WCRI-FM
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WCRI-FM
| logo = WCRI959.png
| logo_alt = WCRI-FM logo
| city = Block Island, Rhode Island
| country = US
| area = Newport, Rhode Island
| branding = Classical 95.9
| airdate = {{Start date and age|June 13, 1994}}
| frequency = 95.9 MHz
| format = Classical
| power =
| erp = 6,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|76|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = A
| facility_id = 67119
| licensing_authority = FCC
| coordinates = {{coord|41|10|28.4|N|71|34|18.2|W|region:US-RI_type:landmark|name=WCRI-FM|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = "Classical Rhode Island"
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WVBI (1994–1999)|WCRI (1999–2011)}}
| affiliations = World Classical Network
| owner = Judson Group, Inc.
| licensee =
| sister_stations =
| webcast = {{ubl|{{listenlive|http://wcri.streamguys1.com/live-mp3.m3u}}|{{TuneIn|Classical-WCRI-959-s28019}}|{{iHeartRadio|classical-959-wcri-fm-7082}}}}
| website = {{url|https://classical959.com/}}
}}
WCRI-FM (95.9 MHz; "Classical 95.9") is an FM radio station on Block Island, Rhode Island, and serving the Newport area. It is a rare classical music station supported by commercial advertising and not operated as a public radio station. It is affiliated with the World Classical Network (WCN). The station is owned by Judson Group, Inc., a company that includes the son and grandsons of broadcasting pioneer Ted Jones, founder of Charles River Broadcasting and Boston classical music station WCRB.
WCRI-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 6,000 watts as a Class A station. The transmitter is off Ocean Avenue at Beach Avenue in New Shoreham.[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Wcri&nav=home Radio-Locator.com/WCRI] The studios are on South County Trail in Exeter.
History
The original construction permit for the station was granted on October 16, 1990,{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=108100|title=Application Search Details (1)|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=December 5, 2009}} with the call sign WVBI assigned on November 30.{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=67119&Callsign=WCRI-FM|title=Call Sign History|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=September 21, 2011}} The station signed on June 13, 1994,{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2002–2003|year=2002|page=D-396|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2002-03/A-Radio-NE-TER-BC-YB-2002-3.pdf|accessdate=September 21, 2011}} though the license to cover was not issued until April 12, 1995.{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=200248|title=Application Search Details (2)|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}
The station has always had a classical format.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995|year=1995|page=B-362|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1995/B-Radio-NE-Ter-YB-1995.pdf|accessdate=September 21, 2011}} WVBI initially had a limited programming schedule{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-990206.html|title=WKOX, WLLH Sold|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=February 6, 1999|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=December 5, 2009}} mainly from the now-defunct Classic FM network.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-960705.html|title=WRKO Fun, and San Juan too!|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=July 5, 1996|work=New England RadioWatch|accessdate=December 5, 2009}} The station's signal had trouble covering even Block Island. Charles River Broadcasting Company acquired WVBI in early 1999, at which point it was renamed WCRI. The station then performed upgrades, affiliating with WCN which was commonly owned with WCRI. A new tower was constructed in 2001 which also enabled stereo broadcasting.{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-010716.html|title=CTV Adds Montreal to O&O Roster|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=July 17, 2001|work=North East RadioWatch|accessdate=December 5, 2009}} Translator station W243AI (96.5) in Newport had relayed Charles River Broadcasting flagship WCRB since the translator's sign-on in 1996, and it carried WCRI's programming for several years before becoming a WMVY translator in 2004.{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2004/041206/nerw.html|title=WAQX-Stern Feud Escalates|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=December 6, 2004|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}
Charles River Broadcasting announced on October 27, 2005, that it was exploring the sale of its properties,{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/10/28/wcrbs_parent_company_exploring_a_sale/|title=WCRB's parent company exploring a sale|last=Reidy|first=Chris|date=October 28, 2005|work=The Boston Globe|accessdate=December 5, 2009}} with Judson Group, Inc. purchasing WCRI and sister station WCNX in 2006.{{cite news|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/060918/nerw.html|title=Ed Ansin Gets His Duopoly|last=Fybush|first=Scott|date=September 18, 2006|work=NorthEast Radio Watch|accessdate=December 5, 2009}} Judson Group, Inc., includes the son (Christopher Jones) and grandsons (Jamie Jones and Jefferey Jones) of broadcasting pioneer Ted Jones, founder of Charles River Broadcasting and WCRB.
WCRI began to simulcast on 1180 AM on October 1, 2011, replacing WCNX;{{cite news|title=R.I. News Digest|url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/News_digest_20_09-20-11_RLQF9UN_v11.70153.html#.TnkcZY_YTDE.facebook|accessdate=September 21, 2011|newspaper=The Providence Journal|date=September 20, 2011}} to reflect this, the station added the "-FM" suffix on September 8, 2011. (The AM station was sold to Red Wolf Broadcasting Corporation in 2014, and dropped the WCRI-FM simulcast for a Red Wolf-programmed oldies format under the WSKP call sign in December 2013.)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{FM station data|67119|WCRI}}
{{Newport Radio}}
{{Classical Radio Stations in Rhode Island}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wcri-Fm}}
Category:Classical music radio stations in the United States
Category:New Shoreham, Rhode Island
Category:Washington County, Rhode Island