WNPE

Last updated
WNPE
The Public's Radio logo.svg
Broadcast areaSouthern Rhode Island
Frequency 102.7 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingThe Public's Radio
Programming
Format News/talk
Affiliations NPR, PRX, APM
Ownership
Owner Rhode Island Public Radio
History
First air date
July 15, 1990 (1990-07-15) (as WPJB) [1]
Former call signs
  • WPJB (1990–1997)
  • WAKX (1997–2007)
  • WRNI-FM (2007–2018)
  • WRNI (March 9–July 29, 2018)
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 22874
Class B
ERP 1,950 watts
HAAT 69 meters (226 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 41°25′26″N71°28′32.1″W / 41.42389°N 71.475583°W / 41.42389; -71.475583
Repeater(s) WNPN, WPVD
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website www.ripr.org

WNPE (102.7 FM) is a public radio station, providing programming from The Public's Radio (formerly known as Rhode Island Public Radio) to southern Rhode Island from its transmitter at Narragansett Pier. It was the first FM transmitter in the network. Prior to operating noncommercially, the 102.7 facility was a commercial radio station from its sign-on in 1990 to 2007.

Contents

History

As a commercial radio station

On July 15, 1990, [1] WPJB signed on. Reviving a historic call sign that had been abandoned at 105.1 FM in Providence when it became WWLI in 1985, WPJB broadcast an adult contemporary format and was owned and operated by Full Power Radio of Narragansett, Inc. [1]

Full Power Radio of Narragansett sold WPJB to Back Bay Broadcasters for $1.05 million in 1997; [3] the station became a simulcast of Back Bay's rhythmic CHR outlet WWKX "Kix 106" and changed its call letters to WAKX to reflect the new programming. [4] Back Bay became AAA Entertainment in 1999; the two companies were commonly owned. [5]

WWKX-WAKX added Howard Stern to its program lineup in 1998. [6] The stations carried Stern through the end of his terrestrial radio run, though, alongside some other Citadel stations, "Hot 106" began cutting his show short because Stern was excessively promoting his soon-to-be-new home at Sirius Satellite Radio. [7]

Citadel Broadcasting acquired WWKX, WAKX, and a station in Montauk, New York, from AAA Entertainment for $16.5 million in 2003; [8] the sale of WAKX was not finished until 2005. Citadel immediately optioned WAKX, along with WKKB in Middletown, to Davidson Media Group in a $7.5 million sale, breaking the simulcast. [9] By 2007, WAKX was running a smooth jazz format, leased out to Craig Rapoza. [10]

Sale to Rhode Island Public Radio

On March 23, 2007, the former Foundation for Ocean State Public Radio, renamed Rhode Island Public Radio, announced its acquisition of WRNI (1290 AM), a National Public Radio member station run by WBUR-FM in Boston. At the same time, the foundation announced that it was buying WAKX from Davidson for $2.65 million, funded by the Rhode Island Foundation. [10] The acquisition brought NPR service for the first time to southern Rhode Island communities that were outside of WRNI's coverage area, [10] beginning May 17, 2007, when WAKX became WRNI-FM and began carrying WRNI's programming full-time. [11] WAKX's former jazz programming moved to WALE (990 AM). [10]

In 2018, concurrent with RIPR's relaunch as The Public's Radio, the call letters were changed to WNPE. [12]

HD Radio multicast

From March 2013 until February 2018, MVYradio leased the HD2 multicast channel of WNPE to broadcast a modified content stream of WMVY (88.7 FM) on Martha's Vineyard; this fed translator W243AI 96.5 FM, which broadcast from the roof of Newport Hospital. This allowed WMVY programming to continue being heard on the translator after the original WMVY (92.7 FM) was sold to Boston University and became WBUA. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBUR-FM</span> Public radio station in Boston

WBUR-FM is a public radio station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Boston University. Its programming is also known as WBUR News. The station is the largest of three NPR member stations in Boston, along with WGBH and WUMB-FM and produces several nationally distributed programs, including On Point, Here and Now and Open Source. WBUR previously produced Car Talk, Only a Game, and The Connection. RadioBoston, launched in 2007, is its only purely local show. WBUR's positioning statement is "Boston's NPR News Station".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWRI (AM)</span> Radio station in West Warwick, Rhode Island

WWRI is a radio station licensed to West Warwick, Rhode Island, and serving the Providence metropolitan area. The station is owned by Chris DiPaola, through licensee DiPonti Communications, LLC, and broadcasts a classic rock radio format.

WMVY is a non-commercial community-oriented radio station based in the town of Tisbury, Massachusetts, and licensed to serve Edgartown, both on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The station is owned by Friends of Mvyradio, Inc., and broadcasts an adult album alternative format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWKX</span> Radio station in Rhode Island, United States

WWKX is a rhythmic contemporary radio station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, serving the Blackstone Valley and much of the Providence metropolitan area. The Cumulus Media outlet operates with an ERP of 1.15 kW and is licensed to Woonsocket. The station's studios are located in East Providence and the transmitter site is in Cumberland.

WWLI, branded Lite 105, is a commercial radio station licensed to Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December, including the days between Christmas Day and New Years Eve. The radio studios are on Wampanoag Trail in East Providence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZPW</span> Radio station in Peoria, Illinois

WZPW is a radio station in Central Illinois with a rhythmic top 40 music format, licensed to Peoria, Illinois and broadcasting with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 19,200 watts. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, which purchased the station from Townsquare Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHYL</span> Radio station in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

WHYL is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Carlisle, Pennsylvania and serving the Harrisburg metropolitan area. The station is owned by Harold Z. Swidler, with the license held by WHYL, Inc. It broadcasts an oldies radio format. It also carries Baltimore Orioles baseball games. The radio studios and offices are on North Hanover Street in Carlisle.

WJZN was a radio station licensed to serve Augusta, Maine, United States. The station, established in 1932 as WRDO, was owned by Townsquare Media; it broadcast an alternative rock format simulcast from WCYY in Portland prior to going silent in May 2023. WJZN's programming was also heard on W240DH in Augusta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Public's Radio</span> Public radio network serving Rhode Island

Rhode Island Public Radio, doing business as The Public's Radio, is the NPR member radio network for the state of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Its studios are in the historic Union Station in downtown Providence. The network airs a format of news and talk from NPR, APM, PRX and other sources, such as Morning Edition, On Point, KERA's Think and All Things Considered, as well as extensive local news coverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCRI-FM</span> Radio station in Block Island, Rhode Island

WCRI-FM is an FM radio station on Block Island, Rhode Island, and serving the Newport area. It is a rare classical music station supported by commercial advertising and not operated as a public radio station. It is affiliated with the World Classical Network (WCN). The station is owned by Judson Group, Inc., a company that includes the son and grandsons of broadcasting pioneer Ted Jones, founder of Charles River Broadcasting and Boston classical music station WCRB.

WLVP is a radio station broadcasting an adult standards and oldies format. Licensed to Gorham, Maine, United States, it serves southern Maine, including Portland. Established in 1980 as WDCI, the station is owned by Robert Bittner through licensee Blue Jey Broadcasting Co..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPVD</span> Radio station in Providence, Rhode Island

WPVD is a public radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. It is owned by Rhode Island Public Radio. The station simulcasts WNPN 89.3 FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGBH (FM)</span> Public radio station in Boston

WGBH is a public radio station located in Boston, Massachusetts. WGBH is a member station of National Public Radio (NPR) and affiliate of Public Radio Exchange (PRX) and American Public Media (APM). The license-holder is WGBH Educational Foundation, which also owns company flagship WGBH-TV and WGBX-TV, along with WGBY-TV in Springfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBLQ (AM)</span> Radio station in Rhode Island, United States

WBLQ is a radio station licensed to serve Westerly, Rhode Island. The station is owned by DiPonti Communications. Its programming is also carried on FM translator W276DF (103.1).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDOM</span> Radio station at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island

WDOM is a radio station licensed to Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The station is owned by Providence College and broadcasts from studios and a transmitter on the campus.

WCVY is a local student-run high school radio station in Coventry, Rhode Island that broadcasts on 91.5 FM. The station is owned by Coventry Public Schools of Rhode Island, and broadcasts from Coventry High School. The station broadcasts a combination of adult album alternative (AAA) and modern rock music formats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEEY</span> Radio station in Swanzey, New Hampshire

WEEY is a radio station licensed to serve Swanzey, New Hampshire. The station is owned by Great Eastern Radio, LLC and serves as the Keene affiliate for WEEI-FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNPN</span> The Publics Radio station in Newport, Rhode Island

WNPN is a radio station broadcasting an NPR news/talk format. It is the flagship broadcast outlet for The Public's Radio. Its official community of license is Newport, Rhode Island, but from a tall tower in Tiverton the signal covers most of Rhode Island and the South Coast of Massachusetts. It also has repeater stations WNPE in Narragansett Pier and WPVD in Providence. The network provides the sole local public radio outlet for Rhode Island.

WQVD is a radio station licensed to serve Orange–Athol, Massachusetts, United States. The station is owned by Kurt Jackson's Hampden Communications Co. It simulcasts the classic hits format of commonly-owned WQVR in Webster.

WAKC is an American licensed radio station in Concord, New Hampshire. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) and is part of its K-Love network of contemporary Christian music outlets. EMF also owns WLKC in Campton, serving the White Mountains and Lakes Region.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "WPJB(FM)" (PDF). 1994 Broadcasting Yearbook. 1994. p. B-325–26. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WNPE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. April 7, 1997. p. 76. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Executive Turntable". Billboard. May 17, 1997. p. 72. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  5. ↑ Fybush, Scott (December 3, 1999). "The CRTC Gets Busy". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates" (PDF). M Street Journal. February 25, 1998. p. 2 (38). Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ Fybush, Scott (December 6, 2004). "WAQX-Stern Feud Escalates". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Citadel Buys 3 From AAA". RadioWorld. January 9, 2003. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Deals". Broadcasting & Cable. January 9, 2005. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "R.I. group to buy WRNI". Providence Journal. March 23, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2019– via TMC.
  11. ↑ "NPR available to Jamestown listeners starting today". Jamestown Press. May 17, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  12. ↑ Venta, Lance (October 12, 2018). "Rhode Island Public Radio Rebrands As The Public's Radio". RadioInsight. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  13. ↑ Read, Aaron (March 11, 2013). "RIPR & MVYradio Leverage HD Radio for FM Translators". Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
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.