WUTI
Encyclopedia
WUTI is a radio station
broadcasting a talk
format. Licensed to Utica, New York
, USA, the station serves the Utica area. The station is currently owned by Leatherstocking Meida Group, Inc., and simulcasts with WFBL
in Syracuse
.
Sentinel. The Sentinel was concerned that the Utica-Rome area was not being served adequately by WIBX
, which, at the time the paper applied for the construction permit
in 1946, had a 250-watt
signal incapable of reaching Rome at night; in contrast, WRUN, with its 5,000-watt signal, would have more of a regional reach. (WIBX, in turn, upgraded to 5,000 watts soon afterward.)
The Sentinel sold WRUN to Woods Communication Corporation in 1970; by then, it had a middle-of-the-road format; this evolved to a contemporary format by 1974, but was returned to MOR the following year. WRUN again changed its format in 1977, this time to top 40. The station was sold to WRUN, Inc. in 1978 and to Oneida Communications in 1985.
Forever Broadcasting bought the station in 1996. In the fall of 1997, the station began to relay sister country music
station WFRG-FM; WRUN itself had applied for, but never used, the WFRG callsign in 1993. Forever sold its stations in the market to Regent Communications
in 1999; the following year, WRUN began to simulcast erstwhile competitor WIBX.
By 2005, WRUN had resumed separate programming with an adult standards
format; that year, the station was sold to WAMC
, who switched it to a relay of its public radio network. However, WAMC had been trying since 1998 to launch an FM
relay of the network on 90.3 in nearby Remsen
. When WRUN-FM finally signed on in December 2008, it determined that the AM station was no longer necessary, and sold it to Digital Radio Broadcasting in exchange for a translator in Cooperstown
the following year. Upon assuming control that December, the new owners changed the call letters to WUTI, broadcasting a variety hits format with minimal interruption; by May 2010, the station began branding itself as "Ed 1150", including several thinly-veiled references to Ed Levine, the owner of Galaxy Communications
. That September, Leatherstocking Media Group began programming the station and implemented the current WFBL simulcast, once again making WUTI a direct competitor to WIBX. Leatherstocking bought WUTI outright shortly afterward.
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 a talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format. Licensed to Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, USA, the station serves the Utica area. The station is currently owned by Leatherstocking Meida Group, Inc., and simulcasts with WFBL
WFBL
WFBL, located at 1390 kHz on the AM dial, is a talk and news radio station owned by Buckley Broadcasting and serving the city of Syracuse, New York....
in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
History
WUTI signed on April 24, 1948 as WRUN, under the ownership of the RomeRome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
Sentinel. The Sentinel was concerned that the Utica-Rome area was not being served adequately by WIBX
WIBX
WIBX is a talk radio station based in Utica, New York. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.-History:WIBX went on the air December 5, 1925...
, which, at the time the paper applied for the construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
in 1946, had a 250-watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
signal incapable of reaching Rome at night; in contrast, WRUN, with its 5,000-watt signal, would have more of a regional reach. (WIBX, in turn, upgraded to 5,000 watts soon afterward.)
The Sentinel sold WRUN to Woods Communication Corporation in 1970; by then, it had a middle-of-the-road format; this evolved to a contemporary format by 1974, but was returned to MOR the following year. WRUN again changed its format in 1977, this time to top 40. The station was sold to WRUN, Inc. in 1978 and to Oneida Communications in 1985.
Forever Broadcasting bought the station in 1996. In the fall of 1997, the station began to relay sister country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station WFRG-FM; WRUN itself had applied for, but never used, the WFRG callsign in 1993. Forever sold its stations in the market to Regent Communications
Regent Communications
Townsquare Media is an American radio broadcaster, based in Greenwich, Connecticut., after it acquired sister companies Gap Broadcasting and GapWest Broadcasting, it owned 171 radio stations in 36 radio markets, with concentration in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Mountain...
in 1999; the following year, WRUN began to simulcast erstwhile competitor WIBX.
By 2005, WRUN had resumed separate programming with an adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
format; that year, the station was sold to WAMC
WAMC
WAMC is a public radio network headquartered in Albany, New York. As of April, 2011, the network comprised 11 transmitters and 11 translators. The organization's legal name is "WAMC" and it is also known as "WAMC Public Radio" or "WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network."In addition, the station...
, who switched it to a relay of its public radio network. However, WAMC had been trying since 1998 to launch an FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
relay of the network on 90.3 in nearby Remsen
Remsen, New York
Remsen, New York is the name of two locations in Oneida County, New York, USA:* Remsen , New York* Remsen , New York...
. When WRUN-FM finally signed on in December 2008, it determined that the AM station was no longer necessary, and sold it to Digital Radio Broadcasting in exchange for a translator in Cooperstown
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
the following year. Upon assuming control that December, the new owners changed the call letters to WUTI, broadcasting a variety hits format with minimal interruption; by May 2010, the station began branding itself as "Ed 1150", including several thinly-veiled references to Ed Levine, the owner of Galaxy Communications
Galaxy Communications
Galaxy Communications is a radio broadcasting company with radio stations entirely in the Central New York area.In 1989, the first Galaxy station, WKLL was launched by the current CEO, Ed Levine, and his business partner, Bob Raide. In the 1990s, Galaxy launched additional stations in Syracuse and...
. That September, Leatherstocking Media Group began programming the station and implemented the current WFBL simulcast, once again making WUTI a direct competitor to WIBX. Leatherstocking bought WUTI outright shortly afterward.