WZRT
Encyclopedia
WZRT is a radio station
broadcasting a contemporary hit radio
format. Licensed to Rutland, Vermont, USA, the station serves the Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction area. The station is currently owned by Pamal Broadcasting
.
Z97 assumed the WZRT call sign
in 1989. It was under the ownership of All Communications that Z97 increased its regional signal to 50,000 watts. Z97 branded itself as "The Official Ski Station" and later on as "The Official Ski and Ride Station". Z97 broadcast live from many restaurants and nightclubs throughout Killington
. In particular, Z97 began a long relationship with two of Killington's largest and famous nightclubs with nightly and apres-ski
live broadcasts throughout ski season.
All Communications eventually sold out to H & D Media, which eventually became Excalibur Media. Z97 expanded its winter advertising base to include Okemo, Bromley
, Magic Mountain
, Sugarbush
, West Mountain, and Stratton Mountain
. During the latter half of the 1990s Z97 would broadcast the popular "Stratton Mountain Ski and Ride Show" live every Saturday morning from Stratton Mountain from 7:00 am to 10:00 am.
From 2003 until the middle of 2007, WZRT was in the process of being acquired by Catamount Radio, but never eventually came to fruition. On July 3, 2003, under the ownership of Clear Channel Radio, the station changed its identity to KISS-FM
, following the already popular station name from other markets. In May 2006, Albany, New York
-based Pamal Broadcasting acquired KISS-FM in a swap of stations with Clear Channel. One of the station's last known live on-air shows was the Thunderstorm with DJ Vince-1, a hip-hop mixshow which broadcasted Thursday evenings on the station. Vince-1 is now employed as a radio account executive in the Boston market.
In 2007, Pamal returned WZRT to Z97 and in early 2008, the station rebranded as Z97.1, adding the syndicated "Bob and Sheri" morning show from WLNK
in Charlotte, NC. In 2011, the show was transferred over to WJJR, a sister station of Catamount Radio, and in it's place, The Elvis Duran Morning Show began broadcasting weekday mornings.
Z97.1 currently ranks as the number one radio station in Arbitron
market #181 (Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction), with adults 12+ Monday to Sunday from 6:00 am to 12:00 am average quarter hour shares (AQH) in the Fall 2007 audience estimates.
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 contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format. Licensed to Rutland, Vermont, USA, the station serves the Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction area. The station is currently owned by Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. is a family-owned radio ownership with stations in medium-to-small markets in the Northeast and Florida. Based in the Albany suburb of Latham, New York, Pamal Broadcasting was founded in 1986 as Albany Broadcasting when business man James J. Morrell entered broadcast...
.
Z97 assumed the WZRT call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
in 1989. It was under the ownership of All Communications that Z97 increased its regional signal to 50,000 watts. Z97 branded itself as "The Official Ski Station" and later on as "The Official Ski and Ride Station". Z97 broadcast live from many restaurants and nightclubs throughout Killington
Killington Ski Resort
Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical in New England as well at 3050 feet.-History:In 1954, Perry H...
. In particular, Z97 began a long relationship with two of Killington's largest and famous nightclubs with nightly and apres-ski
Après-ski
Après-ski refers to going out, having drinks, dancing, and generally socializing after skiing. It is popular in the Alps, where skiers often stop at bars on their last run of the day while still wearing all their ski gear. The concept is similar to the nineteenth hole in golf. This can also...
live broadcasts throughout ski season.
All Communications eventually sold out to H & D Media, which eventually became Excalibur Media. Z97 expanded its winter advertising base to include Okemo, Bromley
Bromley Mountain
Bromley Mountain is a mountain in the Green Mountains of southern Vermont, United States. It is located in Bennington County, seven miles to the east of Manchester, Vermont and just west of Peru, Vermont...
, Magic Mountain
Magic Mountain, Vermont
Magic Mountain is a ski resort located on Glebe Mountain in Londonderry, Vermont. It features a 1,700-foot vertical drop. The summit is at 2,850 feet and the base at 1,150 feet. Magic and its base area have a long history, dating from the 1960s...
, Sugarbush
Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River Valley in Warren, Vermont. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres total, 578 acres skiable, 53 miles of trails, and 16 ski lifts...
, West Mountain, and Stratton Mountain
Stratton Mountain Resort
Stratton Mountain Resort is a ski area located on Stratton Mountain in Stratton, Vermont.-History:Stratton was established in 1961, and expanded rapidly into one of Vermont's largest ski areas...
. During the latter half of the 1990s Z97 would broadcast the popular "Stratton Mountain Ski and Ride Show" live every Saturday morning from Stratton Mountain from 7:00 am to 10:00 am.
From 2003 until the middle of 2007, WZRT was in the process of being acquired by Catamount Radio, but never eventually came to fruition. On July 3, 2003, under the ownership of Clear Channel Radio, the station changed its identity to KISS-FM
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
, following the already popular station name from other markets. In May 2006, Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
-based Pamal Broadcasting acquired KISS-FM in a swap of stations with Clear Channel. One of the station's last known live on-air shows was the Thunderstorm with DJ Vince-1, a hip-hop mixshow which broadcasted Thursday evenings on the station. Vince-1 is now employed as a radio account executive in the Boston market.
In 2007, Pamal returned WZRT to Z97 and in early 2008, the station rebranded as Z97.1, adding the syndicated "Bob and Sheri" morning show from WLNK
WLNK
WLNK, known on the air as "107.9 The Link", is a 100,000 watt radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts at 107.9 MHz, primarily serving the Charlotte metropolitan area...
in Charlotte, NC. In 2011, the show was transferred over to WJJR, a sister station of Catamount Radio, and in it's place, The Elvis Duran Morning Show began broadcasting weekday mornings.
Z97.1 currently ranks as the number one radio station in Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
market #181 (Lebanon-Rutland-White River Junction), with adults 12+ Monday to Sunday from 6:00 am to 12:00 am average quarter hour shares (AQH) in the Fall 2007 audience estimates.