WEAN-FM

WEAN-FM
City Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island
Broadcast area Providence, Rhode Island
Branding News Talk 630 WPRO and 99.7 FM
Slogan The Voice of Rhode Island
Frequency 99.7 MHz/Channel 259
First air date June 1995
Format News-talk
ERP 2,300 watts
HAAT 163 meters
Class A
Facility ID 4376
Callsign meaning Former callsign for 790kc.-Providence which was a longtime all-news station as "79 WEAN"
Former callsigns WUAE (April 23, 1992 – June 16, 1995),
WDGE (June 16, 1995 – November 24, 1997),
WXEX (November 24, 1997 – September 13, 1999),
WHCK (September 13, 1999 – March 20, 2000),
WZRA (March 20, 2000 – May 13, 2002),
WSKO-FM (May 13, 2002 – March 11, 2008)
Affiliations ABC, TRN, New England Patriots Radio Network
Owner Cumulus Media
(radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
Sister stations WPRO, WPRO-FM, WPRV, WWKX, WWLI
Webcast WPRO Live Feed
Website 630wpro.com

WEAN-FM (99.7 FM, "News Talk 630 WPRO and 99.7 FM") is a radio station licensed to Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and airs a news-talk format. WEAN-FM is a full-time simulcast of WPRO/630 in Providence, serving as WPRO's satellite in southern Rhode Island. Operations are based at WPRO's studios in East Providence.

Prior to becoming WEAN-FM on March 11, 2008; 99.7 was modern rock "99.7 The Edge" WUAE, later WDGE; hard rock "99.7X" WXEX; classic rock simulcast "The Hawk"; '80s simulcast "Z100" (as WZRA) & finally "The Score" (WSKO-FM), which broadcast a sports format that simulcast most programming from WSKO/790 (now WPRV).

Programming

As a simulcast on WPRO, much of WEAN-FM's programming is locally produced, with programs hosted by WJAR anchor Gene Vallicenti, John DePetro, Dan Yorke, former WLNE-TV reporter Tara Granahan, and Matt Allen. Syndicated programming includes The Savage Nation, Jerry Doyle, and Red Eye Radio.

Weekend programming includes locally produced shows as well as syndicated shows such as Leo Laporte: The Tech Guy, Dr. Dean Edell, Meet the Press, and Bill Cunningham, .

WEAN-FM is an affiliate of the New England Patriots Radio Network.

History

1990s

99.7 was issued its first callsign, WUAE, on April 23, 1992. The station would remain a construction permit until June 1995 when it would come on as modern rock WDGE-"99.7 The Edge." The station was built by local broadcast engineer Randy Place. Starting with the acquisition of former smooth jazz WOTB in 1996 (which became WDGF on June 14, 1996),[1] The Edge advertised itself as "99.7/100.3 The Edge." This simulcast would last a short time as the 100.3 frequency became "100.3 The Beat". Meanwhile, 99.7 The Edge leaned towards hard rock and became WXEX, calling itself "99.7X." This format lasted until New Year's Day 1999, when it returned to simulcasting 100.3 as "100FM The Hawk."

2000s

Former logo under the "Z100" branding

The 2000s started with 99.7 still simulcasting 100.3 as "The Hawk." Both stations flipped formats again, this time to all-1980s "Z100" (still as a simulcast). In 2002 99.7 turned off its stereo pilot and became sportstalk "99.7 The Score", or most times when simulcasting WSKO/790, "99.7 and 790 The Score". 99.7 carried the Patriots Rock Radio Network (which it still does as a simulcast of WPRO), Pawsox Radio Network until 2006 (those rights went to WHJJ in 2007) as well as the New York Yankees Radio Network until 2007 (the former AM side of The Score, now WPRV, still carries the Yankees). "The Score" ended on March 10, 2008 with the AM side becoming WPRV–"True Oldies 790", and 99.7 becoming WEAN-FM and simulcasting AM 630 WPRO.

References

External links

Coordinates: 41°34′23″N 71°37′52″W / 41.573°N 71.631°W / 41.573; -71.631

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