WPPI

WPPI
City Topsham, Maine
Broadcast area Portland, Maine
Branding 95.5 and 95.9 WPEI
Slogan Southern Maine's Home for the WEEI Sports Radio Network
Frequency 95.5 MHz
First air date 1993
Format Sports Talk
Power 3,000 watts
HAAT 139 meters
Class A
Facility ID 12160
Transmitter coordinates 43°54′12″N 70°2′13″W / 43.90333°N 70.03694°W / 43.90333; -70.03694 (WLOB-FM)
Callsign meaning similar to WPEI (simulcast partner)
Former callsigns WLLB (1989–1993)
WPME (1993–1994)
WXGL-FM (1994–2000)
WCLZ (2000–2001)
WJJB-FM (2001–2008)
WUEI (2008)
WGEI (2008–2009)
WLOB-FM (2009-2011)
Affiliations WEEI Sports Radio Network
ESPN Radio
Fox Sports Radio
University of Maine Black Bears
Owner Atlantic Coast Radio
Sister stations WJJB, WPEI, WLOB
Website weei.com

WPPI (95.5 FM) is a sports talk radio stations in the Portland, Maine area. The current owner is Atlantic Coast Radio.

The station mostly carries the same programs as WEEI-FM from Boston. Some local commercials take the place of Boston commercials. And some WEEI-FM game broadcasts are substituted with Fox Sports Radio. WPPI also carries University of Maine Black Bear football and ice hockey,[1] and Portland Pirates ice hockey.[2]

History

The 95.5 frequency began operations in 1993 as WPME, simulcasting a country music format with 96.7 WCME from Boothbay Harbor (now WTQX).[3] A year later, the station converted to an oldies format as WXGL-FM.[3] Atlantic Coast Radio purchased the station in 1999,[4] and in January 2000, the station switched to an adult album alternative format as WCLZ.[5] A few months later, WCLZ adopted a sports talk format, initially as a simulcast of WJAE (the descendant of WJAB);[6] the next year, the station took the call letters WJJB-FM.[7]

On August 25, 2008, WLOB-FM was converted to a simulcast of WJJB (which WJAE had become by that time), resulting in WLOB's programming being heard only on the AM signal. This was part of a shuffle of Atlantic Coast Radio's FM stations as a result of the conversion of two of its stations, including WJJB-FM, on September 1, 2008 to simulcasts of WEEI.[8] Shortly after the completion of these format changes, 95.5's call letters were changed to WGEI (it had initially planned to use the WTEI call sign,[9] and for a week in September 2008 used the WUEI call letters[10]).

On April 1, 2009, WGEI converted to a simulcast of WLOB; it became WLOB-FM a few days later.[10] In August 2011, WLOB-FM returned to simulcasting WEEI. On September 7, 2011, WLOB-FM changed their call letters to WPPI.

References

  1. ↑ of Maine Official Athletic Site
  2. ↑ Pirates Announce New Radio Home
  3. 1 2 Fybush, Scott. "Maine Radio History, 1971–1996". Archives @ BostonRadio.org. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  4. ↑ Fybush, Scott (August 27, 1999). "Maine Station Owner Dies in Plane Crash". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  5. ↑ Fybush, Scott (January 28, 2000). "Welcome Back WMEX, and We Take On LPFM". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  6. ↑ Fybush, Scott (October 10, 2000). "Spinning the Dial in Connecticut". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  7. ↑ Fybush, Scott (September 3, 2001). "Labor Day Update". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  8. ↑ Routhier, Ray (August 19, 2008). "WEEI to air in Maine Sept. 1". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  9. ↑ "WEEI Sports Radio Network Expands to Portland, Bangor & Keene" (PDF) (Press release). Entercom Communications. August 20, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
  10. 1 2 "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
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