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This article is about radio stations during their time as WBZ-FM. For 98.5 in Boston before WBZ-FM in 2009, see WBMX (FM). For 106.7 in Boston after WBZ-FM in 1981, see WMJX.
WBZ-FM is a sports radio station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI and competed with the ESPN Radio pair of WAMG and WLLH before their sign off in September 2009. WBZ-FM is home to the Boston Bruins and the New England Patriots radio networks. WBZ-FM has been the callsign of three broadcast stations in Boston, Massachusetts since 1943, all associated with Westinghouse Broadcasting/CBS Radio: one from 1943 to 1952; one from 1956 to 1981 (which became WMJX); and the new format from August 2009, which uses the frequency of the old WROR/WBMX (FM).
[edit] Callsign timeline
[edit] First WBZ-FMWestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, one of the pioneers of radio in America, established experimental shortwave FM station W1XK. By 1936 it was operating as a "relay broadcasting station" on 9.57 MHz (31.33 meters wavelength) at 10 kilowatts.[1] Westinghouse received the station's commercial license, W67B, on 25 February 1942; on March 29, the station began broadcasting with 10 kilowatts at 46.7 MHz in the original FM band. When the FCC modified FM callsigns to the modern format on 1 November 1943, W67B became WBZ-FM.[2] The frequency first changed to 100.7 MHz when FM broadcasting in the U.S. was moved to its current frequency band in 1946, then changed to 92.9 MHz in 1947. This WBZ-FM was a simulcast of WBZ (AM).[3] The vacated 100.7 MHz allocation was assigned to WCOP-FM, a simulcast of WCOP (AM) (now WWDJ), in 1948; that station eventually became WZLX.[4] Westinghouse got out of FM broadcasting for a period starting in 1952.[3] [edit] Second WBZ-FM: 106.7For 106.7 after WBZ-FM, see WMJX.
The 106.7 frequency in Boston, Massachusetts was first used as WBZ-FM, and was owned by Westinghouse (later Group W). The station's earliest format was a classical music format, and later evolved into a combination simulcast of WBZ (AM) during the morning, with the classical music at other times. On December 31, 1971, when the station changed to a rock format, as “WBZ-FM, Stereo 106.7... All Hits, all the time!”[3] On December 31, 1971, WBZ-FM became a rock music station as "Rockin' Stereo 106.7"[5] programming mostly Top-40 with some album cuts. Although automated, it featured voice-tracked announcing from Clark Smidt (who also programmed the station) and Ken Shelton. For a time in the mid-1970s, WBZ-FM was Boston's second most popular Top-40 station, only trailing WRKO in popularity. In 1975, both Smidt and Shelton left to join WCOZ, which was changing formats from beautiful-music to album-oriented rock. By 1979, WBZ-FM had drifted into an automated album oriented rock format itself, which remained in place through 1981. During the years as a rock station, WBZ-FM also simulcast the hourly newscasts from sister station WBZ (AM), the commercial spots on which were the only commercials heard on the FM side. In 1981, WBZ-FM was sold to Greater Media, becoming that company's first Boston station. Under the new ownership, the station signed off for a couple of weeks at the very end of 1981. Before signing back on as "Magic" in January 1982 with the call letters WMJX, the station installed a new transmitter and raised the height of the antenna on the WBZ tower. A few years later the transmission equipment was relocated to the Prudential Tower, giving 106.7 a great signal in downtown Boston. [edit] Third WBZ-FM: 98.5For 98.5 before WBZ-FM, see WBMX (FM). In July 2009, CBS Radio announced that it would re-introduce WBZ-FM as a sports radio station named "98.5 The Sports Hub" at 1 p.m. on August 13,[6] moving the existing Hot AC 98.5 WBMX-FM to 104.1 as "Mix 104" on August 12,[7] and the existing active rock 104.1 WBCN to HD Radio subchannel 2 on the new 98.5, removing it from analog.[8] The callsign WBZ-FM was assigned to the station on 5 August 2009. [edit] ShowsNew England Patriots games, and Boston Bruins games have moved to WBZ-FM.[7] The Toucher and Rich Show and New England Patriots games come from WBCN. [edit] Weekdays
[edit] Weekends
Airs from 8 AM to 12 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 2 PM on Sunday.
Damon Amendolara hosts from 4 PM to 8 PM on Saturday and 2 PM to 7 PM on Sundays. [edit] New England Patriots coverageThe New England Patriots pregame and postgame shows are hosted by Gary Tanguay, Scott Zolak, and Andy Gresh. Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti continue to handle the play-by-play duties.[citation needed] [edit] Boston Bruins coverageBoston Bruins coverage will feature Dave Goucher as the play-by-play man and Bob Beers handling the color commentary.[citation needed] [edit] Personalties from The Sports Hub era[edit] References
[edit] External links
Categories: HD Radio stations | CBS Radio stations | Radio stations established in 1942 | Radio stations established in 1947 | 1952 disestablishments | Radio stations established in 1956 | 1981 disestablishments | Radio stations established in 2009 | Radio stations in Boston, Massachusetts | Sports radio stations in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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