assigned the WEZR call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on January 18, 2007.{{cite web |title=Call Sign History |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=11031&Callsign=WIGY |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database}} On March 31, 2014, WEZR began simulcasting on 105.5 FM, via translator W288CW, and rebranded as Z105.5. On August 1, 2016, the station began simulcasting on WEZR-FM (92.7, formerly WOXO-FM, whose country music format was transferred to 1450 AM and 96.9 FM), expanding the format's reach to the Oxford Hills area; as a result, the station rebranded to "Maine's Big Z".{{cite news|last1=Crosby|first1=Christopher|title=Radio station WOXO changes frequencies|url=http://www.sunjournal.com/news/oxford-hills/0001/11/30/radio-station-woxo-changes-frequencies/1968848|accessdate=August 2, 2016|work=Sun Journal|date=August 1, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=WEZR & WOXO Lewiston On The Move|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/107477/wezr-woxo-lewiston-on-the-move/|accessdate=August 27, 2016|work=RadioInsight|date=July 29, 2016}} In April 2019, WEZR rebranded as "Z105.5 & 96.9", reflecting the move of its Oxford Hills simulcast from WEZR-FM to WOXO (now WPNO).[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/175886/woxo-wezr-swap-frequencies/ WOXO & WEZR Swap Frequencies] Radioinsight - April 4, 2019
WEZR, along with its sister stations, went off the air March 29, 2020, citing financial considerations that included expected reduction in advertising revenue attributed to COVID-19.{{cite news |title=WOXO says farewell to listeners; Gleason Radio Group to go silent after 45 years |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/03/25/woxo-says-farewell-to-listeners/ |accessdate=March 25, 2020 |work=Lewiston Sun Journal |date=March 25, 2020}} The stations had been up for sale following the death of owner Dick Gleason in February 2019.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Gleason Media To Shut Down Cluster In Lewiston/Auburn |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/185536/gleason-media-to-shut-down-cluster-in-lewiston-auburn/ |accessdate=March 25, 2020 |work=RadioInsight |date=March 25, 2020}} A sale of the Gleason Media Group stations to Bennett Radio Group was announced in May 2020.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/187736/binnie-vp-programming-stan-bennett-acquires-silent-maine-cluster/ Binnie VP/Programming Stan Bennett Acquires Silent Maine Cluster] Lance Venta, Radio Insight, May 26, 2020.
Bennett Radio Group's purchase, at a price of $300,000, was consummated on August 5, 2020. On August 19, 2020, WEZR and WPNO returned to the air as they relaunched the hot AC format as "WIGY", while adding a simulcast on the former WTME (now WEZR).[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/195748/woxo-returns-wezr-to-become-wigy/ WEZR Relaunches As WIGY Following Return Of WOXO] Lance Venta, RadioInsight, August 19, 2020. The call sign for 1240 AM was changed to WIGY on September 7, 2020.
Translator
{{RadioTranslators
| call1 = W239ET
| freq1 = 95.7
| fid1 = 200149
| watts1 = 250
| haat1 = 0
| class1 = D
| city1 = Lewiston, Maine
| coord1 = {{coord|44|12|16.8|N|70|33|9.2|W|region:US-ME_type:landmark|name=W239ET}}
| call2 = W288CW
| freq2 = 105.5
| fid2 = 152283
| watts2 = 250
| haat2 = 58.2
| class2 = D
| city2 = Lewiston, Maine
| coord2 = {{coord|44|6|54.2|N|70|14|50.1|W|region:US-ME_type:landmark|name=W288CW}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{AM station data|11031|WIGY}}
- {{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=51304 |title= History Cards for WIGY|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards)
;FM translators
- {{FCC-LMS-Facility|200149|W239ET}}
- {{FMXL|W239ET}}
- {{FCC-LMS-Facility|152283|W288CW}}
- {{FMXL|W288CW}}
{{Lewiston-Auburn Radio}}
{{Classic Hits Radio Stations in Maine}}
Category:1938 establishments in Maine
Category:Classic hits radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1938
{{Maine-radio-station-stub}}