WNBF-FM

Last updated

WNBF-FM was an FM radio station in Binghamton, New York, that began broadcasting, as W49BN, in 1942. It was the first commercial FM station authorized in the Southern Tier region. [1] WNBF-FM suspended operations and was deleted in 1952.

History

1945 advertisement showcasing the WNBF-FM transmitter site.
By 1950 WNBF-FM was generally a secondary outlet, primarily simulcasting WNBF (AM).

On October 31, 1940, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) awarded the first fifteen commercial FM station construction permits, including an assignment on 44.9 MHz in Binghamton to the Howitt-Wood Radio Company, [4] which was issued the call sign W49BN. [5] In early 1941 ownership was transferred to the Wylie B. Jones Advertising Agency. W49BN began broadcasting in 1942. [6] Effective November 1, 1943, the FCC modified its policy for FM call signs, [7] and the call letters were changed to WNBF-FM.

On June 27, 1945, the FCC announced the reassignment of the FM band to 80 channels from 88–106 MHz, which was soon expanded to 100 channels from 88–108 MHz. [8] [9] WNBF-FM was originally assigned to 96.3 MHz on the new band, [10] which was later changed to 100.5 MHz. [11] The FCC provided that, during a transitional period, stations could simultaneously broadcast on both their old and new frequencies.

WNBF-FM was the companion to AM station WNBF. WNBF-FM initially maintained a schedule separate from WNBF, including programming from the recently formed Continental Network. [12] However, to reduce expenses, in the mid-1940s it switched to primarily simulcasting the AM station. In 1950, Cecil D. Mastin, general manager of WNBF, WNBF-FM, and WNBF-TV, conducted a survey, soliciting listener letters to determine whether the money-losing operation of WNBF-FM should continue. The review found sufficient support, especially among listeners 25 to 50 miles (40 to 80 km) away, who had difficulty, especially at night, picking up the AM station. Mastin concluded that currently "Neither the number of sets nor the number of listeners is economically sufficient, but they are nevertheless substantial." Moreover, "The response to the survey shows me that we are not operating on barren ground but that FM is a young sapling worth cultivating", and "we realize that as more and better FM sets are made, our service is increased... So, perhaps the FM nag is getting out of the starting gate. Will she overcome her handicaps? Who knows! Anyway, we will continue to ride not one, not two, but all three-AM, FM, TV." [13]

However, the reprieve was short-lived, and the license for WNBF-FM was cancelled on August 11, 1952. [14] In 1955, Triangle Publications purchased WNBF, WNBF-TV, and the construction permit for a new WNBF-FM on 98.1 MHz, which began broadcasting in 1956.

Related Research Articles

WQXR-FM is an American non-commercial classical radio station, licensed to Newark, New Jersey and serving the North Jersey and New York City area. It is owned by the nonprofit organization New York Public Radio, which also operates WNYC AM and FM and the four-station New Jersey Public Radio group. WQXR-FM broadcasts from studios and offices located in the Hudson Square neighborhood in lower Manhattan and its transmitter is located at the Empire State Building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHUR-FM</span> Urban adult contemporary radio station in Washington, D.C.

WHUR-FM is an urban adult contemporary radio station that is licensed to Washington, D.C., and serving the Metro D.C. area. It is owned and operated by Howard University, making it one of the few commercial radio stations in the United States to be owned by a college or university, as well as being the only independent, locally-owned station in the Washington, D.C., area. Staff members of the station mentor the students of the university's school of communications. The studios are located on campus in its Lower Quad portion, and the transmitter tower is based in the Tenleytown neighborhood. It is also co-owned with its television partner, WHUT-TV, one of D.C.'s PBS affiliates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WASH (FM)</span> Radio station in D.C., United States

WASH is a commercial FM radio station owned and operated by iHeartMedia and located in Washington, D.C. Known on-air as "WASH-FM", the station airs an adult contemporary radio format. Studios and offices are on Rockville Pike in Rockville, Maryland. The station has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 17,500 watts, broadcasting from a tower at 242 metres (794 ft) in height above average terrain (HAAT). The transmitter site is on Chesapeake Street NW off Wisconsin Avenue in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. With a good radio, WASH coverage extends from Baltimore to Fredericksburg, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHWK</span> Radio station in Binghamton, New York

WHWK is a commercial radio station in Binghamton, New York. It carries a country music radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media. Local disc jockeys are heard during the day on weekdays. Two syndicated shows are heard after 7 p.m.: Taste of Country Nights from Compass Media Networks, hosted by Evan Paul, and The Third Shift from Westwood One heard overnights. Current local staff include Glenn Pitcher, Traci Taylor, Jess Dallas and Buddy Logan. It is regularly the highest ranking station in the Nielson ratings in the Binghamton radio market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WUKY</span> Radio station in Lexington, Kentucky

WUKY is a listener-supported, public radio station in Lexington, Kentucky. Owned by the University of Kentucky (UK), it has an Adult Album Alternative radio format, airing more than 100 hours of music per week. Some news and informational programming is supplied by National Public Radio (NPR), Public Radio International (PRI), American Public Media (APM) and the BBC. The station broadcasts from state of the art radio studios in northwestern Lexington at the intersection of Greendale Road and Spurr Road.

Apex radio stations was the name commonly given to a short-lived group of United States broadcasting stations, which were used to evaluate transmitting on frequencies that were much higher than the ones used by standard amplitude modulation (AM) and shortwave stations. Their name came from the tall height of their transmitter antennas, which were needed because coverage was primarily limited to local line-of-sight distances. These stations were assigned to what at the time were described as "ultra-high shortwave" frequencies, between roughly 25 and 44 MHz. They employed amplitude modulation (AM) transmissions, although in most cases using a wider bandwidth than standard broadcast band AM stations, in order to provide high fidelity sound with less static and distortion.

WSBT is a commercial radio station in South Bend, Indiana, which airs a sports radio format. It is owned by Mid-West Family Broadcasting, with studios and offices on East Monroe Street in downtown South Bend.

WNBF is a commercial radio station in Binghamton, New York. It airs a news/talk format and is owned by Townsquare Media. The studios and offices are on Court Street in Binghamton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAAL</span> Radio station in Binghamton, New York

WAAL is a commercial radio station licensed to Binghamton, New York. It airs a classic rock radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media. WAAL is the oldest FM radio station continuously broadcasting in the Binghamton metropolitan area. It is an affiliate of the New York Giants Radio Network.

WDRE is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, and serving the Binghamton metropolitan area. It airs an oldies radio format. WDRE is owned by the Equinox Broadcasting Corporation. In the fall, WDRE carries Buffalo Bills football. Its studios are on Main Street in Johnson City.

WSM-FM was a commercial radio station that was operated by the National Life and Accident Insurance Company in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, beginning on March 1, 1941. Under its original call sign of W47NV, it was described at the time as the first fully licensed commercial FM station in the nation. However, after ten years of financial losses, the station ceased operations on March 15, 1951.

WFMN was a commercial FM radio station located in Alpine, New Jersey. It was licensed from 1941 until around 1953 to inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong, and was co-located with two other Armstrong stations, W2XMN, and W2XEA/KE2XCC (1945-1954). However, for most of its existence WFMN was authorized for significantly lower power than the other two stations, and appears to have rarely been on the air.

WMGM-FM was a radio station in New York City, broadcasting at 100.3 MHz. It was owned by Loew's, Inc., a subsidiary of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio alongside radio station WMGM, which was previously WHN. One of New York's earliest FM outlets, WMGM-FM broadcast from 1942 to 1955.

WGTR was a pioneer commercial FM radio station, which was the first of two mountain-top stations established by the Yankee Network. It began regular programming, as experimental station W1XOJ, in 1939. In 1941 it was licensed for commercial operation from studios in Boston, initially with the call sign W43B, which was changed to WGTR in 1943. In 1947, its designated community of license was changed to Worcester, Massachusetts.

WMNE was a pioneer commercial FM radio station, which was the second of two mountain-top broadcasting stations established by the Yankee Network. It began regular programming, as experimental station W1XER, in December 1940. In 1941 it was licensed for commercial operation from studios in Boston, initially with the call sign W39B, which was changed to WMTW in 1943. In late 1946 the station's designated community of license was changed to Portland, Maine, and its call letters became WMNE.

WTMJ-FM was a pioneer commercial FM radio station, owned by the Journal Company, publishers of The Milwaukee Journal, and located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the late 1940s, it was one of the first FM stations in America and among the most powerful. Although heavily promoted, the station was unprofitable and ceased operations in April 1950. Management foresaw a limited future, especially in contrast to recently introduced television broadcasting.

WBCA was a short-lived commercial FM radio station, licensed to Schenectady, New York. The station, originally W47A, launched on July 17, 1941, as the first commercial FM station without an associated AM station. The call sign was changed to WBCA in 1943. Despite initial optimism that FM stations would soon supplant the AM band, WBCA ceased operations in 1952 due essentially to the small number of FM receivers in use.

WMLL was an FM radio station in Evansville, Indiana, that began broadcasting, as W45V, in 1941. It was the first commercial FM station authorized in the state of Indiana. WMLL suspended operations and was deleted in 1956.

WELD was an FM radio station in Columbus, Ohio, that began broadcasting, as W45CM, in 1941. It was the first commercial FM station authorized in the state of Ohio. WELD suspended operations and was deleted in 1953.

References

  1. ↑ "Frequency Modulation (FM) Broadcasting Stations Authorized by the FCC" (Log completed to January 15, 1941), Broadcasting Yearbook (1941 edition), page 386.
  2. ↑ Radio Engineering Labs., Inc. advertisement (featuring WNBF-FM), Broadcasting, May 21, 1945, page 45.
  3. ↑ WNBF (advertisement), Binghamton Press, March 18, 1950, page 7.
  4. ↑ "New FM Call Letters Proposed", Broadcasting, November 15, 1940, page 77.
  5. ↑ The initial call sign policy for commercial FM stations included an initial "W" for commercial stations east of the Mississippi River, followed by the last two digits of a station's assigned frequency, "49" in the case of 44.9 MHz, and closing with a one or two letter community identifier, which for Binghamton was "BN".
  6. ↑ "New York: Binghamton", Broadcasting Yearbook (1952 edition), page 198.
  7. ↑ "Standard Broadcast Station Call Letters for All Outlets Starting Nov. 1, FCC Rule", The Billboard, September 4, 1943, page 7.
  8. ↑ "FCC Allocates 88-106 mc Band to FM" by Bill Bailey, Broadcasting, July 2, 1945, pages 13-14.
  9. ↑ "FCC Allocations Order Text", Broadcasting, July 2, 1945, pages 64-68.
  10. ↑ "FCC Grants 456 FM Outlets Since War End", Broadcasting, July 22, 1946, page 67.
  11. ↑ "FM Broadcast Stations: Frequency Assignments" (June 12, 1947), Federal Register, Volume 12, Number 108, June 3, 1947, page 4040.
  12. ↑ "Station Arrangement in the Continental Network as of broadcasts for June 19, 1947", FM, July 1947, page 33.
  13. ↑ "WNBF Tests: Listeners Favor Continuance", Broadcasting, May 15, 1950, page 82.
  14. ↑ "FCC Actions: August 11 Decisions", Broadcasting, August 18, 1952, page 98.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.