WNRS (AM)

WNRS (1420 AM) is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Herkimer, New York, United States, the station serves the Utica area. The station is currently owned by Arjuna Broadcasting Corp. and features programming from Westwood One. The station also simulcasts on translator station W252DO at 98.3 FM.[2][3]

WNRS
CityHerkimer, New York
Broadcast areaUtica, New York
Branding98.3 and 1420 AM The Fox
SloganGood Time Oldies
Frequency1420 kHz
Translator(s)98.3 W252DO (Herkimer)
First air dateWNRS: October 12, 1956 (1956-10-12)[1] (as WALY)
W252DO: December 2016 (2016-12)
FormatOldies
PowerWNRS:
1,000 watts day
64 watts night
W252DO: 250 watts
ClassD
Facility IDWNRS: 2760
W252DO: 60893
Transmitter coordinates43°3′40″N 75°1′44″W
Call sign meaningWiNneRS (previous format)
Former call signsWALY (1956-1979)
WKYZ (1979-1980)
WRMV (1980-1985)
WLIR (1985-1987)
WYUT (1987-1994)
OwnerArjuna Broadcasting Corp.
Sister stationsWXUR

History

The station went on the air as WALY in 1956,[1] often programming a full service music format. However on occasion, it would program other formats like top 40.[4] Eventually, the station settled for beautiful music programming.[5] The station changed callsigns several times in the late 1970s and 1980s, to WKYZ in 1979, WRMV in 1980, and WLIR in 1985. On March 2, 1987, the station changed its call sign to WYUT to match its FM sister WYUT-FM, but signed off in 1991. On July 20, 1994, both WYUT and WYUT-FM returned to the air as WNRS and WXUR, respectively.[6] On June 26, 2009, Arjuna Broadcasting Corp. moved the Imus in the Morning show to WNRS from WXUR, which had just flipped to an active rock format.

On March 5, 2010, WNRS lost its ESPN Radio affiliation to Galaxy Communications station WTLB. Adopting the brand "The Fox," WNRS retained Imus, brought in Premiere Sports, added syndicated programs, The Dan Patrick Show and The Jim Rome Show, for middays, and simulcast WBBR (Bloomberg Radio) in afternoon drive until sunset. (WNRS is believed to be the only AM station to use "The Fox" branding.)

On March 4, 2013, WNRS dropped its Premiere and Bloomberg affiliations and affiliated with The True Oldies Channel. Imus in the Morning was once again retained (and would continue on WNRS until the show ended on March 29, 2018).[7] When the True Oldies Channel ended in June 2014, WNRS retained its oldies format and changed its affiliation to Good Time Oldies, which had recently been launched by Westwood One.

On December 1, 2016, WNRS added a FM simulcast at 98.3, to cover areas not served by WNRS' nighttime signal.[8]

References
  1. Kibbs, Tom (February 4, 1957). "WALY reception verification" (PDF). Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  2. "WNRS Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. http://fccdata.org/?facid=60893
  4. http://blog.backspinradio.net/2014/01/music-survey-waly-herkimer-ny-top-twenty-january-7-14-1964/
  5. "200 Years Of Herkimer County" book, published 1991 by the Herkimer County Historical Society
  6. "WNRS Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  7. Don Imus to retire March 29
  8. https://www.facebook.com/cnyradio/posts/1260772920651052?comment_id=1260848487310162&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22%7D
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