WPUR


WPUR is a country music formatted radio station in Atlantic City, New Jersey. WPUR is more commonly known as "Cat Country 107.3". Its transmitter is located in Atlantic City, while studios are in Northfield, New Jersey.

History

107.3 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was granted the random WZZP call sign on March 17, 1997, and went on the air on February 28, 1998, with a mix of classic rock, oldies, and newer songs. This test broadcast was erratic and mostly heard on weekends through March 17, 1998. Chief engineer Tom McNally was the first voice heard on the station, as a "conducting equipment tests" message aired between the music.
On April 9 and 10, 1998, WZZP began broadcasting a mix of country songs. Later on April 10 and into April 11, listeners were inundated with the song "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba over and over. Another stunt format aired from April 12 to April 14, this time with all classic rock songs as "ZZ-107." From April 14 to April 17, CHR was featured with ID's only saying "107.3." This was expanded upon from April 17 to April 25, when more CHR songs were added to the playlist and the station's name shifted to "ZZ-107 The Zipper."
On April 25, 1998, "Fun 107" debuted with a Rhythmic CHR format, which was easy to do since WZZP's sister station, at the time, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, was "Fun 107" WFHN. Most people thought this was going to be the final format, but it was just another long drawn-out stunt that ultimately lasted for a little over two months.
At 3 p.m. on June 29, 1998, the real format and name finally debuted: "Cat Country 107.3," with "Fancy" by Reba McEntire as the station's first song. The call letters officially changed to WPUR on July 20, 1998.

Ownership

Spring Broadcasting, LLC, purchased the construction permit for 107.3 in Atlantic City from Radio-Vision II in the late 1990s. In November, 1999, Citadel Communications entered the Atlantic City market as it purchased Spring Broadcasting. In July, 2001, Citadel Communications sold WPUR and its Atlantic City sister stations to newly formed Millennium Radio Group for $19.4 million. In 2011, Millennium's radio stations were turned over to Townsquare Media.

Positioning

WPUR positions itself as "Cat Country 107.3," "#1 for new country." Originally, WPUR was positioned as "South Jersey's Hot New Country and later "Continuous Country Favorites." WPUR currently uses the 360 Country imaging service from TM Studios. Carter Davis served as the station's voiceover talent for years. All of Cat Country 107.3's previous jingle packages came from Reelworld.

Technical

WPUR is a class-B1 FM radio station, operating with 25,000 Watts ERP from an antenna 94 meters high on the WFPG tower in Atlantic City. Up until early 2008, WPUR's antenna was located on the roof of the Trump Taj Mahal casino on the Atlantic City boardwalk.
WPUR had a severe null in its signal over land until WSNJ-FM 107.7/Bridgeton, NJ, went off the air in February, 2004. When WSNJ-FM went off the air, WPUR was able to bring a full 25,000 Watt ERP signal over land.

Charity work

WPUR supports local non-profit organizations throughout Southern New Jersey. In addition, since 2000, WPUR has held annual two-day radiothons for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, raising over $1,000,000, and also holds a yearly quest for One Million Pennies for St. Jude.

Programming

Notable weekday on-air personalities include Cat Country Mornings With Joe & Rachel, Chelsea Corrine in mid-days, Chris Coleman in afternoon drive, and Taste of Country Nights with Sam Alex from 7PM to midnight. Joe Kelly also serves as the station's program director and Chris Coleman serves as the station's commercial production director.
Specialty weekend programming on WPUR includes Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton, Cat Classics, and Country Top 40 with Bob Kingsley.