WEXT

WEXT (97.7 MHz) is a listener-supported, public FM radio station broadcasting an adult album alternative format.[1] Licensed to Amsterdam, New York, the station serves the Capital District and Mohawk Valley.[2] The station is owned by WMHT Educational Telecommunications and features programming from American Public Media, National Public Radio and Public Radio Exchange. WEXT holds periodic fundraisers on the air to support the station.

For the radio station in Sturtevant, Wisconsin that held the call sign WEXT from 1997 to 2005, see WDDW.
WEXT
Broadcast areaCapital District - Mohawk Valley
Frequency97.7 MHz (HD Radio via WMHT-FM-HD2)
BrandingExit 97.7/106.1
Programming
FormatAdult Album Alternative
AffiliationsNational Public Radio
American Public Media
Public Radio Exchange
Ownership
OwnerWMHT Educational Telecommunications
WMHT (TV), WMHT-FM
History
First air date
July 16, 1979 (as WMVQ)
Former call signs
WCSS-FM (1975-1979)
WMVQ (1979-1988)
WKOL-FM (1988-1994)
WBKK (1994-2007)
Call sign meaning
"Exit"
Technical information
Facility ID23457
ClassA
ERP1,600 watts
HAAT190 meters (620 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
42°59′05″N 74°10′49″W
Translator(s)106.1 W291BY (Albany, NY)
Links
Websiteexit977.org

WEXT has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,600 watts. The transmitter is off New York State Route 30 in Perth, New York.[3] Programming is also heard on an FM translator in Albany, 106.1 W291BY and on the HD Radio digital subchannel of co-owned 89.1 WMHT-FM-HD2.

History

In 1975, WCSS-FM first signed on, airing a top 40/oldies format. It was the FM counterpart to WCSS 1490 AM. In 1979, the call letters changed to WMVQ, carrying a Middle of the Road (MOR) format. In 1984, WMVQ changed formats to soft adult contemporary, which was known as Magic 97.7. In late 1988, the format was changed to oldies with the call letters WKOL-FM, which was known as Cool 97.7. In late 1989, the station flipped to adult contemporary. During the holidays in 1994, the station switched to all Christmas music. That would signal the end of the AC format.

On December 26, 1994, the station flipped to classical music as WBKK W-Bach. As a commercial station, the station originally ran using the KDFC DAT service, switching to the now-defunct SW Classical network and eventually to a service provided by WCRB in Boston, Massachusetts.

On August 4, 2005, the station became a simulcast of WMHT-FM after GEM Associates sold the station to WMHT Educational Telecommunications for $1.5 million. In April 2006, WBKK split off from the simulcast of WMHT-FM with a classical music format carrying shorter pieces than its sister station.

On July 7, 2007, WMHT-FM dropped their classical service on WBKK and launched a new adult album alternative format under the Exit 97.7 branding and the WEXT calls. The station highlights a lot of local music, calling it "Local 518" (in reference to the station's area code). Featured programs include the children's rock and roll program called The Peanut Butter Jam and the Latin music show The Latin Alternative.[4]

On December 21, 2018, the program content of WEXT, which is also on WMHT-FM HD-2, was added to the translator at 106.1 with call sign W291BY.

References
  1. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  2. Furfaro, Danielle (2007-07-06). "'The Exit,' a new format for radio, emerges". Albany Times Union.
  3. Radio-Locator.com/WEXT
  4. "WEXT Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.


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