WEST BATH
Bob Bittner, a West Bath resident and owner of Bath’s WJTO, recently purchased two additional Maine radio stations — WLAM Lewiston-Auburn (AM 1470) and WLVP Greater Portland (AM 870).
Because both stations have directional antennae, and each one serves its own market, historically they have both broadcast the same programming, a tradition Bittner will continue.
As with Bittner’s other stations, the new additions are music-intensive, presenting the hits of the 1940s through the 1980s. While WJTO (AM and FM) plays the hits plus album tracks and attractive instrumentals mixed in, the two new stations play solely the hits.
This month, Bittner will be adding two one-day-perweek music formats to WLAM and WLVP. Every Friday, it will be rock ’n’ roll party day. And every Saturday, it will be all country oldies; as Bittner calls it, “The greatest cowboy hits from the ’40s through the ’80s.” That includes Bob Wills, Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, Johnny Cash, Crystal Gayle, Statler Brothers and more.
Essentially, Bittner’s broadcast plan is playing varied types of popular music that other stations have found to be way too old-fashioned.
While Bittner was a frequent visitor to coastal Maine as far back as 1963 as a 13 year old, his first Maine station purchase was in March 1997, WJTO, which is situated on Berry’s Mill Pond in West Bath. Prior to 1997, Bittner purchased WJIB (740) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1991. Then came stations in Manchester, New Hampshire; Worcester, Massachusetts, and Brunswick, Maine; the latter three he sold.
Since WJTO-AM, Bittner has added the 98.3 FM station and WJYE (1280 AM) in Gardiner
Augusta, and now this new pair, which he purchased from Binnie Media of Portland, owner of the popular “Frank FM” stations, “The Wolf,” and others.
All of Bittner’s stations air no commercials, but are listener-supported. Bittner takes no salary or payments of any kind from the listeners’ support, as Bittner’s broadcast endeavors are his hobby.
“I just love music along with the radio medium,” he said.
Bittner has been in the radio business since 1970, starting out while in college at a commercial FM “progressive rock” station in Rochester, New York.
Rock & country
• THIS MONTH, Bittner will be adding two one-day-per-week music formats to WLAM and WLVP. Every Friday, it will be rock ’n’ roll party day. And every Saturday, it will be all country oldies; as Bittner calls it, “The greatest cowboy hits from the ’40s through the ’80s.” That includes Bob Wills, Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, Johnny Cash, Crystal Gayle, Statler Brothers and more.
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