WBNR
Encyclopedia
WBNR is the callsign of an AM
radio
station licensed to Beacon, New York
and serving the Hudson Valley
. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting
and broadcasts on 1260 kHz at 1,000 watts daytime and 480 watts nighttime, both directional, from a four-tower array at 475 South Avenue in the of city of Beacon.
daytime only station. The original studio location is in close proximity to Denning's Point, a location on the Hudson River that has an archaeological record going back 5,000 years. Many staffers and former staffers felt that this explained a usually high reported incidence of paranormal
activity in the studio building.
It was not until 1985 that WBNR added two additional towers to their transmitter site and was licensed for 480 watts night time operation with a DA2 antenna pattern. For many years it was owned by brothers Robert and Al Lessnor of Candid Camera
fame. The station served the community with Middle of the Road (MOR) music format, local news and sports. It was heavily involved with Beacon community events and was the flagship station for Army Football until 2003.
In 1970, Lance (later Beacon) Broadcasting, then owners of WBNR, acquired WSPK
from Poughkeepsie, New York based Olympian broadcasting, owners of WKIP, along with the mountain top transmitter site located on North Mount Beacon.
The station began to suffer a long steady decline through the 1980s and 1990s as many AM radio stations did.
In 1994, WBNR, along with its sister station WSPK was sold to Enterprise Media of Binghamton, New York. Both stations were subsequently sold to Pamal Broadcasting in October of 1997. The studios moved from their original 1959 location at 475 South Avenue, Beacon to the newly reconstructed "Broadcast Center" at 715 Fishkill Avenue (NY Rte 52), in Fishkill, New York
, where Hudson Valley Talk Radio Network programming originates.
and WGHQ
as the Hudson Valley Talk Radio Network. WBNR features a local news magazine program called "Good Morning Hudson Valley" each morning followed by syndicated talk shows Dr. Laura Schlessinger
, and Dave Ramsey
. In addition WBNR features syndicated Fox Sports Radio
at night and also broadcasts single A baseball from the Hudson Valley Renegades
, Notre Dame Football
, and Mount Saint Mary College
basketball.
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station licensed to Beacon, New York
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
and serving the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting
Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd. is a family-owned radio ownership with stations in medium-to-small markets in the Northeast and Florida. Based in the Albany suburb of Latham, New York, Pamal Broadcasting was founded in 1986 as Albany Broadcasting when business man James J. Morrell entered broadcast...
and broadcasts on 1260 kHz at 1,000 watts daytime and 480 watts nighttime, both directional, from a four-tower array at 475 South Avenue in the of city of Beacon.
History
WBNR signed on in 1959 as a 1,000 watt directional antennaDirectional antenna
A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna which radiates greater power in one or more directions allowing for increased performance on transmit and receive and reduced interference from unwanted sources....
daytime only station. The original studio location is in close proximity to Denning's Point, a location on the Hudson River that has an archaeological record going back 5,000 years. Many staffers and former staffers felt that this explained a usually high reported incidence of paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
activity in the studio building.
It was not until 1985 that WBNR added two additional towers to their transmitter site and was licensed for 480 watts night time operation with a DA2 antenna pattern. For many years it was owned by brothers Robert and Al Lessnor of Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
fame. The station served the community with Middle of the Road (MOR) music format, local news and sports. It was heavily involved with Beacon community events and was the flagship station for Army Football until 2003.
In 1970, Lance (later Beacon) Broadcasting, then owners of WBNR, acquired WSPK
WSPK
WSPK is a CHR radio station licensed to Poughkeepsie, New York and broadcasting from studios in Fishkill. It is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and broadcasts on 104.7 MHz at an ERP of 7.4 kilowatts from a tower at the top of Mount Beacon in Fishkill.WSPK's main coverage area is centered on the...
from Poughkeepsie, New York based Olympian broadcasting, owners of WKIP, along with the mountain top transmitter site located on North Mount Beacon.
The station began to suffer a long steady decline through the 1980s and 1990s as many AM radio stations did.
In 1994, WBNR, along with its sister station WSPK was sold to Enterprise Media of Binghamton, New York. Both stations were subsequently sold to Pamal Broadcasting in October of 1997. The studios moved from their original 1959 location at 475 South Avenue, Beacon to the newly reconstructed "Broadcast Center" at 715 Fishkill Avenue (NY Rte 52), in Fishkill, New York
Fishkill, New York
Fishkill is an upscale village within the much larger town, Town of Fishkill, one of the fastest growing towns in the region, in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The village population was 1,735 at the 2000 census...
, where Hudson Valley Talk Radio Network programming originates.
Programming
Currently, the station's format is News Talk and is simulcast with WLNAWLNA
WLNA is the callsign of an AM radio station licensed to Peekskill, New York and serving the Hudson Valley. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and broadcasts on 1420 kHz at 5 kilowatts daytime and 1 kilowatt nighttime, both directional, from a five-tower array located just north of Peekskill...
and WGHQ
WGHQ
WGHQ is a United States radio station licensed to Kingston, New York and serving the Hudson Valley as well as a part of the Capital District market...
as the Hudson Valley Talk Radio Network. WBNR features a local news magazine program called "Good Morning Hudson Valley" each morning followed by syndicated talk shows Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Laura Schlessinger
Laura Catherine Schlessinger is an American talk radio host, socially conservative commentator and author. Her radio program consists mainly of her responses to callers' requests for personal advice and has occasionally featured her short monologues on social and political topics...
, and Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
David L. Ramsey III is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker.Ramsey's syndicated radio program The Dave Ramsey Show is promoted with a tagline that "It's about your life and your money," and it is heard on over 450 radio stations throughout the...
. In addition WBNR features syndicated Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
at night and also broadcasts single A baseball from the Hudson Valley Renegades
Hudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
, Notre Dame Football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, and Mount Saint Mary College
Mount Saint Mary College
Mount Saint Mary College is a private, co-educational, four-year liberal arts college, located in Newburgh in the mid-Hudson Valley region of New York State...
basketball.