The Boston Radio Timeline

If you can provide precise dates for any of these events, we'd like to hear from you. Thanks to Donna Halper for a plethora of information on early Boston station comings and goings.

(See here for 1921—1931.)

1932

• WBZ, WBZA leased to NBC with other Westinghouse stations

1933

• WLEY is sold by the Lexington Air Stations to Albert S. Moffat (Mar. 10)
• WHDH moves its studios to the Hotel Touraine (Apr. 1)
• WORC-WEPS becomes just WORC (May 15)
• WORC moves to 1280 kHz, 500 W DA, under special authority (June 9)
• WLOE renewal denied, license deleted (Dec. 9)

1934

• FCC grants Albert Moffat's request to move WLEY to Lowell (Aug. 14)
• WLEY on the air in Lowell (Oct. 10)
• WLEY offically becomes WLLH (Oct. 16)
• WMEX started on 1500 kHz (Oct. 18)
• Joseph M. Kirby granted construction permit for WMFH, a 500-watt daytimer on 1120 kHz, which would later become WCOP (Nov. 13)

1935

• WMFH signs on under the new call sign WCOP from studios at the Copley Plaza Hotel (Aug. 26)
• WBSO 1240 purchased by George Crockwell, James Phelan, and William Eynan; becomes WORL 920 (Dec. 10)

1936

• WEEI leased, then purchased by CBS
• WORL moves from Needham to Boston (Apr. 21)
• Affiliation swap: Shepard's Yankee Network loses CBS, becomes NBC Red affiliate (Sep. 27)
• WTIC attempts to move to Boston; fails after opposition from local broadcasters
• Shepard's Colonial Network started, carries Mutual programs
• WAAB becomes Mutual's Boston affiliate

1937

• WMEX tries to move to 1470, overturned on appeal
• WNAC and WAAB ownership consolidated under The Yankee Network, Inc. (Jan. 26)
• WCOP sold by the estate of Joseph Kirby to Arde Bulova (Feb. 2)
• WEEI moves to a new and improved transmitter site in Medford (Apr. 6)
• WLAW, owned by the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune, signs on. It would later sell out to WNAC. (Dec. 19)

1939

• WESX started in Salem on 1200 kHz (Dec. 10)
• W1XOJ is the first FM station to sign on in Massachusetts (Jul. 24)

1940

• WBZ transmitter is moved to Hull. (July 27)
• WCOP granted night power, still with 500 watts, adding a directional antenna (Nov. 26)
• Westinghouse receives license for experimental FM station, W1XK. (Dec. 6)

1941

• WMEX finally does move to 1470, just in time for NARBA
• NARBA: WLAW to 680, WHDH to 850, WORL to 950, WBZ to 1030, WCOP to 1150, WNAC to 1260, WAAB to 1440, WMEX to 1510 (Mar. 29)
• WEIM started in Fitchburg, with 250 Watts on 1340 kHz. (Oct. 6)
• WCOP now operating full-time (Dec. 18)

1942

• W1XK receives commercial license, officially becomes W67B (Feb. 25)
• W67B on the air with 10 kW at 46.7 (Mar. 29)
• Carl DeSuze joins WBZ (Mar. 29)
• Duopoly ended: WAAB moves to Worcester (Dec. 13)

1943

• All commercial FM stations change callsigns, losing the confusing K/W-number-number-city format in favor of standard four-letter callsigns just as were used by “Standard Broadcast” (AM) stations. (Nov. 1)
• W67B becomes WBZ-FM; W81SP in Springfield becomes WBZA-FM.

1944

• WCOP sold by Arde Bulova and Harold Lafount to Iowa Broadcasting Company (later Cowles Broadcasting) (Oct. 25)

1946

• FM band moved: WBZ-FM to 100.7
• WCOP granted CP for upgrade to 5 kW (Mar. 20)
• Bob Clayton begins “Boston Ballroom” on WHDH (Apr. 29)
• WCOP now operating with 5 kW-U DA-2 (Aug. 26)
• WBMS started on 1090 kHz (Nov. 24)
• WHOB (1340 Gardner) on the air (Dec. 23)

1947

• WBMS-FM started on 104.1 MHz
• WBZ-FM moves to 92.9 MHz
• WKOX started on 1190 kHz (Apr. 21)
• WCCM started on 800 kHz (Aug. 6)
• WLLH-FM started on 99.5 MHz
• WLAW-FM started on 93.7 MHz
• WJDA started on 1300 kHz (Sept. 12)
• WLYN started on 1360 kHz (Dec. 11)

1948

• WCRB started on 1330 kHz (Jan. 30)
• WTAO started on 740 kHz (Apr.)
• WBMS sold by Templetone Company to Friendly Group (Jun. 2)
• WBZ-TV started on channel 4, studios erected at 1170 Soldiers Field Road (June 8)
• WVOM started on 1600 kHz (June 12)
• WNAC-TV started on channel 7 (June 21)
• WCOP-FM started on 100.7 MHz
• All low-band (40-50 MHz) FM licenses cancelled (Dec. 31)

1949

• WORL goes dark (May 30)
• WBMS-FM goes dark
• Pilgrim gains approval to take over WORL (Nov. 4)
• WERS started on 88.1 MHz, becoming Boston's first non-commercial/educational station (Nov. 14)

1950

• WLYN sold to Theodore Feinstein (Mar. 3)
• WBMS changes format from classical to popular music (Apr. 27)
• WORL purchased by Pilgrim, moved xmtr to Saugus (Oct. 8)

1951

• WBMS becomes WHEE (Apr.)
• WGBH-FM started on 89.7 MHz (Oct.)
• WCAP started on 980 kHz (June 10)
• WCOP sold to a partnership of T.B. Baker, Jr., A.G. Beaman, and Roy V. Whisnand (Dec. 22)

1952

• WBZ begins 24-hour programming (Mar. 10)
• WHEE returns to old WBMS callsign (Jul.)
• Jazz pianist William “Sabby” Lewis becomes possibly Boston's first black disc jockey, on WBMS
• WBZ-FM deleted

1953

• WNAC purchases WLAW, moves to 680; 1260 becomes WVDA (Jun. 17)
• WLAW-FM deleted (June)
• WTAO-TV started on channel 56 (Sep. 27)
• WHOB in Gardner becomes WGAW (Oct. 14)

1954

• WCOP sold to Boston Post (July 8)
• Hurricane Carol knocks down WBZ-TV tower, behind the studios on Soldiers Field Road (Aug. 31)

1955

• WGBH-TV starts on channel 2 (May 2)

1956

• WTAO-TV goes dark (Jan.)
• Boston Post folds, sells WCOP to Plough (May 3)
• WBZ-FM returns on 106.7 MHz // WBZ(AM)
• Arnie Ginsburg is playing rock'n'roll on WBOS
• WCOP goes Top-40
• WBZ drops NBC radio network
• WMRC started on 1490 kHz (Oct. 1)

1957

• Richmonds purchase WMEX from Pote brothers (Jun. 25)
• WMEX goes Top-40 (Sep.)
• WBMS purchased by Bartell, becomes WILD (Sep. 5)
• WHDH-TV started on channel 5 (Nov. 26)
• WVDA becomes WEZE (Dec. 2)

1960

• WNAC makes unsuccessful attempt at Top-40 format

1961

• WTBS-FM started on 88.1 MHz (Apr. 10)

1962

• WBZA shut down (July 17)
• WXHR-TV (ch. 56) re-activated for six-month FCC study
• WCOP-FM adds stereo

1963

• WRKO-FM adds live MOR as independent programming
• WMLO (1570) takes to the air as a 500-W daytimer (Dec. 22)

1964

• WIHS-TV (ch. 38) started (Oct. 12)

1965

• WXHR combo (740 AM, 96.9 FM, ch. 56) bought by Kaiser/Globe

1966

• WXHR-TV becomes WKBG-TV, adds color (Oct.)
• WRKO-FM becomes automated rocker “ARKO-matic” (Oct. 12)

1967

• Yankee network disbanded (Feb. 26)
• WNAC becomes WRKO, flips to Top-40 (Mar. 13)
• WXHR-FM flips to beautiful music, becomes WJIB-FM
• WXHR(AM) becomes WCAS
• WGBX-TV started on channel 44 (Sept. 25)

1968

• WNTN started on 1550 kHz (Apr. 1)
• WBRS-FM started on 91.7 MHz (Feb.5)
• WBCN begins playing rock music late at night (Mar. 15)
• Concert Network disbanded, WBCN drops classical music

1969

• WRKO-FM adds stereo, becomes WROR (Jan. 1)

1971

• WBZ-FM adds stereo, flips to rock (Dec. 31)

1972

• WHDH-TV channel 5 loses license (Mar. 19)
• WCVB-TV starts on channel 5 (Mar. 19)
• WCOP-FM flips to beautiful music full-time

1973

• WCOP-FM flips to oldies (Oct. 11)

1974

• WEEI flips to all-news
• WZBC (90.3) first licensed as a class-D FM.
• WKBG-TV becomes WLVI-TV (May)
• WCOP-FM flips to country // WCOP(AM) (Oct.)

1976

• WZBC upgrades to class-A status, with 1 kW ERP
• WCOP-FM becomes WTTK (Oct. 4)
• WCAS sold to Wickus Island

1977

• WTTK flips to rock
• WCOP(AM) flips to Top-40, becomes WACQ (May 20)
• WLVI-TV sold to Field Communications (Sept.)

1978

• WMEX becomes WITS
• WACQ and WTTK sold to Tanger

1979

• WZBC begins broadcasting in stereo
• WACQ and WTTK become WHUE, flip to beautiful music (Jan. 1)
• WTBS-FM becomes WMBR, WTCG-TV Atlanta becomes WTBS (Nov. 10)

1981

• WITS upgrades to 50 kW xmtr in Waltham
• WBZ-FM sold to Greater Media, becomes WMJX, flips to AC

1982

• WEEI purchased by Helen Broadcasting (Papa Gino's pizza)
• WHUE-FM xmtr fire

1983

• WCAS bankrupt
• WCAS flips to gospel, becomes WLVG (under bankruptcy protection)
• WLVI-TV sold to Gannett
• WBOS-FM switches from rock to country music (Jul. 14)

1984

• WHUE-FM sold to First Media, becomes WCOZ for one week, then goes dark (Dec.)

1985

• WCOZ-FM becomes WKKT, flips to CHR (Jan. 1)
• WKKT flips to classic rock, becomes WZLX (Oct. 29)

1987

• WMBR adds stereo (May 13)
• WHDH and WZOU sold to Sconnix (Mar. 3)

1989

• WBOS-FM drops country (Apr. 27)
• WSSH(AM) becomes WKKU, flips to country

1990

• WEEI purchased by the Boston Celtics
• WKKU goes back to WSSH(AM), // WSSH-FM

1991

• WBZ flips to all-news daytime
• WLVG sold at auction to Bob Bittner (July 1)
• WLVG flips to “Earth Radio”, becomes WWEA
• WEEI flips to all-sports (Sept. 3)
• WSSH(AM) flips to leased-time ethnic
• W249AX becomes W242AA, // WGBH-FM (Oct.)

1992

• WSSH(AM) goes dark
• WVBF flips from gold AC to country as WCLB (Feb. 12)
• WWEA flips to beautiful music, becomes WJIB (Aug. 4)

1993

• WSSH(AM) back on with talk
• WZLX licensee Cook Inlet sold to Infinity
• WJIB gets night power
• WHDH-TV sold to Sunbeam
• WCDJ sold to Greater Media and flips to country as WBCS (May)

1994

• WEEI sold to Back Bay Broadcasting
• WLVI-TV sold to Tribune
• WRKO, WBMX move to 116 Huntington Ave.
• WFXT(TV) sold to News Corp.
• WCGY sold to American Radio Systems (May)
• WMFP sold to Shop-at-Home network (May)
• WHDH expires, WEEI programming moves to 850 (Aug. 29)
• WEEI 590 becomes WBNW (Sept.)
• WCGY interim format begins (Sep. 27)
• WCVX(TV) sold to Boston University Communications (Sep. 28)
• WCGY flips to seventies oldies (Sep. 30)
• WBMA on the air (Oct.)
• WVEI drops WEEI simulcast, becomes WWTM (Oct.)
• WBIV goes dark (Nov. 3)
• WSSH(AM) purchased by Communicom (Nov.)
• WCGY becomes WEGQ (Nov.)
• WCVX returns to the air as WZBU // WABU (Nov. 30)

1995

• WSBK(TV) sold to Viacom
• WSSH(AM) becomes WNRB (Feb.)
• WBMA flips to all-sports (Feb.)
• W32AY started on channel 32 (Apr.)
• WBMA becomes WBPS (June 1)
• WCLB(FM) becomes WKLB-FM (June 22)
• WPLM flips to smooth jazz (June 25)
• WFXT sale for $105M to News Corp. finally closes (July 10)
• Pyramid Communications sells out to Evergreen Media (July 17)
• WODS owner CBS agrees to purchase by WBZ owner Westinghouse (August 1)
• WLYT flips to AAA, becomes WXRV
• WHAB at Acton-Boxborough High School returns to the air
• WNHT (ch. 21) returns to the air as WNBU // WABU (Sept.)
• WSSH-FM becomes Smooth Jazz WOAZ (Dec. 13)
• Westinghouse purchase of CBS closes (Dec.)

1996

• Evergreen purchase of Pyramid closes (Jan.)
• Granum is sold to Infinity for $410M, including WBOS, WOAZ (Mar. 4)

1998

• WCVB-DT signs on, first digital TV station in New England (Oct. 29)

2008

• WTTT flips from conservative talk to Spanish-language Christian music (Jan. 28)

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