List of radio stations in New Hampshire

The list of radio stations in New Hampshire comprises all commercial and non-commercial AM and FM radio stations, including full-power and low-power facilities, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast within the state, serving local communities with formats ranging from news, talk, and public affairs to various music genres.^[1] As of November 2025, there are 115 such stations, including 7 AM outlets and 108 FM stations (encompassing low-power FM facilities).^[2] New Hampshire's radio broadcasting landscape reflects its small population of about 1.4 million and compact geography, with stations concentrated in key markets like Manchester-Nashua (the state's largest), Portsmouth-Dover, and Concord, while also extending coverage to rural areas in the north and west.^[3] The New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters (NHAB), a voluntary trade organization, represents these stations and advocates for their interests at the state and federal levels.^[4] A prominent feature is the statewide public radio network operated by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR), a nonprofit member of National Public Radio that broadcasts from 14 transmitter sites across the state, delivering award-winning journalism, cultural programming, and emergency information.^[5] Commercial stations, including those affiliated with iHeartMedia, dominate music and talk formats, with popular outlets like WZID (95.7 FM) in Manchester focusing on adult contemporary and WGIR-FM (101.1 FM) on rock.^[6] Overall, these stations contribute to a diverse media environment regulated by the FCC to ensure local service and interference-free operations.^[7]

Overview

Historical development

Radio broadcasting in New Hampshire began in 1922 with the establishment of WKAV, an experimental station operated by a local radio club in Laconia, which later evolved into WHNM and marked the state's inaugural broadcast outlet.^[8][9] The station's launch reflected the national surge in amateur and experimental radio activities following the commercialization of broadcasting in the early 1920s. Growth accelerated during the late 1920s and 1930s, spurred by the federal Radio Act of 1927, which created the Federal Radio Commission to allocate frequencies and reduce interference, enabling more structured expansion.^[10] This regulatory framework facilitated the addition of early AM stations in key urban centers, such as WFEA in Manchester in 1932, New Hampshire's oldest continuously operating station, and others in Concord by the mid-1930s, serving growing populations in industrial and governmental hubs.^[11] Post-World War II, the 1940s and 1950s witnessed significant expansion as wartime restrictions lifted and demand for entertainment and news rose. AM broadcasting proliferated with commercial operations, while FM technology emerged in the late 1940s, exemplified by WMUR-FM's sign-on in Manchester around 1948, offering improved sound quality and less static compared to AM.^[12] This period saw a shift toward advertiser-supported models, with stations like WKXL in Concord launching in 1946 to provide local programming amid the economic boom.^[13] The Telecommunications Act of 1996 profoundly impacted New Hampshire's radio landscape by eliminating national ownership caps on radio stations, leading to widespread consolidation as larger groups acquired local outlets and reduced independent operations.^[14] In the 2000s, select stations adopted HD Radio for digital multicasting, enhancing audio fidelity and allowing simultaneous sub-channels, though adoption remained limited.^[15] By the 2010s, online streaming integrated with traditional over-the-air broadcasts, expanding reach beyond geographic limits. The New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters, founded in 1954, has since advocated for local stations' interests through policy engagement and professional support.^[16]

Current broadcasting environment

New Hampshire's radio landscape in 2025 is characterized by several key markets that drive broadcasting activity. The largest is Manchester-Nashua, serving a metro population exceeding 400,000 and reaching over 500,000 potential listeners through a dense cluster of AM and FM signals, many simulcast from nearby Boston due to proximity.^[3] Other significant markets include Portsmouth-Dover in the Seacoast region, with strong coverage for coastal communities and cross-border listeners from Maine, and the Concord-Lakes Region area, focusing on central and northern audiences; smaller markets like Laconia and Claremont provide localized service to rural pockets.^[17][18] The state hosts approximately 115 active radio outlets, comprising 6 AM stations, 109 FM stations (including low-power FM facilities), with roughly 80% operating commercially and 20% as non-commercial entities.^[2] Dominant formats reflect regional tastes, including country music led by stations like WOKQ-FM in Dover, news/talk outlets such as WGIR-FM in Manchester, the statewide public radio network of New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR), and classic rock programming exemplified by Rock 101 (WZID-FM).^[6][19] These formats cater to diverse audiences, with public radio emphasizing in-depth news and cultural content.^[20] Listener engagement remains robust, with national trends indicating that about 85% of adults aged 25-64 tune into radio weekly, a pattern mirrored in New Hampshire amid growing integration of digital extensions like podcasts and streaming apps such as iHeartRadio; NHPR alone reaches nearly 200,000 weekly radio listeners as of 2025.^[21][22] Economically, major ownership groups like iHeartMedia, which operates multiple stations in Manchester, and Binnie Media, a regional player with assets across New Hampshire and Maine serving over 580,000 weekly listeners, dominate the market, though stations face ongoing challenges from digital media competition since 2020, including shifts toward streaming and podcasts that have pressured traditional ad revenues.^[6][19] Regulatory aspects continue to shape the environment, with the FCC's 2013 expansion of LPFM licensing enabling new non-commercial stations in rural areas to fill coverage gaps, and persistent spectrum management efforts addressing interference near borders with Massachusetts and Maine.^[23][24]

Active radio stations

AM stations

The AM radio band in New Hampshire features 25 full-power stations licensed within the state, providing a mix of news/talk, oldies, sports, and religious programming to local communities. These stations operate under FCC regulations that often require directional antennas to minimize interference, particularly on shared frequencies, and many reduce power at night to protect distant clear-channel stations. For instance, class B and D stations like WGIR (610 AM) in Manchester use multiple tower arrays for daytime coverage up to 5,000 watts while dropping to 1,000 watts or less after sunset, ensuring compliance with international agreements and domestic allocation rules.^[25] Some stations also simulcast with FM translators or offer hybrid digital broadcasts via HD Radio for improved audio quality, though adoption remains limited due to AM's traditional analog focus. Border stations licensed in adjacent states, such as Vermont's WDEV (550 AM) in Fairlee and Massachusetts' WBZ (1030 AM) in Boston, are receivable across much of New Hampshire, especially in the northern and southern regions, and serve as key sources of regional news and talk programming. These out-of-state outlets are noted in the table below where they provide significant coverage to NH listeners. The following table lists all active full-power AM stations licensed in New Hampshire, sorted by frequency, along with key details. Data is current as of November 2025. Border Stations Serving New Hampshire (Selected Examples):

FM stations

The FM radio band in New Hampshire hosts approximately 40 full-power stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), operating between 88 and 108 MHz and offering diverse formats such as public radio, country, classic rock, and adult contemporary, with stereo broadcasting standardized since the FCC's 1961 approval of the multiplex system. These stations provide high-fidelity audio and wide coverage, with many employing HD Radio technology for subchannel multicasting to deliver additional content streams like niche music or talk programming. Station classes vary by location and power limits, including Class A (up to 3,000 watts ERP for rural areas), Class B1 (up to 25,000 watts for suburban coverage), and Class B (up to 50,000 watts for major markets like Manchester), ensuring tailored signal propagation across the state's terrain from the Seacoast to the White Mountains.^[7] In the Seacoast region around Portsmouth-Dover, stations emphasize pop and country formats for commuter audiences, while the Lakes Region near Laconia features robust coverage of adult contemporary and sports programming.^[37] The New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) network utilizes multiple FM outlets for statewide news and classical music simulcasts.^[38] The following table lists all active full-power FM stations in New Hampshire, sorted by frequency, with details on call sign, city of license, format, effective radiated power (ERP), class, owner, and HD subchannels where applicable. Data is current as of November 2025 and excludes low-power FM, translators, and AM simulcasts.^[37] This inventory reflects the state's broadcasting landscape, where commercial owners like iHeartMedia dominate urban markets with high-power Class B signals, while public and religious entities serve rural Class A outlets.^[37][1]

Low-power FM stations and translators

Low-power FM (LPFM) stations and FM translators in New Hampshire serve to extend coverage, fill signal gaps in rural and urban areas, and provide niche programming that full-power stations may not address. LPFM stations, authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) since 2000 under the Low Power FM Radio Service, operate at effective radiated powers (ERP) of 100 watts or less, typically covering a radius of 3.5 miles or fewer, and are restricted to noncommercial educational uses to promote localism and community voices.^[23] The 2010 Local Community Radio Act lifted third-adjacent channel interference protections, enabling a 2013 filing window that significantly expanded LPFM allocations nationwide, including in New Hampshire where stations now emphasize college, high school, ethnic, religious, and community content. FM translators, by contrast, rebroadcast signals from primary stations at low power (often 10-250 watts) to improve reception in underserved areas, without originating unique programming; many in the state relay public radio or commercial formats to remote regions like the White Mountains.^[42] LPFM stations in New Hampshire, often owned by municipalities, schools, universities, or nonprofits, focus on local engagement and avoid commercial advertising. Below is a representative list of active LPFM stations, sorted by frequency, highlighting their community roles. These stations exemplify LPFM's role in serving specific communities, such as ethnic groups in urban Manchester or rural audiences in Bethlehem, often filling gaps left by full-power signals.^[24] FM translators, numbering over 20 active in the state, primarily extend public and commercial broadcasts to remote areas like the North Country or Seacoast region, with powers typically under 250 watts and no original content. Many are operated by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) to ensure statewide news and classical music access. Representative examples, sorted by frequency, include NHPR-affiliated units and others rebroadcasting regional signals. Other notable translators include W253AF 98.5 Bennington (rebroadcasts WNNH 1340 AM Nashua, talk format, owned by iHeartMedia; restored 2023 after move-in dispute) for southern coverage gaps, and W219CC 91.7 Moultonborough (rebroadcasts WHPW 97.7 Gorham, public radio, owned by NHPR affiliate).^[55] These low-ERP signals, regulated under FCC rules to avoid interference, enhance access in areas like Jefferson (e.g., WCGY-FM 97.3 translator extensions) without duplicating full-power services.^[42]

Defunct radio stations

Discontinued AM stations

Several AM radio stations in New Hampshire have discontinued operations since the early 20th century, often due to economic pressures, regulatory changes, or shifts toward FM broadcasting. These closures reflect broader trends in the AM band, including the 1927 federal reallocation of frequencies that eliminated many early experimental stations and the post-1996 Telecommunications Act mergers that consolidated ownership and led to unviable outlets shutting down.^[8] The following table catalogs notable discontinued AM stations, organized chronologically by approximate end of operations or license deletion. Details include call sign, frequency, city of license, active years (where documented), primary format, reason for closure, and any successor or reassignment. Many of these closures occurred in the 2000s and 2010s, driven by the migration of audiences to FM for better audio quality and the rise of digital media, rendering AM stations less economically sustainable.^[57] In the 2020s, additional silences were exacerbated by pandemic-related financial strains, though not all led to immediate license deletions. Historical broadcasts and records from discontinued stations are preserved in archives maintained by the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters (NHAB) and the Library of Congress, providing valuable insights into the state's radio heritage.^[57]

Discontinued FM stations

Discontinued FM stations in New Hampshire represent a small fraction of the state's broadcasting history, as the FM band has generally proven more resilient than AM due to its dominance in music, talk, and public radio formats. Since the introduction of low-power FM (LPFM) licenses by the FCC in 2000, community and nonprofit groups have launched numerous stations to serve local audiences, but many have faced closure from funding shortages, operational costs, and competition from digital streaming. These stations typically operated with limited power (under 100 watts), making them susceptible to financial instability, with closures often resulting in license surrenders or FCC cancellations after prolonged silence.^[23] A prominent example is WPVH (90.7 FM), licensed to Plymouth and operated by the Wentworth Baptist Church from 2005 to 2013. The station broadcast a Christian format aimed at the Lakes Region community, featuring religious programming and music, but ceased operations amid challenges including low listener support and maintenance expenses, leading to the voluntary surrender of its license on December 17, 2013.^[59] Similarly, the 91.5 MHz LPFM facility in Bow, initially launched as WCNH in 2011 by New Hampshire Public Radio, provided classical music to the Concord area until it went silent and was renamed WSPS. Its license was surrendered in April 2022 after becoming redundant following NHPR's 2020 acquisition of another classical signal from St. Anselm College, allowing the network to consolidate resources.^[60] Other notable LPFM closures include WJSK-LP (Bartlett, 2010s, funding issues), WKHP-LP (Keene, 2010s, operational challenges), and WQNH-LP (Deerfield, 2020s, low support). In the early 2010s, LPFM vulnerabilities were highlighted by closures like WXND-LP (107.3 FM) in Etna, which aired an adult album alternative format from 2010 until going silent in 2011 due to insufficient funding for the nonprofit operator nDimension; the FCC cancelled its license in 2015. Community LPFM stations, reliant on grants and donations, have been particularly affected by the shift to online audio platforms since the mid-2010s, reducing ad revenue and listener donations.^[23] Upon discontinuation, many FM frequencies in New Hampshire are reallocated by the FCC for boosters, translators, or new applicants, preserving spectrum efficiency. For instance, slots vacated by LPFM stations have supported FM translators extending AM coverage in rural areas, while some have enabled HD Radio subchannels for expanded programming.