Radio First (Liggett Communications, L.L.C.) is a privately held radio broadcasting company in Michigan owned by Victoria L. Liggett and James A. Jensen.[1] Liggett Communications is headquartered in Port Huron where it owns five radio stations licensed to St. Clair and Sanilac Counties. These five stations operate under the brand name of Radio First where they serve listeners in the Thumb area of Michigan and Southwestern Ontario.
The predecessor to the current company was called Liggett Broadcasting and was founded by Robert Liggett Jr. in 1971. His first station was WFMK in the Lansing, Michigan market. He then added more stations in Lansing, as well as the Grand Rapids, Flint, and Saginaw/Bay City Markets.[2] Liggett Broadcasting at its peak operated radio stations in Michigan, New York, Minnesota, South Carolina, Ohio, and California.[3] Liggett's stations were sold to Citadel Broadcasting in 2000, with Liggett becoming a member of Citadel's board of directors.[4]
In 1999, Bob Liggett announced he would purchase WHLS 1450 and WSAQ 107.1 in Port Huron from the estate of former owner John Wismer. The new company would be called Liggett Communications. Wismer had owned the stations from 1952 until he died in 1999. WSAQ and WHLS were purchased by Liggett for $3.2 million. The new Liggett Communications also entered into an agreement to purchase Hanson Communications, Wismer's crosstown competitor and licensee of WPHM, WBTI, and WHYT (now WHLX). Owner Lee Hanson sold those stations to Liggett for $2.24 million.[5] Lee Hanson died in 2015, his son Eric, owns and operates Hanson Pro Music located next to the former WPHM studios on Military Street.[6] However, Liggett was unsuccessful in buying standalone commercial station WGRT, which remains the only commercial station licensed to St. Clair County not owned by Liggett.
By the end of 2000, Liggett received all necessary FCC approvals to buy both Hanson Communications and Wismer Broadcasting. All five stations became a part of Liggett's new company. For about a year the Hanson stations continued to use their old studio at 2379 Military Street, which is now home to a Coldwel Banker office and Hanson's Pro Music. Wismer's facilities at 808 Huron Avenue were expanded and now house the studios and offices for all five stations. 1380 WPHM, 96.9 WBTI, 107.1 WSAQ, 1590 WHLX, and 1450 WHLS now operate under the collective brand name of Radio First.
On May 15, 2019 control of Liggett Communication's five radio stations and two translators were transferred from Robert G. Liggett, Jr. to Victoria L. Liggett.[7] Robert Liggett passed away on July 12, 2019.[8]
Community involvementedit
Radio First sponsors an annual local bridal and home expo show held at Blue Water Convention Center. The stations also support many local events, including the March of Dimes "Jail and Bail", the Child Abuse and Neglect Council's "Roof Sit", and Port Huron Police Department's CAPTURE witness tip-line.[9]
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Radio First Liggett Communications L L C is a privately held radio broadcasting company in Michigan owned by Victoria L Liggett and James A Jensen 1 Liggett Communications is headquartered in Port Huron where it owns five radio stations licensed to St Clair and Sanilac Counties These five stations operate under the brand name of Radio First where they serve listeners in the Thumb area of Michigan and Southwestern Ontario Liggett Communications LLCCompany typeLimited liability companyIndustryRadio broadcastingFounded2000HeadquartersPort Huron MichiganKey peopleRobert G Liggett Jr James A JensenServicesDigital media radioOwnerVictoria L Liggett Contents 1 History 1 1 Liggett Broadcasting 1970 2000 1 2 Liggett Communications 1999 present 2 Community involvement 3 Current radio stations 4 Former radio stations 4 1 Lansing East Lansing 4 2 Saginaw Bay City Midland 4 3 Flint 4 4 Detroit 4 5 Minneapolis St Paul 4 6 Adrian 4 7 Battle Creek 4 8 Grand Rapids 5 External links 6 ReferencesHistory editLiggett Broadcasting 1970 2000 edit The predecessor to the current company was called Liggett Broadcasting and was founded by Robert Liggett Jr in 1971 His first station was WFMK in the Lansing Michigan market He then added more stations in Lansing as well as the Grand Rapids Flint and Saginaw Bay City Markets 2 Liggett Broadcasting at its peak operated radio stations in Michigan New York Minnesota South Carolina Ohio and California 3 Liggett s stations were sold to Citadel Broadcasting in 2000 with Liggett becoming a member of Citadel s board of directors 4 In 2000 Ligget became the owner of Big Boy Restaurants headquartered in Warren Michigan Liggett Communications 1999 present edit In 1999 Bob Liggett announced he would purchase WHLS 1450 and WSAQ 107 1 in Port Huron from the estate of former owner John Wismer The new company would be called Liggett Communications Wismer had owned the stations from 1952 until he died in 1999 WSAQ and WHLS were purchased by Liggett for 3 2 million The new Liggett Communications also entered into an agreement to purchase Hanson Communications Wismer s crosstown competitor and licensee of WPHM WBTI and WHYT now WHLX Owner Lee Hanson sold those stations to Liggett for 2 24 million 5 Lee Hanson died in 2015 his son Eric owns and operates Hanson Pro Music located next to the former WPHM studios on Military Street 6 However Liggett was unsuccessful in buying standalone commercial station WGRT which remains the only commercial station licensed to St Clair County not owned by Liggett By the end of 2000 Liggett received all necessary FCC approvals to buy both Hanson Communications and Wismer Broadcasting All five stations became a part of Liggett s new company For about a year the Hanson stations continued to use their old studio at 2379 Military Street which is now home to a Coldwel Banker office and Hanson s Pro Music Wismer s facilities at 808 Huron Avenue were expanded and now house the studios and offices for all five stations 1380 WPHM 96 9 WBTI 107 1 WSAQ 1590 WHLX and 1450 WHLS now operate under the collective brand name of Radio First On May 15 2019 control of Liggett Communication s five radio stations and two translators were transferred from Robert G Liggett Jr to Victoria L Liggett 7 Robert Liggett passed away on July 12 2019 8 Community involvement editRadio First sponsors an annual local bridal and home expo show held at Blue Water Convention Center The stations also support many local events including the March of Dimes Jail and Bail the Child Abuse and Neglect Council s Roof Sit and Port Huron Police Department s CAPTURE witness tip line 9 Current radio stations editThis section appears to be slanted towards recent events Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective and add more content related to non recent events February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message WBTI FM 96 9 Lexington Michigan adult top 40 WHLS AM 1450 Port Huron Michigan active rock W288BT FM 105 5 St Clair Michigan active rock FM translator of WHLS 10 WHLX AM 1590 Marine City Michigan country rock folk W224DT FM 92 7 Port Huron Michigan country rock folk FM translator of WHLX WPHM AM 1380 Port Huron Michigan news talk sports WSAQ FM 107 1 Port Huron Michigan mainstream country popFormer radio stations editLansing East Lansing edit WFMK FM 99 1 Lansing Michigan WITL FM 100 7 Lansing Michigan WJIM FM 97 5 Lansing Michigan WJIM AM 1240 Lansing Michigan WMMQ FM 94 9 East Lansing Michigan WVFN AM 730 East Lansing Michigan Saginaw Bay City Midland edit WHNN FM 96 1 Bay City Michigan 11 WBCM AM 1440 Bay City Michigan now WMAX AM WTCF FM 100 5 Carrollton Michigan now WSGW FM Flint edit WFBE FM 95 1 Flint Michigan WTRX AM 1330 Flint Michigan Detroit edit WCLS now WYCD Minneapolis St Paul edit WLOL FM now KSJN Adrian edit WABJ AM 1490 Adrian Michigan 12 WQT FM 95 3 Adrian Michigan Battle Creek edit WBCK AM 930 Battle Creek Michigan now WFAT WBCK FM 95 3 Battle Creek Michigan 13 WELL AM 1400 Battle Creek Michigan now WBFN Grand Rapids edit WLHT FM 95 7 Grand Rapids Michigan 13 WGRD FM FM 97 9 Grand Rapids MichiganExternal links editWHLS WHLX WPHM WBTI WSAQReferences edit AM Station WHLS Ownership Reports FCC Public Inspection Files publicfiles fcc gov Liggett Communications Radio First Michigan radio Michiguide com Dials Owners Archived from the original on 2015 07 23 Retrieved 2015 07 22 Big Boy Franchise Disclosure Document 2012 PDF Stocks Bloomberg News 25 June 2023 2000 Michigan Broadcasting News Highlights Michiguide com Archived from the original on 2016 09 10 Retrieved 2018 01 21 Lee Hanson Obituary 2015 the Times Herald Legacy com FCC Attachment RadioFirst owner Robert Liggett passes Radio man gives back to the community Transition FCC dead link WHNN FM 96 1 Bay City Michiguide com Archived from the original on 2019 10 28 Retrieved 2019 07 15 Transion FCC dead link a b Billboard 1995 08 05 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Radio First amp 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