WVEI-FM

For the former WVEI-FM in Easthampton, Massachusetts, United States, see WWEI.
WVEI-FM
Broadcast area
Frequency103.7 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding103.7 WEEI
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatSports radio
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
October 17, 1967 (1967-10-17)[1]
Former call signs
  • WERI-FM (1967-87)
  • WWRX (1987-92)
  • WWRX-FM (1992–2004)
  • WEEI-FM (2004-11)
Call sign meaning
similar to WEEI
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID71720
ClassB
ERP37,000 watts
HAAT173 meters (568 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°34′23.4″N 71°37′56.2″W / 41.573167°N 71.632278°W / 41.573167; -71.632278
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via Audacy)
Websitewww.audacy.com/weei/network/weei-1037fm-providence

WVEI-FM (103.7 MHz; "103.7 WEEI") is a radio station broadcasting a sports talk format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI-FM.[3] The station is licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, United States, and is owned by Audacy, Inc.[4] In addition to WEEI programming, WVEI-FM carries Providence Friars men's basketball,[5] Boston Bruins hockey,[6] and ESPN Radio. Its transmitter is in Exeter, Rhode Island; due to it being mostly a simulcast, its operations are run out of WEEI-FM's studios in Boston's Brighton neighborhood.

History

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Former logo of the radio station

The station signed on October 17, 1967,[1] as WERI-FM.[7] At one time a simulcast of sister station WERI (1230 AM; now WBLQ), in the mid-1970s, WERI-FM became a separate station with an automated Drake-Chenault format called "Hit Parade". Eventually, in the early 1980s, the station switched to stereo with a live album rock format called "Number 1-04", consulted by Clark Smidt. By the mid-1980s, after a major power upgrade, it had become "RI 104", a top 40 station.[8] On March 9, 1987, the station changed its call sign to WWRX,[9] and the station shifted to an album rock format.[10] Though WWRX saw some success in the New London, Connecticut, market, management opted to focus on the larger Providence market, and the station moved its transmitter from West Greenwich to Exeter in 1989.[10] The call sign was modified to WWRX-FM on February 22, 1992,[9] 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.

Recent logo of the radio station

WWRX-FM was acquired by Radio Equity Partners in 1995;[11] Radio Equity Partners, in turn, was purchased by Clear Channel Communications the following year.[12] 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.[13] Mindich switched the station to modern rock on September 7, initially as a simulcast of WFNX,[14] and later, starting in 2003, on its own.[15]

In March 2004, Mindich sold WWRX-FM to Entercom (the forerunner to Audacy, Inc.). 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.[16] The change of simulcast partners took effect on-air April 16,[17] and the station was renamed WEEI-FM.[9] The call letters were changed to WVEI-FM on September 14, 2011.[9]

WVEI-FM formerly maintained a local studio and sales office in Warwick, Rhode Island; this facility was closed by Audacy in April 2023.[18][19]

References

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  1. ^ a b Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-391. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WVEI-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Fall 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  4. ^ "WVEI-FM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  5. ^ McNamara, Kevin (August 2, 2007). "Friars change radio stations". The Providence Journal. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  6. ^ "NERW 8/11/2014: A Big, Bullish Push for Country". 11 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Of Interest". Connecticut Broadcasters Association. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  8. ^ Slosberg, Steve (February 7, 1986). "This Band Doesn't Fit The Format" (reprint). The New London Day. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  9. ^ a b c d "WVEI-FM Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  10. ^ a b Wollman, Garrett. "WEEI-FM/WSKO-FM tower". Rhode Island Towers, part II. The Archives @ BostonRadio.org. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  11. ^ Boehlert, Eric; Atwood, Brett (February 4, 1995). "Judge Stands Up For Free Radio Berkeley; KYCY's 'Steve Young Country' Promo Pulled". Billboard. p. 119. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  12. ^ Fybush, Scott (May 21, 1996). "New England RadioWatch". Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  13. ^ Fybush, Scott (March 24, 2000). "WFAU Loses A Tower, WFNX Gains A State, NERW Visits California's Coast". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  14. ^ Fybush, Scott (September 11, 2000). "Hearst-Argyle Gets WMUR". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  15. ^ Fybush, Scott (March 31, 2003). ""The Duke of Portland" is Dead". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  16. ^ Fybush, Scott (March 29, 2004). "WEEI Enters Rhode Island". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  17. ^ Fybush, Scott (April 19, 2004). "Live from Las Vegas". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  18. ^ Fenton, Josh (April 13, 2023). "WEEI Sports Radio Closing RI Office". GoLocalProv. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  19. ^ "Report: WEEI/Boston Closing Rhode Island Simulcast's Local Office". All Access. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
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