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Turning Commercial Stations into Non-Com[s]
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Bob1370
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In the state of New York, NPR is heard in the state's biggest markets on stations which began life as commercial AM or FM stations and were then purchased by community-based not for profit organizations.
In New York City, WNYC AM & FM (830/93.9) and WQXR (105.9) are on commercial frequencies; the 830 license began as a commercial daytimer on 810 in the 1920s, the 93.9 was a commercial frequency built from scratch by WNYC when no one wanted FM licenses in the 40s, and 105.9 was a commercial station until about three years ago. In Buffalo, WNED AM & FM (970/94.5) were commercial WEBR AM/FM until 1976, and in Rochester, the NPR affiliate is WXXI-AM 1370, formerly WSAY and formerly the property of the Lew Dickey family of Cumulus fame until 1984--it was one of the first stations that formed the nucleus of Cumulus along with Toledo's WOHO-AM.
In each case, they were struggling commercial stations which found greater success as community-owned noncomms.
In New York City, WNYC AM & FM (830/93.9) and WQXR (105.9) are on commercial frequencies; the 830 license began as a commercial daytimer on 810 in the 1920s, the 93.9 was a commercial frequency built from scratch by WNYC when no one wanted FM licenses in the 40s, and 105.9 was a commercial station until about three years ago. In Buffalo, WNED AM & FM (970/94.5) were commercial WEBR AM/FM until 1976, and in Rochester, the NPR affiliate is WXXI-AM 1370, formerly WSAY and formerly the property of the Lew Dickey family of Cumulus fame until 1984--it was one of the first stations that formed the nucleus of Cumulus along with Toledo's WOHO-AM.
In each case, they were struggling commercial stations which found greater success as community-owned noncomms.
Bob1370 said:
105.9 was only successful, in moderation, as a brokered station. During a decade of commercial operation as a Spanish language station, it was not successful... due mostly to the signal.
That's a bit of an exaggeration. From around 60 stations when FM moved to the present band after the war to 1950, over 950 stations were added, coming close to fully populating the assignments in the larger markets. But during the 50's, about a third of those stations turned in their licenses, reducing on-air FM to under 700. So, when that station was applied for in the 40's, "everyone" was applying for FMs.... only to find that there was no business model amid the disruptive radio environment of the "radio is dead" days of the mid-50's.
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