WURH

Infobox Radio Station


name = WURH
city = Waterbury, Connecticut
area = Hartford, Connecticut
airdate =
frequency = 104.1 (MHz)
branding = "fm 104 one"
slogan =
format = Modern Rock
former_callsigns = WPHH (10/01/03-12/20/07)
WMRQ (3/29/95-10/01/03)
WYSR (9/04/92-3/29/95)
WIOF (70s-9/04/92)
WWCO-FM (??-70s)
erp = 18,000 watts
haat = 255 meters
class = B
facility_id = 74295
owner = Clear Channel Communications
sister_stations = WHCN, WKSS, WPOP, WWYZ
webcast = N/A
website = [http://www.1041music.com/ www.1041music.com]
callsign_meaning =

WURH is a Modern Rock station based in Hartford, Connecticut. The city of license is Waterbury, CT. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 104.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 18 kW. The station broadcasts from West Peak in Meriden, Connecticut, on a tower with sister station WKSS. Their studios are at 10 Columbus Boulevard, in Hartford, Connecticut.

History

WURH began broadcasting as country formatted WWCO-FM, owned by Merv Griffin. In the early 70s, the station changed call letters and rebranded as "Nashville, Connecticut, W-104. They took the call letters WIOF. In 1976, the station dropped country to become Adult Contemporary formatted "Magic 104." Lou Terri was the Program Director and midday host until his death in an automobile accident in 1989, Steve Wiersman later became Program Director until 1994. Morning announcers included Bill Cleveland and Ray Petraca. Jack Carney, who was also the voice of WVIT Channel 30 at the time, hosted the afternoon show. Jim Scott did nights, Rick O'Connor did middays, later replaced by Ron O'Brien (a.k.a. Ron O). In 1992, they rebranded as "Star 104", WYSR. Other DJ's on Star 104.1 were Brett Provost-Mornings, Paul DeFrancisco-Afternoons, now Official Cart Labeler at WFMX, WCTB and WSKW Augusta,ME. Jim Severine-Weekends (13WAVZ board op/WKCI KC101 overnight weekends alumni), Jay Hanson-weekends (now WFMX Skowhegan, ME), Long John-Weekends (WEBE 108 Westport CT alumni), Rich Kilbourne (a.k.a. Big Rich Baker-News, WKCI Hamden CT alumni), Cathy Foxx-Middays, Neil Jackson-Afternoons, Lee Gordon-Production Director, Race Bannon who stayed on after October 31 1994 for what became "Radio 104 Modern Rock". Ron O became WYSR PD after Steve Wiersman departed, until October 31 1994 when the format changed to "Modern Rock" and all programming staff was released, Lee Gordon remained as Production Director. On October 31, 1994, the format flipped to modern rock/alternative outlet WMRQ "Radio 104". Personalities such as morning shows "Jake & Beth", Dee Snider and Bubba The Love Sponge were morning shows on the station at various points during the station's history. The station also hosted popular annual events such as "The Big Day Off" and "104fest." Due to struggling ratings, WMRQ was flipped to WPHH, "Power 104.1", in September 2003.

As a station playing Hip Hop and R&B music, Power 104.1 WPHH solidified its position as the only Mainstream Urban station in the Hartford/New Haven market. Nicole Siedman served as Program Director for a short period until 2004. Mychal Maguire assumed the Program Director position thereafter. Spank Buda served as Assistant Program Director and night host for the entire duration of WPHH. Popular events included the "Hoop It Up" basketball tournament and the "Legends of Hip Hop" concert. Other DJ's on Power 104.1 were Mia Mendez, DJ Showtime, TT Torrez, DJ Londonn, and PJ.

On October 25 2007, 104.1 again changed music formats. They returned to the previous Modern Rock format. So far, the station is running without disk jockeys and has a playlist and other formatics which are similar to WRFF in Philadelphia. [http://www.dcrtv.com/boston.html]

On December 20 2007 104.1 changed its calls to WURH. [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=74279&Callsign=WPHH]

During May 2008, and almost six months after Clear Channel launched "FM 104-One" (WURH 104.1 Waterbury, CT), the rock station finally named a PD, Becky Pohotsky, who had been the station's APD/MD and de facto PD for most of its existence.

On August 4, 2008, Clear Channel placed the station's assets into an entity called the Aloha Station Trust in order to sell off the station. This was due to Clear Channel being above the FCC-allowed ownership limits. These limits were imposed when Clear Channel was officially taken private by Bain Capital Partners on July 30, 2008.

External links

* [http://www.1041music.com/ WURH Website]
*FMQ|WURH
*FML|WURH
*FMARB|WURH