WQXR Classical 105.9 FM Ranks #1 in Weekly Audience Among Public Radio Stations in the December Arbitron Book

WQXR Named New York Philharmonic Radio Home for 2010/2011 Season

WQXR Classical 105.9 FM, New York City ’s sole dedicated classical music station, ranked the highest cumulative audience among public radio stations in the December Arbitron ratings book, with 842,200 weekly listeners. The second-ranking public radio station in the December book had 833,400 weekly listeners.

WQXR achieved this milestone in only its second full month as a public radio station. In October 2009, WNYC Radio acquired WQXR from The New York Times Company as part of a three-way deal with Univision, which entailed moving the WQXR signal from its longtime home at 96.3 FM to 105.9 FM.

WQXR’s December ratings are comparable to those the station enjoyed as a commercial station.

WQXR has also announced a sponsorship agreement with the New York Philharmonic which names WQXR as the Radio Home for the New York Philharmonic for the 2010/2011 season. The New York Philharmonic will actively promote WQXR’s broadcast of their concerts and the organizations will collaborate on online video and audio content for www.wqxr.org and www.nyphil.org and membership events.

“We are thrilled that so many WQXR listeners took the journey up the dial with us,” said Laura Walker, President and CEO of WNYC. "We acquired WQXR because we believe deeply that New York City deserves a 24/7 classical music station, rooted in the vibrant musical life of this city, and that as a public radio station, we can serve listeners with more music and fewer interruptions. We are gratified to know we are meeting our mission, and now, in a significant partnership with the New York Philharmonic, we can provide listeners with broader access to New York City 's classical music community.”

As part of the transaction in October, Univision paid the Times Company $33.5 million to exchange the FCC 105.9 FM broadcast license and transmitting equipment for the Times Company’s license, equipment, and signal at 96.3 FM. At the same time, WNYC purchased the FCC broadcast license for 105.9 FM, all related transmitting equipment, and WQXR’s call letters and Web site from the Times Company for $11.5 million.

Comments

RichardMitnick said…
I would like to know on WQXR if it was national, regional, local, and where I might see the Arbitron report.

Popular posts from this blog

Acclaimed Fauré Quartett returns to Deutsche Grammophon with their first recording of Brahms

The Role of Music in Opera

Episode 210b: Joyeuse le départ