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WNYE (FM)

Coordinates: 40°45′22″N 73°59′10″W / 40.7562°N 73.9862°W / 40.7562; -73.9862
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WNYE-FM
File:Wnye fm logo.png
Broadcast areaNew York City
Frequency91.5 MHz FM
(HD Radio)
BrandingRadio New York
Programming
FormatVariety, Educational
AffiliationsNPR
BBC World Service
Ownership
Owner
WNYE-TV
History
First air date
AM in 1938, FM in 1942
Technical information
Facility ID3539[1]
ClassB1[1]
ERP2,000 watts[1]
HAAT281 meters[1]
Links
WebsiteRadio New York

WNYE (91.5 FM) is a non-commercial educational radio station located in New York City. WNYE is operated by the NYC Media Group, a division of the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, along with WNYE-TV (channel 25) and the NYCTV cable networks. WNYE's studios are in the NYC Media Group's headquarters within the Manhattan Municipal Building, while its transmitter is atop the Condé Nast Building.

History

WNYE started out as a high-frequency AM (Apex) station in 1938, switching to 42.1 MHz FM in 1942. In 1946, it moved to 91.7 MHz, in a new FM band. Then in 1948, it settled at 91.5 MHz.

The station's original licensee was the New York City Board of Education, and as such WNYE-FM was a laboratory devoted to programming designed for the City's public school system. WNYE-FM also broadcast non-educational, community-interest and ethnic programming as well. The station's studios and transmitter were originally located within Brooklyn Technical High School; in the middle-1970s the studios were moved to nearby George Westinghouse High School in Downtown Brooklyn.

In December 2004, the Department of Education transferred the licenses of the WNYE stations to the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. The transfer integrated WNYE-FM-TV's operations with those of the city-owned cable television services CUNY-TV and Crosswalks Television Network, combining them to form the NYC Media Group. WNYE-FM's programming format remained largely unchanged at that time, but in March 2007 the station was rebranded as "Radio New York, WNYE 91.5 FM," and in 2009 it launched its digital programming with a new transmitter located at the Condé Nast Building (4 Times Square).[2]

Programming

WNYE airs domestic and international programs as well as foreign-language productions. Included are National Public Radio (NPR) programs that WNYC, the primary NPR affiliate in the area, does not air, such as The Diane Rehm Show.[3]

On February 11, 2008, the station management announced a partnership with Seattle-based station KEXP-FM to produce a new format branded as Radio Liberation,[4] featuring indie-music shows and simulcasts.[5] The format started on March 24, 2008, replacing a number of BBC and NPR shows.[6] A prominent casualty of this change was the BBC's Newshour, which had been broadcast from 8-9am. On June 1, 2011 KEXP was replaced with The Alternate Side from Fordham University's WFUV.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d According to the Engineering details for WNYE-FM in their license application at the Federal Communications Commission, April 2009.
  2. ^ "Mayor Bloomberg, DoITT commissioner Cosgrave, and NYC Media Group president Arick Wierson launch new transmitter site for WNYE 91.5 FM Radio New York at 4 Times Square", press release PR-109-09, City of New York. March 5, 2009.
  3. ^ What's On Radio New York, 91.5 FM Radio New York schedule, official New York City web site.
  4. ^ "KEXP and Radio New York liberate listeners from the norm" (Press release). Pyramid Communications. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  5. ^ "Air raid", Time Out New York, Issue 651, Mar 19–25, 2008.
  6. ^ "Indie scene can be heard now on WNYE", Daily News, March 23, 2008.
  7. ^ "The Alternate Side Debuts On WNYE June 1", thealternateside.org, June 1, 2011.

40°45′22″N 73°59′10″W / 40.7562°N 73.9862°W / 40.7562; -73.9862