WKNY
Encyclopedia
WKNY is a radio station
serving the Kingston, New York
, area with an adult contemporary format. It broadcasts at a power of 1 KW from a single tower located off of Albany Avenue. It is owned of Cumulus Media
.
The WKNY calls were also briefly used for an CBS-TV affiliate
in Poughkeepsie, New York operating on Channel 66 in the mid-1950s.
WKNY has authorization to broadcast at just 250 watts in 1939 at a frequency of 1490 kilocycles. In 1959 the FTC authorized WKNY to increase its daytime power to 1,000 watts and then in the 1980s, permission was given to broadcast at that power 24 hours a day.
In the 1940s, WKNY moved to the Community Theatre Building at 601 Broadway; later to 212 Fair Street in a house formerly owned by Mayor Raymond Garraghan. From its Fair Street studios, WKNY became Ulster County's most-listened-to radio station and was an Adult Contemporary reporter to Radio & Records. It also aired the syndicated "American Top 40" on Saturdays from 8am-noon, although the programming evolved from Top 40 in the early 1970s to a Full Service AC/MOR presentation by the early 1980s, when it was in heavy competition with Walter C. Maxwell's WGHQ-AM 920.
Noted former personalities include "Morning Mayor" Ward Todd, who commanded the lion's share of WKNY's audience; the station cannot be heard in Poughkeepsie and focuses on Northern Dutchess and Ulster Counties because of its limited signal, explaining its absence in Arbitron ratings for Poughkeepsie.
WKNY also aired New York Yankees baseball for many years before the games shifted to FM 94.3, a co-owned country music station (WKXP).
In 1986 WKNY moved into its present studio and offices at 718 Broadway. Today, Warren Lawrence helms the chat-heavy morning show while Hank Gross provides local news; national news continues to be provided from CBS News after several decades as an affiliate.
WKNY was first owned by John McKenna and his family and went through several changes in ownership since then. It is currently owned by Cumulus Media, Inc...
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
serving the Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, area with an adult contemporary format. It broadcasts at a power of 1 KW from a single tower located off of Albany Avenue. It is owned of Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
.
The WKNY calls were also briefly used for an CBS-TV affiliate
WKNY-TV
WKNY-TV was an independent TV station that served the Hudson Valley in the mid-1950s.Owned by Joseph K. Close and the Kingston Brodacasting Company , WKNY-TV, Channel 66, came on the air on May 24, 1954, licensed to Kingston, New York but broadcasting from studios in Poughkeepsie...
in Poughkeepsie, New York operating on Channel 66 in the mid-1950s.
History
WKNY went on the air December 16, 1939 at 8:15 PM from the auditorium of Kingston High School before an audience of approximately 100 people. Major C.J. Heiselman was unable to attend WKNY's opening ceremonies but a taped message from him was broadcast over the air. The musical program was rendered by Roger Baer's Orchestra, the Vocal Rhythm Boys of Saugerties and vocal solos by Miss Lynne Clark. Following the musical program in the High School, the program continued with musical selections from the new WKNY studios in the Governor Clinton Hotel. The following morning the services in the Fair Street Reformed Church were broadcast on the air and the station began regular operations.WKNY has authorization to broadcast at just 250 watts in 1939 at a frequency of 1490 kilocycles. In 1959 the FTC authorized WKNY to increase its daytime power to 1,000 watts and then in the 1980s, permission was given to broadcast at that power 24 hours a day.
In the 1940s, WKNY moved to the Community Theatre Building at 601 Broadway; later to 212 Fair Street in a house formerly owned by Mayor Raymond Garraghan. From its Fair Street studios, WKNY became Ulster County's most-listened-to radio station and was an Adult Contemporary reporter to Radio & Records. It also aired the syndicated "American Top 40" on Saturdays from 8am-noon, although the programming evolved from Top 40 in the early 1970s to a Full Service AC/MOR presentation by the early 1980s, when it was in heavy competition with Walter C. Maxwell's WGHQ-AM 920.
Noted former personalities include "Morning Mayor" Ward Todd, who commanded the lion's share of WKNY's audience; the station cannot be heard in Poughkeepsie and focuses on Northern Dutchess and Ulster Counties because of its limited signal, explaining its absence in Arbitron ratings for Poughkeepsie.
WKNY also aired New York Yankees baseball for many years before the games shifted to FM 94.3, a co-owned country music station (WKXP).
In 1986 WKNY moved into its present studio and offices at 718 Broadway. Today, Warren Lawrence helms the chat-heavy morning show while Hank Gross provides local news; national news continues to be provided from CBS News after several decades as an affiliate.
WKNY was first owned by John McKenna and his family and went through several changes in ownership since then. It is currently owned by Cumulus Media, Inc...
On-Air Staff
- Warren Lawrence, Program Director
- Budd Fredericks, PSA Director
- Christopher Burns, Sports
- Dan Reinhard, Sports
- Dan Gorham, Sports
- Hank Gross, Local News
- Cappy Foster, Market Analyst
- Adam Alberts, Production
- Frank Auringer, Production
- Jodi McTague, "Speak Out" Host
- Lin Sakai, "Radio Free Kingston" Host
- Art Richter, "Radio Free Kingston" Host
- Ed Gaddy, "Right Time Radio" Host
- Imre Beke, "Right Time Radio" Host
- Bill Geracia, "Salvation Sounds" Host
- Rev. Charles Stickley, "Morning Meditation" Host
- Gregory Forte, "Italian Show" Host
- Ken Brett, "Irish Show" Host
- Bill Yosh, "Irish Show" Host
- Steve Adamczyk, "Polkatime Sunday" Host
- Hans Safer, "German Program" Host