W2XR
| Company type | Non-commercial radio broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Headquarters | New York , United States |
| Owner | Family Radio |
WFME (1560 kHz) is a non-commercial AM broadcaster licensed in New York, New York, owned by Family Radio, a Christian radio network headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee.
History
The station began as the experimental mechanical television outlet W2XR, founded by inventor John V. L. Hogan at 140 Nassau Street in New York City. Its initial transmissions commenced on March 26, 1929, from Long Island City, Queens.
Originally, W2XR broadcast a video-only signal on 2100 kHz and subsequently incorporated an audio channel at 1550 kHz. Since the AM band officially ended at 1500 kHz during that period, only certain receivers could access higher frequencies. Hogan supplemented evening broadcasts by playing selections from his record collection. Despite the commercial shortcomings of his television ventures, the station maintained support from classical music enthusiasts who encouraged ongoing transmissions.
On December 19, 1933, the Federal Radio Commission introduced three new high-fidelity AM frequencies between 1500 and 1600 kHz. Hogan’s application for 1550 kHz received approval in April 1934 alongside three other stations. These experimental broadcasters were granted permission to operate commercially. W2XR was officially licensed as an experimental broadcast station on June 29, 1934.
In 1936, Elliott Sanger joined forces with Hogan to establish Interstate Broadcasting Company to run the station commercially among roughly 25 New York outlets. Marketed as the "Good Music" station, its programming centered on classical music. The transmitter operated with a homemade antenna located in a Long Island City garage near the Queensborough Bridge, transmitting 250 watts and reaching Midtown Manhattan and parts of Queens. In November of that year, the FCC authorized high-fidelity stations to adopt standard call letters; W2XR became WQXR—selected because the letter "Q" phonetically resembles "2" and visually matches it in cursive.
An FM counterpart, W2XQR (later WQXR-FM at 96.3), debuted in 1939. The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) of March 1941 extended the AM band to 1600 kHz, effectively ending experimental high-fidelity AM broadcasting. Initially slated to move to 1600 kHz as a Class III-A regional station, WQXR successfully petitioned the FCC for Class I-B status on 1560 kHz, eventually operating at the maximum authorized AM power of 50,000 watts.
"The radio station of The New York Times" (1944–1998)
In the early 1940s, although the New York Post expressed interest in acquiring the stations, Elliott Sanger preferred selling to The New York Times. Early in 1944, the Times agreed to purchase Interstate Broadcasting Company for just over $1 million. After filing with the FCC on March 1, 1944, and demonstrating previous profits exceeding $22,000 on revenues of $411,000, the transaction finalized on July 25, 1944. The Times continued operating under Interstate Broadcasting for several years while upholding "basic good-music policies," later renaming it The New York Times Radio Company. The station featured continuous classical music programming alongside news content from The New York Times, including a nightly 9 pm news discussion previewing upcoming front-page stories.
WQXR was among the first stations in New York to experiment with stereo broadcasting on AM beginning in 1952. During live concerts, two microphones spaced six feet apart supplied separate audio feeds to AM and FM channels, enabling listeners with two radios to enjoy stereo sound.
In 1964, controversy emerged when its 11 p.m. show "Nightcap" was sponsored by Schenley Liquors; this sponsorship conflicted with voluntary National Association of Broadcasters guidelines against advertising hard liquor.
Following a 1965 FCC directive mandating distinct programming for co-owned AM and FM stations in major markets, WQXR-FM concentrated on longer classical compositions while WQXR (AM) aired lighter classical pieces and talk programs produced in collaboration with The New York Times. This approach diversified offerings for classical audiences but increased operational expenses.
In 1971, the Times placed WQXR-AM-FM up for sale. While numerous bids targeted the FM station, offers for the AM frequency were unsatisfactory. After the FCC waived simulcasting restrictions specifically for classical music stations, the Times withdrew both stations from sale and resumed simulcasting as permitted—similar to arrangements at Washington’s WGMS-AM-FM.
Shift to WQEW
The AM station discontinued its simulcast on December 2, 1992, transitioning to an American popular standards format and broadcasting in AM stereo using the C-QUAM technology. This launch was marked by a live performance from Tony Bennett. This transition occurred just ten days before WNEW (1130 AM) was sold to Bloomberg L.P. and rebranded as WBBR with a business news format. To pay tribute to the legacies of both stations, WQXR (AM) adopted the call letters WQEW and centered its programming on pop standards, featuring iconic performers such as Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald, alongside big band greats like Tommy Dorsey and Duke Ellington, as well as select pop songs outside the rock-and-roll genre.
Radio Disney Era (1998–2015)
Although initially successful, advertising income did not meet expectations, and the older audience was deemed less sustainable for long-term growth. Consequently, on December 1, 1998, the Times revealed that WQEW would transition to Radio Disney through an eight-year local marketing agreement with the Walt Disney Company and its ABC Radio division. The station’s existing personnel were released on December 21; during the interim, Christmas music without announcers was aired until regular programming resumed on December 26. At 11:59 pm on December 27, a pre-recorded sign-off was broadcast. Radio Disney programming officially commenced at midnight on December 28, marking the end of AM stereo transmissions.
When the agreement concluded in late 2006, Disney opted to acquire the station outright in early 2007, with ownership transferring on May 24.
On August 13, 2014, Disney declared its intention to discontinue terrestrial Radio Disney broadcasts to prioritize digital platforms and divest most of its stations including WQEW, retaining only Los Angeles’ KDIS. A deadline of September 26 was set for either sales or sign-offs; however, Disney extended operations until all transactions were finalized.
Family Radio Ownership (2015–Present)
On November 21, Family Stations—then headquartered in Oakland, California—announced the $12.95 million purchase of WQEW from Disney/ABC. Although rumors circulated since October 2014, Disney initially denied any agreement. In January 2013, Family Radio had sold its original Newark-licensed WFME (94.7 FM) to Cumulus Media, which converted it into country-formatted WNSH. Family Stations also acquired WDVY (106.3 FM) in Mount Kisco serving the Hudson Valley along with WFRH (91.7 FM) in Kingston and WFRS (88.9 FM) in Smithtown, Long Island. This left Family Radio without presence on New York City or northern New Jersey airwaves for over two years.
Following FCC approval on February 10, 2015, the 1560 AM frequency went off-air on February 17 for format adjustments. The sale closed on February 20; subsequently, the call sign changed to WFME and broadcasting resumed on February 27, restoring Family Radio’s full market coverage in New York City. The FCC also reclassified the station’s license from commercial to non-commercial educational status.
Programming originated from Family Radio’s headquarters, which relocated from Oakland to Alameda, California in 2016. WFME incorporated local programming segments to satisfy FCC public affairs mandates.
In November 2020, Family Radio sold its Queens transmitter site for $51 million but retained usage rights until securing a new transmitter location. Early in 2021, announcements indicated suspension of broadcasts; regular programming ceased as listeners were directed toward WFRS in Smithtown, WFME-FM in Mount Kisco, and online streams. Coverage in central and southern New Jersey continued via WKDN (950 AM) in Philadelphia.
WFME temporarily ceased operations on February 15, 2021. It returned to air on October 26, 2021 from a new transmitter site in West Orange, New Jersey at 1,000 watts under FCC special temporary authority (STA), later reducing power to 500 watts due to interference concerns.
On March 4, 2024, WFME stopped broadcasting following interference complaints from the nearby Goddard School and the subsequent sale of its transmitter facility to Goddard. On September 16, 2024, the FCC granted an STA permitting WFME to resume transmissions at 10 kW non-directional from a New Jersey location shared with WPAT (AM) and WNSW approximately 25 km away. Broadcasting recommenced October 18, 2024 at an initial output of 1 kW. This STA has been extended through September 16, 2025.
See also
Bibliography
External links
- (documenting the period from 1934 to 1981 as W2XR / WQXR)
- FM translator