WLZX-FM (99.3 MHz) is a radio station in Northampton, Massachusetts. The station has an active rock format, and is owned by Saga Communications. The station is also simulcast on WLZX (1600 AM) and translator station W253CD (98.5 FM), both in East Longmeadow, as well as the HD2 channel of WAQY (102.1 FM) in Springfield.
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Broadcast area | Springfield, Massachusetts |
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Frequency | 99.3 MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | Lazer 99.3 & 98.5 |
Programming | |
Format | Active rock |
Subchannels | HD2: Classic hits "Rewind 94.3" HD3: Oldies "Pure Oldies 96.9" |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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WAQY, WHAI, WHMP, WIZZ, WPVQ-FM, WRSI | |
History | |
First air date | 1956 | as WHMP-FM
Former call signs | WHMP-FM (1956-2000) WLZX (2000-2017) |
Call sign meaning | "Lazer" |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 46963 |
Class | A |
ERP | 5,800 watts |
HAAT | 101 meters (331 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°22′26″N 72°40′23″W / 42.374°N 72.673°W |
Translator(s) | 98.5 W253CD (East Longmeadow, relays 1600 WLZX) HD2: 94.3 W232BW (Amherst) HD3: 96.9 W245BK (Amherst) |
Repeater(s) | 1600 WLZX (East Longmeadow) 102.1 WAQY-HD2 (Springfield) |
Links | |
Public license information |
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Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) Listen Live (HD3) |
Website | lazer993.com myrewind943.com (HD2) pureoldies969.com (HD3) |
WLZX-FM and WLZX air an active rock format. However, WLZX (AM), along with its FM translator, breaks away to carry Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics games.
WLZX-FM began when the station was purchased from Clear Channel, which operated 99.3 as WHMP-FM, the "Rock Alternative".[2] Lazer 99.3 went live on September 11, 2000.[3]
On February 3, 2017, WLZX-FM rebranded as "Lazer 99.3 & 105.1" and began simulcasting on WLZX (1600 AM, formerly WHNP) and FM translator W286DB (105.1 FM) in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. As WHNP, the 1600 AM facility had simulcast the talk format of sister station WHMP.[4] The station subsequently rebranded as "Lazer 99.3 & 98.5", in reflection of the translator's move to 98.5 FM as W253CD.[5]
The WLZX stations switched to an alternative rock format in the summer of 2017, but returned to the active rock format at 6:00 a.m. on February 4, 2020. The stations added The Toucher and Rich Show, a syndicated morning show based at WBZ-FM in Boston, on May 9, 2022;[6] they dropped the program in 2023.[7]
In addition to W253CD (98.5), which is fed by WLZX (AM), WLZX-FM has two translators: W232BW (94.3) in Amherst at 250 watts, which simulcasts its HD2 channel, a classic hits station branded as "Rewind 94.3";[8] and W245BK (96.9), also a 250-watt facility in Amherst, which simulcasts WLZX-FM's HD3 channel, an oldies station branded as "Pure Oldies 96.9".[9][10]