WNKI

WNKI (106.1 FM, "Wink 106") is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format. Licensed to Corning, New York, United States, the station serves the Elmira-Corning area, and is the Arbitron #1 rated station in the market. The station is currently owned by Seven Mountains Media, which closed on its $3.9 million acquisition of the station April 1, 2019, from Community Broadcasters, LLC.[1]

WNKI
CityCorning, New York
Broadcast areaElmira-Corning area
Frequency106.1 MHz
BrandingWink 106
SloganThe #1 Hit Music Station
Programming
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
Ownership
OwnerSeven Mountains Media
(Southern Belle, LLC)
Sister stationsWCBF, WMTT, WMTT-FM, WNGZ, WOBF, WPHD, WQBF
History
First air date1947 (as WKNP-FM)
Former call signsWKNP (1947-1980)
WCLI-FM (1980-1980)
WZKZ (1980-1993)
Technical information
Facility ID53611
ClassB
ERP40,000 watts
HAAT162 meters
Transmitter coordinates42°12′00″N 76°51′30″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewink106.com

History

The station went on the air as WKNP in 1947, under the ownership of the Corning Leader newspaper. Its original frequency was 95.1 FM. By 1950, it had moved to another frequency, the current 106.1 FM. A sister AM station, WCLI, signed on in 1947.

It had broadcast from a building at Erie Avenue (now Dennison Parkway) and Walnut Street in Corning. The Erie Railroad mainline passed nearby, and passing freight and passenger trains used to shake the building along with the recorded music on the turntables, according to Leader columnist Dick Peer.

Disc jockey Bob Shaddock, who became one of the market's iconic radio personalities, developed a skill of picking up the needle from the 78 RPM records and making announcements while trains passed, according to Peer.

The newspaper sold the stations in 1953.

On October 20, 1980, the station changed its call sign to WZKZ. Known as KZ-106, the station played a live-assist automated adult contemporary format. It was the top-rated station in the Elmira-Corning market for much of the decade.

In 1993, Pro Radio Inc. bought the stations. The FM call letters were switched on Oct. 8, 1993, to the current WNKI [2] The change was controversial in that several popular personalities were let go as Pro Radio launched a top 40 format under the name of Wink 106 with a staff of air personalities, who were popular on other stations in the market. The change made some unwanted headlines when a presumably irate listener entered the main office (then at 99 W. First St.) after hours and doused it with fox urine.

Pro Radio eventually sold to Backyard Broadcasting, the current owner, which moved the stations to Elmira Heights. In 1997, the AM and FM split, with Backyard selling WCLI to Eolin Broadcasting, which also owned WCBA, WCBA-FM, and WGMM.

On May 6, 2013, it was announced that Backyard Broadcasting was selling the Elmira/Corning and Olean, NY clusters, including WNKI/WPGI/WNGZ/WRCE/WWLZ, to Community Broadcasters, LLC in Watertown, New York. The sale was consummated on August 26, 2013 at a price of $3.6 million.

According to Radio + Television Business Report at RBR.com, Seven Mountains Media acquired WNKI in January 2019 along with other stations. CORNING-ELMIRA, N.Y.: CHR/Pop Class B WNKI-FM 106.1 “Wink 106”, Rock Class A WNGZ-FM “Wingz 104.9”, licensed to Mountour Falls, N.Y., Country Class A WPGI-FM 100.9, in Horseheads, N.Y., News/Talk Class B WWLZ-AM 820, in Horseheads, N.Y., Classic Country Class C WRCE-AM 1490 in Watkins Glen, N.Y. and FM translator W267CJ at 101.3 MHz in Horseheads, N.Y. OLEAN, N.Y.* Country Class B WPIG-FM 95.7* and WHDL-AM 1450, which uses W296DB to broadcast as CHR/Pop “Hot 107.1,” mirrored after co-owned Wink 106

Weekdays
  • 6am-10am - Scott and Ally in the Mornings
  • 10am-3pm - Matt
  • 3pm-7pm - Sam
  • 7pm-12am - Pop Crush Nights with Kayla Thomas

Weekends
  • AT40 Weekend Mornings
  • Romeo - Saturday Nights
  • Wink 106 After Party - Sunday's After Romeo
  • Weekend Throwdown With Jagger - Sunday Nights

References
  1. "WNKI Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. "WNKI Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
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