WCFR

WCFR
City Springfield, Vermont
Slogan Springfield's Variety
Frequency 1480 AM
Repeater(s) 106.5 (FM Translator W293BH)
First air date 1954
Format Adult contemporary
Power 5,000 watts day
23 watts night
Class B
Facility ID 4909
Callsign meaning Carlo, Frank, and Ruth (Zezza)
Former callsigns WNIX (1954-1957)
WCFR (1957-1998)
WNBX (1998-2005)
Affiliations Red Sox Radio Network
Owner Koor Communications, Inc.
Sister stations WCNL, WNTK-FM, WUVR
Webcast Listen through Winamp
Website www.springfieldsvariety.com

WCFR is an AM Radio station licensed to Springfield, Vermont. It broadcasts an adult contemporary format with 5,000 watts during the day. Programming is also simulcast on translator W293BH, 106.5 FM. The station carries local high school sports and Boston Red Sox baseball from the Red Sox Radio Network, as well as playing classic American Top 40 on the weekends.

History

WCFR was started in 1954 as WNIX. It was purchased by Vermont broadcasting legend Carlos Zezza in the 1950s, renaming the station for the first initials of Zezza's three children in 1957. WCFR enjoyed many years as a successful music station.

Zezza sold WCFR to Sconnix in 1974, who changed the format from Top-40 to adult contemporary. Zezza's son Frank led a group that purchased the station back from Sconnix in the early 1980s. By this time, WCFR's popularity waned in favor of its FM sister station, WCFR-FM (now WEEY).

The 1990s saw several changes in ownership and WCFR carried various formats through the decade. In September 1998, WCFR changed from adult standards to a business news format.[1] Two months later, the station was leased to Brian Dodge, at which point the station switched to a simulcast of the religious format of his WWNH in Madbury, New Hampshire, under the WNBX callsign.[2] Dodge left the station in 2000 after being charged with domestic assault, leaving WNBX silent until new operators could be found.[3][4]

Current owner Bob Vinikoor bought the station in 2001 and switched it to a simulcast of established FM talk station WNTK-FM. The format was switched to oldies in 2003 and the WCFR call letters returned in 2005. WCFR switched to classic hits in 2007 and to adult contemporary in 2009.

Former sister station WCFR-FM on 93.5 was sold separately from the AM WCFR in 2001 and was moved to Swanzey, New Hampshire in 2008 (it is now WEEY). WFYX was known as WCFR-FM until owner Nassau Broadcasting, which at one point had planned to sell WPLY in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, parked the WPLY-FM call letters on 96.3 in Walpole, New Hampshire.

WCFR was granted special temporary authority from the FCC to broadcast on translator W293BH 106.5 FM in Springfield.

Ray Kimball, general manager of WCFR radio, will receive the Alan Noyes Community Service Award during the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Awards Nov. 7 in Essex Junction.

Kimball was singled for his efforts to help raise $46,000 for Southeastern Vermont Community Action's "Share the Warmth" campaign, as well as helping to revive radio in the Springfield area.

References

  1. ↑ Fybush, Scott (September 4, 1998). "One Shoe Drops in Maine...". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  2. ↑ Fybush, Scott (November 13, 1998). "So Long, WWJY". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  3. ↑ Fybush, Scott (November 28, 2000). "New Station in Western NY, 1220's Back in Cornwall". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  4. ↑ Fybush, Scott (December 18, 2000). "Toronto's 740 Returns". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.

Coordinates: 43°16′54″N 72°29′21″W / 43.28167°N 72.48917°W / 43.28167; -72.48917


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