WSAK

WSAK
Broadcast area
Frequency102.1 MHz
Branding102.1 & 105.3 - The Shark
Programming
FormatClassic hits
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WOKQ, WPKQ, WHOM
History
First air date
August 1992 (1992-08) (as WZEA)[1]
Former call signs
  • WZEA (1991–1995)
  • WSTG (1995–1997)
  • WXBP (1997–2000)
Call sign meaning
"The Shark"
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID12155
ClassA
ERP3,000 watts
HAAT100 meters (330 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
42°53′53″N 70°52′59″W / 42.898°N 70.883°W / 42.898; -70.883 (WSAK)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websiteshark1053.com
Simulcast partner
WSHK
Broadcast area
Frequency105.3 MHz
Ownership
Owner
  • Townsquare Media
  • (Townsquare License, LLC)
History
First air date
November 1992 (1992-11) (as WXBB)[1]
Former call signs
  • WKCD (1989–1992)
  • WHIM-FM (1992)
  • WXBB (1992–2000)
Call sign meaning
"The Shark"
Technical information[3]
Facility ID4380
ClassA
ERP2,200 watts
HAAT113 meters (371 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°10′28.3″N 70°46′48.1″W / 43.174528°N 70.780028°W / 43.174528; -70.780028 (WSHK)
Links
Public license information

WSAK (102.1 FM) and WSHK (105.3 FM) are a pair of American radio stations broadcasting a classic hits music format to the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire, York County, Maine, and northeast Massachusetts. WSAK is licensed to serve Hampton, New Hampshire, and WSHK is licensed to serve Kittery, Maine; their broadcast studios are located in Dover. WSHK’s transmitter is located in South Eliot, Maine, while WSAK’s transmitter is in Seabrook, New Hampshire, adjacent to the Massachusetts border.[4] A few specialty programs are carried: The House of Blues Radio Hour with Dan "Elwood Blues" Aykroyd,[5] and "The Reporter's File", a public affairs program, both on Sundays. The Shark was previously the only New Hampshire stations to carry the syndicated Bob & Tom Show morning show. It no longer carries that program, instead using its own local DJs on The Shark Morning Show.

WSAK and WSHK are owned by Townsquare Media. They formerly broadcast as "Arrow", on the same frequencies and with a similar format, but using call letters WXBB and WXBP. The change to the new name and call was made in March 2000.[6] Citadel Broadcasting acquired the station in August 1999 when it purchased Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting Companies.[7] Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[8]

On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including WSAK/WSHK, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global are both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management.[9][10] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[11]

  1. ^ a b Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-199; D-280. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSAK". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSHK". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ "The Shark – Contact Us". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  5. ^ "HOB Affiliate Radio Stations". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  6. ^ Scott Fybush (2000-03-03). "North East RadioWatch". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  7. ^ "Citadel, Form 8-K/A, Filing Date Dec 3, 1999". secdatabase.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  8. ^ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  9. ^ "Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  10. ^ "Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official". RadioInsight. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  11. ^ "Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes". All Access. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.