GBH-FM90..... "frequency shorthand"

[LJNF40D@prodigy.com (BUMP MARTIN)]

>One of the more curious "frequency shorthand" cases I recall involved
>WGBH-FM.  After decades of announcing themselves as being on 89.7, in 
(I
>think) 1980 they started calling themselves "FM 90."  This was right at
>the time when digital frequency readouts on radios were no longer an
>expensive novelty and it was clear to any observer of the hi-fi scene
>that within a few years nearly all new radios would have this feature.

If I am correct......this also at the time when WGBH-FM decided to
decimate their news department.....and hand over the news mantle to WBUR
?  

To think that they thought they could/would be able to thrive as simply
a 'music station'......and leaving WBUR to become "Boston's NPR News
Station".  

At the same time NPOR stations around the country were increasing their
dedication to news, talk, public affairs programming....

A decision they probably regret to this day.  I remember the press
release saying that whover the announcer/host on duty was, he/she would
be simply reading wire copy.

Funny, with the "GBH" organization behind them....they missed the boat
about being a station that has real impact on the Boston market than
they do now.  

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