WHCU
Encyclopedia
WHCU is a radio station
in Ithaca, New York
that programs a news
/talk
format. The station has been owned by Saga Communications
since 2005.
. The original call letters were 8YC, later changed to 8XU. A forerunner of the Federal Communications Commission
issued a broadcast license on May 27, 1922, with the call letters WEAI. The new station took to the air on January 23, 1923. The station was used as a vehicle for promoting the university's extension service and all of its programming was educational in nature.
In 1932, Cornell joined with the Elmira
Star-Gazette to start radio station WESG
in Elmira, which shared programming with WEAI. The Star-Gazette managed the station during this period, however, the FCC ordered Cornell in 1940 to run the station itself or surrender the license. Within 12 hours of the deadline, the station signed on with borrowed staff and equipment.
The stations went their separate ways. WESG became WENY and WEAI became WHCU, which stands for Home of Cornell University.
WHCU's first complete studios and offices were completed in 1941. New studios were built in downtown Ithaca in 1957.
Cornell University sold WHCU and sister station WYXL to Eagle Communications in 1985. Six years later, the stations moved into a new complex on Hanshaw Road, northeast of Ithaca in the town of Dryden
.
WHCU and sister stations WYXL
, WQNY
, and WNYY
were purchased by Saga Communications in 2005, under the name Cayuga Radio Group.
WHCU features a three-and-a-half hour local news and interview based morning show each weekday called the Morning Newswatch. It also has a one-hour local news show weekday evenings, called the Evening Newswatch. WHCU is an affiliate of CBS News and carries top of the hour news coverage, as well as one-minute bottom-of-the-hour news updates during its live, local programming. It is also the flagship of Cornell University football, hockey, and men's lacrosse broadcasts.
In March 2010, WHCU returned to the FM airwaves when sister station WQNY
launched News/Talk 870 on its HD3 channel. WHCU had been on a former WYXL
translator (first at 95.5, then at 95.9 briefly) before Saga turned off the translator, accommodating the introduction of WFIZ into the market. The use of WQNY-HD3 overcomes the challenges of 870's night time pattern, especially outside of Tompkins County.
In August 2010, WHCU returned to analog FM broadcasting with the reintroduction of a translator at 95.9 FM. W240CB is a 250-watt translator located on Ithaca's south hill, and it is licensed to rebroadcast WQNY. As with Hits 103.3 and 98.7 the Vine, the company uses the translator to rebroadcast the aforementioned HD3 signal.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
that programs a news
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format. The station has been owned by Saga Communications
Saga Communications
Saga Communications is a broadcasting company that owns and operates stations in 26 markets in the United States. The company, which is based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, primarily operates radio stations , but it also operates 9 television stations Saga Communications is a broadcasting...
since 2005.
History
The forerunner to WHCU began in 1912 as an experiment in the School of Electrical Engineering at Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. The original call letters were 8YC, later changed to 8XU. A forerunner of the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
issued a broadcast license on May 27, 1922, with the call letters WEAI. The new station took to the air on January 23, 1923. The station was used as a vehicle for promoting the university's extension service and all of its programming was educational in nature.
In 1932, Cornell joined with the Elmira
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
Star-Gazette to start radio station WESG
WENY (AM)
WENY is a radio station in the Elmira-Corning market of New York state. It broadcasts at 1000 watts day and night on 1230 kHz from studios in Corning, New York. It is a talk radio station that airs local sports and a 3 hour morning local talk show with host Frank Acomb...
in Elmira, which shared programming with WEAI. The Star-Gazette managed the station during this period, however, the FCC ordered Cornell in 1940 to run the station itself or surrender the license. Within 12 hours of the deadline, the station signed on with borrowed staff and equipment.
The stations went their separate ways. WESG became WENY and WEAI became WHCU, which stands for Home of Cornell University.
WHCU's first complete studios and offices were completed in 1941. New studios were built in downtown Ithaca in 1957.
Cornell University sold WHCU and sister station WYXL to Eagle Communications in 1985. Six years later, the stations moved into a new complex on Hanshaw Road, northeast of Ithaca in the town of Dryden
Dryden (town), New York
Dryden is a town in Tompkins County, New York, USA. The population was 13,532 at the 2000 census. The town contains two villages: one also named Dryden and one named Freeville...
.
WHCU and sister stations WYXL
WYXL
WYXL is a radio station in Ithaca, New York that programs an adult contemporary format. The station has been owned by Saga Communications since 2005. It is co-owned with WHCU, WQNY, WIII, and WNYY...
, WQNY
WQNY
WQNY is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Ithaca, New York, USA, the station serves that market and occasionally has appeared in the Elmira-Corning ratings, as the station can be heard well in the eastern and northeastern parts of that market...
, and WNYY
WNYY
WNYY is a radio station broadcasting a Talk/Personality format. Licensed to Ithaca, New York, USA, the station serves the Ithaca area...
were purchased by Saga Communications in 2005, under the name Cayuga Radio Group.
WHCU features a three-and-a-half hour local news and interview based morning show each weekday called the Morning Newswatch. It also has a one-hour local news show weekday evenings, called the Evening Newswatch. WHCU is an affiliate of CBS News and carries top of the hour news coverage, as well as one-minute bottom-of-the-hour news updates during its live, local programming. It is also the flagship of Cornell University football, hockey, and men's lacrosse broadcasts.
In March 2010, WHCU returned to the FM airwaves when sister station WQNY
WQNY
WQNY is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Ithaca, New York, USA, the station serves that market and occasionally has appeared in the Elmira-Corning ratings, as the station can be heard well in the eastern and northeastern parts of that market...
launched News/Talk 870 on its HD3 channel. WHCU had been on a former WYXL
WYXL
WYXL is a radio station in Ithaca, New York that programs an adult contemporary format. The station has been owned by Saga Communications since 2005. It is co-owned with WHCU, WQNY, WIII, and WNYY...
translator (first at 95.5, then at 95.9 briefly) before Saga turned off the translator, accommodating the introduction of WFIZ into the market. The use of WQNY-HD3 overcomes the challenges of 870's night time pattern, especially outside of Tompkins County.
In August 2010, WHCU returned to analog FM broadcasting with the reintroduction of a translator at 95.9 FM. W240CB is a 250-watt translator located on Ithaca's south hill, and it is licensed to rebroadcast WQNY. As with Hits 103.3 and 98.7 the Vine, the company uses the translator to rebroadcast the aforementioned HD3 signal.