WBWZ
Encyclopedia
WBWZ is an Hot Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to New Paltz, New York
and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley
of New York state. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP
from the a tower near Illinois Mountain in Marlborough, New York
shared with longtime sister WRWD-FM
.
. After testing for the first part of December 1992, WBWZ formally signed on on December 20 of that year carrying ABC's "Z-Rock" satellite hard rock
format as Z-Rock 93.3. With limited outside promotion and no rock station targeting younger audiences, WBWZ entered the Top 10 of the Poughkeepsie ratings in its first two books and became enough of a threat to rival WPDH
that the programming at that station began to evolve to classic rock
.
Though with a very loyal audience and good numbers, the Walkers found it hard to sell WBWZ to advertisers with the country music
format of WRWD. Coupled with the decline of hard rock and the rise of alternative rock
, the writing was soon on the wall for Z-Rock 93.3 and in February 1995 the station flipped to a satellite-fed 1970s music format as Z-93. Though the station had an initial surge of listenership, quirks in Arbitron
's system in rating small markets at the time led to the ratings coming out after such a surge had subsided and the overall ratings fell below the Z-Rock format.
Shortly after the format change, Bud Walker bought the license of WBWZ after the loosening of FCC regulations and to also make any sale of the stations easier. After the further loosening of ownership regulations in early 1996, Walker decided to leave radio to pursue a career in politics and sold WBWZ, WRWD, and WWLE
to Hudson Valley Radio Partners, a short-term holding company. With the ownership change, WBWZ's format changed to a locally-run Hot Adult Contemporary format while keeping the Z-93 name that November. Within a month of its sign-on, the station scored a coup by landing then-recently deposed WSPK
morning host Mark Bolger and his newsreader/co-host Dawn Spicer however their non-compete clauses with WSPK barred them from the air until mid-1997. Shortly after taking the air, Hudson Valley Radio Partners sold itself to California-based Roberts Radio
.
Bolger's presence proved to be key for the station as WBWZ soon skyrocketed into the top of the ratings (at its peak being behind only WSPK and WPDH) and being #1 in mornings. Though the numbers eventually leveled off, they still did well for a station in a small market with a format typically seen as niche. Adding other market veterans as well as targeting former WSPK listeners when that station leaned younger also was a key factor in such success.
In 2000, Roberts Radio was bought by Clear Channel Communications
with Clear Channel taking control that November. Though WBWZ was aided by the elimination of rival WCTJ (now WPKF
), its ratings soon began to slip to levels not seen since prior to the Hot AC format. After the decline stretched several years, the station was soon taken over by WPKF program director Jimi Jamm (Collins) whose past work had improved that station to levels beyond Clear Channel's expectations. On June 30, 2003, Z-93 was replaced by the more CHR-leaning Star 93.3. Bolger remained in mornings though with the departure of Dawn Spicer for WGY in Albany
in April 2005 until December 2010 when Clear Channel replaced him with WPKF Program Director Chris Marino assuming double duties for the cluster.
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
of New York state. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
from the a tower near Illinois Mountain in Marlborough, New York
Marlborough, New York
Marlborough is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 8,263 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Duke of Marlborough....
shared with longtime sister WRWD-FM
WRWD-FM
WRWD-FM are the call letters of a country music radio station licensed to Highland, New York and primarily serving the mid-Hudson Valley of New York. The station broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower near Illinois Mountain in Marlborough, New York shared with sister station WBWZ...
.
History
The construction permit of WBWZ was awarded in 1991 to Betty Walker, the mother of then-WRWD owner William H. ("Bud") Walker and owner of an area apple orchard. Though separate ownerships linked only by bloodline on paper, prior to sign-on the younger Walker signed an agreement to operate WBWZ with WRWD from the company's then-studios in HighlandHighland, Ulster County, New York
Highland is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,060 at the 2000 census.Highland is a community in the Town of Lloyd, on U.S. Route 9W. Routes 44 and 55 run through it as well...
. After testing for the first part of December 1992, WBWZ formally signed on on December 20 of that year carrying ABC's "Z-Rock" satellite hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
format as Z-Rock 93.3. With limited outside promotion and no rock station targeting younger audiences, WBWZ entered the Top 10 of the Poughkeepsie ratings in its first two books and became enough of a threat to rival WPDH
WPDH
WPDH is a mainstream rock radio station licensed to Poughkeepsie, New York, and serving from extreme Northern New Jersey to New York's Hudson Valley and Catskills. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts on 101.5 MHz at 4.4 kilowatts ERP from a tower site on Illinois Mountain in...
that the programming at that station began to evolve to classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
.
Though with a very loyal audience and good numbers, the Walkers found it hard to sell WBWZ to advertisers with the country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format of WRWD. Coupled with the decline of hard rock and the rise of alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, the writing was soon on the wall for Z-Rock 93.3 and in February 1995 the station flipped to a satellite-fed 1970s music format as Z-93. Though the station had an initial surge of listenership, quirks in Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
's system in rating small markets at the time led to the ratings coming out after such a surge had subsided and the overall ratings fell below the Z-Rock format.
Shortly after the format change, Bud Walker bought the license of WBWZ after the loosening of FCC regulations and to also make any sale of the stations easier. After the further loosening of ownership regulations in early 1996, Walker decided to leave radio to pursue a career in politics and sold WBWZ, WRWD, and WWLE
WWLE
WWLE is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Cornwall, New York, USA, the station serves the Newburgh-Middletown area. The station is currently owned by 1170 Broadcast Radio, Inc. and features programing from CNN Radio.-History:The station went on the air as...
to Hudson Valley Radio Partners, a short-term holding company. With the ownership change, WBWZ's format changed to a locally-run Hot Adult Contemporary format while keeping the Z-93 name that November. Within a month of its sign-on, the station scored a coup by landing then-recently deposed WSPK
WSPK
WSPK is a CHR radio station licensed to Poughkeepsie, New York and broadcasting from studios in Fishkill. It is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and broadcasts on 104.7 MHz at an ERP of 7.4 kilowatts from a tower at the top of Mount Beacon in Fishkill.WSPK's main coverage area is centered on the...
morning host Mark Bolger and his newsreader/co-host Dawn Spicer however their non-compete clauses with WSPK barred them from the air until mid-1997. Shortly after taking the air, Hudson Valley Radio Partners sold itself to California-based Roberts Radio
Roberts Radio
Roberts is a consumer electronics limited company based in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England. It has been producing radios for over 80 years. Initially the company only traded in the United Kingdom, but now exports worldwide...
.
Bolger's presence proved to be key for the station as WBWZ soon skyrocketed into the top of the ratings (at its peak being behind only WSPK and WPDH) and being #1 in mornings. Though the numbers eventually leveled off, they still did well for a station in a small market with a format typically seen as niche. Adding other market veterans as well as targeting former WSPK listeners when that station leaned younger also was a key factor in such success.
In 2000, Roberts Radio was bought by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
with Clear Channel taking control that November. Though WBWZ was aided by the elimination of rival WCTJ (now WPKF
WPKF
WPKF is a Rhythmic Top 40 radio station licensed to Poughkeepsie, New York and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York state. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower mounted on the roof of the Ross Pavilion at the Hudson River...
), its ratings soon began to slip to levels not seen since prior to the Hot AC format. After the decline stretched several years, the station was soon taken over by WPKF program director Jimi Jamm (Collins) whose past work had improved that station to levels beyond Clear Channel's expectations. On June 30, 2003, Z-93 was replaced by the more CHR-leaning Star 93.3. Bolger remained in mornings though with the departure of Dawn Spicer for WGY in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
in April 2005 until December 2010 when Clear Channel replaced him with WPKF Program Director Chris Marino assuming double duties for the cluster.