WUPI

WUPI
Broadcast areaAroostook County, Maine
Frequency91.1 MHz
BrandingThe Owl
Programming
FormatTop 40 Hit Radio
Ownership
OwnerUniversity of Maine System
WMEB-FM, WMPG, WUMF, WUMM
History
First air date
July 26,1973[1]
Former frequencies
91.1 MHz (1973–1978)
90.3 MHz (1978–1983)
92.1 MHz (1983-2024)
Call sign meaning
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Technical information
Facility ID69317
ClassA
ERP500 watts[2]
HAAT−12.0 meters (−39.4 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
46°40′15″N 68°1′0″W / 46.67083°N 68.01667°W / 46.67083; -68.01667
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitewp.umpi.edu/wupi/

WUPI (91.1 FM; "The Owl") is a student-run radio station licensed to Presque Isle, Maine. Owned by the University of Maine at Presque Isle, the station has an ERP of 500 watts. It airs a Top 40 hits format.

History

WUPI was licensed July 26, 1973, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz with 10 watts of power. WUPI changed frequencies in April 1978 moving to 90.3 MHz, and finally went to 92.1 MHz in 1983, which included an upgrade to 17 watts. In July 2006, the station relocated from its previous location in the basement of Normal Hall to a new home at the center of the university campus. WUPI's antenna is currently located on top of Emerson Hall.[3]

In December 2009, the station moved once again to a larger facility in Normal Hall, in order to combine student media resources for the University. After playing a hybrid of Adult Contemporary and Top 40 for about 10 months in 2010, the station switched to a Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) format. A few months later, a computerized automation system was installed, and online streaming capabilities were added.[3]

In 2016, with the closure of Normal Hall, the station began broadcasting its current location in Folsom/Pullen, one of the university's classroom buildings. Two years later, WUPI changed its slogan from "Presque Isle's New #1 Hit Music Station" to "UMPI & Presque Isle's #1 Hit Music Station". The next year, 2019, WUPI introduced a new logo created by the university's Marketing Club.[4]

Power increase

On August 28, 2024, WUPI returned to its original frequency, 91.1 FM, in conjunction with a power increase to 500 watts ending 50 years as a low power station.[3] As a result of the increase, the station can now be received as far as 15 miles from the campus, though reception in its fringe coverage area depends on the terrain.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2009 (PDF). 2009. p. D-335. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "WUPI-FM Technical Details". radio-locator.com. Radio-Locator. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "About WUPI". umpi.edu. University of Maine at Presque Isle. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  4. ^ "WUPI 92.1". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  5. ^ "Coverage Area: WUPI-FM". radio-locator.com. Radio-Locator. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about Radio-Locator Coverage Maps". radio-locator.com. Radio-Locator. Retrieved December 19, 2024.