WINR

Image:WINR logo.jpg

WINR is Binghamton's second-oldest radio station, signing on the air on August 5, 1946, at 1490 kilocycles. It was an affiliate of the NBC Red Network. The station was founded by the Southern Tier Radio Service, Inc., a firm owned by Donald W. Kramer (1907–1986), a Binghamton attorney who later served as that city's mayor from 1950 until 1957.{{cite news |title=Station's call to be WINR |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/252512911 |work=Binghamton Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=May 11, 1946 |page=11 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite news |title=New station goes on air Monday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/252550157 |work=Binghamton Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=July 30, 1946 |page=3 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite news |title=Kramer recalled as good mayor (pt. 1) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/257537067 |work=Press & Sun-Bulletin |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=July 27, 1986 |page=1B |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite news |title=Kramer recalled as good mayor (pt. 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/257537122 |work=Press & Sun-Bulletin |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=July 27, 1986 |page=4B |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}

Early print advertisements for the station, such as in the Binghamton Press{{cite news |title=WINR Radio advertisement |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/252526903 |work=Binghamton Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=August 5, 1946 |page=12 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{subscription required}} and Broadcasting magazine{{cite news|title=WINR Radio advertisement |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/46-OCR/1946-08-05-BC-OCR-Page-0031.pdf |periodical=Broadcasting - Telecasting |page=31 |date=August 5, 1946 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{cite news|title=WINR Radio advertisement |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/46-OCR/1946-09-02-BC-OCR-Page-0053.pdf |periodical=Broadcasting - Telecasting |page=53 |date=September 2, 1946 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }} featured the likeness of locally raised thoroughbred Exterminator, winner of the 1918 Kentucky Derby who served as the inspiration for the WINR call letters ("Winner").

In April 1951 the Federal Communications Commission granted WINR permission to relocate from 1490 to its present dial location at 680 AM. The move occurred in early 1952.{{cite news |title=WINR given new outlet, power boost |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/253375743 |work=Binghamton Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=April 12, 1951 |page=3 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite news|title=No title (Picture inset at top of page) |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/52-OCR/BC-1952-02-11-OCR-Page-0032.pdf |periodical=Broadcasting - Telecasting |page=32 |date=February 11, 1952 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}

In August 1954, WINR was awarded a construction permit to build Binghamton's second television station. It took the call letters WINR-TV (channel 40) when it went on the air in November 1957.{{cite news |title=FCC OKs UHF here, Elmira threat seen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/253593072 |work=Binghamton Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=September 30, 1954 |page=3 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite web|title=WINR granted ch. 40 at Binghamton, N.Y. |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/54-OCR/1954-10-04-BC-OCR-Page-0054.pdf |periodical=Broadcasting - Telecasting |page=54 |date=October 4, 1954 |access-date=June 16, 2020}} Several months earlier in January 1957, Southern Tier Radio Service sold WINR and its channel 40 permit to the Binghamton Press, an arm of the then-Rochester-based Gannett Company newspaper chain.{{cite news |title=Press to buy WINR, push UHF television plans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/253872679 |work=Binghamton Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=November 16, 1956 |page=3 |access-date=June 13, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite news |title=Press TV, radio bid is approved |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/253588251 |work=Binghamton Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=January 10, 1957 |page=1 |access-date=June 13, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite news |title=Press operating WINR, plans TV debut by July 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/253588302 |work=Binghamton Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=January 11, 1957 |page=3 |access-date=June 13, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite news|title=WINR, tv permit go for $165,000 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/56-OCR/1956-11-19-BC-OCR-Page-0009.pdf |periodical=Broadcasting - Telecasting |page=9 |date=November 19, 1956 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }} WINR-TV was primarily an NBC affiliate, since the radio station also carried NBC programming.

Gannett split up the stations through separate sales in 1971: WINR radio was sold to a Mobile, Alabama-based broadcaster, while WINR-TV went to tower manufacturer Stainless, Inc., which changed that outlet's call sign to WICZ-TV.{{cite news |title=WINR-TV, radio stations are sold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/255610129 |work=The Evening Press |location=Binghamton, NY |publication-date=July 30, 1970 |page=9B |access-date=June 13, 2020 }}{{subscription required}}{{cite news|title=Changing hands–Announced. |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/70-OCR/1970-08-03-BC-OCR-Page-0034.pdf |periodical=Broadcasting |page=32 |date=August 3, 1970 |access-date=June 16, 2020 }}

In the late 1990s, WINR switched to an adult standards format. Its core artists included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand and Nat King Cole. In the early 2000s, WINR was host to the nationally syndicated nightly adult standards radio program "The Clinton Ferro Program" starring Clinton Ferro. It ran from 2000 to 2002. The show was syndicated in 82 markets nationwide until Ferro's passing in 2002.{{citation needed|date=July 2008}}

On January 25, 2012, WINR changed its format from adult standards to oldies, branded as "Oldies 680". On April 11, 2013, WINR rebranded as "Oldies 96-9" after the station added an FM translator, W245BV (96.9 FM) in Endwell.{{cite web | url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/81540/clear-channel-making-big-binghamton-move/ | title=Oldies 96.9 Binghamton Debuts }}

On December 8, 2014, WINR changed its format to classic country. It began calling itself the moniker "US 96.9".[http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/91140/oldies-96-9-binghamton-flips-to-classic-country/ Oldies 96-9 Binghamton Flips to Classic Country]

{{reflist}}

{{AM station data|67191|WINR}}

• [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=60962 FCC History Cards for WINR]

;FM translator

• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|33084|W245BV}}
• {{FXL|W245BV}}

{{Binghamton Radio}}

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Category:1946 establishments in New York (state)

Category:Classic country radio stations in the United States

Category:IHeartMedia radio stations

Category:Radio stations established in 1946

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