WRYM
Encyclopedia
WRYM is a radio station
broadcasting an ethnic format. Licensed to New Britain, Connecticut
, USA, it serves the Hartford
area. The station is currently owned by Eight Forty Broadcasting Corporation.
-New Britain), under the ownership of the New Britain Broadcasting Company. NBC
bought the station in 1956; however, its main purpose in acquiring WKNB was to obtain its sister television station, WKNB-TV (which it renamed WNBC; it is now WVIT
). Attempts were soon made to divest WKNB, supposedly because NBC was embarrassed to own a daytimer in the same market as WTIC
, one of NBC Radio
's first affiliates; however, the station was not sold until 1960, when both WKNB and WNBC were transferred to Transcontinental Properties, which then sold the radio station to the Beacon Broadcasting Company, controlled by Louis Sodokoff, the following year.
In 1962, the station took its present WRYM callsign to reflect its conversion to a beautiful music
format — the first in Connecticut. By 1970, it had a middle-of-the-road format; however, WRYM had also gradually increased its ethnic programming, culminating by 1975 with a move to a full-time ethnic and religious
format. Ownership was transferred to Hartford City Broadcasting in 1984 after the death of Louis Sodokoff.
WRYM added nighttime service in 1998 upon the construction of a second tower. Six years later, the station was sold to current owner Eight Forty Broadcasting.
The station has been headquartered for decades at 1056 Willard Ave., Newington, Connecticut, USA, in front of its radio towers.
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...
broadcasting an ethnic format. Licensed to New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
, USA, it serves the Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
area. The station is currently owned by Eight Forty Broadcasting Corporation.
History
The station signed on August 18, 1946 as WKNB (for KensingtonKensington, Connecticut
Kensington is a census-designated place and section of the town of Berlin in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The Berlin town offices are located in Kensington...
-New Britain), under the ownership of the New Britain Broadcasting Company. NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
bought the station in 1956; however, its main purpose in acquiring WKNB was to obtain its sister television station, WKNB-TV (which it renamed WNBC; it is now WVIT
WVIT
WVIT, virtual channel 30, is the NBC owned and operated television station for the state of Connecticut, licensed to New Britain. WVIT has its offices and studios located in West Hartford, and transmitter based in Farmington, Connecticut....
). Attempts were soon made to divest WKNB, supposedly because NBC was embarrassed to own a daytimer in the same market as WTIC
WTIC (AM)
WTIC is a 50,000-watt radio station operating out of Hartford, Connecticut, broadcasting news and talk radio. Its signal, located at 1080 kHz, can be picked up throughout southern New England by day and over several states as well as parts of Canada by night...
, one of NBC Radio
NBC Red Network
The NBC Red Network was one of the two original radio networks of the National Broadcasting Company. After NBC was required to divest itself of its Blue Network , the Red Network continued as the NBC Radio Network.It, along with the Blue Network, were the first two commercial radio networks in the...
's first affiliates; however, the station was not sold until 1960, when both WKNB and WNBC were transferred to Transcontinental Properties, which then sold the radio station to the Beacon Broadcasting Company, controlled by Louis Sodokoff, the following year.
In 1962, the station took its present WRYM callsign to reflect its conversion to a beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format — the first in Connecticut. By 1970, it had a middle-of-the-road format; however, WRYM had also gradually increased its ethnic programming, culminating by 1975 with a move to a full-time ethnic and religious
Religious broadcasting
Religious broadcasting refers to broadcasting by religious organizations, usually with a religious message. Many religious organizations have long recorded content such as sermons and lectures, and have moved into distributing content on their Internet websites.While this article emphasises...
format. Ownership was transferred to Hartford City Broadcasting in 1984 after the death of Louis Sodokoff.
WRYM added nighttime service in 1998 upon the construction of a second tower. Six years later, the station was sold to current owner Eight Forty Broadcasting.
The station has been headquartered for decades at 1056 Willard Ave., Newington, Connecticut, USA, in front of its radio towers.