WLZX-FM

WLZX-FM
Northampton, Massachusetts; United States;
Broadcast area	Springfield, Massachusetts
Frequency	99.3 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	Lazer 99.3 & 98.5
Programming
Format	Active rock
Subchannels	HD2: Classic hits "Rewind 94.3"; HD3: Oldies "Pure Oldies 96.9";
Ownership
Owner	Saga Communications; (Saga Communications of New England, LLC);
Sister stations	WAQY, WHAI, WHMP, WIZZ, WPVQ-FM, WRSI
History
First air date	November 1, 1965 (58 years ago) as WHMP-FM
Former call signs	WHMP-FM (1965–2000); WLZX (2000–2017);
Call sign meaning	"Lazer"
Technical information
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)	HD2: 94.3 W232BW (Amherst); HD3: 96.9 W245BK (Amherst);
Repeater(s)	102.1 WAQY-HD2 (Springfield)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live; HD2: Listen live; HD3: Listen live;
Website	lazer993.com; HD2: myrewind943.com; HD3: pureoldies969.com;
Simulcast
	WLZX
East Longmeadow, Massachusetts; United States;
Frequency	1600 kHz
Ownership
Owner	Saga Communications; (Saga Communications of New England, LLC);
History
First air date	1949 (75 years ago) as WSFL
Former call signs	WSFL (1949–1951); WJKO (1951–1957); WTYM (1957–1977); WIXY (1977–1991); WAQY (1991–1997); WMRE (1997); WAQY (1997–1999); WPNT (1999–2000); WHNP (2000–2017);
Technical information
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	Public file; LMS;

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. The station is also simulcast on WLZX (1600 AM) and translator station W253CD (98.5 FM), both in East Longmeadow, as well as the HD2 channel of WAQY (102.1 FM) in Springfield.

Programming[edit]

WLZX-FM and WLZX air an active rock format. However, WLZX (AM), along with its FM translator, breaks away to carry 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]

Translators[edit]

In addition to W253CD (98.5), which is fed by WLZX (AM), 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";^[11] 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".^[12]

Broadcast translator for WLZX (AM)
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 / 42.073833; -72.524250 (W253CD)	LMS

Broadcast translators for WLZX-FM
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 / 42.363694; -72.422861 (W232BW)	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 / 42.373694; -72.673417 (W245BK)	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.
^ Laser 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.
^ 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.

This article about a radio station in Massachusetts is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Facility Technical Data for WLZX-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.

[2] "Facility Technical Data for WLZX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.

[by1975-3] Broadcasting Yearbook 1975. 1975. p. C-90.

[tb-saletosaga-4] "Clear Channel to sell 16 more radio stations". Toledo Blade. Bloomberg News Service. March 10, 2000. p. 37. Retrieved May 2, 2024.

[5] "WHMP 99.3 ONLINE". April 28, 1999. Archived from the original on April 28, 1999. Retrieved September 29, 2018.

[6] Peters, Bill; Saulmon, Greg (May 11, 2009). "Sustainable Radio". MassLive. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2018.

[7] Laser 99.3 Adds Second Signal Radioinsight - February 3, 2017

[8] "Lazer 99.3 & 98.5" Logo

[ri-wlzxt&r-9] Venta, Lance (May 5, 2022). "Toucher & Rich Expand To Springfield". Retrieved January 23, 2024.

[ri-wlzxnot&r-10] Venta, Lance (October 2, 2023). "WCYY Brings Back Rob Riccitelli For Mornings; Dropping Toucher & Rich". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 23, 2024.

[11] Saga Goes in Rewind in Amherst Radioinsight - January 1, 2021

[12] "Saga Launches Pure Oldies In Amherst MA". RadioInsight. June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.

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v t e Rock and modern rock radio stations serving the state of Massachusetts
By callsign	WAZK WBMT WLZX* WLZX-FM* WPXC WXRV
By frequency	1600* 88.3 92.5 97.7 99.3* 102.9
By community of license	Andover Boxford East Longmeadow* Hyannis Nantucket Northampton*
* = Modern rock See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in Massachusetts See also active rock classic rock mainstream rock modern rock

v t e Daytime-Only radio stations in Massachusetts
Stations by callsign	WCMX WFPB WILD WIZZ WLZX WQVD WUPE WVNE
Stations by frequency	700 760 1000 1090 1110 1170 1520 1600
Stations by community of license	Boston East Longmeadow Greenfield Leicester Leominster Orange-Athol Orleans Pittsfield
Defunct	WDIS (Norfolk) WREB (Holyoke)
See also: Clear channel radio stations and Why AM Radio Stations Must Reduce Power, Change Operations, or Cease Operations at Night

Programming[edit]

History[edit]

Translators[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]