WBNR is powered at 1,000 watts by day and 400 watts at night. It has a directional antenna using a two-tower array at 475 South Avenue in the city of Beacon.[2] Programming is also hear on 100-watt FM translatorW243EM at 96.5 MHz.[3]
WBNR signed on the air on December 17, 1959; 65 years ago (1959-12-17). It was powered at 1,000 watts and was a daytimer station, required to go off the air at night. It was built, engineered, owned and operated by Robert Gessner and brothers Sy and Al Dresner.[4] The original studio was near Denning's Point, a location on the Hudson River that has an archaeological record going back 5,000 years.[5] Former staffers felt that this explained frequent reports of paranormal activity in the studio building.
It was not until 1987 that WBNR was licensed for 480 watts night time operation with a DA2 antenna pattern. For many years it was owned by brothers Robert and Alford Lessner, who were involved in the popular TV show "Candid Camera." The station served the community with a full service, middle of the road (MOR) music format, local news and sports. It was heavily involved with Beacon community events and was the flagship station for Army Black Knights football.
Changes in ownership
In 1970, Lance Broadcasting, then owners of WBNR, acquired WSPK104.7 FM from Poughkeepsie–based Olympian Broadcasting.[6] Olympian was also the owner of WKIP1450 AM, along with the mountain top transmitter site on North Mount Beacon.
In the 1980s and 1990s, radio listeners increasingly tuned to FM stations for music. That hurt the ratings on WBNR. In 1994, WBNR and WSPK were sold to Enterprise Media of Binghamton, New York. Both stations were subsequently sold to Pamal Broadcasting in October 1997. The studios moved from their original 1959 location at 475 South Avenue in Beacon to the newly reconstructed "Broadcast Center" at 715 Fishkill Avenue (NY Route 52), in Fishkill, New York.
Classic Country, Classic Hits and Conservative Talk
On Monday, March 24, 2014, WBNR and WLNA switched to "Real Country," a national music format. The stations began playing classic country hits of the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. On December 3, 2019, WBNR began simulcasting on translator station W243EM at 96.5 FM. That gave listeners in and around Beacon the option of tuning in WBNR on the FM dial.
On March 15, 2021, WBNR changed from classic country to a simulcast of co-owned classic hits station 92.9 WBPM in Suagerties.[7]
