WBZ-FM
Encyclopedia
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
, New England Revolution
and 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).
FM station W1XK. By 1936 it was operating as a "relay broadcasting station" on 9.57 MHz (31.33 meters wavelength
) at 10 kilowatts. 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. 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)
.
. Westinghouse got out of FM broadcasting for a period starting in 1952.
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!”
On December 31, 1971, WBZ-FM became a rock music
station as "Rockin' Stereo 106.7" 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.
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, moving the existing Hot AC "Mix 98.5" WBMX-FM to 104.1 as "Mix 104.1" on August 12, and the existing active rock
104.1 WBCN to HD Radio
subchannel 2 on the new 98.5, removing it from analog. "98.5 The Sports Hub" was created to go head to head aganist the WEEI-AM Sports Radio Network which at the time was the top rated sports radio station in the Boston market.
The callsign WBZ-FM was assigned to the station on August 5, 2009.
games moved to WBZ-FM from WBZ/1030. The Toucher and Rich Show and New England Patriots
games came from WBCN.
Gresh and Zolak
Felger and Massarotti
The D.A. Show
During the baseball season Massarotti hosts "The Baseball Reporters" from 6–7 p.m., with Amendolara following from 7 p.m. until midnight.
Marc Bertrand and Christopher Gasper host from 8–11 a.m. on Saturday.
Hardy and Trupiano
Airs at various times on weekends.
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.
coverage features Dave Goucher
as the play-by-play man and Bob Beers handling the color commentary.
coverage is a simulcast
of the audio from the television coverage on Comcast SportsNew New England. Play-by-play is done by Brad Feldman
. Jay Heaps
contributed color commentary until his promotion to manager for the 2012 season.
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI
WEEI
WEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
and competed with the ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
pair of WAMG
WAMG
WAMG is a radio station in the Boston market licensed to Dedham, Massachusetts. It is owned by Gois Broadcasting. It broadcasts in Spanish, & plays Bachata, Merengue, Salsa and Pop music....
and WLLH
WLLH
WLLH is a radio station in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts, licensed to Lowell, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Gois Broadcasting, LLC, and airs a tropical music format. In addition to a transmitter in Lowell, there is a synchronous transmitter in Lawrence, together forming...
before their sign off in September 2009. WBZ-FM is home to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
and New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
radio networks.
WBZ-FM has been the callsign of three broadcast stations in Boston, Massachusetts since 1943, all associated with Westinghouse Broadcasting
Westinghouse Broadcasting
The Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, also known as Group W, was the broadcasting division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It owned several radio and television stations across the United States and distributed television shows for syndication....
/CBS Radio: one from 1943 to 1952; one from 1956 to 1981 (which became WMJX
WMJX
WMJX is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It has an Adult Contemporary format. The station's transmitter is located atop the Prudential Tower in Downtown Boston...
); and the new format from August 2009, which uses the frequency of the old WROR/WBMX (FM).
Callsign timeline
- 1943: W67B at 46.7 MHz becomes the first WBZ-FM
- 1946: WBZ-FM moves to 100.7 MHz
- 1947: WBZ-FM moves to 92.9 MHz
- 1952: First WBZ-FM goes off the air
- 1957: 106.7 goes on the air as the second WBZ-FM
- 1981: 106.7 sold; 106.7 drops WBZ-FM callsign to become WMJXWMJXWMJX is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It has an Adult Contemporary format. The station's transmitter is located atop the Prudential Tower in Downtown Boston...
- 2009: 98.5 drops WBMX-FM callsign to become third WBZ-FM
First WBZ-FM
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, one of the pioneers of radio in America, established experimental shortwaveShortwave
Shortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
FM station W1XK. By 1936 it was operating as a "relay broadcasting station" on 9.57 MHz (31.33 meters wavelength
Wavelength
In physics, the wavelength of a sinusoidal wave is the spatial period of the wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.It is usually determined by considering the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase, such as crests, troughs, or zero crossings, and is a...
) at 10 kilowatts. 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
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
modified FM callsigns to the modern format on 1 November 1943, W67B became WBZ-FM. 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
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
of WBZ (AM)
WBZ (AM)
WBZ is the call sign for an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts owned by CBS Radio, itself owned by the CBS Corporation. Originally based in and broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, WBZ was the first commercial radio station in the United States...
.
WZLX
WZLX is a prominent classic rock radio station in the Boston, Massachusetts market. WZLX was one of the first classic rock FM stations in America...
. Westinghouse got out of FM broadcasting for a period starting in 1952.
Second WBZ-FM: 106.7
The 106.7 frequency in Boston, Massachusetts was first used as WBZ-FM, and was owned by Westinghouse Broadcasting. The station's earliest format was a classical music format, and later evolved into a combination simulcastSimulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
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!”
On December 31, 1971, WBZ-FM became a rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
station as "Rockin' Stereo 106.7" 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
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
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)
WBZ (AM)
WBZ is the call sign for an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts owned by CBS Radio, itself owned by the CBS Corporation. Originally based in and broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, WBZ was the first commercial radio station in the United States...
, the commercial spots on which were the only commercials heard on the FM side.
In 1981, WBZ-FM was sold to Greater Media
Greater Media
Greater Media, Inc., known as Greater Media, is an American media company that specializes in radio stations. The markets where they own radio stations include Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and the state of New Jersey...
, 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
WMJX
WMJX is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It has an Adult Contemporary format. The station's transmitter is located atop the Prudential Tower in Downtown Boston...
, 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
Prudential Tower
The Prudential Tower, also known as the Prudential Building or, colloquially, The Pru, is a skyscraper in Boston, Massachusetts. The building, a part of the Prudential Center complex, currently stands as the 2nd-tallest building in Boston, behind the John Hancock Tower. The Prudential Tower was...
, giving 106.7 a great signal in downtown Boston.
Third WBZ-FM: 98.5
In July 2009, CBS RadioCBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
announced that it would re-introduce WBZ-FM as a sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
station named "98.5 The Sports Hub" at 1 p.m. on August 13, moving the existing Hot AC "Mix 98.5" WBMX-FM to 104.1 as "Mix 104.1" on August 12, and the existing active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
104.1 WBCN to HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
subchannel 2 on the new 98.5, removing it from analog. "98.5 The Sports Hub" was created to go head to head aganist the WEEI-AM Sports Radio Network which at the time was the top rated sports radio station in the Boston market.
The callsign WBZ-FM was assigned to the station on August 5, 2009.
Shows
Boston BruinsBoston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
games moved to WBZ-FM from WBZ/1030. The Toucher and Rich Show and New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
games came from WBCN.
Weekdays
The Toucher and Rich ShowThe Toucher and Rich Show
The Toucher and Rich Show is a morning radio show from 6 to 10 AM on The Sports Hub 98.5 WBZ-FM, based Boston, Massachusetts. The show first aired on June 5, 2006...
- This show airs from 6–10 a.m. The hosts are Fred Toucher, and Rich Shertenlieb. Sports headlines are read by Jon Wallach.
Gresh and Zolak
- Andy GreshAndy GreshAndy Gresh is an American sports broadcaster. He is a national and New England media personality and college football color analyst. He is host of The Gresh Show heard on Sirius XM satellite radio Monday-Friday 8 p.m.–1 a.m. He has also been seen doing work for SportsNet New York in New York City....
and former New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
quarterback Scott ZolakScott ZolakScott David Zolak is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for nine seasons...
are the hosts. The show airs from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Sports headlines are read by "Hardy" (Rob Poole).
Felger and Massarotti
- Michael FelgerMichael FelgerMichael "Mike" Felger is a television sports reporter and anchorman for Comcast SportsNet New England. He also co-hosts an afternoon sports radio talk with The Boston Globe online columnist Tony Massarotti on WBZ-FM "98.5 The Sports Hub" in Boston....
and Tony MassarottiTony MassarottiAnthony 'Tony' Massarotti is an American newspaper sportswriter, author and online and print contributor for the Boston Globe. He also co-hosts a sports talk radio show on WBZ-FM with former Boston Herald columnist Michael Felger...
host in the afternoon from 2–6 p.m. Sports headlines are read by Marc Bertrand. Chris Gasper of the Boston Globe and former New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
tight end Jermaine WigginsJermaine WigginsJermaine Wiggins is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Georgia....
make weekly appearences as a third co-host.
The D.A. Show
- Damon AmendolaraDamon AmendolaraDamon Amendolara is the evening host for WBZ-FM in Boston. He also acts as the sideline reporter for Major League Soccer telecast of the New England Revolution. He is also a contributor to the NFL Network, NFL Films and WFAN radio in New York.-Career:...
hosts the evening show from 7 p.m.–12 a.m.
During the baseball season Massarotti hosts "The Baseball Reporters" from 6–7 p.m., with Amendolara following from 7 p.m. until midnight.
Weekends
Bertrand and GasperMarc Bertrand and Christopher Gasper host from 8–11 a.m. on Saturday.
Hardy and Trupiano
Jerry Trupiano
Jerome Michael "Jerry" Trupiano is an American radio sportscaster and the former color commentator voice of the Boston Red Sox...
Airs at various times on weekends.
New England Patriots coverage
The New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
pregame and postgame shows are hosted by Gary Tanguay, Scott Zolak
Scott Zolak
Scott David Zolak is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for nine seasons...
, and Andy Gresh
Andy Gresh
Andy Gresh is an American sports broadcaster. He is a national and New England media personality and college football color analyst. He is host of The Gresh Show heard on Sirius XM satellite radio Monday-Friday 8 p.m.–1 a.m. He has also been seen doing work for SportsNet New York in New York City....
. Gil Santos
Gil Santos
Gil Santos is the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the New England Patriots of the National Football League, and morning sports reporter for WBZ radio in Boston. He retired from WBZ on January 30, 2009. Santos was inducted into the WBZ Radio Hall of Fame on July 9, 2009...
and Gino Cappelletti
Gino Cappelletti
Gino Cappelletti is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player. He played at the University of Minnesota, and was a star in the American Football League for the Boston Patriots...
continue to handle the play-by-play duties.
Boston Bruins coverage
Boston BruinsBoston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
coverage features Dave Goucher
Dave Goucher
Dave Goucher is an American sportscaster who currently serves as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Boston Bruins.A 1993 graduate of Boston University, Goucher began his broadcasting career at BU, calling two seasons of Terrier hockey including the Beanpot, the Hockey East Championships, and...
as the play-by-play man and Bob Beers handling the color commentary.
New England Revolution coverage
New England RevolutionNew England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
coverage is a simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
of the audio from the television coverage on Comcast SportsNew New England. Play-by-play is done by Brad Feldman
Brad Feldman
Brad Feldman is an American television/radio announcer, radio personality, and broadcasting executive. He is currently the TV and radio play-by-play announcer for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.-Commentary career:...
. Jay Heaps
Jay Heaps
Jay Heaps ) is a former American soccer player. He is the current head coach for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer....
contributed color commentary until his promotion to manager for the 2012 season.