WEAV
Encyclopedia
WEAV is an English-language
American
radio station
in Plattsburgh, New York
, with studio
s in Colchester
, Vermont
. The station broadcasts a talk
format.
Owned and operated by Vox Communications, the station broadcasts on 960 kHz with a power of 5,000 watt
s as a class B station, using a directional antenna
with slightly different daytime and nighttime directional patterns in order to protect various other stations on that frequency. Both daytime and the tighter nighttime patterns of WEAV are directed mostly to the north and west of Plattsburgh, with not a lot of signal strength reaching deep into Vermont.
in 1941 moved the station to 1340 kHz. In 1949, the station changed its call letters to WEAV and relocated again, this time to the current 960 kHz. At one time an affiliate of ABC Radio and its predecessor, the Blue Network
, WEAV switched to CBS Radio
in the late 1950s. The station inaugurated FM
service on February 3, 1960, with the launch of WEAV-FM (99.9 FM) as a simulcast of the AM station.
By 1972, WEAV had a contemporary format, with only some of its programming simulcast on the FM (which had largely switched to another format). Within a year, the station was mixing in some country
and rock music
, and by 1974 WEAV-FM had ended the remaining simulcast periods and become WGFB. Soon afterward, WEAV became a top 40 station.
WEAV had again begun simulcasting with WGFB, this time relaying its soft adult contemporary format, by 1994; WEAV-exclusive programming consisted entirely of Montreal Expos
games. However, by 1995, ownership was expressing concern that the high costs of running the station could not be justified given the economic conditions in the market; after WGFB was leased out and became WBTZ
in 1996, WEAV went dark
and was put up for sale.
WEAV returned to the air in February 1997; after briefly relaying the talk format from WZBZ (1070 AM; now WTWK
), the station was leased to WXPS (96.7 FM) that July to serve as a relay, first with sports talk, and later with country. Because of WEAV's patterns, the station's signal was the perfect complement to WXPS, as WEAV reaches well into the much larger metro area of Montréal, Québec.
Separate programming returned to WEAV in April 1999, when the station flipped to the current talk format. This began to be simulcast on 96.7, renamed WXZO
, two years later, at which point the current "Zone" branding was adopted. A few months later, Plattsburgh Broadcasting Corporation finally sold the station, to Clear Channel Communications
(which had already been operating the station via the local marketing agreement
).
Clear Channel announced on November 16, 2006 that it would sell its Champlain Valley stations after being bought by private equity firms, resulting first in the addition of a third station, WTSJ (1320 AM) in Randolph, Vermont
, to the simulcast in 2007 (following the sale of its previous parent station, WTSL, for the same reason), and then in a sale to Vox Communications in 2008. Vox largely removed WXZO from the simulcast on September 17 by converting it to an oldies
station; both stations continued to simulcast First Light
and Imus in the Morning
for two years afterward. WTSJ also left the simulcast for a time in 2008 and 2009 when Vox attempted to sell the station; the simulcast ended for good in March 2010 after another deal to sell WTSJ, soon renamed WCVR, was reached.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Plattsburgh, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, with studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
s in Colchester
Colchester, Vermont
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The station broadcasts a talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format.
Owned and operated by Vox Communications, the station broadcasts on 960 kHz with a power of 5,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s as a class B station, using a directional antenna
Directional antenna
A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna which radiates greater power in one or more directions allowing for increased performance on transmit and receive and reduced interference from unwanted sources....
with slightly different daytime and nighttime directional patterns in order to protect various other stations on that frequency. Both daytime and the tighter nighttime patterns of WEAV are directed mostly to the north and west of Plattsburgh, with not a lot of signal strength reaching deep into Vermont.
History
The station signed on February 3, 1935 as WMFF, owned by Plattsburgh Broadcasting Corporation (in turn controlled by the Bissell family), and operating on 1310 kHz. The North American Radio Broadcasting AgreementNorth American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, usually referred to as NARBA, is a treaty that took effect in March 1941 and set out the bandplan and interference rules for mediumwave AM broadcasting in North America. Although mostly replaced by other agreements in the 1980s, the basic bandplan...
in 1941 moved the station to 1340 kHz. In 1949, the station changed its call letters to WEAV and relocated again, this time to the current 960 kHz. At one time an affiliate of ABC Radio and its predecessor, the Blue Network
Blue Network
The Blue Network, and its immediate predecessor, the NBC Blue Network, were the on-air names of an American radio production and distribution service from 1927 to 1945...
, WEAV switched to CBS Radio
CBS Radio Network
The CBS Radio Network provides news, sports and other programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the United States. The network is owned by CBS Corporation, and operated by CBS Radio ....
in the late 1950s. The station inaugurated FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
service on February 3, 1960, with the launch of WEAV-FM (99.9 FM) as a simulcast of the AM station.
By 1972, WEAV had a contemporary format, with only some of its programming simulcast on the FM (which had largely switched to another format). Within a year, the station was mixing in some country
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...
and 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...
, and by 1974 WEAV-FM had ended the remaining simulcast periods and become WGFB. Soon afterward, WEAV became a top 40 station.
WEAV had again begun simulcasting with WGFB, this time relaying its soft adult contemporary format, by 1994; WEAV-exclusive programming consisted entirely of Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
games. However, by 1995, ownership was expressing concern that the high costs of running the station could not be justified given the economic conditions in the market; after WGFB was leased out and became WBTZ
WBTZ
WBTZ is a commercial radio station in Plattsburgh, New York, broadcasting to the Burlington, Vermont / Plattsburgh, New York / Montreal, Quebec area on 99.9 FM....
in 1996, WEAV went dark
Dark (broadcasting)
In the broadcasting industry, dark is a term used to describe a radio station or television station that has gone off-the-air for an indefinite period of time, or as defined by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission , a "silent" station...
and was put up for sale.
WEAV returned to the air in February 1997; after briefly relaying the talk format from WZBZ (1070 AM; now WTWK
WTWK
WTWK is a radio station broadcasting a business talk format. Licensed to Plattsburgh, New York, USA, the station serves the Burlington-Plattsburgh area. The station is currently owned by Radio Broadcasting Services, Inc..-History:...
), the station was leased to WXPS (96.7 FM) that July to serve as a relay, first with sports talk, and later with country. Because of WEAV's patterns, the station's signal was the perfect complement to WXPS, as WEAV reaches well into the much larger metro area of Montréal, Québec.
Separate programming returned to WEAV in April 1999, when the station flipped to the current talk format. This began to be simulcast on 96.7, renamed WXZO
WXZO
-External links:...
, two years later, at which point the current "Zone" branding was adopted. A few months later, Plattsburgh Broadcasting Corporation finally sold the station, to 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...
(which had already been operating the station via the local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
).
Clear Channel announced on November 16, 2006 that it would sell its Champlain Valley stations after being bought by private equity firms, resulting first in the addition of a third station, WTSJ (1320 AM) in Randolph, Vermont
Randolph, Vermont
Randolph is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,853 at the 2000 census, making Randolph the largest town in Orange County. The town is a commercial center for many of the smaller, rural farming communities that surround it....
, to the simulcast in 2007 (following the sale of its previous parent station, WTSL, for the same reason), and then in a sale to Vox Communications in 2008. Vox largely removed WXZO from the simulcast on September 17 by converting it to an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
station; both stations continued to simulcast First Light
First Light (radio)
First Light is a syndicated talk radio program hosted by Dirk Van. The one-hour live program airs weekdays at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time and is one of a small number of programs airing live in that time slot...
and Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
for two years afterward. WTSJ also left the simulcast for a time in 2008 and 2009 when Vox attempted to sell the station; the simulcast ended for good in March 2010 after another deal to sell WTSJ, soon renamed WCVR, was reached.