For the Watertown, New York, television station that held the call sign WNPE-TV from 1971 to 1998, see WPBS-TV.
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.
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 Radioedit
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 multicastedit
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]
Referencesedit
^ abc"WPJB(FM)" (PDF). 1994 Broadcasting Yearbook. 1994. p. B-325–26. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
wnpe, watertown, york, television, station, that, held, call, sign, from, 1971, 1998, wpbs, public, radio, station, providing, programming, from, public, radio, formerly, known, rhode, island, public, radio, southern, rhode, island, from, transmitter, narragan. For the Watertown New York television station that held the call sign WNPE TV from 1971 to 1998 see WPBS TV 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 WNPENarragansett Pier Rhode IslandUnited StatesBroadcast areaSouthern Rhode IslandFrequency102 7 MHz HD Radio BrandingThe Public s RadioProgrammingFormatNews talkAffiliationsNPR PRX APMOwnershipOwnerRhode Island Public RadioHistoryFirst air dateJuly 15 1990 1990 07 15 as WPJB 1 Former call signsWPJB 1990 1997 WAKX 1997 2007 WRNI FM 2007 2018 WRNI March 9 July 29 2018 Technical information 2 Licensing authorityFCCFacility ID22874ClassBERP1 950 wattsHAAT69 meters 226 ft Transmitter coordinates41 25 26 N 71 28 32 1 W 41 42389 N 71 475583 W 41 42389 71 475583Repeater s WNPN WPVDLinksPublic license informationPublic fileLMSWebcastListen liveWebsitewww wbr ripr wbr org Contents 1 History 1 1 As a commercial radio station 1 2 Sale to Rhode Island Public Radio 2 HD Radio multicast 3 References 4 External linksHistory editAs a commercial radio station edit 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 edit 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 editFrom 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 References edit a b c WPJB FM PDF 1994 Broadcasting Yearbook 1994 p B 325 26 Retrieved October 8 2019 Facility Technical Data for WNPE Licensing and Management System Federal Communications Commission Changing Hands PDF Broadcasting amp Cable April 7 1997 p 76 Retrieved October 8 2019 Executive Turntable Billboard May 17 1997 p 72 Retrieved October 8 2019 Fybush Scott December 3 1999 The CRTC Gets Busy North East RadioWatch Retrieved October 8 2019 Format Changes amp Updates PDF M Street Journal February 25 1998 p 2 38 Retrieved October 8 2019 Fybush Scott December 6 2004 WAQX Stern Feud Escalates North East RadioWatch Retrieved October 8 2019 Citadel Buys 3 From AAA RadioWorld January 9 2003 Retrieved October 8 2019 Deals Broadcasting amp Cable January 9 2005 Retrieved October 8 2019 a b c d R I group to buy WRNI Providence Journal March 23 2007 Retrieved October 8 2019 via TMC NPR available to Jamestown listeners starting today Jamestown Press May 17 2007 Retrieved October 8 2019 Venta Lance October 12 2018 Rhode Island Public Radio Rebrands As The Public s Radio RadioInsight Retrieved October 8 2019 Read Aaron March 11 2013 RIPR amp MVYradio Leverage HD Radio for FM Translators Archived from the original on March 17 2017 Retrieved October 8 2019 External links editWNPE in the FCC FM station database WNPE in Nielsen Audio s FM station database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WNPE amp oldid 1218802997, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
