WPTR (AM)

Last updated
WPTR
Broadcast area Capital District
Frequency 1240 kHz
BrandingWPTR 1240 AM
Programming
Format Full service classic rock and classic hits
Ownership
OwnerArea Independent Radio, Inc.
History
First air date
 1942 (as WSNY)
Former call signs
WSNY (1942–1975)
WWWD (1976–1988)
WVKZ (1988–2012)
Call sign meaning
PaTRoon Broadcasting Company (original owners of WDCD)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 8726
Class C
Power 1,000 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
 42°48′37″N73°59′4″W / 42.81028°N 73.98444°W / 42.81028; -73.98444
Translator(s) 97.1 W246DS (Ballston Spa, New York)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website www.wptrradio.com

WPTR (1240 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Schenectady, New York. The station serves the Capital District of New York. The station is currently owned by the Area Independent Radio, Inc. It airs a classic rock-classic hits radio format.

Contents

The studios and offices are located at the Via Port Mall in Rotterdam, New York. The transmitter is also in Rotterdam, off West Campbell Road, near the mall. [2] WPTR broadcasts at 1,000 watts, day and night, using a non-directional antenna.

WPTR also has an FM translator, 97.1 MHz W246DS in Ballston Spa, New York.

History

WPTR began as long running middle-of-the-road station WSNY in 1942. In 1968, WSNY flipped to Top 40, going into direct competition with more powerful and established stations WPTR (now WDCD) and WTRY (now WOFX). The format was initially a success. However, by the early 1970s, FM Top 40 began to take hold in the Albany market as well; by 1973, in addition to WPTR and WTRY, WSNY had to contend with WABY (now WAMC), WGFM (now WRVE), and WHSH (now WPYX). In 1974, WSNY left the air. In 1976, the station returned to the air as WWWD, with kind of a top 40/oldies hybrid format. WWWD began to add vast amounts of off-track betting racing to their schedule during the 1980s. In early 1988, the station became WVKZ and partially simulcasted WVKZ-FM (now WMHH), with their rock based top 40 format. WVKZ drifted through various formats during the 1990s, including classic country and talk, before flipping to oldies in 2004. In February 2009, WVKZ started broadcasting Scott Shannon's True Oldies network after broadcasting as "Real Oldies" since 2004.

Ernie Anastos sold his Albany-area stations—WVKZ, WABY, WQAR, and WUAM and its translator W291BY—to Empire Broadcasting Corporation in June 2012 at a purchase price of $1.2 million. [3] The transaction consummated on September 7, 2012. On September 8, 2012 the station adopted the historic WPTR call letters, formerly used on the stations now known as WDCD, WAJZ, and WMHH. [4] On June 7, 2013 WPTR changed their format to sports. [5] On June 27, 2016 WPTR changed their format from sports to a simulcast of business news-formatted WAIX 1160 AM Mechanicville, branded as "Empire News Network". [6] On May 15, 2018, WPTR and its sister AM stations went silent (off the air). [7]

On December 31, 2019 WPTR was sold to Area Independent Radio, Inc., a group led by two retired professors from Union College. WPTR currently operates a full time studio located at the Via Port Mall in Rotterdam, New York. WPTR officially went back on the air as a classic rock station, featuring music from 60s thru the 90s, as well as featuring the AOR (album-oriented rock) format made popular in the 1970s. The station's format is styled after the era of WPTR's popular DJ 'Boom Boom Branigan' and features some nostalgia, including vintage jingles of the 50s and 60s. Full-service trappings include an apolitical news department, Albany Patroons basketball, and ethnic programming on weekends. [8]

History of call letters

The call letters WPTR were previously assigned to an AM station (later known as WDCD) in Albany, New York. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WODE-FM</span> Radio station in Easton, Pennsylvania

WODE-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Easton, Pennsylvania. The station's service contour covers the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRVE</span> Radio station in Schenectady, New York, United States

WRVE is a commercial radio station licensed in Schenectady and serving the Capital District and Upper Hudson Valley in New York. It broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format and calls itself "99.5 The River", referring to the Hudson River. The station is owned by iHeartMedia as one of seven radio stations owned by the company in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy radio market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPYX</span> Classic rock radio station in Albany, New York, United States

WPYX is a commercial radio station licensed to Albany, New York, and serving the Capital District. It broadcasts a classic rock radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. WPYX also carries New York Giants football games.

WOFX is a radio station licensed to Troy, New York. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and runs a sports format and is the Fox Sports Radio affiliate for the Capital District, Adirondacks, and Berkshires.

WMHH is a Christian talk and teaching radio station licensed to Clifton Park, New York, and serving New York's Capital District, including Albany, Schenectady and Troy. The station is owned by Mars Hill Broadcasting, utilizing programming from the Mars Hill Network. It has an effective radiated power of 4,700 watts, and broadcasts from a rental tower in Clifton Park, New York, which is owned by Fitch Communications of New York (FCNY) and shared with WKKF and WTMM-FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTRY-FM</span> Radio station in Rotterdam, New York

WTRY-FM, is a commercial radio station licensed to Rotterdam, New York. It airs a classic hits format. WTRY-FM serves the New York State Capital District in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy radio market. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, and broadcasts at 6,000 watts ERP from a tower in between Altamont and Duanesburg off U.S. Route 20. Studios and offices are on Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPBZ-FM</span> US radio station in Rensselaer, New York

WPBZ-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Rensselaer, New York, and serving the Capital District, including the Albany-Schenectady-Troy radio market. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and airs a hot adult contemporary radio format. The studios and offices are on Kings Road in Schenectady.

WDCD was a news/talk radio station licensed to Albany, New York, United States and served New York's Capital District, Adirondacks, and much of western New England. The station was owned by DJRA Broadcasting, and broadcast on 1540 kHz at 50 kilowatts from a three-tower directional antenna array adjacent to the station's studios in Colonie, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKBE</span> Radio station in New York, United States

WKBE is a commercial radio station licensed to Corinth, New York, and serving Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs. It is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and broadcasts a country music radio format, simulcasting WKLI-FM (100.9) from Albany.

WSSV is a commercial radio station licensed to Mechanicville, New York, and serving the Capital District. The station broadcasts a classic hits radio format and is owned by Loud Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQSH (FM)</span> Alternative rock radio station in Cobleskill–Albany, New York

WQSH is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Cobleskill, New York, and serving the Mohawk Valley and the western Capital District of New York. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts a classic rock radio format, simulcasting WQBK-FM (105.7). The radio studios and offices are on Kings Road in Schenectady.

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

WWWS is a radio station broadcasting an urban oldies format. Licensed to Buffalo, New York, United States, the station serves the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area. The station features programming from Westwood One. It is owned and operated by Audacy, Inc. It has a transmitter in Buffalo, east of Delaware Park, while it has studios located on Corporate Parkway in Amherst, New York.

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

WIZR is a radio station that broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to Johnstown, New York, United States, the station serves the Mohawk Valley area. The station is owned by the Cranesville Radio Network and features hit songs from the past five decades including songs from the 1970s until today. WIZR also plays a variety mix of pop music, R&B, rock, soft ac, classic hits and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAXB</span> Radio station in Ridgefield, Connecticut

WAXB, is a radio station licensed to Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States, one of three area stations owned by The Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation. The others are News/Talk 800 AM WLAD and Hot Adult Contemporary 98Q/98.3 FM WDAQ. WAXB airs a Spanish adult hits radio format for the Greater Danbury region of Connecticut. The station uses the identification "Juan 850". Because 850 AM is a clear channel frequency reserved for KOA in Denver, Colorado and KICY in Nome, Alaska, WAXB must sign-off at night to avoid interference with those stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WENU</span> Radio station in New York, United States

WENU is a radio station broadcasting a soft oldies format simulcasting WROW out of Albany. Licensed to South Glens Falls, New York, United States, the station serves the Glens Falls area. Established in 1988 as WSTL, the station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting.

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

WCGR is a radio station broadcasting a soft classic rock format. Licensed to Canandaigua, New York, United States, the station is currently owned by Canandaigua Broadcasting, Inc. and features programming from ABC Radio and Dial Global.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WABY</span> Radio station in New York, United States

WABY is a commercial radio station licensed to Watervliet, New York, and serving the Capital District. The station broadcasts a 1990s-2000s rock radio format and is owned by Loud Media.

WFAW is a commercial radio station licensed to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, serving the Jefferson County and Janesville and Beloit area. The station is owned by Magnum Media, through licensee Magnum Communications, Inc., and features programming from Westwood One. WFAW has a classic rock radio format.

WINU is a commercial radio station licensed to Altamont and serving New York's Capital District. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and airs a classic country radio format.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WPTR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WPTR
  3. ↑ Pickney, Barbara (June 14, 2012). "Joe Reilly purchases 4 Albany area radio stations". The Business Review . Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Media Bureau Call Sign Actions" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. August 15, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  5. ↑ CBS Sports Radio Comes To Albany NY Radioinsight - June 7, 2013
  6. ↑ Albany Trio Switches to Business Radioinsight - June 29, 2016
  7. ↑ Trio of Albany AMs Go Silent Radioinsight - May 17, 2018
  8. ↑ Nelson, Paul (January 31, 2020). Old radio station, WPTR, back on the air, with a new mission. Times Union (Albany, NY). Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  9. ↑ "WPTR, Owned by Theatre Chain, Starts in Albany" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 9, 1948. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
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.