American Radio Systems, which had held an option to buy WBNW since its launch, traded this option to Salem Communications in 1996 in exchange for KDBX in Banks, Oregon. While WBNW initially announced that "there will be no change of owner" and that "as far as Peter Ottmar is concerned, no one has an option on the station," Salem exercised this option to in December 1996. As part of this transaction, that December 15, Salem changed WBNW's call letters to WEZE; and changed the station's format to Christian radio; in effect, this new WEZE licensed to Boston became the successor to the previous WEZE (1260 AM) licensed to Boston. Concurrently, the previous WEZE (1260 AM) changed its call letters to WPZE; and, after both simulcasting WEZE and airing a separate Christian format, was later divested (and became WMKI).