WYBC (AM)
Encyclopedia
WYBC is a radio station
operating on the campus of Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut
. The station is owned by Yale Broadcasting Company, Inc.; however, it is programmed by Sacred Heart University
under a time brokerage agreement. WYBC is a public radio station, airing an news/talk
format.
acquired the station, along with sister stations WNHC-FM (99.1 FM
) and WNHC-TV (channel 8), in 1956.
WNHC was sold to Westerly Broadcasting Company in 1971. (Triangle had sold its stations, including the WNHC stations, to Capital Cities Communications
; although it was able to retain what became WTNH-TV
, it was forced by the Federal Communications Commission
to sell WNHC and what became WPLR
to comply with the ownership cap.) By this time, the station had a contemporary format; this gave way in 1976 to a middle-of-the-road/talk
format.
WNHC again attempted a top 40 format starting in June 1979 in an attempt to complete against WAVZ
; however, just weeks later, WAVZ swapped formats with its sister station, WKCI. With minimal promotion, WNHC struggled to compete with WKCI's stronger FM signal, and in March 1980 it flipped to an urban format. However, the station ran into financial problems during the 1990s, forcing owner Willis Communications to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
in December 1997. The bankruptcy resulted in a battle between Yale Broadcasting Company, which wanted to eliminate a competitor to WYBC-FM
, and Buckley Broadcasting
over the sale of WNHC, as well as protests against Yale Broadcasting in New Haven's African American
community. The dispute ended on June 3, 1998, when Yale Broadcasting purchased the station in bankruptcy court; the next morning, WNHC was shut down at the order of the bankruptcy judge. It returned to the air under Yale Broadcasting's control on September 15; on October 5, the callsign was changed to WYBC.
In the station's first decade as WYBC, unlike many radio stations on a college campus, it featured both student and non-student programming, some professional. However, interest in the station eventually dwindled (in sharp contrast, sister station WYBC-FM, largely programmed by Cox Radio
, is one of the highest-rated urban adult contemporary
stations in the country), and its college radio programming was transitioned to an Internet radio
station, WYBCX, by 2010. WYBC then adopted its current public radio programming, provided by Sacred Heart University, on April 4, 2011 (WYBC-FM continues to operate as a commercial station). The station offers a distinct program schedule from other Sacred Heart University-operated stations (such as WSHU-FM
and WSUF
); consequently, WYBC is one of the few NPR
news/talk stations to not carry the flagship Morning Edition
and All Things Considered
newsmagazines (which are heard on WSHU's other stations). The time brokerage agreement with Sacred Heart University provides funding for WYBCX's operations.
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...
operating on the campus of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. The station is owned by Yale Broadcasting Company, Inc.; however, it is programmed by Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is a Roman Catholic university located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Sacred Heart was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart University was the first Catholic university in...
under a time brokerage agreement. WYBC is a public radio station, airing an news/talk
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...
format.
History
The 1340 AM frequency first signed on in 1944 as WNHC, under the ownership of the Elm City Broadcasting Company. Triangle PublicationsTriangle Publications
Triangle Publications, Inc. was an American media group first based at 400 North Broad Street , Philadelphia, and later at its TV Guide headquarters in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Triangle Publications was a privately-held corporation with the majority of stock owned by Walter Annenberg and his sisters...
acquired the station, along with sister stations WNHC-FM (99.1 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
) and WNHC-TV (channel 8), in 1956.
WNHC was sold to Westerly Broadcasting Company in 1971. (Triangle had sold its stations, including the WNHC stations, to Capital Cities Communications
Capital Cities Communications
Capital Cities redirects here. For the article about the seat of a government, see Capital .Capital Cities Communications was an American media company best known for its surprise purchase of the much larger American Broadcasting Company in 1985...
; although it was able to retain what became WTNH-TV
WTNH
WTNH is the ABC-affiliated television station for the state of Connecticut that is licensed to New Haven. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 10 from a transmitter in Hamden. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate WCTX and the two...
, it was forced by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to sell WNHC and what became WPLR
WPLR
WPLR based out of New Haven, Connecticut, is a rock station owned by Cox Radio....
to comply with the ownership cap.) By this time, the station had a contemporary format; this gave way in 1976 to a middle-of-the-road/talk
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...
format.
WNHC again attempted a top 40 format starting in June 1979 in an attempt to complete against WAVZ
WAVZ
WAVZ is a radio station broadcasting a Sports Talk format. Licensed to New Haven, Connecticut, USA. The station is currently owned by Cc Licenses. The station switched formats in time for Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007....
; however, just weeks later, WAVZ swapped formats with its sister station, WKCI. With minimal promotion, WNHC struggled to compete with WKCI's stronger FM signal, and in March 1980 it flipped to an urban format. However, the station ran into financial problems during the 1990s, forcing owner Willis Communications to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
in December 1997. The bankruptcy resulted in a battle between Yale Broadcasting Company, which wanted to eliminate a competitor to WYBC-FM
WYBC-FM
WYBC-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary music formatted radio station in New Haven, Connecticut, on the campus of Yale University. The station is operated through Cox Radio....
, and Buckley Broadcasting
Buckley Broadcasting
Buckley Radio owns and operates twenty radio stations in seven markets. In addition, the WOR Radio Network is operated as an independent syndicated programming provider with affiliates in over 400 markets.-New York:*WOR - New York, NY...
over the sale of WNHC, as well as protests against Yale Broadcasting in New Haven's African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community. The dispute ended on June 3, 1998, when Yale Broadcasting purchased the station in bankruptcy court; the next morning, WNHC was shut down at the order of the bankruptcy judge. It returned to the air under Yale Broadcasting's control on September 15; on October 5, the callsign was changed to WYBC.
In the station's first decade as WYBC, unlike many radio stations on a college campus, it featured both student and non-student programming, some professional. However, interest in the station eventually dwindled (in sharp contrast, sister station WYBC-FM, largely programmed by Cox Radio
Cox Radio
Cox Radio, Inc. is a division of Cox Enterprises that holds a number of radio stations. Cox Radio is headquartered at 6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs, Georgia....
, is one of the highest-rated urban adult contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
stations in the country), and its college radio programming was transitioned to an Internet radio
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
station, WYBCX, by 2010. WYBC then adopted its current public radio programming, provided by Sacred Heart University, on April 4, 2011 (WYBC-FM continues to operate as a commercial station). The station offers a distinct program schedule from other Sacred Heart University-operated stations (such as WSHU-FM
WSHU-FM
-External links:*...
and WSUF
WSUF
WSUF is a radio station licensed to serve Noyack, New York, USA. It is owned by Sacred Heart University.It broadcasts a classical music and news/talk radio format that includes programming from National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and American Public Media...
); consequently, WYBC is one of the few NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
news/talk stations to not carry the flagship Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
and All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
newsmagazines (which are heard on WSHU's other stations). The time brokerage agreement with Sacred Heart University provides funding for WYBCX's operations.