WPKN
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2020) |
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| City | Bridgeport, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
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| Frequency | 89.5 MHz |
| Slogan | The Real Alternative |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Variety |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | WPKN, Inc. |
| History | |
First air date | 1963 |
Call sign meaning | Purple Knights Network |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 73886 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 10,000 watts |
| HAAT | 169 meters (554 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°16′44″N 73°11′06″W / 41.279°N 73.185°WCoordinates: 41°16′44″N 73°11′06″W / 41.279°N 73.185°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | Profile LMS |
| Webcast | Listen live (via TuneIn) |
| Website | wpkn |
WPKN (89.5 FM) is a non-commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Bridgeport, Connecticut. WPKN is a freeform radio station, staffed by volunteer programmers presenting a wide variety of music and public affairs programming.[1] The syndicated weekly radio news magazine Between the Lines, a bi-weekly show hosted by environmental journalist Jim Motavalli is produced at WPKN.
History[]
WPKN was founded in 1963 as the college radio station of the University of Bridgeport, but became independent of the university in 1989.[2] The call letters originally stood for "Purple Knights Network," named after the university's sports teams.
Many stations below the 92 MHz FM band receive funds from commercial entities despite being part of the non-commercial radio band. This is thought by some to present the potential for conflicts of interest. WPKN only takes funds from private donors with no stipulations for their expenditure attached. This allows the music and news programmers complete freedom to produce their own shows with no outside pressure.
WPKN also had a Carrier current on 540 AM.
In a 2021 article for The New Yorker, David Owen labeled WPKN "the greatest radio station in the world", praising its human-made playlists in comparison to "corporate algorithms" on other radio stations.[1]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Owen, David (2021-08-13). "On Air with the Greatest Radio Station in the World". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
- ^ "Radio Station Offers Everything But Consistency". New York Times. October 27, 1991. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
External links[]
- WPKN in the FCC FM station database
- WPKN on Radio-Locator
- WPKN in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
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- Radio stations established in 1963
- University of Bridgeport
- Mass media in Hartford County, Connecticut
- Radio stations in Connecticut
- Mass media in Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Mass media in Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Community radio stations in the United States
- 1963 establishments in Connecticut
- Connecticut radio station stubs