WNNH
Encyclopedia
WNNH is an American
radio station
owned by Nassau Broadcasting and licensed to Henniker, New Hampshire
. The station is currently airs a classical music
format simulcasting co-owned Maine based WBACH.
Ski Area in Henniker, with studios on South Street in Concord
. The station's original owner was Clark Smidt, who programmed several Boston FM stations in the 1970s, including WEEI-FM (103.3; now WODS
) and WBZ-FM (106.7; now WMJX
). WNNH's original format was oldies
; in the early days, the station also marketed itself to the Manchester
area, even though it was a rimshot signal into Manchester itself, and practically inaudible south of the city. In its early days, WNNH had a very slick sound for a small market station, complete with PAMS
jingles. The station had a very diverse playlist — deeper than most oldies stations.
In 1994, Smidt tried to purchase WJYY
(105.5) and its then-satellite station, WRCI (107.7; now WTPL
), from Empire Broadcasting Partners, with the idea of putting WNNH on 105.5 to reinforce its signal in Concord. Empire Broadcasting owned a group of radio stations in Upstate New York
and Northern New England
(including WGY in Schenectady, New York
), but had overextended themselves and went bankrupt. The bankruptcy court ruled that Empire Radio Partners could not be reorganized and ordered the stations sold at auction; another company, RadioWorks, was chosen by the court as the winner of the auction.
Smidt sold WNNH to Tele-Media in 1999; Tele-Media, in turn, sold WNNH, WLKZ
, and WHOB (now WFNQ
) to Nassau in 2004. However, even though WLKZ, which Tele-Media had acquired in 2000, also broadcast an oldies format (albeit serving the nearby Lakes Region
), the two stations continued to be programmed and branded separately until 2007, when Nassau consolidated the two stations into a simulcast. That December, the stations shifted to Nassau's Frank FM
classic hits
format as a result of an unsuccessful attempt to convert WWHK
and WWHQ from classic rock
to sports radio
programming from WEEI
.
On April 27, 2009 it was announced that WNNH and WWHQ would be spun off into a divestiture trust and sold as part of a debt-for-equity restructuring of Nassau Broadcasting in which Goldman Sachs
became 85% owner of the company. The new ownership structure ended Nassau's grandfathered status with respect to how many stations in the Concord-Lakes Region market it could own. A sale of the two stations to Great Eastern Radio was announced on September 22, 2009. In the interim, Nassau discontinued 99 and 104.9 Frank FM on November 4, and switched WNNH to a simulcast of WJYY for several weeks before converting it to a loop of promotions for other Nassau stations in the Concord-Lakes Region market. The station went silent on March 1, 2010 due to power failure and returned to the air in March of 2011 with the current classical music format.
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...
owned by Nassau Broadcasting and licensed to Henniker, New Hampshire
Henniker, New Hampshire
Henniker is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 4,836. Henniker is home to New England College, Ames State Forest and Craney Hill State Forest....
. The station is currently airs a classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
format simulcasting co-owned Maine based WBACH.
History
WNNH went on the air in October 1989 from the Pats PeakPats Peak
Pats Peak is a small, independent alpine ski resort located in Henniker, New Hampshire in the United States. The ski area opened in 1963 and has 22 trails with a vertical drop of . It is roughly a 90-minute drive from Boston, Massachusetts....
Ski Area in Henniker, with studios on South Street in Concord
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. The station's original owner was Clark Smidt, who programmed several Boston FM stations in the 1970s, including WEEI-FM (103.3; now WODS
WODS
- External links :****...
) and WBZ-FM (106.7; now 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...
). WNNH's original format was 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....
; in the early days, the station also marketed itself to the Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
area, even though it was a rimshot signal into Manchester itself, and practically inaudible south of the city. In its early days, WNNH had a very slick sound for a small market station, complete with PAMS
PAMS
PAMS , based in Dallas, Texas, was the most famous jingle production company in American broadcasting. It produced identification packages for radio stations around the world, as well as some commercial music.-History:The company was founded by William B. Meeks, Jr. PAMS (an acronym for Production,...
jingles. The station had a very diverse playlist — deeper than most oldies stations.
In 1994, Smidt tried to purchase WJYY
WJYY
WJYY is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 format. Licensed to Concord, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the southern New Hampshire area...
(105.5) and its then-satellite station, WRCI (107.7; now WTPL
WTPL
WTPL is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk/sports format. Licensed to Hillsborough, New Hampshire, it serves the Concord-Manchester area...
), from Empire Broadcasting Partners, with the idea of putting WNNH on 105.5 to reinforce its signal in Concord. Empire Broadcasting owned a group of radio stations in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
and Northern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
(including WGY in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
), but had overextended themselves and went bankrupt. The bankruptcy court ruled that Empire Radio Partners could not be reorganized and ordered the stations sold at auction; another company, RadioWorks, was chosen by the court as the winner of the auction.
WLKZ
WLKZ is an American licensed radio station in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, serving the Lakes Region. The station is owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners and carries a classic rock format, under the "104.9 The Hawk" branding.-History:...
, and WHOB (now WFNQ
WFNQ
WFNQ is a radio station in Nashua, New Hampshire, serving the Nashua area with a classic hits format. It is currently owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners...
) to Nassau in 2004. However, even though WLKZ, which Tele-Media had acquired in 2000, also broadcast an oldies format (albeit serving the nearby Lakes Region
Lakes Region (New Hampshire)
The Lakes Region of New Hampshire is the mid-state region surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake, Squam Lake, and Newfound Lake.The area is a popular tourist destination in the summer time, with the activity peaking during the annual Motorcycle Week and races at Loudon's New Hampshire...
), the two stations continued to be programmed and branded separately until 2007, when Nassau consolidated the two stations into a simulcast. That December, the stations shifted to Nassau's Frank FM
Frank FM
Frank FM is the branding used by Nassau Broadcasting Partners for their adult rock/variety hits radio stations. Some of these stations lean toward more of a classic hits format...
classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format as a result of an unsuccessful attempt to convert WWHK
WWHK
WWHQ is an American licensed radio station with studios located in Hooksett, New Hampshire. The station is owned by Nassau Broadcasting and currently airs a classical music format simulcasting co-owned Maine based WBACH....
and WWHQ from classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
to 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...
programming from 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...
.
On April 27, 2009 it was announced that WNNH and WWHQ would be spun off into a divestiture trust and sold as part of a debt-for-equity restructuring of Nassau Broadcasting in which Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
became 85% owner of the company. The new ownership structure ended Nassau's grandfathered status with respect to how many stations in the Concord-Lakes Region market it could own. A sale of the two stations to Great Eastern Radio was announced on September 22, 2009. In the interim, Nassau discontinued 99 and 104.9 Frank FM on November 4, and switched WNNH to a simulcast of WJYY for several weeks before converting it to a loop of promotions for other Nassau stations in the Concord-Lakes Region market. The station went silent on March 1, 2010 due to power failure and returned to the air in March of 2011 with the current classical music format.