WLZX-FM
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| Broadcast area | Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Frequency | 99.3 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Lazer 99.3 & 98.5 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Active rock |
| Subchannels |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | November 1, 1965 as WHMP-FM |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | "Lazer" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 46963 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 5,800 watts |
| HAAT | 101 meters (331 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°22′26″N 72°40′23″W / 42.374°N 72.673°W |
| Translator(s) |
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| Repeater(s) | 102.1 WAQY-HD2 (Springfield) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast |
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| Website | |
| Former simulcast | |
| WLZX | |
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| Frequency | 1600 kHz |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | 1949 as WSFL |
Last air date | May 2025 |
Former call signs |
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| Technical information[2] | |
| Facility ID | 58546 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 2,500 watts daytime |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°4′25.34″N 72°31′27.31″W / 42.0737056°N 72.5242528°W |
| Translator(s) | 98.5 W253CD (East Longmeadow) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
WLZX-FM (99.3 MHz) is a radio station in Northampton, Massachusetts. The station has an active rock format, and is owned by Saga Communications. WLZX-FM is also simulcast on the second HD Radio channel of WAQY (102.1 FM) in Springfield, as well as translator station W253CD (98.5 FM) in East Longmeadow. From 2017 to 2025, it was also simulcast on WLZX (1600 AM), also in East Longmeadow.
Programming
[edit]WLZX-FM airs an active rock format. The station also carries Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics games.
History
[edit]What is now WLZX-FM went on the air November 1, 1965, as WHMP-FM.[3] In 2000, Saga Communications purchased WHMP-FM and WHMP from Clear Channel,[4] which operated WHMP-FM as the "Rock Alternative".[5] Lazer 99.3 went live on September 11, 2000.[6]
On February 3, 2017, WLZX-FM rebranded as "Lazer 99.3 & 105.1" and began simulcasting on WLZX (1600 AM, formerly WHNP) and FM translator W286DB (105.1 FM) in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. As WHNP, the 1600 AM facility had simulcast the talk format of sister station WHMP.[7] The station subsequently rebranded as "Lazer 99.3 & 98.5", in reflection of the translator's move to 98.5 FM as W253CD.[8]
The WLZX stations switched to an alternative rock format in the summer of 2017, but returned to the active rock format at 6:00 a.m. on February 4, 2020. The stations added The Toucher and Rich Show, a syndicated morning show based at WBZ-FM in Boston, on May 9, 2022;[9] they dropped the program in 2023.[10]
Saga Communications surrendered the WLZX AM license in May 2025. Translator W253CD now receives "Lazer" programming from the second HD Radio channel of WAQY.[11]
Translators
[edit]In addition to W253CD (98.5), which is fed by WAQY-HD2, WLZX-FM has two translators: W232BW (94.3) in Amherst at 250 watts, which simulcasts its HD2 channel, a classic hits station branded as "Rewind 94.3";[12] and W245BK (96.9), also a 250-watt facility in Amherst, which simulcasts WLZX-FM's HD3 channel, an oldies station branded as "Pure Oldies 96.9".[13]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W253CD | 98.5 FM | East Longmeadow, Massachusetts | 156452 | 250 | D | 42°4′25.8″N 72°31′27.3″W / 42.073833°N 72.524250°W | LMS |
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W232BW | 94.3 FM | Amherst, Massachusetts | 84372 | 250 | D | 42°21′49.3″N 72°25′22.3″W / 42.363694°N 72.422861°W | LMS | Relays HD2 |
| W245BK | 96.9 FM | Amherst, Massachusetts | 84114 | 250 | D | 42°22′25.3″N 72°40′24.3″W / 42.373694°N 72.673417°W | LMS | Relays HD3 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WLZX-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WLZX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1975. 1975. p. C-90.
- ^ "Clear Channel to sell 16 more radio stations". Toledo Blade. Bloomberg News Service. March 10, 2000. p. 37. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ "WHMP 99.3 ONLINE". April 28, 1999. Archived from the original on April 28, 1999. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ Peters, Bill; Saulmon, Greg (May 11, 2009). "Sustainable Radio". MassLive. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ Lazer 99.3 Adds Second Signal Radioinsight - February 3, 2017
- ^ "Lazer 99.3 & 98.5" Logo
- ^ Venta, Lance (May 5, 2022). "Toucher & Rich Expand To Springfield". Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Venta, Lance (October 2, 2023). "WCYY Brings Back Rob Riccitelli For Mornings; Dropping Toucher & Rich". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Venta, Lance (May 4, 2025). "FCC Report 5/4: FCC Seeks Codification Of Foreign Ownership Rules". RadioInsight. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ Saga Goes in Rewind in Amherst Radioinsight - January 1, 2021
- ^ "Saga Launches Pure Oldies In Amherst MA". RadioInsight. June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 46963 (WLZX-FM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WLZX-FM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 58546 (WLZX) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WLZX in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 84372 (W232BW) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W232BW at FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 84114 (W245BK) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W245BK at FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 156452 (W253CD) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W253CD at FCCdata.org
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