WPEI

Infobox Radio station
name = WPEI/WGEI


area = Southern Maine
branding =
slogan =
frequency = WPEI: 95.9 (MHz)
WGEI: 95.5 (MHz)
translator =
repeater =
airdate = WPEI: 1982
WGEI: 1993
format = Sports radio
power =
erp = "see table in article"
haat = "see table in article"
class = "see table in article"
facility_id = "see table in article"
coordinates = "see table in article"
callsign_meaning = WPEI: Portland WEEI
WGEI: similar to WEEI
former_callsigns = "see table in article"
affiliations = WEEI Sports Radio Network
Red Sox Radio Network
Sporting News Radio
owner = Atlantic Coast Radio
sister_stations = WJJB, WLOB
webcast =
website =

WPEI (95.9 FM) and WGEI (95.5 FM) are WEEI simulcast stations serving the Portland, Maine area. The stations are owned by Atlantic Coast Radio.

History

In July 1982, WPEI signed on as WPIG with a country format. Then in 1984 it became hit radio WHYR ("R-96") and then in 1996 it became rhythmic top 40 WRED.

WGEI began operations in 1993 as WPME, simulcasting a country music format with WCME.cite web|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/essays/maine-hist|title=Maine Radio History, 1971–1996|last=Fybush|first=Scott|publisher=Archives @ BostonRadio.org|accessdate=2008-09-11] A year later, the station converted to an oldies format as WXGL-FM. Atlantic Coast Radio purchased the station in 1999cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-990827.html|title=Maine Station Owner Dies in Plane Crash|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=1999-08-27|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=2008-09-11] , and in January 2000 the station switched to an adult album alternative format as WCLZ.cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-000128.html|title=Welcome Back WMEX, and We Take On LPFM|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=2000-01-28|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=2008-09-11] A few months later, WCLZ adopted a sports talk format, initially as part of The Big JABcite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-001002.html|title=Spinning the Dial in Connecticut|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=2000-10-02|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=2008-09-11] ; the next year, the station took the call letters WJJB-FM.cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-010903.html|title=Labor Day Update|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=2001-09-03|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=2008-09-11]

On August 31, 2008, WRED and WJJB-FM respectively dropped rhythmic top 40 and the simulcast of The Big JAB in favor of programming provided by Boston's WEEI.cite news |first=Ray |last=Routhier |title=WEEI to air in Maine Sept. 1 |url=http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/031753.html |work=Portland Press Herald |date=2008-08-19 |accessdate=2008-08-19 ] cite press release |title=WEEI Sports Radio Network Expands to Portland, Bangor & Keene |publisher=Entercom Communications |date=2008-08-20 |url=http://imgsrv.weei.com/image/weei/UserFiles/WEEINorthNetworkPressRelease81908.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-08-20 ] (WGEI had initially planned to use the WTEI call sign, and for a week in September 2008 used the WUEI call letters.cite web|url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=12160&Callsign=WGEI|title=Call Sign History|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=2008-09-13] The shift left the market with no hip-hop-based station. The stations do not carry Boston College football, however they do carry Boston Red Sox baseball. Unlike WEEI (and its other simulcasting partners), WPEI and WGEI do not carry Fox Sports Radio on the weekends and overnights, as it is already heard on Saga Communications-owned WZAN.

tations

References

External links

*FM station data|WPEI
*FM station data|WGEI