WPKN

WPKN (89.5 FM) is a 100% non-commercial, listener supported radio station broadcasting at 89.5 FM in Bridgeport, Connecticut and formerly 88.7 FM (WPKM) in Montauk, New York. Its volunteer programmers present a wide variety of music and public affairs programming including the syndicated weekly radio news magazine Between the Lines, a bi-weekly show hosted by environmental journalist Jim Motavalli and a monthly show hosted by Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club drummer Chris Frantz. WPKN's programming can also be heard on the internet as a live audio stream.

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WPKN
CityBridgeport, Connecticut
Broadcast areaBridgeport, Connecticut
SloganThe Real Alternative
Frequency89.5 MHz
First air date1963
FormatVariety
ERP10,000 watts
HAAT169 meters (554 ft)
ClassB
Facility ID73886
Transmitter coordinates41.279°N 73.185°W / 41.279; -73.185
Call sign meaningW Purple Knights Network
OwnerWPKN, Inc.
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.wpkn.org

History

WPKN was founded in 1963 as the college radio station of the University of Bridgeport, but became independent of the university in 1989.[1] The call letters originally stood for "Purple Knights Network," named after a university sports team.

Over Memorial Day weekend 2010 non-commercial station WEER took over the Montauk repeater. WEER paid $60,000 for the signal and took over the $4,000/month rental for the Montauk tower.[2]

Many stations below the 92 MHz FM band receive funds from commercial entities despite being part of the non-commercial radio band. This is thought by some to present the potential for conflicts of interest. WPKN only takes funds from private donors with no stipulations for their expenditure attached. This allows the music and news programmers complete freedom to produce their own shows with no outside pressure.

See also

References
  1. "Radio Station Offers Everything But Consistency". New York Times. October 27, 1991. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  2. Beth Young (May 25, 2010). "New radio station will focus on East End community". East Hampton Press. Retrieved February 13, 2012.


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