New England RadioWatch: December 9, 1996

by Scott Fybush

• As SW Networks prepares to close the doors on its "Smooth FM" satellite format, the service's New England affiliates are finding new formats to take its place. The most popular choice by far seems to be a similar service offered by Jones Satellite Networks; that's what listeners to WMNB (100.1) North Adams MA, WKCD (107.7) Pawcatuck CT, and WHRL (103.1) Albany NY will hear on their radios New Year's morning. Still no word on what Smooth FM's biggest area affiliate, WPLM (99.1/1390) Plymouth MA, will be doing. Whatever happens, WPLM will be leaving Smooth FM a few hours before its demise; the station plans to debut Ron Della Chiesa's "MusicAmerica" show a few days early, with a special broadcast New Year's Eve. NERW is also waiting to learn the fate of WXZR (98.7) East Lyme CT, which loses ABC/SMN's "Z Rock" format at the end of the year.

• A familiar voice has returned to the Boston airwaves on WROR (105.7 Framingham-Boston). Joe Martelle, the longtime morning host at the original WROR (98.5, now WBMX) began his new afternoon shift at the new 'ROR last week, after his non-compete agreement with WBMX came to an end. It's been more than a year since Martelle's been heard in Boston; he was sidelined by illness, then ousted from his morning spot at WBMX in favor of John Lander.

• The holiday spirit is in full swing on the New Hampshire seacoast, as WSTG (102.1 Hampton NH) returns to an all-holiday music format for the second year in a row. "The Stage" used holiday music for all of last December as a transition from its old "Seacoast 102" AC format to the current mix of AC and standards. This year's run of holiday music started December 1 and will last through Christmas.

• Saga Communications is trying again to build a translator in Keene NH for its WZID (95.7 Manchester NH). After Saga's original application for 94.1 was dismissed, they've now filed a new application for 102.3 in Keene. Also on the translator front: WXPS (96.7 Vergennes VT) wants a translator in South Burlington VT on 97.3 to help fill in "The Pulse"'s rather weak signal in that area.

• Sold!: Clear Channel Communications has closed on its purchase of Radio Equity Partners, creating a new radio-TV combo in the Providence market, as WWBB (101.5 Providence, oldies "B101") and WWRX (103.7 Westerly, classic rock "WRX") join CBS affiliate WPRI-TV 12 under the Clear Channel umbrella. The deal also gives Clear Channel WHYN and WHYN-FM in Springfield MA. WHYN is a news-talker on 560, and WHYN-FM is hot AC on 93.1. Congratulations to WHYN PD Gary James and the staff, by the way, for what NERW hears was a phenomenally successful reunion sock hop last month!

  Also closed is the deal that transfers news/sports WNEZ (910 New Britain-Hartford CT) from American Radio Systems to Mega Spanish Broadcasters. Look for a format change at WNEZ any day now; we'll keep you posted.

• And that closes out this edition of NERW. Next time, we'll finally finish out our Maine station history...and in the meantime, a Happy Chanukah!