WQXR-FM

WQXR-FM
Broadcast area
Frequency105.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingClassical New York 105.9 WQXR
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatClassical music
SubchannelsHD2: New Sounds
Ownership
OwnerNew York Public Radio
WNYC, WNYC-FM, WQXW, New Jersey Public Radio
History
First air date
July 15, 1962; 62 years ago (1962-07-15)
Former call signs
  • WCOM (1961–1962)
  • WHBI (1962–1985)
  • WNWK (1985–1998)
  • WCAA (1998–2007)
  • WQBU-FM (2007)
  • WCAA (2007–2009)
Call sign meaning
Originally used on the former WQXR (1560 AM), now WFME
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID46978
ClassB1
ERP
  • 610 watts (analog)
  • 29 watts (digital)
HAAT416 meters (1,365 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°44′54.00″N 73°59′10.00″W / 40.7483333°N 73.9861111°W / 40.7483333; -73.9861111 (WQXR-FM)
Translator(s)103.7 W279AJ (Highland)
Repeater(s)90.3 WQXW (Ossining)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Website

WQXR-FM (105.9 FM) is an American non-commercial classical radio station, licensed to Newark, New Jersey, and serving the North Jersey and New York City area. It is owned by the nonprofit organization New York Public Radio (NYPR), which also operates WNYC (AM), WNYC-FM and the four-station New Jersey Public Radio group. WQXR-FM broadcasts from studios and offices located in the Hudson Square neighborhood in lower Manhattan and its transmitter is located at the Empire State Building. The station is the core audio service for NYPR's WQXR brand.[2]

The current WQXR-FM is its second FM incarnation in the New York City area. The first WQXR-FM in turn traced its history to an earlier New York City station, WQXR, which broadcast on the AM band. Both of these earlier stations were commercial operations, broadcasting classical music and known as "the radio station of The New York Times". New York Public Radio acquired the WQXR-FM branding on July 14, 2009, as part of a three-way trade which also involved The New York Times Company—the previous owners of WQXR-FM—and Univision Radio.[3] As a result of the deal, WQXR-FM became a non-commercial public radio station on a new FM frequency, now operated by New York Public Radio. Financial support includes three on-air pledge drives a year.

WQXR-FM's main programming is also carried by translator station W279AJ, 103.7 FM in Highland, New York, simulcast on WNYC-FM's 93.9 FM HD2 subchannel, and carried over Time Warner Cable television channel 590 in the Hudson Valley, New York.[4] On July 29, 2013, programming began to be simulcast on the former WDFH, now WQXW, 90.3 FM in Ossining, New York, covering northern and central Westchester County.[5] WQXR-FM's standard programming is streamed on its webcast.

Additional programming includes New Sounds Radio, focusing on classical works by living composers, which is both streamed and broadcast over WQXR-FM's HD2 subchannel. A streaming-only channel, Operavore, dedicated to opera music, was launched in 2012.[6]

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WQXR-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Our Brands" (nypublicradio.org)
  3. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard; Wakin, Daniel J. (July 14, 2009). "Times Co. Agrees To Sell WQXR Radio". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  4. ^ "WQXR FAQ". wnyc.org. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "WQXR Expands its Reach into Westchester with New WQXW 90.3 FM". Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "WQXR Introduces the 'Operavore' 24-7 Opera Web Stream". January 5, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2017.