WPUR

Infobox Radio Station
city = Atlantic City, New Jersey
area =


name = WPUR
airdate = February 1998
frequency = 107.3 (MHz)
format = Country
owner = Millennium Radio Group
erp = 25,000 Watts
haat = 94 meters
class = B1
branding = "Cat Country 107.3"
slogan = "Continuous Country Favorites"
webcast = [http://nick9.surfernetwork.com/WPUR Listen Live]
website = http://www.catcountry1073.com
callsign_meaning = WPURrrrr (cat purr)|

WPUR (107.3 FM) is a country music formatted radio station in Atlantic City, New Jersey. WPUR is more commonly known as "Cat Country 107.3".

History

107.3 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was granted the random WZZP call sign on March 17, 1997, and went on the air on February 28, 1998, with a mix of classic rock, oldies, and newer songs. This test broadcast was erratic and mostly heard on weekends through March 17, 1998. Chief engineer Tom McNally was the first voice heard on the station, as a "conducting equipment tests" message aired between the music.

On April 9 and 10, 1998, WZZP began broadcasting a mix of country songs. Later on April 10 and into April 11, listeners were inundated with the song "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba over and over. Another stunt format aired from April 12 to April 14, this time with all classic rock songs as "ZZ-107." From April 14 to April 17, CHR was featured with ID's only saying "107.3." This was expanded upon from April 17 to April 25, when more CHR songs were added to the playlist and the station's name shifted to "ZZ-107 The Zipper."

On April 25, 1998, "Fun 107" debuted with a Rhythmic CHR format, which was easy to do since WZZP's sister station, at the time, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, was "Fun 107." Most people thought this was going to be the final format, but it was just another long drawn-out stunt that ultimately lasted for a little over two months. On June 29, 1998, the real format and name finally debuted: "Cat Country 107.3". The call letters officially changed to WPUR on July 20, 1998.

"Cat Country 107.3" is currently Arbitron rated #4 (12+) in the Atlantic City Metro.Fact|date=December 2007

Ownership

Spring Broadcasting, LLC, purchased the construction permit for 107.3 in Atlantic City from Radio-Vision II in the late 1990s. In November, 1999, Citadel Communications entered the Atlantic City market as it purchased Spring Broadcasting. In July, 2001, Citadel Communications sold WPUR and its Atlantic City sister stations to newly formed Millennium Radio Group for $19.4 million.

Positioning

WPUR positions itself as "Cat Country 107.3," playing "continuous country favorites." Originally, WPUR was positioned as "South Jersey's Hot New Country."

Technical

WPUR is a class-B1 FM radio station, operating with 25,000 Watts ERP from an antenna 94 meters (308 ft) high (HAAT) on the WFPG tower in Atlantic City. Up until early 2008, WPUR's antenna was located on the roof of the Trump Taj Mahal casino on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

WPUR had a severe null in its signal over land until WSNJ-FM 107.7/Bridgeton, NJ, went off the air in February, 2004. When WSNJ-FM went off the air, WPUR was able to bring a full 25,000 Watt ERP signal over land.

Charity Work

WPUR supports local non-profit organizations throughout Southern New Jersey. In addition, since 2000, WPUR has held annual two-day radiothons for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, raising over $1,000,000, and also holds a yearly quest for One Million Pennies for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Programming

Notable weekday on-air personalities include Joe Kelly in mornings, Chris Coleman in mid-days, Lexi Carter in afternoon drive, and "The Big Time" with Whitney Allen from 7PM to midnight. Joe Kelly also serves as the station's program director and Chris Coleman serves as the station's production director.

Some notable former air staff members include Andy Harris (now at WDSD-FM/Dover, DE), Elaine Everett (most recently at WIL-FM/St. Louis, MO), David Allen Pratt (now at WTKU/Ocean City, NJ), Jay Christopher (now at WOGK/Ocala, FL), Lee (Leo) Kirschner, Tina Owen, Josie Blaine, and Lyndsay Harris.

Specialty weekend programming on WPUR includes "Country Countdown USA" with Lon Helton, "The Big Time Saturday Night" with Whitney Allen, "Cat Classics", and "Country Top 40" with Bob Kingsley.

External links

* [http://www.catcountry1073.com/ WPUR official website]
* [http://nick8.surfernetwork.com/Media/player/detect.html?call=WPUR Listen live to WPUR]
* [http://www.atlanticcityradio.com Millennium Radio Group - Atlantic City]
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*FMARB|WPUR