WLIR-FM
{{Short description|Talk radio station in Hampton Bays, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{About|the Hampton Bays, New York radio station at 107.1 FM|the history of WLIR/WDRE at 92.7 FM, 98.5 FM, and 107.1 FM|WLIR|other uses|WLIR (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WLIR-FM
| city = Hampton Bays, New York
| country = US
| above = Semi-satellite of WABC, New York City
| logo = WLIR-FM Talkradio 107.1.png
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| area = Eastern Long Island
| frequency = {{Frequency|107.1|MHz}}
| rds =
| branding = Talkradio 107.1
| languages = English
| format = Conservative talk radio
| subchannels =
| network =
| affiliations = {{ubl|Fox News Radio|Westwood One}}
| owner = John Catsimatidis
| licensee = Red Apple Media, Inc.
| operator =
| sister_stations = WABC
| founded =
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1980|11|14}}
| last_airdate =
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WWHB (1980–1997)|WWVY (1997–1999)|WWXY (1999–2003)|WBON (2003–2004)}}
| former_names =
| former_frequencies =
| callsign_meaning = Carried over from the former WLIR (92.7 FM), now {{nowrap|WFME-FM}}
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 61089
| class = A
| power =
| erp = 4,100 watts
| haat = {{Convert|121|m|ft|sp=us}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|40|53|07.8|N|72|41|33.0|W|type:landmark_region:US-NY_source:FCC|name=WLIR-FM}}
| translators =
| repeaters =
| webcast =
| website = {{URL|https://wabcradio.com/}}
}}
WLIR-FM (107.1 FM, Talkradio 107.1) is a radio station licensed to Hampton Bays, New York, and serving eastern Long Island. The station's studios and offices are located on Third Avenue in Midtown Manhattan,{{cite web|url=https://wabcradio.com/station-information/|title=WABC radio station information|website=wabcradio.com|date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=January 3, 2023}} with additional offices on Long Island in Bay Shore,{{cite web|url=https://wabcradio.com/wlir/|title=WLIR-FM radio station information|website=wabcradio.com|date=July 26, 2021 |access-date=January 3, 2023}} and transmitting facilities located in Northampton in Suffolk County. The station is owned by businessman John Catsimatidis through his Red Apple Media company.
History
The station went on the air on November 14, 1980, as WWHB under the moniker "The New 107 FM WWHB", with an adult contemporary music format.{{cite news |last=Davidoff |first=Jon |title=A New Voice To Hit The Air |url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83007173/1980-11-13/ed-1/seq-3.pdf |access-date=July 6, 2020 |newspaper=The Southampton Press |date=November 13, 1980 }} In 1984, Eddie Simon along with his brother, singer Paul Simon, purchased the station.{{cite news|title=LOOKING BACK ON 1984: WHAT THEY'LL REMEMBER MOST|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/30/nyregion/looking-back-on-1984-what-they-ll-remember-most.html?&pagewanted=5|access-date=April 29, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 30, 1984}}{{cite news|title=Long Island Guide|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/nyregion/long-island-guide.html?pagewanted=2|access-date=April 29, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 19, 1990}} Its format then shifted to a Top 40/CHR format as "Laser Hot HB107". On September 1, 1990, WWHB began simulcasting AOR station WNEW-FM from New York City.
=Country and Spanish quadcasts (1996–2003)=
{{Further|topic=the country and Spanish quadcasts|New Country Y-107}}
On December 7, 1996, the station became part of the Big City Radio trimulcast (and eventual quadcast) with other 107.1 stations in Briarcliff Manor, New York and northern New Jersey and later, the Lehigh Valley/Allentown, Pennsylvania area. WWHB and the other two multicast stations switched formats to country as "Y-107". The call sign was changed to WWVY on May 16, 1997, then to WWXY on March 22, 1999 (after 107.1 FM in Briarcliff Manor, New York changed from WWXY to WYNY).{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=61089&Callsign=WLIR-FM|title=WLIR-FM Call sign Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division}} On May 9, 2002, after a day of stunting with construction noises, the quadcast adopted a Tropical music format branded "Rumba 107".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-020513.html|title=North East RadioWatch: May 13, 2002|website=bostonradio.org}} The format was ill-suited to the quadcast suburban signals, and at the end of the year, Big City Radio filed for bankruptcy and sold the quadcast to Nassau Broadcasting, who broke up the quadcast and sold the individual stations.
=Modern rock, ESPN, and Christian (2003–2011)=
{{Further|topic=the modern rock simulcast and Jarad Broadcasting years|WLIR}}
Jarad Broadcasting picked up WWXY in April 2003.{{cite web |last=Fybush |first=Scott |title=Chaos at WEEI (From the NERW Archives, April 14, 2003) |url=http://www.fybush.com/nerw-4152013/ |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |access-date=April 29, 2013 |date=April 15, 2013}} 107.1 FM initially simulcasted WLIR (92.7 FM) from Garden City, New York, but in January 2004, 92.7 FM was purchased by Univision and flipped to Spanish language "Latino Mix" WZAA, simulcasting WCAA.{{cite web |last=Fybush |first=Scott |title=WLIR Legend Ends at 92.7 |url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2004/040112/nerw-040112.html |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |date=January 12, 2004 |access-date=April 25, 2013}} 107.1 FM then became a fully transplanted WLIR, taking on a modern rock format and the WLIR-FM call sign, turning into "THE BOX". This format lasted until September 2005, when a smooth jazz/chill music format called "NeoBreeze" was adopted. This format was a failure, and the modern rock format returned in December 2005. In January 2008, the music ended and WLIR began simulcasting WEPN (ESPN Radio, 1050 AM) in a local marketing agreement.{{cite web |last=Fybush |first=Scott |title=NY Talker's Award un-Grant-ed |url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2008/080121/nerw.html |work=NorthEast Radio Watch |date=January 21, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2013}} WLIR was sold to Livingstone in 2011{{cite web |last=Seyler |first=Dave |title=Jarad sells Hampton Bays FM |url=http://rbr.com/jarad-sells-hampton-bays-fm/ |work=Radio Business Report |date=February 28, 2011 |access-date=April 25, 2013}} and flipped to a Christian format branded as "Hope Radio".
=Christian and sports flips (2011–2017)=
On August 5, 2013, Livingstone Broadcasting shifted the "Hope Radio" Christian format to WBLI-HD2 along with translators 94.9 W235BB Hauppauge, New York; 96.5 W243BF Shirley, New York; 101.5 W268AN Plainview, New York and 104.5 W283BA Selden, New York. WLIR-FM dropped the Christian format and became "Champions Radio" touted as "Long Island's First & Only Sports Radio Station". WLIR-FM was broadcast on 107.1 and 96.9 W245BA in Suffolk County, New York. The format was short lived.{{cite news |last=Best |first=Neil |title=ESPN Radio coming to East End |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/media/espn-radio-coming-to-east-end-1.5788813 |access-date=July 31, 2013 |date=July 29, 2013 |newspaper=Newsday}}
On February 24, 2014, WLIR-FM dropped all sports programming and reverted to Christian formatted "Hope Radio".{{cite news |last=Best |first=Neil |title=WLIR drops ESPN, reverts to Christian format |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/media/watchdog-1.812020/wlir-drops-espn-reverts-to-christian-format-1.7197656 |access-date=March 18, 2014 |date=February 25, 2014 |newspaper=Newsday}}
On August 1, 2014, Pillar of Fire began a lease of WLIR-FM. WAWZ-FM, Zarephath, New Jersey (STAR 99.1) was broadcast on WLIR-FM as well as its translators as "STAR 107.1". The lease ended in April 2015 and WLIR-FM reverted to Christian formatted "Hope Radio".
On July 1, 2017, the station was sold to VMT Media Inc. and continued to air the "Hope Radio" format.
=Real-FM (2018–2020)=
On January 1, 2018, the station dropped "Hope Radio" and began broadcasting an unbranded mix of oldies and classic rock music as a transitional format, simulcasting on 96.9 W245BA.{{cite web|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=WLIR Loses Its Hope|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/122215/wlir-loses-hope/|website=RadioInsight|date=January 4, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2018}} On April 20, 2018, the station officially re-launched as classic hits "Real-FM".{{cite web|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=107.1 WLIR Flips To Classic Hits Real-FM |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/167850/107-1-wlir-to-debut-new-format-on-april-20/|website=RadioInsight|date=April 20, 2018 |access-date=April 20, 2018}}
=WABC simulcast (2020–present)=
On July 1, 2020, Red Apple Media – owner of WABC in New York City – began operating the station through a local marketing agreement, and converted it to a near-simulcast of WABC's talk programming. An exception to the simulcast is a local morning program hosted by Frank Morano, which replaces Brian Kilmeade (as it is already cleared by competitor WRCN-FM).{{Cite web|date=July 1, 2020|title=WABC Adds Long Island Simulcast|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/189939/wabc-adds-long-island-simulcast/|access-date=July 5, 2020|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=July 3, 2020|title=Frank Morano To Host Midday Show On 107.1 WLIR-FM|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/190038/frank-morano-to-host-midday-show-on-107-1-wlir-fm/|access-date=July 5, 2020|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US}} A week later, Red Apple Media announced its intent to acquire the station outright,{{Cite web|title=From LMA To Purchase: Red Apple Media Picks Up WLIR-FM.|url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/from-lma-to-purchase-red-apple-media-picks-up-wlir-fm/article_1653c0ca-c13a-11ea-b558-efd3ba0fdfb3.html|access-date=October 14, 2021|website=Insideradio.com|date=July 8, 2020 |language=en}}
and that Morano would also join WABC's main lineup on weekday overnights and Sunday nights.{{cite news|url=https://news.radio-online.com/articles/c40865/Frank-Morano-Joins-WABC-New-York-Starting-Sunday-July-12|title=Frank Morano joins WABC New York starting Sunday, July 12|work=Radio-Online.com|date=July 8, 2020|access-date=July 12, 2020}}{{Cite web|date=July 8, 2020|title=Frank Morano To Host Overnights At WABC|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/190454/frank-morano-to-host-overnights-at-wabc/|access-date=September 16, 2020|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web |work=CDBS Public Access Database
|publisher=FCC Media Bureau |title=Call Sign History |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=61089&Callsign=WLIR-FM |access-date= April 14, 2013}}
}}
External links
{{FM station data|61089|WLIR-FM}}
- {{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=83695 |title= History Cards for WWHB (1978–1981)|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards)
{{Long Island Radio}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1980 establishments in New York (state)
Category:Conservative talk radio
Category:Mass media in Suffolk County, New York