Channel X Radio

For New Zealand radio station, see Channel X (New Zealand radio station).

Channel X Radio (WCXU/WCXX/WCXV)

WCXU: Caribou, Maine WCXX: Madawaska, Maine WCXV: Van Buren, Maine
Broadcast area	Aroostook County, Maine
Frequency	WCXU: 97.7 MHz WCXX: 102.3 MHz WCXV: 98.1 MHz
Branding	Channel X Radio
Programming
Format	Adult contemporary/Oldies Full-Service
Affiliations	CBS Radio News AP News
Ownership
Owner	CanXus Broadcasting Corporation
History
First air date	WCXU: November 15, 1986 WCXX: January 30, 1988 WCXV: 2006
Call sign meaning	Channel X
Technical information
Facility ID	WCXU: 65497 WCXX: 65498 WCXV: 76041 W276AY: 8555
Class	WCXU: C3 WCXX: A WCXV: A W276AY: D
ERP	WCXU: 20,000 watts WCXX: 1,200 watts WCXV: 6,000 watts W276AY: 50 watts
HAAT	WCXU: 97 meters WCXX: 129 meters WCXV: 1 meter W276AY: -90 meters
Translator(s)	103.1 W276AY (Fort Kent, relays WCXX)
Links
Website	channelxradio.com

Channel X Radio is a network of adult contemporary/oldies/full-service formatted American radio stations in Aroostook County, Maine. With studios in Caribou the stations are heard through various transmitters throughout Aroostook County.

History

The CanXus Broadcasting Corporation was founded in Maine in May 1986. Shortly after that, CanXus submitted an application to put a 3,000–watt transmitter on the Green Ridge Road, or on the Caribou/Fort Fairfield town line. On November 15, 1986 at 6:00 p.m., WCXU Caribou began operation on 97.7 MHz. The studios and offices were in a single-wide trailer while the transmitter was 400 feet away.

With a 3 kW signal and a small transmitter, people north of Caribou couldn't get the signal. Madawaska was the first place to get a satellite station. On January 30, 1988 WCXX 102.3 Madawaska began atop 11th Avenue Extension in a tiny studio, rebroadcasting WCXU. The signal reached all the way to Caribou.

Because of the valley-like nature, and the small power that WCXX transmits, the signal is degraded in most of Fort Kent. In late 1994, CanXus applied for W276AY on 103.1 MHz. This very small signal is located near the Northern Maine Medical Center and reaches only Fort Kent and surrounding towns. At the same time WCXU doubled its power to 6 kW, then later increased the output to 20 kW. Now the signal can go all the way to Houlton and Fort Kent in a 45 miles (70 km) radius. Since then, the transmitter building has doubled in size, the transmitter has become a little bigger (now Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT) of 90 m) and in 1998, Channel X moved to its new studio-office with state-of-the-art computerized broadcasting equipment.

In late 2006 WCXV in Van Buren began to simulcast Channel X Radio. It broadcast at a lower power until December 27, 2007 when WCXV began broadcasting at the full 6 kW. Recently CanXus changed their construction permit to decrease its HAAT to 1 m.

Programing

Channel X Radio plays a mix of adult contemporary, oldies, and local music. It is home to one of the longest running oldies and retro music programs in the region. Furthermore, Channel X Radio covers local events and broadcasts live interviews from around the region. The station broadcasts local sports updates and news stories on a daily basis.

External links

• WCXU in the FCC FM station database
• WCXU in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• WCXX in the FCC FM station database
• WCXX in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• WCXV in the FCC FM station database
• WCXV in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• W276AY in the FCC FM station database
• W276AY at FCCdata.org