WQDY-FM

"WALZ" redirects here. For the surname, see Walz.

WQDY-FM (92.7 FM), on air as Classic Hits 92.7 & 95.3, is an American radio station licensed to Calais, Maine. The station simulcasts on WALZ-FM (95.3) in Machias, Maine. The station carries a classic hits format, with a heavy emphasis on local sports, including Boston Red Sox baseball. Previous to the station's owners buying WCRQ in 2003, WQDY-FM was also carried on WQDY (1230 AM).

WQDY-FM

WQDY office
Calais, Maine
Broadcast area	Downeast Maine and Saint John/Southwest New Brunswick
Frequency	92.7 MHz
Branding	Classic Hits 92.7 & 95.3
Programming
Format	Classic hits
Affiliations	Boston Red Sox Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	WQDY, Inc.
Sister stations	WCRQ
History
First air date	January 14, 1976 (1976-01-14)
Call sign meaning	Quoddy
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	73915
Class	A
ERP	3,000 watts
HAAT	91 meters (299 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	45°10′2″N 67°16′38″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Website	www.wqdy.fm
Simulcast
WALZ-FM
Machias, Maine United States
Frequency	95.3 MHz
Ownership
Owner	WQDY, Inc.
History
First air date	November 25, 1978 (1978-11-25)
Call sign meaning	Waltz (music)
Technical information[2]
Facility ID	54578
Class	A
ERP	3,000 watts
HAAT	67 meters (220 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	44°44′8″N 67°30′11″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS

History

WQDY launched on July 4, 1959. It originally broadcast on AM 1230. Founders John Vondell and John Foster established the station that year. In 1964, it was sold to Buffalo Bob Smith, best known as the host of children's television series Howdy Doody. Smith also had a summer home on Big Lake in Grand Lake Stream. Dan Hollingdale, who started at the station several months after it originally began, rose through the ranks to become station manager under Smith. Hollingdale bought the station from Smith in 1978.

In 1995, WQDY began simulcasting on WALZ-FM (95.3) in Machias, Maine. In 1996, 24/7 operation began on both stations when they were sold to Mike Goodine and Bill McVicar. Goodine had been station manager under Hollingdale. McVicar began career at the station in 1986 as an account executive and play-by-play announcer. In 1998, McVicar, Goodine and partner Roger Holst purchased WALZ-FM in Machias. In 2001, McVicar and Holst took over ownership.

In 2003, WQDY, Inc., acquired WCRQ (102.9 FM) from Citadel Broadcasting.