WBLI
| Company type | Commercial radio station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | December 13, 1957 in Patchogue, New York, United States |
| Headquarters | West Babylon, New York , United States |
Area served | Suffolk County, New York on Long Island |
| Products | Contemporary hit radio programming |
| Owner | Cox Media |
WBLI (106.1 FM) operates as a commercial radio station under the ownership of Cox Radio and holds its license in Patchogue, New York. It delivers a contemporary hit radio format, predominantly targeting listeners in Suffolk County, New York on Long Island. The station's studios and administrative offices are situated along Sunrise Highway (NY 27) in West Babylon, New York.
As a Class B FM broadcaster, WBLI transmits with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 49,000 watts, making it the most powerful station on Long Island. To prevent signal interference with neighboring channel stations WQXR-FM in Newark, New Jersey and WHCN in Hartford, Connecticut, both operating on 105.9 FM, WBLI employs a directional antenna system. Its transmitter is positioned in Farmingville, New York.
Initial period
The station began operations on December 13, 1957, under the call letters WPAC-FM as the FM counterpart to WPAC, owned by Patchogue Broadcasting Company. WPAC-FM simulcasted WPAC's content during daylight hours and continued broadcasting after WPAC ceased transmission at sunset due to its daytime-only license.
Originally equipped with 7,800 watts of power atop a 115-foot tower, WPAC-FM’s signal coverage was confined primarily to Western Suffolk County. It took numerous years before the station could considerably extend its broadcast range.
Contemporary hits era
In January 1971, Beck-Ross Communications—owners of WGLI in Babylon, New York—acquired the station. The call letters were changed to WBLI, and the station adopted a contemporary hits format branded as FM 106 WBLI. Initially operating from a trailer located behind the WPAC building in Medford, WBLI relocated to studios at 31 West Main Street in Patchogue by March 1971. Prominent disc jockeys during this period included George Taylor Morris and Al Bandiero.
On September 27, 1985, WBLI's transmission tower was destroyed by Hurricane Gloria.
Transition to Hot AC
By August 1991, as the popularity of CHR waned nationwide, WBLI shifted its format toward hot adult contemporary. Morning programming featured hosts Steve Harper and news director Ken Rhodes. The station offered themed weekend segments such as "Almost Made It But Didn't Weekend" and "The Ladies of the 80s Weekend," maintaining a playlist slightly more upbeat than that of New York City's WPLJ and WMXV.
In March 1994, Beck-Ross Communications was purchased by Liberty Broadcasting, which also owned Long Island stations WGBB and WBAB-FM.
Acquisition by Cox
In 1998, Cox Media based in Atlanta took ownership of WBLI. Under Cox's management, the station moved toward a more mainstream CHR format characterized by a more focused playlist and fewer dance tracks than in previous years.
In June 2019, Cox revealed plans to sell a majority stake in its radio properties to Apollo Global Management while continuing to operate under the Cox Media brand.
Former morning programs
Steve Harper led "BLI in the AM" for a quarter-century until mid-2006. Maria Garcia, who had co-hosted since 1998, departed in 2005. Dana DiDonato joined Harper in January 2006 and assumed hosting responsibilities alongside Randy Spears and Drew Appelbaum following Harper’s final broadcast on July 19, 2006. Randy and Drew exited the station in December 2010.
The station introduced "The New BLI in the Morning" on January 10, 2011, featuring Dana alongside new co-host Jeffrey Jameson with Shawn "Puffy The Producer" Novatt returning. This program was syndicated to Cox sister station WHTI in Richmond, Virginia under the title "Dana and Jeffrey in the Morning" from June 2012 until syndication ceased in June 2013 after WHTI was sold.
Jeffrey Jameson left in December 2013; Jayson Prim joined as co-host beginning January 2014. The show "Dana and Jayson in the Morning" concluded on June 30, 2016, with team members Dana DiDonato, Jayson Prim, John Mingione, Shawn Novatt, and Ted Lindner.
On July 11, 2016, Cooper Lawrence (formerly from WPLJ) and Anthony Michaels assumed morning duties until their final broadcast on September 14, 2018.
Controversy
On February 27, 2008, a caller from Mastic, Long Island, was offended by Randy, a host on the "BLI in the Morning" program, after he made a joke implying she resided in a trailer park. Due to listener complaints and Randy's decision not to issue an apology, the station's management chose to suspend him.
External links
- Translator