A concept which was widely dismissed as a risky proposition several years ago has become a much emulated one now.

The latest example of how a relatively small population area like Eastern Maine has become a hotbed for sports radio programming is the upcoming conversion of Winter Harbor rock station WNSX (97.7 FM) to an all-sports format.

“We’ve been looking at this opportunity a little over a year now,” said Jim Herron, vice-president and general manager for Clear Channel Radio Maine, the ownership group for WNSX and other area stations.

The final catalyst for the change was a three-week listener study Clear Channel conducted last year in the station’s general listening area, which covers Bangor, Ellsworth and Bar Harbor.

“We learned there was a steady absolute interest and diet for sports in this area,” Herron said.

The 50,000-watt station will directly compete with Bangor all-sports station WZON (620 AM), which is in its 10th year of sports broadcasting.

WNSX, which now simulcasts the classic rock format of Bangor sister station WFZX (101.7 FM), will continue to carry the nationally-syndicated Bob and Tom Show from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays along with WFZX, but will switch to all-sports programming – including local high school games – after 10 a.m.

Herron hopes to make the format switch next month.

“We built a new building in Target Circle [in Bangor] and we take occupancy Jan. 20,” Herron said. “We hope to be on with our new format sometime in early February or earlier.”

New England Patriots broadcasts, currently heard on WFZX, will still be heard on either WFZX or WNSX. Station officials will decide which one airs the games later this year.

WNSX, which Clear Channel has owned for two years, will also carry Portland Sea Dogs and possibly Boston Celtics game broadcasts, Fox Sports Radio Network programming such as the Jim Rome Show, and local sports such as high school soccer and basketball.

Rockland all-sports station WRKD (1450 AM), another Clear Channel station, will be switching solely to Fox Sports programming when WNSX debuts its all-sports format.

“WRKD has been splitting programming with Fox and ESPN, but we will be going to all-Fox programming,” Herron said. “The listeners tell us they like the energy and taste and enthusiasm of the Fox stuff better than ESPN.”

Herron and Jeff Pierce, director of operations for Clear Channel Bangor/Ellsworth, have plenty of ideas for WNSX programming, many of which have already been or will soon be implemented.

“We’re very excited about this. We really feel this is going to be a wonderful thing for coastal area, which would give them the only sports station that comes in clearly,” said Pierce. “The Downeast area has been severely limited regarding access to sports programming on the radio.”

Clear Channel now owns four all-sports stations in Maine with WRKD, WNSX, WIGY Madison (97.5 FM) and Gardiner’s WFAU (1280 AM).

The proposed new programming lineup for WNSX shapes up like this: Weekdays – Bob and Tom Show, 6-10 a.m.; Jim Rome, noon-3 p.m.; Kiley and Booms, 3-7 p.m.; Steve Czaban, 7-10 p.m.; J.T. the Brick, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.; Jim Daniels (Sunday through Thursday mornings) 2-5 a.m. and Jason Smith (Fridays). Saturdays – Fore Play Saturdays, 8-10 a.m.; Stephen A. Smith and Scott Kaplan, 10 a.m.-noon; We are There Saturdays with Chris Rose, Mike Lamb and Craig Shemon, noon-8 p.m.; Steve Mason, 8 p.m.-midnight. Sundays – Big Show Racing with John Boy and Billy, 7-9 a.m.; Best Damn Sports Show Period, 9-11 a.m.; Warren Moon and J.T. the Brick, 11 a.m.-noon; NFL on Fox, 1-8 p.m.; We are There Sundays with Billy Ray Smith, John Ireland, Jim Lampley and Steve Mason, 1-8 p.m.; and Sports Wrapup Tonight with Shemon, 8-11 p.m.

Station/sports directors George Hale (WABI Bangor, 910 AM), Don Shields (WRKD), and Mike Estrada (WFAU, WIGY) will aid Herron and Pierce during the changeovers.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or aneff@bangordailynews.net