WNSX

Winter Harbor, Maine
Broadcast area	Downeast Maine
Frequency	97.7 MHz
Branding	Star 97.7
Programming
Format	Classic hits
Ownership
Owner	Stony Creek Broadcasting, LLC
History
First air date	1999
Technical information
Facility ID	66712
Class	B
ERP	50,000 watts
HAAT	149 meters (489 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	44°33′13″N 68°5′40″W / 44.55361°N 68.09444°W / 44.55361; -68.09444
Links
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	Star977.com

WNSX (97.7 MHz Star 97.7) is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting a classic hits radio format. The station signed on in 1999 as WNSX. Licensed to Winter Harbor, Maine, the station's studios and offices are on Maine State Route 3 (High Street) in Ellsworth. It serves Downeast Maine, including Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Bucksport, and Machias.

WNSX is owned by Stony Creek Broadcasting, LLC.^[1] WNSX's music format is a mix which includes classic rock artists such as The Eagles, Genesis, Boston, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel and Elton John, but avoids pop artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince. The station uses the slogan "Smooth Rock 'n' Roll" to indicate it does not play rock songs that are too hard-edged.

WNSX's transmitter is off Tunk Lake Road in Sullivan.^[2] The station's primary signal serves Hancock and Washington Counties.

History

Maine businessman Scott Hogg was granted a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission to build a new FM station at 97.7 in the mid-1990s. It used the call sign WAKN before making it to the air.^[3]

The station signed on in 1999 as WNSX.^[4] It originally simulcast its then-sister station WMDI (now WBKA).

In 2001, the station was purchased by Clear Channel Communications for $1.1 million. It began simulcasting the classic rock format of its sister station 101.7 WFZX. WNSX later flipped to a sports radio format, carrying Fox Sports Radio for several years before returning to a simulcast of WFZX.

In 2005, the station was sold to Stony Creek Broadcasting, with Mark L. Osborne as managing member. The cost was $800,000.^[5] WNSX then switched to its current format of classic hits.^[6]