By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A radio station with deep roots in Aroostook County has undergone an ownership change, with Paul Decelles, president of Decelles-Smith Media, Inc., and his company resuming operation of WEGP.
WEGP has served the central Aroostook market since 1960.
From Aug. 1, 2010 to July 31, 2013, the A.M. station was owned and operated by Greg McNeil, president of Northern Maine Broadcasting. McNeil effectively transferred ownership to Decelles on Aug. 1. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Management positions at the station are as follows: Carla Thibodeau, of Caribou, serves as general sales manager; and Bryan Lawrence, of Easton, is the program director.
“My team and I consider this an opportunity to re-dedicate WEGP as a community asset,” said Decelles. “We are working on adding local news and sports content, to supplement the local weather that is already part of our broadcast day.”
“We are planning some programs that feature local business and political leaders. We believe that they will be good news and information sources, and offer great advertising opportunities as well,” added Decelles.
WEGP staff have made changes to its broadcast schedule, developing three distinct “day parts” for listeners and three different audiences for its advertisers.
Mornings (from 6 a.m. to noon) will be focused on news, lifestyle, money and health. WEGP features “The Wall Street Journal Report” from 6-7 a.m. “The Bill Bennett Show” follows from 7-10 a.m., and the industry’s highest-rated syndicated financial program, “The Dave Ramsey Show,” airs 10 a.m. to noon.
Afternoons will continue to be traditional news and talk. The Rush Limbaugh program — the nation’s highest-rated talk radio program — is broadcast from noon to 3 p.m., followed by the “Howe Carr Show,” New England’s most popular late-afternoon talk show until 7 p.m., said Decelles.
Evening programming begins at 7 p.m. and will be dedicated to sports.
“Live sports will include Red Sox baseball; Patriots football; NFL’s Sunday, Monday and Thursday games, including all playoff games including ‘Super Bowl 48’ in New York City on Feb. 2, 2014. WEGP will feature County high school basketball for the fourth season in a row. WEGP Sports Director Jim Carter will provide the play-by-play,” said Decelles.
In addition to its radio broadcast, Decelles said WEGP will feature live streaming of regular-season games from its website www.wegp.net.
“Streaming audio and video will also be available on smartphones and other electronic devices using WEGP’s mobile app. On evenings with no live games, NBC Sports Radio will provide live, national sports talk, news and highlights until midnight,” said Decelles.
