Connoisseur Media Classic Hits “B103” WBZO Bay Shore, NY rebranded this morning as “103.1 Max-FM“.
Keeping its previous positioning as “Classic Hits Of The 70s, 80s And More”, WBZO is adding two hours of commercial-free music at 9:00am daily. The station will completely revamp its airstaff with Jim Douglas, most recently in mornings at CBS’ “Fresh 102.7” WWFS New York joining Kelly Dyson in mornings. Cluster OM Patrick Shea will take middays and takes on Program Director duties. Ralph Tortora, most recently hosting weekends at iHeartMedia’s “Q104.3” WAXQ New York fills the afternoon slot. Tortora previously spent many years working on Long Island at 102.3 WBAB and 103.9 WRCN.
Former afternoon host “Wiseman” moves to sister Standards 1100 WHLI as PD/Morning Host replacing Paul Richards. WBZO morning host Jim O’Brien exits.
The rebranding comes a year after WBZO shifted to its current Rock based Classic Hits format from a broader playlist. Connoisseur made similar moves after acquiring WDRC-FM Hartford, first shifting it to a Rock based playlist and then rebranding it to “102.9 The Whale“.
This morning we have some very exciting news to share with you about 103.1 FM. After a tremendous amount of research we have relaunched B103 as 103.1 MAX FM. Through the strategic purchase of WDRC in Hartford Ct, we have been able to expand the coverage area of 103.1 to provide full Nassau and Suffolk County coverage. The new MAXimized signal will give 103.1 MAX FM the ability to reach nearly 400,000 people that it did not reach in the past. The station will musically focus on artists like, Boston, Queen, The Rolling Stones and of course Long Islands own Billy Joel. Today, we launched with the Music and Monday we start with perhaps the most exciting on-air line up to be announced in years.
Listeners will start their day with “Jim and Kelly”….Jim Douglas returns to Long Island from NYC and is joined by Kelly Dyson. Our Middays will be hosted by Patrick Shea who has spent 12 Years as a Staple on WALK. Rounding out the Ride home is Ralph Tortora who we are proud to bring back from NYC to his Long Island roots.
As you can see…we remain committed to bring Long Island the friends they already know on the air and the music they love….MAXimized.
Marc B 
I see by doing a 2 hour commercial free-block they’re taking a page out of the play book of their sister station 102.9 The Whale in Hartford.
Just wait next thing MAX-FM will start airing liners attacking the competition for airing to many commercials.
The Whale has a liner similar to this.
“The River ran 11 minutes of commercials this hour. We ran zero.”