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WCRI-FM

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Coordinates: 41°10′28.4″N 71°34′18.2″W / 41.174556°N 71.571722°W / 41.174556; -71.571722 (WCRI-FM)
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WCRI-FM
Broadcast areaNewport, Rhode Island
Frequency95.9 MHz
BrandingClassical 95.9
Programming
FormatClassical
AffiliationsWorld Classical Network
Ownership
OwnerJudson Group, Inc.
History
First air date
June 13, 1994; 30 years ago (June 13, 1994)
Former call signs
  • WVBI (1994–1999)
  • WCRI (1999–2011)
Call sign meaning
"Classical Rhode Island"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID67119
ClassA
ERP6,000 watts
HAAT76 meters (249 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°10′28.4″N 71°34′18.2″W / 41.174556°N 71.571722°W / 41.174556; -71.571722 (WCRI-FM)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Websiteclassical959.com

WCRI-FM (95.9 MHz; "Classical 95.9") is an FM radio station on Block Island, Rhode Island, and serving the Newport area. It is a rare classical music station supported by commercial advertising and not operated as a public radio station. It is affiliated with the World Classical Network (WCN). The station is owned by Judson Group, Inc., a company that includes the son and grandsons of broadcasting pioneer Ted Jones, founder of Charles River Broadcasting and Boston classical music station WCRB.

WCRI-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 6,000 watts as a Class A station. The transmitter is off Ocean Avenue at Beach Avenue in New Shoreham.[2] The studios are on South County Trail in Exeter.

History

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The original construction permit for the station was granted on October 16, 1990,[3] with the call sign WVBI assigned on November 30.[4] The station signed on June 13, 1994,[5] though the license to cover was not issued until April 12, 1995.[6]

The station has always had a classical format.[7] WVBI initially had a limited programming schedule[8] mainly from the now-defunct Classic FM network.[9] The station's signal had trouble covering even Block Island.[8] Charles River Broadcasting Company acquired WVBI in early 1999,[8] at which point it was renamed WCRI.[4] The station then performed upgrades, affiliating with WCN which was commonly owned with WCRI. A new tower was constructed in 2001 which also enabled stereo broadcasting.[10] Translator station W243AI (96.5) in Newport had relayed Charles River Broadcasting flagship WCRB since the translator's sign-on in 1996,[9] and it carried WCRI's programming for several years before becoming a WMVY translator in 2004.[11]

Charles River Broadcasting announced on October 27, 2005, that it was exploring the sale of its properties,[12] with Judson Group, Inc. purchasing WCRI and sister station WCNX in 2006.[13] Judson Group, Inc., includes the son (Christopher Jones) and grandsons (Jamie Jones and Jefferey Jones) of broadcasting pioneer Ted Jones, founder of Charles River Broadcasting and WCRB.

WCRI began to simulcast on 1180 AM on October 1, 2011, replacing WCNX;[14] to reflect this, the station added the "-FM" suffix on September 8, 2011.[4] (The AM station was sold to Red Wolf Broadcasting Corporation in 2014, and dropped the WCRI-FM simulcast for a Red Wolf-programmed oldies format under the WSKP call sign in December 2013.)

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCRI-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WCRI
  3. ^ "Application Search Details (1)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  5. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2002–2003 (PDF). 2002. p. D-396. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  6. ^ "Application Search Details (2)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  7. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995 (PDF). 1995. p. B-362. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c Fybush, Scott (February 6, 1999). "WKOX, WLLH Sold". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  9. ^ a b Fybush, Scott (July 5, 1996). "WRKO Fun, and San Juan too!". New England RadioWatch. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  10. ^ Fybush, Scott (July 17, 2001). "CTV Adds Montreal to O&O Roster". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  11. ^ Fybush, Scott (December 6, 2004). "WAQX-Stern Feud Escalates". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  12. ^ Reidy, Chris (October 28, 2005). "WCRB's parent company exploring a sale". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  13. ^ Fybush, Scott (September 18, 2006). "Ed Ansin Gets His Duopoly". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  14. ^ "R.I. News Digest". The Providence Journal. September 20, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
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