WZAN
Encyclopedia
WZAN is a radio station broadcasting talk radio
format. Licensed to Portland, Maine
, USA, it serves southern Maine. The station is currently owned by Saga Communications
.
. It was co-owned with Portland NBC
affiliate WCSH-TV
. In the mid 1970s, WCSH was an affiliate of NBC Radio's News And Informatiom Service. In the 1980s, WCSH was sold to Saga Communications and it then began simulcasting WYNZ
as WYNZ-AM. The station changed its calls to WZAN (echoing sister station WGAN
) and adopted a hot talk
format in the 1990s before shifting its programming focus to more political shows in March 2009. According to the WZAN website, WVAE
and simulcast WBAE
will drop their current adult standards
format for the hot talk
format.
until Don Imus
' controversial statements about the Rutgers University
women's basketball team, the show returned in March 2009 after a programming shift. Also carried were The Bob & Tom Show
, Lex and Terry
, NASCAR
racing from Motor Racing Network
and NFL
football from Westwood One
. In March 2009, the station changed programming to more political based, including Laura Ingraham
, Sean Hannity
and Lars Larson
with The Bob & Tom Show
, Portland Pirates
hockey and Portland Sea Dogs
baseball moving to WBAE
/WVAE
.
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. Licensed to 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...
, USA, it serves southern Maine. The station is currently owned by Saga Communications
Saga Communications
Saga Communications is a broadcasting company that owns and operates stations in 26 markets in the United States. The company, which is based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, primarily operates radio stations , but it also operates 9 television stations Saga Communications is a broadcasting...
.
History
WZAN was originally WCSH, "The Voice from Sunrise Land", and was a charter affiliate of the NBC Red NetworkNBC Red Network
The NBC Red Network was one of the two original radio networks of the National Broadcasting Company. After NBC was required to divest itself of its Blue Network , the Red Network continued as the NBC Radio Network.It, along with the Blue Network, were the first two commercial radio networks in the...
. It was co-owned with Portland NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate WCSH-TV
WCSH
WCSH is the NBC-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire. Licensed to Portland, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 44 from a transmitter on Winn Mountain in Sebago. The station can also be seen on Comcast and Time Warner Cable channel 6...
. In the mid 1970s, WCSH was an affiliate of NBC Radio's News And Informatiom Service. In the 1980s, WCSH was sold to Saga Communications and it then began simulcasting WYNZ
WYNZ
WYNZ Big Hits Y100.9, is an FM radio station licensed to South Portland, Maine, and broadcasting at 100.9 MHz. Until 2007, the station was an oldies formatted radio station known as Oldies 100.9....
as WYNZ-AM. The station changed its calls to WZAN (echoing sister station WGAN
WGAN
WGAN is an American AM radio station licensed to Portland, Maine and owned by Saga Communications. It is located at 560 on the AM band. The current format is News/Talk, with local news being provided by a small local staff and national news provided by CBS and CNN Radio.The station was founded in...
) and adopted a hot 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 in the 1990s before shifting its programming focus to more political shows in March 2009. According to the WZAN website, WVAE
WBAE (AM)
WBAE and WVAE are radio stations that serve southern Maine with an advice talk format. WBAE is licensed in Portland, Maine, while WVAE is licensed in Biddeford, Maine. Both stations are owned by Portland Radio Group, itself owned by Saga Communications....
and simulcast WBAE
WBAE (AM)
WBAE and WVAE are radio stations that serve southern Maine with an advice talk format. WBAE is licensed in Portland, Maine, while WVAE is licensed in Biddeford, Maine. Both stations are owned by Portland Radio Group, itself owned by Saga Communications....
will drop their current adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
format for the hot 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.
Current Programming
WZAN carried Imus in the MorningImus 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....
until Don Imus
Don Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
' controversial statements about the Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
women's basketball team, the show returned in March 2009 after a programming shift. Also carried were The Bob & Tom Show
The Bob & Tom Show
The Bob & Tom Show is a syndicated US radio program established by Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold at radio station WFBQ in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 7, 1983, and syndicated nationally since January 6, 1995....
, Lex and Terry
Lex and Terry
Lex and Terry is a syndicated morning radio hosted by Lex Staley and Terry Jaymes. Currently based in Dallas, Texas, the show is distributed by United Stations Radio Networks. It is heard during weekday mornings on 30 radio stations in the U.S. and on XM 165....
, NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racing from Motor Racing Network
Motor Racing Network
The Motor Racing Network is the principal radio broadcasting operation of NASCAR, promoting themselves as "The Voice of NASCAR." It broadcasts coverage of most major NASCAR races at the top three levels of NASCAR at tracks owned by International Speedway Corporation as well as Dover International...
and NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football from Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
. In March 2009, the station changed programming to more political based, including Laura Ingraham
Laura Ingraham
Laura Anne Ingraham is an American radio host, author, and conservative political commentator. Her nationally syndicated talk show, The Laura Ingraham Show, airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network...
, Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
and Lars Larson
Lars Larson
Lars Larson is a conservative U.S. talk radio show host based in Oregon. Larson hosts a national talk radio show, which as of 2009 is syndicated by Compass Media Networks...
with The Bob & Tom Show
The Bob & Tom Show
The Bob & Tom Show is a syndicated US radio program established by Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold at radio station WFBQ in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 7, 1983, and syndicated nationally since January 6, 1995....
, Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
hockey and Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
baseball moving to WBAE
WBAE (AM)
WBAE and WVAE are radio stations that serve southern Maine with an advice talk format. WBAE is licensed in Portland, Maine, while WVAE is licensed in Biddeford, Maine. Both stations are owned by Portland Radio Group, itself owned by Saga Communications....
/WVAE
WBAE (AM)
WBAE and WVAE are radio stations that serve southern Maine with an advice talk format. WBAE is licensed in Portland, Maine, while WVAE is licensed in Biddeford, Maine. Both stations are owned by Portland Radio Group, itself owned by Saga Communications....
.