WEEI-FM
Encyclopedia
WVEI-FM is a radio station
broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI
. Licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, USA. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications
. In addition to WEEI programming, WVEI-FM carries Providence Friars men's basketball
, as well as ESPN Radio
(despite the presence of a full-time ESPN Radio affiliate in the market, WLKW).
market, management opted to focus on the larger Providence
market, and the station moved its transmitter from West Greenwich
to Exeter
in 1989. The call sign was modified to WWRX-FM on February 22, 1992, concurrent with a brief period of time in which then-sister station WHIM (1110 AM; now WPMZ
) discontinued its country
format in favor of CNN Headline News under the WWRX call sign; however, the "-FM" suffix was not removed from 103.7 when the AM station reverted to WHIM and the country format in 1993.
WWRX-FM was acquired by Radio Equity Partners in 1995; Radio Equity Partners, in turn, was purchased by Clear Channel Communications
the following year. After Clear Channel's acquisition of AMFM Broadcasting, WWRX was divested to Stephen Mindich, owner of The Providence Phoenix
, similar publications in Boston and Portland, Maine
, and Boston modern rock
station WFNX
, in 2000. Mindich switched the station to modern rock on September 7, initially as a simulcast of WFNX, and later, starting in 2003, on its own.
In March 2004, Mindich sold WWRX-FM to Entercom. As a result, the station canceled its local programming on March 22 and reverted to the WFNX simulcast on a temporary basis as Entercom prepared to relaunch WWRX with the WEEI simulcast. The change of simulcast partners took effect on-air April 16, and the station was renamed WEEI-FM. The call letters were changed to WVEI-FM on September 14, 2011.
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...
broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based 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...
. Licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, USA. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
. In addition to WEEI programming, WVEI-FM carries Providence Friars men's basketball
Providence Friars men's basketball
The Providence Friars men's basketball team represents Providence College in NCAA Division I competition, in which they are a founding member of the Big East Conference. They play their home games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island...
, as well as 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...
(despite the presence of a full-time ESPN Radio affiliate in the market, WLKW).
History
The station signed on in 1968 as WERI-FM. At one time a simulcast of its sister AM station (1230 AM; now WBLQ), by the mid-1980s it had become "RI 104", a top 40 station. On March 9, 1987, the station changed its call sign to WWRX, and the station shifted to an album rock format. Though WWRX saw some success in the New London, ConnecticutNew London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
market, management opted to focus on the larger Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
market, and the station moved its transmitter from West Greenwich
West Greenwich, Rhode Island
West Greenwich is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 6,135 at the 2010 census. West Greenwich was named for Greenwich, Kent, England...
to Exeter
Exeter, Rhode Island
Exeter is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. Exeter extends east from the Connecticut border to the town of North Kingstown. It is bordered to the north by West Greenwich and East Greenwich, and to the south by Hopkinton, Richmond and South Kingstown. Exeter's postal code...
in 1989. The call sign was modified to WWRX-FM on February 22, 1992, concurrent with a brief period of time in which then-sister station WHIM (1110 AM; now WPMZ
WPMZ
WPMZ is a radio station licensed to serve East Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Video Mundo Broadcasting Co., LLC. It airs a Spanish Tropical format....
) discontinued its 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...
format in favor of CNN Headline News under the WWRX call sign; however, the "-FM" suffix was not removed from 103.7 when the AM station reverted to WHIM and the country format in 1993.
WWRX-FM was acquired by Radio Equity Partners in 1995; Radio Equity Partners, in turn, was purchased 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...
the following year. After Clear Channel's acquisition of AMFM Broadcasting, WWRX was divested to Stephen Mindich, owner of The Providence Phoenix
The Phoenix (newspaper)
The Phoenix is the name of several alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States by Phoenix Media/Communications Group of Boston, Massachusetts including the Boston Phoenix, the Providence Phoenix, the Portland Phoenix and the now-defunct Worcester Phoenix...
, similar publications in Boston and Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, and Boston modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
station WFNX
WFNX
WFNX is a New England commercial alternative rock radio station. The station began broadcasting on Monday, April 11, 1983. It was one of the first American commercial stations to play alternative rock and has become a leading radio station for breaking new alternative music.WFNX broadcasts on 101.7...
, in 2000. Mindich switched the station to modern rock on September 7, initially as a simulcast of WFNX, and later, starting in 2003, on its own.
In March 2004, Mindich sold WWRX-FM to Entercom. As a result, the station canceled its local programming on March 22 and reverted to the WFNX simulcast on a temporary basis as Entercom prepared to relaunch WWRX with the WEEI simulcast. The change of simulcast partners took effect on-air April 16, and the station was renamed WEEI-FM. The call letters were changed to WVEI-FM on September 14, 2011.