Charles River Broadcasting
Encyclopedia
Charles River Broadcasting was the owner of three classical music stations, one classic rock
station, one CNN Headline News
relay in Rhode Island
, and a syndicated classical satellite delivery program service.
at 102.5 FM. In the mid 1970s, WCRB's programming was removed from the 1330 AM signal, which was relaunched as WHET, with a big-band/adult standards format. (WHET was sold in 1978 and is now WRCA
.)
By the early 1990s, Charles River Broadcasting and WCRB entered into a commitment for the station to continue running classical music until 2092. Later in the decade, the company purchased WFCC-FM
Chatham
, WKPE-FM
Orleans
(both on Cape Cod
), WCRI Block Island/Westerly (formerly WVBI), and WCNX Hope Valley, Rhode Island
(formerly WJJF) (both in Rhode Island
) from their respective local owners. In addition, a satellite service named the World Classical Network
was started by Charles River Broadcasting.
The company explored a sale possibility for its stations http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/10/28/wcrbs_parent_company_exploring_a_sale/ (effectively interpreting the commitment as a request and not an order), and announced in December 2005 that they were selling WCRB to Greater Media
, and announced the sale of WCRI/WCNX to Judson Group, headed by Christopher Jones, in January 2006 http://lists.bostonradio.org/pipermail/boston-radio-interest/2006-January/007604.html. Interestingly, Jones was a minister in the Waltham Unitarian Universalist Church, one of the few Unitarians to own a broadcasting property in the U.S. The WCRB deal with Greater Media was closed on July 31, 2006, and Greater Media announced that it would sell the physical property of WKLB-FM and the intellectual property of WCRB to Nassau Broadcasting, in exchange for WCRB's more powerful Boston signal. That deal was consummated on December 1, 2006 at 12 noon, when WKLB's country music
format moved to 102.5 FM, and WCRB's classical music format moved to 99.5 FM. In April 2007, the remnants of Charles River Broadcasting (at the time doing business as CRB Media) were WFCC and WKPE (now WOCN-FM
) as well as the World Classical Network. These properties were sold to Sandab Communications (doing business as Cape Cod Broadcasting), operators of longtime Cape Cod radio station leader WQRC
.
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
station, one CNN Headline News
CNN Headline News
HLN, formerly known as CNN Headline News and CNN2, is a cable television news channel based in the United States and a spinoff of the cable news television channel, CNN. Initially airing tightly-formatted 30-minute newscasts around the clock, since 2005, the channel has increasingly aired long-form...
relay in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, and a syndicated classical satellite delivery program service.
History
The company started in 1948 when WCRB first signed on at 1330 AM. In 1954, Charles River Broadcasting added WCRB-FMWCRB
WCRB is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lowell, Massachusetts and based in the Brighton area of Boston, which serves the Greater Boston area. It broadcasts a classical music format; it existed as a commercial station from the early 1950s until December 2009, and as a listener-supported...
at 102.5 FM. In the mid 1970s, WCRB's programming was removed from the 1330 AM signal, which was relaunched as WHET, with a big-band/adult standards format. (WHET was sold in 1978 and is now WRCA
WRCA
- External links :*...
.)
By the early 1990s, Charles River Broadcasting and WCRB entered into a commitment for the station to continue running classical music until 2092. Later in the decade, the company purchased WFCC-FM
WFCC-FM
WFCC-FM is a 50-kilowatt radio station licensed to Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, with studios and offices in Hyannis and transmitter facilities in Brewster...
Chatham
Chatham, Massachusetts
Chatham is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 6,625 at the 2000 census...
, WKPE-FM
WKPE-FM
WKPE-FM , known as "Cape Country 104", is a Country radio station licensed to South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, with its main studio in Hyannis, Massachusetts, shared with WFCC-FM, WQRC, and WOCN-FM...
Orleans
Orleans, Massachusetts
Orleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census....
(both on Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
), WCRI Block Island/Westerly (formerly WVBI), and WCNX Hope Valley, Rhode Island
Hope Valley, Rhode Island
Hope Valley is a village and census-designated place in the town of Hopkinton in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population of the CDP was 1,649 at the 2000 census...
(formerly WJJF) (both in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
) from their respective local owners. In addition, a satellite service named the World Classical Network
World Classical Network
The World Classical Network is an internet-delivery classical radio broadcasting service owned by Cape Cod Broadcasting in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The service has been in existence since February 1998, when it was owned and operated by Charles River Broadcasting. It filled a void left by the...
was started by Charles River Broadcasting.
The company explored a sale possibility for its stations http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/10/28/wcrbs_parent_company_exploring_a_sale/ (effectively interpreting the commitment as a request and not an order), and announced in December 2005 that they were selling WCRB to Greater Media
Greater Media
Greater Media, Inc., known as Greater Media, is an American media company that specializes in radio stations. The markets where they own radio stations include Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and the state of New Jersey...
, and announced the sale of WCRI/WCNX to Judson Group, headed by Christopher Jones, in January 2006 http://lists.bostonradio.org/pipermail/boston-radio-interest/2006-January/007604.html. Interestingly, Jones was a minister in the Waltham Unitarian Universalist Church, one of the few Unitarians to own a broadcasting property in the U.S. The WCRB deal with Greater Media was closed on July 31, 2006, and Greater Media announced that it would sell the physical property of WKLB-FM and the intellectual property of WCRB to Nassau Broadcasting, in exchange for WCRB's more powerful Boston signal. That deal was consummated on December 1, 2006 at 12 noon, when WKLB's country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format moved to 102.5 FM, and WCRB's classical music format moved to 99.5 FM. In April 2007, the remnants of Charles River Broadcasting (at the time doing business as CRB Media) were WFCC and WKPE (now WOCN-FM
WOCN-FM
WOCN-FM is a soft Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Orleans, Massachusetts. The station is licensed to Sandab Communications and operated locally...
) as well as the World Classical Network. These properties were sold to Sandab Communications (doing business as Cape Cod Broadcasting), operators of longtime Cape Cod radio station leader WQRC
WQRC
WQRC is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA, the station serves the Cape Cod area...
.
Stations formerly owned by the company
- WCRBWCRBWCRB is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lowell, Massachusetts and based in the Brighton area of Boston, which serves the Greater Boston area. It broadcasts a classical music format; it existed as a commercial station from the early 1950s until December 2009, and as a listener-supported...
102.5 FM WalthamWaltham, MassachusettsWaltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...
/Boston, Massachusetts (flagship) (sold to Greater MediaGreater MediaGreater Media, Inc., known as Greater Media, is an American media company that specializes in radio stations. The markets where they own radio stations include Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and the state of New Jersey...
) - WCRQWWBBWWBB is a radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. The station mainly plays classic hits and oldies from the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s. The station is also carried as background music on several Public-access television cable TV in southeastern Massachusetts...
101.5 FM Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
(now owned by Clear Channel CommunicationsClear Channel CommunicationsClear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
) - WCRXWAQYWAQY is a Springfield, Massachusetts area classic rock radio station. Since the late 1980s, the station has been known as "Rock 102".-History:...
102.1 FM Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield, MassachusettsSpringfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
(now owned by Saga CommunicationsSaga CommunicationsSaga Communications is a broadcasting company that owns and operates stations in 26 markets in the United States. The company, which is based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, primarily operates radio stations , but it also operates 9 television stations Saga Communications is a broadcasting...
) - WCRI 95.9 FM Block Island/Westerly, Rhode Island (sold to Judson Group, owned by Christopher Jones)
- WCNX 1180 AM Hope Valley, Rhode IslandHope Valley, Rhode IslandHope Valley is a village and census-designated place in the town of Hopkinton in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population of the CDP was 1,649 at the 2000 census...
(CNN Headline NewsCNN Headline NewsHLN, formerly known as CNN Headline News and CNN2, is a cable television news channel based in the United States and a spinoff of the cable news television channel, CNN. Initially airing tightly-formatted 30-minute newscasts around the clock, since 2005, the channel has increasingly aired long-form...
simulcast, not classical) (sold to Judson Group) - WFCC-FMWFCC-FMWFCC-FM is a 50-kilowatt radio station licensed to Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, with studios and offices in Hyannis and transmitter facilities in Brewster...
107.5 Chatham, MassachusettsChatham, MassachusettsChatham is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 6,625 at the 2000 census...
/Cape CodCape CodCape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
(sold to Cape Cod Broadcasting) - WKPEWOCN-FMWOCN-FM is a soft Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Orleans, Massachusetts. The station is licensed to Sandab Communications and operated locally...
104.7 Orleans, MassachusettsOrleans, MassachusettsOrleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census....
/Cape CodCape CodCape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
(Classic RockClassic rockClassic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, not classical) (sold to Cape Cod Broadcasting) - World Classical NetworkWorld Classical NetworkThe World Classical Network is an internet-delivery classical radio broadcasting service owned by Cape Cod Broadcasting in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The service has been in existence since February 1998, when it was owned and operated by Charles River Broadcasting. It filled a void left by the...
(satellite service) (sold to Cape Cod Broadcasting)