WNBF-FM
{{Short description|Radio station in Binghamton, New York (1942–1952)}}
{{for|the station that used this call sign from 1956 to 1972|WHWK}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
WNBF-FM was an FM radio station in Binghamton, New York, that began broadcasting, as W49BN, in 1942. It was the first commercial FM station authorized in the Southern Tier region.[https://books.google.com/books?id=h3MPAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA386 "Frequency Modulation (FM) Broadcasting Stations Authorized by the FCC"] (Log completed to January 15, 1941), Broadcasting Yearbook (1941 edition), page 386. WNBF-FM suspended operations and was deleted in 1952.
History
File:Advertisement for WNBF radio stations in Binghamton, New York (March 18, 1950).jpg
On October 31, 1940, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) awarded the first fifteen commercial FM station construction permits, including an assignment on 44.9 MHz in Binghamton to the Howitt-Wood Radio Company,[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting19unse/page/n1074/mode/1up "New FM Call Letters Proposed"], Broadcasting, November 15, 1940, page 77. which was issued the call sign W49BN.The initial call sign policy for commercial FM stations included an initial "W" for commercial stations east of the Mississippi River, followed by the last two digits of a station's assigned frequency, "49" in the case of 44.9 MHz, and closing with a one or two letter community identifier, which for Binghamton was "BN". In early 1941 ownership was transferred to the Wylie B. Jones Advertising Agency. W49BN began broadcasting in 1942.[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1952/1952-BC-YB.pdf#page=199 "New York: Binghamton"], Broadcasting Yearbook (1952 edition), page 198. Effective November 1, 1943, the FCC modified its policy for FM call signs,[https://books.google.com/books?id=mwwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT6 "Standard Broadcast Station Call Letters for All Outlets Starting Nov. 1, FCC Rule"], The Billboard, September 4, 1943, page 7. and the call letters were changed to WNBF-FM.
On June 27, 1945, the FCC announced the reassignment of the FM band to 80 channels from 88–106 MHz, which was soon expanded to 100 channels from 88–108 MHz.[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting291unse/page/n16/mode/1up "FCC Allocates 88-106 mc Band to FM"] by Bill Bailey, Broadcasting, July 2, 1945, pages 13-14.[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting291unse/page/n67/mode/1up "FCC Allocations Order Text"], Broadcasting, July 2, 1945, pages 64-68. WNBF-FM was originally assigned to 96.3 MHz on the new band,[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1946/1946-07-22-BC.pdf#page=67 "FCC Grants 456 FM Outlets Since War End"], Broadcasting, July 22, 1946, page 67. which was later changed to 100.5 MHz.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiuo.ark:/13960/t4nk9ts9n&view=1up&seq=492 "FM Broadcast Stations: Frequency Assignments"] (June 12, 1947), Federal Register, Volume 12, Number 108, June 3, 1947, page 4040. The FCC provided that, during a transitional period, stations could simultaneously broadcast on both their old and new frequencies.
WNBF-FM was the companion to AM station WNBF. WNBF-FM initially maintained a schedule separate from WNBF, including programming from the recently formed Continental Network.[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-FM-Magazine/FM-1947-07.pdf#page=35 "Station Arrangement in the Continental Network as of broadcasts for June 19, 1947"], FM, July 1947, page 33. However, to reduce expenses, in the mid-1940s it switched to primarily simulcasting the AM station. In 1950, Cecil D. Mastin, general manager of WNBF, WNBF-FM, and WNBF-TV, conducted a survey, soliciting listener letters to determine whether the money-losing operation of WNBF-FM should continue. The review found sufficient support, especially among listeners 25 to 50 miles (40 to 80 km) away, who had difficulty, especially at night, picking up the AM station. Mastin concluded that currently "Neither the number of sets nor the number of listeners is economically sufficient, but they are nevertheless substantial." Moreover, "The response to the survey shows me that we are not operating on barren ground but that FM is a young sapling worth cultivating", and "we realize that as more and better FM sets are made, our service is increased... So, perhaps the FM nag is getting out of the starting gate. Will she overcome her handicaps? Who knows! Anyway, we will continue to ride not one, not two, but all three-AM, FM, TV."[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting38unse_0/page/n703/mode/1up "WNBF Tests: Listeners Favor Continuance"], Broadcasting, May 15, 1950, page 82.
However, the reprieve was short-lived, and the license for WNBF-FM was cancelled on August 11, 1952.[https://archive.org/details/broadcastingtele43unse/page/n687/mode/1up "FCC Actions: August 11 Decisions"], Broadcasting, August 18, 1952, page 98. In 1955, Triangle Publications purchased WNBF, WNBF-TV, and the construction permit for a new WNBF-FM on 98.1 MHz, which began broadcasting in 1956.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Binghamton Radio}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:WNBF-FM (1941-1952)}}
Category:Radio stations established in 1942
Category:Radio stations disestablished in 1952
Category:1942 establishments in New York (state)
Category:1952 disestablishments in New York (state)
Category:Defunct radio stations in the United States
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