WPYX
WPYX ("PYX 106") is a mainstream rock-leaning classic rock radio station licensed to Albany, New York and primarily serving New York's Capital Region, the Adirondacks, and surrounding areas. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts at 106.5 MHz at 15.5 kilowatts ERP from a non-directional antenna located from the Helderberg Mountains antenna farm in New Scotland.
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| City | Albany, New York |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Adirondacks, Capital District, and upper Hudson Valley |
| Branding | "PYX 106" |
| Slogan | "Capitaland's Classic Rock" |
| Frequency | 106.5 MHz (HD Radio) |
| First air date | September 1967 (as WDKC) |
| Format | Classic rock (with mainstream rock lean) HD2: Classic rock "Gran Torino Radio" |
| ERP | 15,500 watts |
| HAAT | 275 meters (902 ft) |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 73911 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 42.636°N 74.001°W |
| Call sign meaning | Calls chosen for name (play on "picks") |
| Former call signs | WDKC (1967–1971) WTRY-FM (1971–1973) WHSH (1973–1980) |
| Affiliations | New York Giants Radio Network |
| Owner | iHeartMedia (Capstar TX LLC) |
| Sister stations | WGY, WGY-FM, WRVE, WTRY-FM, WKKF, WOFX |
| Webcast | HD1: PYX106 HD2: iHeartChristmas |
| Website | pyx106 |
Though billed as classic rock, WPYX plays a moderate amount of currents which puts it on a fringe alongside mainstream rock. Regardless of what format the station is filed under, WPYX is one of the longest-lasting stations in the Capital District since it began on September 15, 1980.
WPYX broadcasts in the HD Radio format, with 1970s’ classic rock on its HD2 channel from iHeart branded as, Gran Turino Radio.
During the NFL season, WPYX also broadcasts New York Giants football games.
History
The 106.5 frequency signed on in September 1967 as WDKC, operating as an MOR music station. It was owned by Kopps-Monahan Communications, Inc., owners of Top 40 powerhouse WTRY 980 (today's WOFX). In 1971, the call letters were changed to WTRY-FM. It continued as an MOR station during the day, but simulcasted WTRY's Top 40 format at night; returning to full-time MOR programming in 1972. In early 1973, the WTRY stations were sold, and WTRY-FM became WHSH, which then went to its first full-time rock format as the format was changed to a Top 40–Oldies hybrid with live DJs. The station was now known as "Wish" as well as "The Albany Stereo Giant" and "Your Albany Wish". Ownership automated the station a year later in 1974, and changed the format to Oldies. During Labor Day weekend, 1975, the format was flipped again, this time to beautiful music, while keeping the "Wish" nickname. The WHSH callsign supposedly meant "Well Herbert Scott's Here", referring to Scott Broadcasting's ownership.
By 1980 there was an obvious hole for a mainstream AOR station in the Albany market and the station flipped to its current format on September 15, 1980, changing the call sign to WPYX and officially became "PYX 106". WPYX would remain live and local until April 28, 2009 when they replaced most of their local DJs with out-of-market voice-trackers, which remains the case to this day.
WPYX and WTRY went through several ownership changes which includes Scott Broadcasting of Pennsylvania, television personality Merv Griffin and Capstar Broadcasting (which was controlled by billionaire mogul Tom Hicks). In 1999, Capstar merged with another Hicks-owned company, Chancellor Media Corporation, to form AMFM Inc. In 2000, the stations were acquired by Clear Channel Communications (now known as iHeartMedia) when they merged with AMFM.
HD Radio operations
In 2005, WPYX upgraded to IBOC digital radio alongside the rest of Clear Channel's Albany stations. On August 17, 2006, WPYX began airing an HD2 channel with a deep tracks classic rock format, known as Vinyl Vineyard which was later replaced with a classic country format in August 2012. The classic country was eventually dropped in favor of an all year non-stop Christmas music channel.[1] As of September 2018, WPYX's HD2 airs a Christmas Music format called, "iHeartChristmas Lites", which airs more recent versions of Christmas songs and Christmas songs that are very popular.
External links
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WPYX
- Radio-Locator information on WPYX
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WPYX