WPHR-FM
Encyclopedia
WSYR-FM is a news/talk
radio station
serving Syracuse
and central New York
. The Clear Channel Communications
outlet broadcasts at 106.9 MHz with an ERP of 9 kW and is licensed to Solvay, New York
. It is currently a simulcast of WSYR-AM
570.
. It remains WSYR's sister station and carries an adult contemporary music
format. For several years, the WSYR-FM call signs had been parked on the current WPHR-FM (FM 94.7) in Gifford, Florida
.
The current WSYR-FM, which signed in 1981 as WPCX, has been licensed for most of its time on air to the city of Auburn, New York
. Through most of its first decade, 106.9 was operating with a format of country music. Then by 1997, began targeting the area as Smooth Jazz WHCD. By 2000 it would flip to Urban Contemporary
, in an attempt to complement their Rhythmic-leaning Top 40 sister station WWHT-FM
(who later shifted to Rhythmic Top 40 fulltime by November 2011) and to fill the void left open by WRDS
, who lasted one year in the format. After three years they would evolve into an urban AC direction, focusing on targeting the African-American community and in the process allowing WWHT to expand their Rhythmic-heavy playlist with the R&B/Hip-Hop product. For the first three years as an urban AC, there was no competitor until WOLF-FM
flipped to the MOViN format.
On August 28, 2009, at 5pm, Power 106.9 dropped the Urban AC format for a country
format, branding itself as "Young Country 106.9." This was despite the fact that Clear Channel already had a country music outlet in the Syracuse area, market leader WBBS
in Fulton
, a more mainstream country station. The move was ostensibly an effort to hedge its bets against competition from WOLF-FM
in DeRuyter
, which Clear Channel sold in March 2009 and changed to country music at the same time as WPHR did. As it turned out, the country format on WPHR was a weekend-long stunt
; the station switched back to its regular format that Monday morning (August 31). The station, after the stunt, moved to its current location in Solvay, which gives it greater coverage over the city of Syracuse but far less over the Finger Lakes.
In December 2010, five domains suggesting that 106.9 would be changing to a simulcast of WSYR-AM
570 were registered and parked at GoDaddy. WSYR already simulcasts on WPHR's HD Radio
digital subchannel
. Concurrently with the discovery, WHEN-AM 620 adopted an identical format and branding as "Power 620." The "Power 106.9" Web site was rebranded as "Power620.com" at the same time. As of December 27, Clear Channel has filed to swap call signs with WSYR-FM in Gifford, Florida
. The format change took effect Sunday evening, January 2, 2011. News on the station is provided by Fox Radio
, the station simulcasts mostly talk radio during the week, including The Glenn Beck Program, The Rush Limbaugh Show
, The Sean Hannity Show
, The Savage Nation
, and Coast to Coast AM
, as well as local shows, The Morning News with Joe Galuski, and The Jim Reith Show.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
radio station
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 Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and central New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear 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...
outlet broadcasts at 106.9 MHz with an ERP of 9 kW and is licensed to Solvay, New York
Solvay, New York
Solvay is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, and a suburb of the city of Syracuse. According to the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 6,845...
. It is currently a simulcast of WSYR-AM
WSYR (AM)
WSYR is a 5,000 watt radio station licensed to Syracuse, New York. Owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications, it broadcasts a talk radio format under the moniker "Newsradio 106.9 WSYR." It was previously billed as "Newsradio 570 WSYR" until it became a simulcast with WPHR-FM in January...
570.
History
The original WSYR-FM, on FM 94.5, has since been rebranded as WYYYWYYY
WYYY is a Lite Adult Contemporary formatted radio station licensed to Syracuse, New York. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 94.5 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW.-History:...
. It remains WSYR's sister station and carries an adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
format. For several years, the WSYR-FM call signs had been parked on the current WPHR-FM (FM 94.7) in Gifford, Florida
Gifford, Florida
Gifford is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Sebastian–Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,599 at the 2000 census. Gifford has a very rich African American history. There are several pioneer families that...
.
The current WSYR-FM, which signed in 1981 as WPCX, has been licensed for most of its time on air to the city of Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
. Through most of its first decade, 106.9 was operating with a format of country music. Then by 1997, began targeting the area as Smooth Jazz WHCD. By 2000 it would flip to Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
, in an attempt to complement their Rhythmic-leaning Top 40 sister station WWHT-FM
WWHT-FM
WWHT is a Rhythmic Top 40 station licensed to Syracuse, New York. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 107.9 MHz with an ERP of 50 kW.-History:...
(who later shifted to Rhythmic Top 40 fulltime by November 2011) and to fill the void left open by WRDS
WZUN
WZUN is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Phoenix, New York, USA, the station serves the Syracuse area. The station is currently owned by Galaxy Syracuse Licensee LLC.-Personalities:...
, who lasted one year in the format. After three years they would evolve into an urban AC direction, focusing on targeting the African-American community and in the process allowing WWHT to expand their Rhythmic-heavy playlist with the R&B/Hip-Hop product. For the first three years as an urban AC, there was no competitor until WOLF-FM
WOLF-FM
WMVN is a Rhythmic Adult Contemporary radio station serving the Syracuse market. WMVN operates at 100.3 MHz on the FM dial. A separate translator, W243AB, serves the city of Syracuse, New York on the 96.5 frequency...
flipped to the MOViN format.
On August 28, 2009, at 5pm, Power 106.9 dropped the Urban AC format for a country
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, branding itself as "Young Country 106.9." This was despite the fact that Clear Channel already had a country music outlet in the Syracuse area, market leader WBBS
WBBS
WBBS is a Country music formatted radio station serving the Syracuse area. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an ERP of 50 kW and is licensed to Fulton, New York.-History:...
in Fulton
Fulton, Oswego County, New York
Fulton is a small city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.The city of Fulton is located in the western part of the county....
, a more mainstream country station. The move was ostensibly an effort to hedge its bets against competition from WOLF-FM
WOLF-FM
WMVN is a Rhythmic Adult Contemporary radio station serving the Syracuse market. WMVN operates at 100.3 MHz on the FM dial. A separate translator, W243AB, serves the city of Syracuse, New York on the 96.5 frequency...
in DeRuyter
DeRuyter, New York
DeRuyter, New York may refer to either:*DeRuyter , New York, located in Madison County*DeRuyter , New York, located within the Town of DeRuyter...
, which Clear Channel sold in March 2009 and changed to country music at the same time as WPHR did. As it turned out, the country format on WPHR was a weekend-long stunt
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
; the station switched back to its regular format that Monday morning (August 31). The station, after the stunt, moved to its current location in Solvay, which gives it greater coverage over the city of Syracuse but far less over the Finger Lakes.
In December 2010, five domains suggesting that 106.9 would be changing to a simulcast of WSYR-AM
WSYR (AM)
WSYR is a 5,000 watt radio station licensed to Syracuse, New York. Owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications, it broadcasts a talk radio format under the moniker "Newsradio 106.9 WSYR." It was previously billed as "Newsradio 570 WSYR" until it became a simulcast with WPHR-FM in January...
570 were registered and parked at GoDaddy. WSYR already simulcasts on WPHR's HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
. Concurrently with the discovery, WHEN-AM 620 adopted an identical format and branding as "Power 620." The "Power 106.9" Web site was rebranded as "Power620.com" at the same time. As of December 27, Clear Channel has filed to swap call signs with WSYR-FM in Gifford, Florida
Gifford, Florida
Gifford is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Sebastian–Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,599 at the 2000 census. Gifford has a very rich African American history. There are several pioneer families that...
. The format change took effect Sunday evening, January 2, 2011. News on the station is provided by Fox Radio
Fox Radio
Fox Radio may refer to:* Fox News Radio, an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel* Fox Sports Radio, an international radio network, a service of Premiere Radio Networks* CKFX-FM, also known as 102 FM The Fox, a Canadian radio station...
, the station simulcasts mostly talk radio during the week, including The Glenn Beck Program, The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
, The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show is a talk radio show hosted by Sean Hannity on Citadel Media and Premiere Radio Networks. The program is broadcast live every weekday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m...
, The Savage Nation
The Savage Nation
The Savage Nation is an American radio show hosted by conservative commentator Michael Savage on Talk Radio Network. His show is heard by 8-10 million listeners a week and syndicated across the U.S. in over 300 markets, making it the 3rd most listened to radio show in the country...
, and Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
, as well as local shows, The Morning News with Joe Galuski, and The Jim Reith Show.