New York, NY —
Major changes are coming to New Yorkers' radio dials. In a three-party deal announced today, the city's only full-time classical radio station -- WQXR -- will be acquired by WNYC, and the New York Times will get out of the radio business. WNYC's Ilya Marritz has details.
The deal is between WNYC, The Times and Univision, the Spanish-language broadcaster, and executives from the three companies say the transaction will preserve classical music on New York airwaves, and better serve the area's Spanish-speaking community.
When all is said and done -- pending FCC approval which is expected in the fall -- WQXR will move to 105.9 and be run by WNYC as a classical station. Univision's Spanish-language music station will move from 105.9 to 96.3 FM. Univision will pay the Times 33.5 million dollars, and WNYC will pay the Times 11.5 million.
WNYC intends to continue two of WQXR’s most listened-to live programs – Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and The Philharmonic This Week – on WQXR.
WQXR will become the third station operated in New York by WNYC Radio.