After the March frequency swap between Country “Bigfoot 103.1” 840 WVPO/103.1 W276DG Stroudsburg and Classic Hits “Pocono 96.7” WABT-FM (turned WPCO) Lehman Township/97.3 W247AE East Stroudsburg, Seven Mountains Media has further revamped its Classic Hits brand.
What had become “Pocono 103.1” is now just “Poco 103” following the station’s relaunch at 9am today. Gary Cee, who served as General Manager and morning host for former owner Neversink Media, remains with the station now as Program Director and morning host. Cee joined the station in September 2020 after stints programming Alternative 92.7 WDRE/WLIR-FM Garden City NY from 1991 to 2003, Classic Rock 101.5 WPDH Poughkeepsie NY from 2003-2012, and serving as SVP/Programming for iHeartMedia Sussex NJ from 2013-20. WPCO will also feature Seven Mountains’ “The Nightclub with Kelli Gates”, which airs on all of the company’s Classic Hits stations, at night and themed weekends.
Seven Mountains Media today launches “POCO 103,” it was announced by WPCO Program Director Gary Cee. The Pennsylvania station was formerly known as Pocono 96.7 before being acquired from the Neversink Media Group earlier this year. A frequency flip with Bigfoot Poconos happened in March.
POCO 103’s formal sign-on will happen this morning following an official on-air proclamation from Stroudsburg mayor Michael Moreno. At 9am, Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” will signal the arrival of an exciting new station which will operate from the POCO Palace, a magical place not found on any map, according to Mr. Cee. The station today will feature warm messages of welcome from esteemed State Representatives and State Senators, as well as “America’s Greatest Hits” host Scott Shannon, whose program will air on Sunday mornings. Cake will be served.
“I’m nuts about this new station,” said Mr. Cee, whose resume includes programming stops at WLIR on Long Island, WPDH in Poughkeepsie and WNNJ in Sussex, New Jersey. Mr. Cee will host mornings and will continue to feature local Pocono musicians on Fridays in the POCO Showcase. “The Nightclub with Kelli Gates” will air in the evenings. Neil Wilson will be “the guy with the voice.” POCO 103 will feature Perfectly POCO Weekends, “All About the Women” weekends (nothing but female artists,) frequent “Heart-Shaped Tub Tuesdays,” and other sponsorable opportunities for an overeager sales staff.
“We are thrilled to offer our community another outstanding radio choice here in the Poconos,” said WPCO General Manager Pat Lincoln. “Seven Mountains Media has another way to help connect our listeners and advertisers – online, on-air and in person. Along with our digital platform, we have created a one-stop shop for reaching our market. We look forward to growing this new brand and serving our beautiful community for many years to come.”
POCO 103 will broadcast at 103.1FM and be heard on the Audacy app, the iHeartRadio app and through smart speakers. For time travelers arriving from the Fifties, the station will be heard on 840AM.
“Fun times ahead, nothing but positive vibes,” assured Mr. Cee. “There’s no ‘no’ in POCO 103.”
