WBTZ
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| WBTZ | |
 |
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| City of license | Plattsburgh, New York |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Burlington, Vermont Plattsburgh, New York Montreal, Quebec |
| Branding | The Buzz |
| Slogan | The Rock Alternative |
| Frequency | 99.9 (MHz) |
| First air date | 1960 |
| Format | Modern Rock |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 300 meters |
| Class | C |
| Owner | Hall Communications |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.999thebuzz.com |
WBTZ is a commercial radio station in Plattsburgh, New York, broadcasting to the Burlington, Vermont / Plattsburgh, New York / Montreal, Quebec area on 99.9 FM.
WBTZ airs a modern rock format branded as "The Buzz" since July of 1996.
From the late 80's until early 1990, WBTZ was known on air as B-100 and played a great deal of Top 40 music. When Canadian hit station CHTX 980 HITS started a similar format in 1989, ratings (largely from Canadian listeners) began to slip forcing another format change.
WBTZ previously aired a hot adult contemporary music format with the call letters, WGFB-FM, which stood for former owner George F. Bissell. This was via the "Bright AC" satellite format by Westwood One.
"The Buzz" debuted in July 1996 with Stephanie Hindley during the midday, Steve Picard during afternoon drive and Jason Steeves at night. Matt Grasso replaced Steeves in late 1997, then in 1998 Kyle Smith joined for Morning Drive. Grasso then replaced Smith in morning drive during the middle of 1998. Ben Wiggins took the night shift in 1999. In 2001 Grasso and Hindley swapped shifts until Hindley left the station in late 2002 and Picard disappeared in early 2003. Wiggins left to pursue an acting career and was replaced by Johnny Utah. Hindley was initially replaced by Brit import Ian Kelly and Kim Napolitano, then shortly after, Pete Powers. Picard was replaced by Christine "Electra" Pawlak, until mid 2004 when she left for a job in Philadelphia and was replaced by Mays from WFNX in Boston.
The station was a finalist for Radio and Records magazine's 2006[1] and 2007 Industry Achievement Awards for best Alternative Station for markets 100 and up. Other finalists include WKZQ-FM, WJSE, KQXR, KXNA, and WSFM.[2]
DJ List: Pete Powers, Matt Grasso, Mays, Johnny Utah, DJ LLU, Matt Gadouas
WBTZ was owned by Plattsburgh Broadcasting and operated by Burlington Broadcasters until November 1, 2005 when it was purchase by Hall Communications.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ "2006 Industry Achievement Awards", Radio and Records, September 28, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
- ^ "2007 Industry Achievement Awards", Radio and Records, September 28, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
[edit] External links
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