Branding 92 Pro FM Frequency 92.3 MHz | Slogan "Today's Hit Music" First air date April 17, 1948 | |
Broadcast area | ||
WPRO-FM (92.3 MHz "92 PRO-FM") is a commercial FM radio station in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR) radio format.
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The studios and offices are located in the Brine Broadcasting Center on Wampanoag Trail on the East Providence/Barrington line. The transmitter is off Ipswich Street in Cranston, Rhode Island.
History
WPRO-FM began broadcasting on April 17, 1948. It was owned by Cherry & Webb Broadcasting Company which in turn was owned by the Cherry & Webb Department Store. (In the early days of broadcasting, it was common for department stores to own radio stations, to provide programming for customers who bought receivers.) At first, WPRO-FM simulcast its AM sister station, 630 WPRO. In 1959, Capital Cities Communications acquired both WPRO and WPRO-FM. Through the 1960s and early 1970s, WPRO-FM aired a beautiful music format, while WPRO AM enjoyed high ratings with a Top 40 sound.
On April 29, 1974, at 3:00 PM, WPRO-FM changed formats from easy listening, joining its AM counterpart as a Top 40 outlet. Over time, the AM moved toward an Adult Top 40 sound, adding more information and service features, while WPRO-FM continued as a music-intensive Top 40 outlet. Capital Cities and ABC merged in 1985, and WPRO-AM-FM were then under the ownership of one of America's biggest broadcasting companies.
In December 1992, Capital Cities/ABC announced that the stations would be sold to Tele-Media, with the sale being consummated the following April. This put the station under common ownership with 790 WLKW (the former WEAN) and 105.1 WWLI. Tele-Media, in turn, sold its stations to Citadel Broadcasting in 1997. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
WPRO-FM is unique in the Providence media market in keeping the same call sign since its sign-on in 1948, and the same format, Top 40, since 1974.