WMLL explained

WMLL
City:Bedford, New Hampshire
Country:US
Area:Merrimack Valley
Branding:96.5 Live Free Country
Subchannels:HD2: WFEA simulcast
Airdate:[1]
Format:Country music
Erp:730 watts
Haat:285m (935feet)
Class:A
Facility Id:17278
Licensing Authority:FCC
Coordinates:42.984°N -71.5889°W
Callsign Meaning:"Mill" (former branding)
Owner:Saga Communications
Licensee:Saga Communications of New England, LLC

WMLL (96.5 FM; "96.5 Live Free Country") is an American radio station licensed to Bedford, New Hampshire, and serving the New Hampshire portion of the Merrimack Valley with a country music format. The station's studios are located on Commercial Street in Manchester. WMLL is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Manchester Radio Group.

History

The 96.5 FM frequency first signed on in May 1996 with test broadcasts under the call sign WAEF.[2] Regular broadcasting began on June 27, with a rock format branded "96.5 The Fox";[1] the call sign was soon changed to WOXF.[3] [4] The station was originally owned by Donna MacNeil.[1] On July 1, 1997, Saga Communications announced that it had signed a time brokerage agreement to take over WOXF's operations; on July 29, Saga relaunched the station as "Cool 96.5", an oldies station.[5] The call sign was changed to WQLL on August 15, 1997;[4] that month, Saga bought the station outright in a $3.3 million deal that was concluded on November 21, 1997.[5] The station switched to classic rock, branded as "96.5 The Mill", in March 2005;[6] on March 17, the call sign became WMLL.[4] In August 2011, WMLL shifted to a classic hits format. In October 2016, WMLL returned to classic rock, branded as "Iconic Rock".

On December 15, 2023, WMLL flipped to a country music format as "96.5 Live Free Country". The new format was advertised as "Continuous Country Without The Static", as country music was previously available in the Manchester area via adjacent market stations (Portsmouth-market WOKQ, Concord-market WNHW, and two Boston stations); Saga already programmed classic country on the third HD Radio subchannel of WZID and on translators in Concord and Manchester.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Fybush. Scott. WAEF On The Air. March 15, 2015. New England RadioWatch. June 28, 1996.
  2. News: Wollman. Garrett. New England RadioWatch. March 15, 2015. May 28, 1996.
  3. News: Fybush. Scott. New Calls for 96.5. March 15, 2015. New England RadioWatch. July 13, 1996.
  4. Web site: Call Sign History. CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. March 15, 2015.
  5. Web site: Brouder. Ed. WFEA History - 1990s. Man from Mars Productions. March 15, 2015. January 12, 2015.
  6. News: Fybush. Scott. ESPN En Route To Boston's 890?. March 15, 2015. New England RadioWatch. March 14, 2005.
  7. News: Venta . Lance . WMLL Flips To Country . December 16, 2023 . December 16, 2023.