WBTZ

Infobox Radio Station

name = WBTZ


frequency = 99.9 (MHz)
city = Plattsburgh, New York
area = Burlington, Vermont
Plattsburgh, New York
Montreal, Quebec
format = Modern Rock
owner = Hall Communications
erp = 100,000 watts
haat = 300 meters
branding = The Buzz
slogan = The Rock Alternative
airdate = 1960
class = C
former_callsigns = WGFB (1960-1996)
sister_stations = WKOL
webcast = [http://webclust1.liquidcompass.cc/sos4stnrd/audio_player.php?id=WBTZ Listen Live]
website = [http://www.999thebuzz.com/ www.999thebuzz.com]

WBTZ is a commercial radio station in Plattsburgh, New York, broadcasting to the Burlington, Vermont / Plattsburgh, New York / Montreal, Quebec area on 99.9 FM.

WBTZ airs a modern rock format branded as "The Buzz" since July of 1996. Its previous call sign was WGFB, which stood for its then owner, George F. Bissell.

From the late 80's until early 1990, WGFB was known on air as B-100 and played a great deal of Top 40 music. When Montreal hit station CHTX 980 HITS started a similar format in 1989, ratings (largely from Canadian listeners) began to slip forcing another format change.

WGFB then aired a hot adult contemporary music format. This was partially via the "Bright AC" satellite format by Westwood One.

Bissell sold the station along with its then sister station, WEAV, in July 1996 and The Buzz was launched with current call sign WBTZ. Stephanie Hindley hosted middays, Steve Picard was on afternoon drive and Jason Steeves took control at night. Matt Grasso replaced Steeves in late 1997, then in 1998 Kyle Smith joined for Morning Drive. Grasso then replaced Smith in morning drive during the middle of 1998. Ben Wiggins took the night shift in 1999. In 2001 Grasso and Hindley swapped shifts until Hindley left the station in late 2002 and Picard disappeared in early 2003. Wiggins left to pursue an acting career and was replaced by Johnny Utah. Hindley was initially replaced by Brit import Ian Kelly and Kim Napolitano, then shortly after, Pete Powers. Picard was replaced by Christine "Electra" Pawlak, until mid 2004 when she left for a job in Philadelphia and was replaced by Mays from WFNX in Boston. Picard eventually resurfaced on Montreal sports talk station The Team 990, where he now hosts a nightly radio program called "P on Sports."

The station was a finalist for Radio and Records magazine's 2006cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=2006 Industry Achievement Awards | date=September 28, 2008 | publisher= | url =http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/Con2006/awards/alt.asp | work =Radio and Records | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-27 | language = ] and 2007 Industry Achievement Awards for best Alternative Station for markets 100 and up. Other finalists include WKZQ-FM, WJSE, KQXR, KXNA, and WSFM.cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=2007 Industry Achievement Awards | date=September 28, 2008 | publisher= | url =http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/con2007/awards/altFinal.asp | work =Radio and Records | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-27 | language = ]

DJ List: Pete Powers, Matt Grasso, Mays, Johnny Utah, DJ LLU, Matt Gadouas

WBTZ was owned by Plattsburgh Broadcasting and operated by Burlington Broadcasters until November 1, 2005 when it was purchased by Hall Communications.Fact|date=April 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.999thebuzz.com/ Official Website]
*FMQ|WBTZ
*FML|WBTZ