Thursday, December 5, 2013

LI Radio: WRCN Readies For Switch to All-News


The Long Island News Radio station on WRCN 103.9 FM plans to launch on Dec. 26 in a former office near the baggage claim inside MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, according to Newsday.

WRCN 103.9 FM 60dBu Coverage
The 24-hour all-talk format is to replace the music format, which will include Christmas tunes for the season.
Featuring traffic, news, sports and talk shows, the new station will focus on all of Long Island, all the time, said John Caracciolo, president of station owner JVC Broadcasting of Ronkonkoma.

Caracciolo sees a void in radio coverage of Long Island. "The media still looks at us as a bedroom community," he said, and noted that with 3.4 million residents "we're bigger than some states; and there isn't a news talk station."

The station will be heard in Suffolk County and online, he said.

Islip Town officials said a radio station broadcasting from MacArthur will raise the airport's profile. Caracciolo said he believes this is the only radio station in an area airport.

JVC spent about $175,000 in soundproofing to ensure the studio maintains the requisite quiet. "Back here, the jet noise isn't too loud," Caracciolo said of the studio's location near the front of the airport. The studio's large glass windows face baggage claim and are intended to attract travelers and airport visitors, and integrate the station's presence into the airport environment.

The station will employ about 20 full-time and part-time staffers. Matthew Goldapper, the station's general manager, said the company plans to bring on college students to report and produce news segments.

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