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| Broadcast area | Capital District |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 89.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classical music |
| Subchannels | HD2:Adult album alternative (WEXTsimulcast) |
| Affiliations | NPR |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | WMHT Educational Telecommunications |
| WMHT (TV),WEXT | |
| History | |
First air date | June 8, 1972; 53 years ago (1972-06-08) |
Call sign meaning | Mohawk–Hudson Television (from WMHT-TV) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 73266 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 6,100watts |
| HAAT | 361 meters (1,184 ft) |
| Translator | HD2: 106.1 W291BY (Albany) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | classicalwmht.org |
WMHT-FM (89.1MHz) is a listener-supported, non-commercialradio stationlicensed toSchenectady, and serving theCapital District ofNew York. It has aclassical musicradio format, with most programming originating in-house, but with some shows and news fromNational Public Radio,American Public Media and thePublic Radio Exchange. It is thesister station toWMHT Channel 17, thePBS member station for theAlbany/Schenectady/Troymedia market.
WMHT-FM has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 6,100 watts. Thetransmitter is located on theHelderberg Escarpment antenna farm on Pinnacle Road inNew Salem, New York.[1] WMHT-FM broadcasts usingHD Radio technology.[2]
WMHT-FM programming is also heard on a part-time basis on FM 88.7WRHV inPoughkeepsie, which is involved in one of the last radio timeshare arrangements in the United States alongsideState University of New York at New Paltz-ownedWFNP-FM. From October 2005 to March 2006, WMHT-FM programming was also heard on co-owned FM 97.7WBKK inAmsterdam. That station now airs anadult album alternative format, also heard on WMHT-FM's HD2digital subchannel.
From its founding in 1972, WMHT-FM has been a classical music station. The plans for the format came into being in the wake of 92.3WFLY leaving the classical format in1969 and an ensuing protest from prominent members of the community. Although a number of PBS stations were launching sister NPR news and information stations, the presence of NPRaffiliate 90.3WAMC in Albany kept WMHT from such an opportunity.
WMHT decided to go in a different direction by launching a classical station. WMHT paidSiena College-ownedWVCR-FM to vacate its 89.1 frequency, switching to 88.3 MHz. On June 8, 1972; 53 years ago (1972-06-08), WMHT-FM officiallysigned on the air. Because the WMHTcall sign, which stood for "Mohawk–Hudson Television", was already established for Channel 17, the FM station took the same call letters. The Mohawk-Hudson Council on Educational Television was the original name of the organization that put Channel 17 on the air.
WMHT-FM's signature program is "Bach's Lunch," a program originally conceived by Pam Mittendorff and Chris Wienk ofWSHU-FM inFairfield, Connecticut. Wienk brought the program to WMHT-FM after it stopped airing on WSHU-FM.
In July 2007, WMHT launchedAmsterdam-licensedWEXT (97.7), branded as "Exit 97.7", after the purchase of the commercial license for WBKK, which removed the station's main competitor in the market. WEXT currently runs a non-commercialadult album alternative (AAA) format, along with a focus on local Capital Region artists.
WMHT also provides an information service for those who are blind and "print-disabled" known asRISE, which has been in operation since 1978.RISE programming is on the subcarriers of both WMHT-FM and WRHV-FM (even when WRHV-FM is not on the air).
42°37′31″N74°00′36″W / 42.6253°N 74.0101°W /42.6253; -74.0101