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Coordinates: 40°50′32″N 73°02′25″W / 40.84222°N 73.04028°W / 40.84222; -73.04028
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WBLI
Broadcast areaSuffolk County
Frequency106.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding106.1 BLI
Programming
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
Ownership
Owner
WBAB, WHFM
History
First air date
December 13, 1957 (1957-12-13) (66 years ago) as WPAC-FM
Former call signs
WPAC-FM (December 13, 1957-January 13, 1971)
Call sign meaning
We're the Best on Long Island!
Technical information
Facility ID37235
ClassB
ERP49,000 watts
HAAT152 meters (499 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°50′32″N 73°02′25″W / 40.84222°N 73.04028°W / 40.84222; -73.04028
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.wbli.com Edit this at Wikidata

WBLI (106.1 MHz, "106.1 'BLI") is a commercial FM radio station owned by Cox Radio and licensed to Patchogue, New York. It airs a Top 40 (CHR) radio format. The station mainly serves Suffolk County, New York on Long Island. The studios and offices are located on Sunrise Highway (NY 27) in West Babylon, New York.

WBLI is a Class B FM station with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 49,000 watts, the highest powered station on Long Island. In order to protect two adjacent channel stations from interference, 105.9 WQXR-FM, Newark, New Jersey, and 105.9 WHCN Hartford, Connecticut, WBLI uses a directional antenna.[1] The station's transmitter is located in Farmingville, New York.[2]

History

Early Years

The station signed on the air on December 13, 1957 as WPAC-FM.[3] It was the FM counterpart to WPAC.[4] The two stations were owned by the Patchogue Broadcasting Company. Because WPAC was a daytimer, WPAC-FM simulcast its programming in the daytime and continued it after WPAC signed off the air at sunset.

At first it was only powered at 7,800 watts on a 115-foot tower, only heard in and around Western Suffolk County. It would take several decades before the station expanded its coverage area.

Contemporary Hits

In January 1971 the station was purchased by Beck-Ross Communications, owner of WGLI (1290 AM) in Babylon, New York. The call sign was changed to WBLI. President Martin F. Beck switched the station to a contemporary format as "The New FM 106 WBLI".[5] After Beck-Ross took ownership, the station initially broadcast from a trailer located behind the WPAC building in Medford, New York. In March 1971, WBLI moved to new studios at 31 West Main Street in Patchogue.[6]

WBLI's original air-staff included George Taylor Morris, Barry Neal (mornings), Jay Mitchell (program director & middays), Jimmy "Stoney Brook" Ryan, Brian Quinn (News), Mike "Scalzi" Josephs, with Tony "Dusty Hudson" Marzocco, and Pauly "Captain Jack Blight" Zarcone.[7] Other DJs during the 1970s & 1980s included Alan "Al Nouveau" Bandiero, Mike "Davis Parke" Riccio, Randi Taylor, Bruce Michaels, Nick O'Neil, Chris Tyler, William "Billy Terry" Whitnum, Jeffrey Thomas (also the PD), Scott Taylor, Don Nelson, Rick Sommers, Keith Allen (later with WBZO and WELJ), Rob McLean, Mary Ann "J.J. Kennedy" Rourke (later with of WPLJ, WLTW and WOR in New York City), Carlton Dayton, T.K. Townsend, Brooke Daniels, Larry "Addams" Wachs, with Scotty Miller, and Kelly Hart. WBLI had a Saturday night dance show called Club 106 during the disco music era, hosted by Long Island club DJ Rory J. Thompson. On Sunday nights BLI aired an oldies show known as Only Gold during the 1970s through the mid-1980s, hosted by Bruce Michaels and later by Jerry St. James (Jim Cutler, currently owner of Jim Cutler Voiceovers) and then Donnie Nelson. Although technically a Top 40/CHR hitmusic radio station, WBLI had a more AC sound in certain day parts and avoided such harder rocking Top 40/CHR hits such as "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts during their initial chart runs.

Shift to Hot AC

By 1991, with the CHR format on the decline across the country, WBLI evolved into more of a hot adult contemporary sound. Steve Harper[8] and news director Ken Rhodes (Ken Rosato, now Channel 7 WABC-TV's morning news anchor) hosted the morning show. The station often ran special weekend programming such as the "Almost Made It But Didn't Weekend" and "The Ladies of the 80s Weekend." Musically the station was slightly hotter than New York City's WPLJ and Mix 105 WMXV.

In March 1994, Beck-Ross Communications was acquired by Liberty Broadcasting, the owners of two other Long Island stations, 1240 WGBB and 102.3 WBAB-FM.[9]

Back to their Top 40/CHR roots

By February 1995, WBLI gradually began to move back to Top 40. Long time New England Top 40 DJ Alan "Al On The Scene" Levine joined WBLI as their new Music Director and nighttime jock. The station also began to run a music video countdown show on Friday nights called the "BLI's SEGWAY" hosted by Steve Harper and simulcast on Channel 55 WLNY-TV. WBLI also picked up the syndicated Saturday night show Open House Party - which had previously been run on the station in the late 80s.

In July 1996 WBLI was acquired by Chancellor Broadcasting. Ken Rosato exited mornings and Kelly Nash (later at WNSH) exited afternoons, but WBLI started adding more CHUrban and dance product especially at night.

In September 1996, Kenneth "Doctor Ken" Medek was hired to be Program Director after serving in that role in 98.5 WKRZ Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Under Ken and Al the station created special features like the "BLI's The Fresh Five at Nine", and the "BLI's New Music Challenge" returned. The station used the imaging voice of the late great Billy Moore and had a new jingle packages by TM Century. By 1997, WBLI was one of the more rhythmic mainstream CHRs in the Northeast, including "Classic Dance Weekends". Ken Medek left the station in September 1998 to return to WKRZ.[10]

Cox Ownership

Atlanta-based Cox Media acquired the station in 1998.[11] When Cox Radio took over WBLI, it evolved into a more mainstream CHR with less dance product (though still more than most other CHR's) and a tighter playlist of hits. New imaging station voices was added to replace Billy, like Kurt Flood, Mark Driscoll, with Jennifer Vaughn, and the late great Brian James, but then on March the 29th, of 2006 incredible voice actor Beau Weaver took over as the new voice of 106.1 'BLI as well as an all brand spankin' new jingle package was debuted at the same time.

In June 2019, Cox announced it would sell the majority interest in its radio stations to Apollo Global Management.[12] The new broadcasting company will continue to use the name Cox Media.

Personalities

Previous Morning Shows

On July 11, 2016, Cooper Lawrence, formerly of WPLJ, and Anthony Michaels, took over mornings 5:30 - 9am on the station.[13] The show had its last broadcast on September 14, 2018.

On June 30, 2016, the station announced on its Facebook page that Dana and Jayson in the Morning had ended its run.[14] It featured Dana DiDonato, Jayson Prim, John Mingione (John Online), Shawn "Puffy The Producer" Novatt, and Ted Lindner with news and traffic.

Steve Harper (later with WKJY) had hosted "'BLI in the AM" for 25 years before being let go in the Summer of 2006. Maria Garcia (now an anchor with WCBS New York City) was the co-host since 1998. The show was called "Steve and Maria in the Morning." Maria left in 2005.[15] Dana DiDonato (later with KBZT in San Diego) joined Harper in January 2006.[16] Harper's last show was on July 19, 2006.[17] Dana then assumed hosting duties along with Randy Spears and Drew Appelbaum. Randy and Drew exited the station on December 16, 2010.[18]

On January 10, 2011, the radio station introduced "The New BLI in the Morning," which featured Dana with new co-host Jeffrey Jameson (later with WNEW-FM in New York City)[19] Shawn "Puffy The Producer" Novatt also returned. The show was syndicated to Cox sister station "Hot 100.9" WHTI in Richmond, Virginia, and renamed "Dana and Jeffrey in the Morning" on Monday, June 4, 2012. Syndication ended when WHTI was sold to another owner in June, 2013.

Jeffrey Jameson announced he was leaving in December, 2013. Jayson Prim (later with KBZT in San Diego) debuted on January 6, 2014.[20]

Controversy

On Wednesday, February 27, 2008, Randy of the "BLI in the Morning" show made a remark that offended a caller from Mastic, Long Island. He joked that she lived in a trailer park.[21] After the station received complaints regarding the remarks, and after Randy's refusal to apologize, he was suspended by station management.[22]

References

  1. ^ FCC.gov/WBLI
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WBLI
  3. ^ "WPAC FM Outlet Debuts Tomorrow" (PDF). The Advance. Patchogue New York. 1957-12-12. Retrieved 2015-10-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1958 page A-331
  5. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (23 January 1971). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 28–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (20 March 1971). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 27–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (6 February 1971). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 50–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ "Steve Harper Exits WBLI After 25 Years". All Access Music Group. July 19, 2006.
  9. ^ Williams, Stephen (March 23, 1994). "N.y. Company Plans To Buy Whcn Owner". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  10. ^ Fybush, Scott (September 18, 1998). "WERS Makes the Big Move". NorthEast Radio Watch.
  11. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 page D-308
  12. ^ BroadcastingCable.com "Cox Sells Radio Stations" June 26, 2019
  13. ^ "The Cooper Lawrence Show Will Take Over Mornings At WBLI/Long Island". All Access. July 5, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  14. ^ "Dana & Jayson Exit Wakeups On WBLI/Long Island". All Access. June 30, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  15. ^ "WBLI morning co-host tunes out". Long Island Business News. November 18, 2005. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  16. ^ "10 Questions with ... Dana DiDonato". All Access Music Group. July 26, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  17. ^ "Steve Harper Exits WBLI After 25 Years". All Access Music Group. July 19, 2006. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  18. ^ Amorim, Kevin (January 8, 2011). "WBLI morning team split up". Newsday. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  19. ^ Amorim, Kevin (January 8, 2011). "WBLI morning team split up". Newsday. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  20. ^ "Jeffrey Exiting, Jayson Incoming As Morning Co-Host At WBLI". All Access Music Group. December 17, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  21. ^ Fybush, Scott (2008-03-03). "This Week's Bloodbath: Citadel". NorthEast Radio Watch.
  22. ^ WBLI morning show co-host suspended for comment - Cox Radio Incorporated - Newsday.com
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