Great Rhode Island Radio stations outside Providence.

[Skynet74]

When people think of Rhode Island radio most people think about a select few stations at the top of the ratings book. However the state has some other really good stations that lots of people may not even know about.

WADK 1540 Newport. Great sounding station that I sometimes forget about. But then when I tune in again I wonder why I don't listen more often. My first radio boss "Art Berluti" works there. One of the nicest guys that you could ever meet. I know that I talk a lot of crap about radio people here. But Art is one of the few people in radio that I've never had one single bad thing to say about. I love that guy. Very nice man. Very cool station!

WSTL Shine 1220. Christian radio. I think their studio is in Seekonk. I'm not the most religious person in the world. However this station does religious radio right. Great sounding tunes, great staff and a very professional sound. Not boring at all. They give life to religious broadcasting. Very energized. The sort of station that makes you wish going to church could be this much fun.

WCNX NewsRadio 1180. If the station had a decent signal they would be a nice option for people people in Providence who would like to hear some fun light hearted talk shows. They did air Dennis Miller Live and Joey Reynolds. No idea what they air now since I can hardly get the station. But I do enjoy listening whenever I can pick them up. I think the transmitter is located in Exeter. Sounds like it's on the moon. If they could boost their power I think they could take some ratings away from WPRO and HJJ. It's a good station.



Those three come to mind. Does anyone else want to add to the list of great Rhode Island stations outside of Providence.

 

[DG02816]

Skynet,
I'll pretty much agree with you on the station choice. But 1220, the former WRIB, has been licensed TO Providence since it went on the air in 1948. I often tune it in when home; like you, I find the format presentation a refreshing change.

I enjoyed my time at WADK when I was once again involved with the 99.3 FM licensed to Block Island. I helped upgrade the FM air and production studio for both stations. Art Berluti and Bobb Angell are both class guys. That place HAS to be missing the late Bob Sullivan big time as news director.

WCNX is licensed to Hope Valley; studio/transmitter site is a chicken coop off Woody Hill Rd in Exeter. It runs 1.8 kW, day and 1 kW during crirical hours. Not sure if it has ANY post- sunset or pre-sunrise power at all due to WHAM, Rochester NY, with 50 kW on 1180. I can be almost sure that WCNX would need to go to a directional array of at least 3 or 4 towers even to run 5 kW, and threy woyld still be a daytimer.The 1180 down here, WFYL King of Prussia, is also pretty much a daytimer.

 

[N1WVQ]

I've gotta disagree with 2 choices & in part to the first:
1. WADK USED to be a great station & is a good station at this point. However, any station that runs the insipid Dr. Joy Browne gets points off in my book. One of my pleasures at a station years ago was telling the WOR net that we weren't going to air her show anymore. WORNet whores that piece of $#!t show to any & every station without regards to market exclusivity. WADK used to have Sounds of Brazil on Sunday afternoons which apparently has been replaced with something called the People's Pharmacist. Not sure what that is but it sounds boring. However, I can't take points off for still having a live & local morning nor Art Berluti on in the midday with local talk from 11-2. Then they have Jerry Doyle & Laura Ingraham from TRN which aren't bad shows for sat. talkers.

2. "Shine" 1220. This one is a real shame. First off, the way they blew out all of the WRIB people without so much as allowing them to say goodbye nor promote where they were moving their shows. Classless. Then there's the music: bland, tepid, neutered even. The music is second to the lyrics & it shows. Then, & again this is my opinion, 1220's signal seems to do well where the Hispanic audience lives & 990's signal seems to do well where the audience for Shine's programming may be more receptive. A swap would be good.

3. WCNX. Again, the Joy Browne problem (& only how many miles from Newport?!) plus a whole slew of 3rd-rate talk. When they changed to WCNX they initially aired CNN Headline News radio, which is just the audio from CNNHN's TV channel. Not too riveting listening. Much better as Country WJJF with the Hayloft Jamboree & CBS news @ 6 minutes past the hour.

Now, I'd like to put in their places both Woonsocket stations & the Westerly station. All are doing a good amount of local origination. The Woonsocket stations are competitive with each other. WBLQ-Westerly is in A.M. Stereo, which is always a good thing. Plus they apparently air lots of local programming.

As for F.M., I like WRIU. Their eclectic mix is usually entertaining. It's one of my presets.

Who used to be good outside of Providence? WADK ~1995-2008, WKRI, WICE/550. I didn't get to hear them much but I liked the real WBLQ on 99.3 & of course, WWRX/103.7.