WHMP

WHMP (1400 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Northampton, Massachusetts, it serves the Pioneer Valley. It is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Northampton Radio Group. Its programming is also heard on translator station W268CZ (101.5 FM) in Northampton, and the second HD Radio channel of WRSI (93.9 FM) in Turners Falls.

WHMP
Broadcast areaPioneer Valley
Frequency1400 kHz
BrandingWHMP
Programming
FormatNews/talk
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
  • Saga Communications
  • (Saga Communications of New England, LLC)
WAQY, WHAI, WLZX, WLZX-FM, WPVQ-FM, WRSI
History
First air date
December 1950 (1950-12)[1]
Call sign meaning
Hampshire County
Technical information
Facility ID46962
ClassC
Power1,000 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
42°19′36.0″N 72°39′28.0″W
Translator(s)101.5 W268CZ (Northampton)[2]
Repeater(s)93.9 WRSI-HD2 (Turners Falls)
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitewhmp.com

In February 2014, WHMP on weekdays is broadcasting a mix of general interest and politically progressive oriented talk shows. These include the Kim Komando tech gadgets show, Wall Street Journal This Morning, the Ed Schultz Show, and the Thom Hartmann Show.[3]

Former simulcasts

During the 2000s and 2010s, WHMP was simulcast on WHMQ (1240 AM) in Greenfield and WHNP (1600 AM) in East Longmeadow (near Springfield). WHNP and WHMQ previously simulcast sister FM stations; WHNP was a simulcast of WAQY-FM (as WAQY,[4][5] WMRE,[4][5] and WPNT[6]) until 2000[7][8] (it carried a promotional loop for Six Flags New England for several months after dropping the WAQY simulcast[7][9]), while WHMQ repeated WHAI-FM (as WHAI) until 2001.[10]

WHMP's network of stations constituted part of a network of progressive talk stations throughout the northeastern United States that were owned by Saga Communications (others included WNYY in Ithaca, New York, and WKVT in Brattleboro, Vermont); these, in turn, were among the last progressive talk stations still on the air in early 2017. Because of the migration of most progressive talk shows to off-air platforms, Saga announced plans to drop the format from WNYY in Ithaca effective February 1, 2017;[11] WHNP received WNYY's translator under a policy that allows translators to be moved up to 250 miles from their original city of license.[12] On February 3, 2017, following the translator's move, WHNP dropped out of the simulcast with WHMP and became WLZX, a simulcast of WLZX-FM 99.3.[13]

Logo used with 96.9 translator

WHMP was previously carried on translator W245BK (96.9 FM) in Amherst. Following the launch of W268CZ, the 96.9 facility was repurposed as an oldies station, fed by the HD3 channel of WLZX-FM, in June 2018.[14] Until February 1, 2021, WHMQ in Greenfield had its own translator, W298CA (107.5 FM); that facility then launched a soft adult contemporary format originating from the HD2 channel of WPVQ-FM.[15]

Saga Communications surrendered WHMQ's license to the Federal Communications Commission on March 20, 2023, and it was cancelled the same day.

Translators
Broadcast translator for WHMP
Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)ClassFCC info
W268CZ 101.5 FMNorthampton, Massachusetts175DFMQ

References
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. pp. D-209–12. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  2. Most Recent Logo Of WHMP/WHMQ
  3. WHMP's published program schedule, retrieved February 8, 2014
  4. Fybush, Scott (January 18, 1997). "New England RadioWatch". Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  5. Fybush, Scott (February 28, 1997). "The Big Get Bigger". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  6. Fybush, Scott (May 21, 1999). "NHPR Goes North". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  7. Fybush, Scott (October 23, 2000). "WNSS Gets Funny, Utica Gets Buggy, Dodge Gets Arrested". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  8. Fybush, Scott (October 30, 2000). "Martin-Trigona -- He's Back!". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  9. Fybush, Scott (June 2, 2000). "What "Cooperation" Means". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  10. Fybush, Scott (February 5, 2001). "River Flows to New Home". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  11. Reynolds, Nick (January 11, 2017). "A Progressive Talk Station Goes Off Air. No, It's Not A Conspiracy". Ithaca Times. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  12. Fybush, Scott (January 16, 2017). Prog Talk Fades Away. NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  13. Laser 99.3 Adds Second Signal Radioinsight - February 3, 2017
  14. Venta, Lance (June 4, 2018). "Saga Launches Pure Oldies In Amherst MA". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. Venta, Lance (February 21, 2021). "Saga Gets EZ In Greenfield MA". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
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