WNET TV Buying Long Island Non-Commercial Radio Station

[Marcos_C]

It's interesting that with WNET set to take over so soon, WPPB was still doing over the air fundraising earlier [on Friday].

Does anyone suppose that at least a few listeners donated with a note saying, "Please don't let Channel 13 cancel [my favorite locally-produced show]"?

 

[K6JHU]

So if WNET wanted to seriously get into radio, where were they when WPLJ went up?

 

[CTListener]

So if WNET wanted to seriously get into radio, where were they when WPLJ went up?

Maybe they didn't want to get into New York City public radio, which WNYC, WNYE and Fordham and Columbia's stations take care of. WPPB is an East End of Long Island station with spillover listeners in coastal central and eastern Connecticut, very different market.

 

[TheBigA]

So if WNET wanted to seriously get into radio, where were they when WPLJ went up?

Big difference in price. They paid about $900K for WPPB. WPLJ would have been about $20 million.

I don't think they want to "seriously get into radio." This is a small purchase.

 

[Marcos_C]

Maybe they didn't want to get into New York City public radio, which WNYC, WNYE and Fordham and Columbia's stations take care of.

I don't think that WKCR, the Columbia University station, carries any NPR programming.

 

[TheBigA]

I don't think that WKCR, the Columbia University station, carries any NPR programming.

They are not listed as an NPR affiliate. They may be CPB-qualified, however.

The three NYC affiliates are WNYC-AM, WNYC-FM, and WFUV-FM. WBGO-FM in Newark is also listed as an affiliate.

 

[FreddyE1977]

AllAccess is reporting that WNET TV (Channel 13) will be purchasing WPPB 88.3, located in the Hamptons.
I believe it is rather unusual, at least in this area, for a non-commercial TV station to branch into radio.

It can work out well though. For over 40 years WQED-TV here has owned WQED-FM, which is formatted to classical music. They now also own simulcasting sister station WQEJ-FM in Johnstown, PA.