WMHT-FM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WMHT-FM is the callsign of a classical music and NPR radio station licenced to Schenectady, New York, broadcasting on 89.1 MHz with 50 kW ERP from the Helderberg Mountains tower farm in New Scotland, New York. It is sister station to WMHT, the PBS member station for the Albany/Schenectady/Troy market.

WMHT-FM programming is also heard on a part-time basis on sister station WRHV-FM in Poughkeepsie, which is involved in one of the last timeshare arrangements in the United States alongside State University of New York at New Paltz-owned WFNP-FM. From October 2005 to March 2006, WMHT-FM programming was also heard on WBKK in Amsterdam prior to WMHT starting its own, younger-oriented classical music on that station.

Contents

[edit] History

WMHT-FM holds the distinction of being the first noncommercial station to air an all-classical music format, a format that dates to its signon in 1972. The plans for the format came into being in the wake of WFLY leaving the classical format in 1970 and an ensuing protest from prominent members of the community. With the rise of PBS stations launching sister NPR affiliates and WAMC preventing WMHT from such an opportunity, WMHT decided to go in a different direction by taking on the classical format. After paying Siena College owned WVCR-FM to vacate their 89.1 frequency, WMHT-FM would soon sign on.

WMHT-FM's signature program is "Bach's Lunch," a program originally conceived by Pam Mittendorff and Chris Wienk of WSHU-FM. Wienk brought the program to WMHT-FM in 2002 after it stopped airing on WSHU-FM in Fairfield. This program was one of a handful of programs to survive massive cutbacks in local programming at the station in 2003 that left many time periods on the station fed via satellite. At that time, the station fired its four announcers and hired a new staff.

[edit] Original programming

Although less programming on WHMT-FM is locally produced than it was in the past, the station currently produces three shows of its own:

  • Bach's Lunch: A program of Baroque music airing on weekdays at noon. The host is Chris Wienk.
  • No Ticket Required: A program featuring recordings of recent classical concerts in the Capital District.
  • Serenade: A Saturday night program of relaxing classical music.

[edit] RISE

WMHT also provides an information service for those who are blind and "print-disabled" known as RISE, which has been in operation since 1978. RISE programming is on the subcarriers of both WMHT-FM and WRHV-FM (even when WRHV-FM is not on the air).

[edit] See also

[edit] External Links

FM radio stations in the Albany / Schenectady / Troy market (Arbitron Market #62)

In-Town:
88.3 | 89.1 | 89.7 | 90.3 | 90.7/94.9 | 90.9 | 91.5 | 92.3 | 93.7 | 94.5 | 95.5 | 96.3 | 96.7
98.3 | 99.5 100.9 | 102.3 | 103.1 | 103.9 | 104.51 | 104.9 | 105.7 | 106.5 | 107.7

Outside the Metro
Saratoga Springs/Glens Falls and Vermont: 91.9 | 94.7 | 95.9 | 97.5 | 98.5 | 100.3
101.3 | 101.7 | 102.7 | 107.1
Mohawk Valley: 97.3 | 97.7 | 101.9 | 103.5
Columbia/Greene Counties: 93.5 | 97.9 | 98.5
Notes:
1 Changing to WTMM-FM on 12/18

New York State Radio Markets
Albany (AM) (FM) · Binghamton · Buffalo (AM) (FM) · Elmira-Corning · Ithaca · Long Island
New York City (AM) (FM) · Newburgh-Middletown · Olean · Plattsburgh · Poughkeepsie · Riverhead
Rochester (AM) (FM) · Saratoga · Syracuse (AM) (FM) · Utica (AM) (FM) · Watertown
See also: List of radio stations in New York and List of United States radio markets