WPRO-FM
WPRO-FM (92.3 MHz "92 PRO-FM") is a commercial top 40 (CHR) radio station in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, owned by Cumulus Media.
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Providence metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 92.3 MHz (HD radio) |
| Branding | 92 Pro FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | April 17, 1948 |
Call sign meaning | Providence (call sign originates with sister station WPRO) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 64841 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 39,000 watts |
| HAAT | 168 meters (551 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°48′17″N 71°28′22″W / 41.80472°N 71.47278°W |
| Links | |
Public license information |
|
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | 92profm.com |
The studios and offices are located in the Brine Broadcasting Center on Wampanoag Trail on the East Providence–Barrington line. The transmitter is located on Neuticonacanut Hill in Johnston, Rhode Island.[2]
History edit
Cherry & Webb Broadcasting Company, owners of WPRO (630 AM), applied for a construction permit for a new high frequency broadcasting station on 47.5 MHz on October 29, 1940. An amended application was filed January 15, 1941, and was finally granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on June 12, 1947, with its new frequency of 92.3 MHz in the new FM band.[3] WPRO-FM began broadcasting on April 17, 1948.[4] The Cherry & Webb Broadcasting Company,[5] in turn, was owned by the Cherry & Webb Department Store. (In the early days of broadcasting, it was common for department stores to own radio stations, to provide programming for customers who bought receivers.) At first, WPRO-FM simulcast its AM sister station, WPRO. In 1959, Capital Cities Communications acquired both WPRO and WPRO-FM. Through the 1960s and early 1970s, WPRO-FM aired a beautiful music format, while WPRO AM enjoyed high ratings with a top 40 format.
On April 29, 1974, at 3:00 p.m., WPRO-FM changed formats from easy listening, joining its AM counterpart as a top 40 outlet.[6] Over time, the AM moved toward an adult top 40 direction, adding more information and service features, while WPRO-FM continued as a music-intensive top 40 outlet. Capital Cities and ABC merged in 1985, and WPRO-AM-FM were then under the ownership of one of America's biggest broadcasting companies.
In December 1992, Capital Cities/ABC announced that the stations would be sold to Tele-Media, with the sale being consummated the following April.[7] This put the station under common ownership with WLKW (the former WEAN) and WWLI. Tele-Media, in turn, sold its stations to Citadel Broadcasting in 1997.[8] Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[9]
WPRO-FM is unique in the Providence media market in keeping the same call sign since its sign-on in 1948; and the same format, top 40, since 1974.
Notable WPRO-FM alumni edit
- Gary Berkowitz - WPRO-FM's original creator and first program director under the Top 40 format
- Rocky Allen
- Big John Bina
- Tony Bristol
- Tanya Cruise
- Tom Cuddy
- Bruce Diamond
- Don Geronimo
- Will Gilbert
- Giovanni - Longest-running on-air personality in WPRO-FM's history
- Al Gomes
- Jimmy Gray
- Howard Hoffman
- Tony Mascaro
- Vic Michaels
- Davey Morris
- David Simpson
- Kim Zandy[10]
References edit
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WPRO-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "A selection from a decade of visits to tower and studio sites in the Northeast and beyond".
- ^ WPRO-FM's history card; retrieved January 9, 2019.
- ^ 1994 Providence Journal-Bulletin Almanac, p. 251.
- ^ "WPRO-FM Starts" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 3, 1948. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ Video of WPRO-FM's 40-year celebration of being a Top 40 station. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "92 PRO-FM Celebrates 20th" (PDF). 1994-03-04. p. 30. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (April 3, 1997). "Snow, Snow, and More Snow". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- ^ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
- ^ "Kim Zandy out at 92 PRO-FM after 24 years". WJAR. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
External links edit
- 92 Pro FM
- 92 PRO FM On-Air Playlist
- 92 Pro FM's Official Myspace
- WPRO in the FCC FM station database
- WPRO in Nielsen Audio's FM station database