WPOR
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WPOR
| logo = WPOR1019.png
| logo_alt = WPOR logo
| city = Portland, Maine
| country = US
| area = Greater Portland
| branding = WPOR 101.9
| frequency = 101.9 MHz
| airdate = October 31, 1967
| format = Country
| erp = 32,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|186|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = B
| facility_id = 49982
| licensing_authority = FCC
| coordinates = {{coord|43.759|N|70.320|W|type:landmark_region:US-ME_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = Portland
| former_callsigns = WPOR-FM (1967–2002)
| affiliations = Westwood One
| owner = Saga Communications
| licensee = Saga Communications of New England, LLC
| sister_stations = WBAE, WCLZ, WGAN, WVAE, WMGX, WYNZ, WZAN
| webcast = {{listenlive|https://player.amperwave.net/7915}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.wpor.com/}}
}}
WPOR (101.9 FM) is a radio station in Portland, Maine, that broadcasts a country music radio format. It is owned by Saga Communications.
History
WPOR has had the same format since it signed on as an FM simulcast of 1490 WPOR, now WBAE, on October 31, 1967. WPOR was owned by Hildreth Broadcasting Corporation at that time.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1969|year=1969|page=77|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1969/B%201%20Radio%201969%20BC%20YB.pdf|format=PDF|access-date=March 5, 2012}} On March 2, 1971 WPOR and WPOR-FM were sold to Ocean Coast Properties.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1972|year=1972|page=94|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1972/B-1%20YB%201972%20All-11.pdf|format=PDF|access-date=March 5, 2012}} 25 years later in March 1996 WPOR and WPOR-FM were sold again, this time to current owner Saga Communications for $10 million.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1998|year=1998|page=199|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1998/D-Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-1998.pdf|format=PDF|access-date=March 5, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-960314.html|title=New England RadioWatch: March 14, 1996|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=March 14, 1996|work=New England RadioWatch|access-date=March 5, 2012}}
Through most of its history, the AM and the FM stations either simulcast, or for some years, the AM station used a satellite-delivered country music service, while live local announcers continued on the FM station. In March 1999, 1490 AM changed its call letters to WBAE.{{cite web|title=AM Query Results|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=49983&Callsign=WBAE|work=FCC|access-date=March 6, 2012}} The reason for the new call letters was made clear on May 24, 1999 when it changed its format to adult standards and became known on air as The Bay.{{cite news|url=http://bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-990604.html|title=The End of CBL is Near|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=June 4, 1999|work=North East RadioWatch|access-date=March 6, 2012}}
WPOR's Jon Shannon has hosted the POR Morning Crew since March 2001.
WPOR-FM had the greatest market share of any Maine radio station into the early 2000s, at which time it was still Portland's only country music station.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}} For many years, WPOR-FM and album-oriented rock station 102.9 WBLM were consistently Portland's top two stations, with each vying for the lead in the ratings. The situation changed with the debut of WTHT in Portland, another country station.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{FM station data|49982|WPOR}}
{{Portland Radio}}
{{Country Radio Stations in Maine}}
{{Saga Communications}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Country radio stations in the United States