WAER
WAER (88.3 FM) is a radio station in Syracuse, New York. It is located on the campus of Syracuse University, and is an auxiliary service of the school.[2] The station features a jazz music and National Public Radio format, with a news, Syracuse Orange play-by-play, and music staff providing programming around the clock.
City | Syracuse, New York |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Central New York |
Frequency | 88.3 MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | WAER 88.3 FM |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Jazz/News/Sports |
Subchannels | HD2: Jazz 88 HD3: Alt 88 |
Affiliations | NPR |
Ownership | |
Owner | Syracuse University[1] |
WERW | |
History | |
First air date | April 1, 1947 |
Call sign meaning | W Alpha Epsilon Rho |
Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 64354 |
Class | B |
ERP | 50,000 watts |
HAAT | 84 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 43.0339°N 76.1311°W |
Links | |
Public license information | Profile LMS |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | waer |
It is best known for its sports staff, which has produced the likes of Bob Costas, Mike Tirico, and many others. Lou Reed also hosted a free-format show on WAER during his time at Syracuse University; this free-format radio tradition at Syracuse is carried on by WERW. Other alums include Ted Koppel, Jerry Stiller and Dick Clark. The station is managed by full-time professional staff and employs as many as 50 students each semester.[3][4][5]
History
The station began FM broadcasts as WJIV-FM on April 13, 1947, mainly as a practical workshop for SU radio students.[6][7] After three months, an license renewal from the FCC allowed the students to change the call sign letters to WAER (W Alpha Epsilon Rho), referring to the radio honorary society.[8][9][10] The studios, financial supported by General Electric, were located at Radio House, a set of prefabricated houses near the steps to Mount Olympus.[8] It broadcast at 88.1 MHz and irregular broadcasts included classical music, student activities, as well as official university events.[11][12][13] In 1951, WAER had a regular broadcast license and became Syracuse University's permanent radio station.
Up until 1983, WAER was student-run, but in a controversial decision in 1983, SU took over WAER and hired full-time professionals to run operations and train students.[6]
In 2017, a full length documentary titled "The Miracle Microphone: The Impossible History and History Makers of WAER Radio" chronicled the 70-year history of WAER.[8] The documentary was researched and produced by Scott MacFarlane and Keith Kobland and won New York state AP Press Association award in 2019.[14][15][16]
Currently a component of the auxiliary services department, the station will become part of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications effective July 1, 2020. It will continue to be housed at 795 Ostrom Ave.[10]
Programming
The station programming includes jazz music,[17][18] NPR programming, news,[19] Syracuse Orange play-by-play,[20] and special reporting projects.[21][22]
Sports
The WAER sports staff is made up entirely of students.[23] It provides daily sports updates as well as play-by-play for Syracuse University football, men's basketball, and men's lacrosse. A pregame show begins 30 minutes before each broadcast (Countdown to Kickoff, Tipoff, or Faceoff) with a halftime segment (Orange at the Half) and a postgame wrap-up (The Double Overtime). The Double Overtime, airs after every football, basketball, and lacrosse game.[24]
Music
The music department is organized by Eric Cohen, multiple-time winner of National Jazz Programmer of the Year.[17] Cohen is one of the most well-respected and influential jazz DJs of the modern radio era (1970–present).[18] Larry Hoyt is the longtime voice of Common Threads on WAER. Larry blends smooth vocals with whimsical folk melodies. Cora Thomas is the office supervisor and first lady of gospel music in Central New York, as she maintains a Sunday morning show on WAER airing from 6-8AM.
Partnership with WERW
Since February 2010, WAER has partnered with Syracuse University's WERW 1570. WERW is a student-run, free-format station, which returned to the air in 2017 after six years of only being available through iTunes radio.[25] The partnership has resulted in a weekly, 3-hour show, called Real College Radio on WAER, which is hosted by alternating reps of a select cohort of WERW DJs. The genre is adult album alternative (AAA), and each DJ brings their own new flavor to the WAER offerings.
Alumni
- Marv Albert, "the voice of basketball", the voice of the New York Knicks (1967-2004), WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2017)[26][27]
- Jason Benetti, television play-by-play announcer for Chicago White Sox baseball
- Len Berman, eight-time, Emmy Award-winning Sports-Anchor for WNBC-TV in New York City, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2018)[28]
- Carter Blackburn, football sportscaster for CBS Sports
- Andrew Catalon, announcer for NFL on CBS, PGA Tour on CBS, College Basketball on CBS, and NCAA March Madness.
- Dick Clark, radio and television personality[29][30]
- Bob Costas, prime-time host of 11 Olympic Games from 1992 until 2016 for NBC Sports, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2015)[31][32]
- Ian Eagle, play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn Nets on the YES network, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2013)[33]
- Hank Greenwald, play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee
- Brian Higgins, radio and television sportscaster working for the SU athletic department, the Syracuse IMG sports network and Time Warner Cable sports
- Todd Kalas, television play-by-play announcer for Houston Astros baseball
- Steve Kroft, journalist & long-time correspondent for 60 Minutes, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2018)[28][34]
- Ted Koppel, anchor for Nightline (1980-2005)[35] first inductee of the WAER Hall of Fame (2012)[36]
- Ed Levine of Galaxy Media Company, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2017)[27]
- Sean McDonough, sportscaster currently employed by ESPN and Boston Red Sox Radio Network, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2014)[37]
- Beth Mowins, play-by-play announcer and sports journalist for ESPN and CBS
- Andy Musser, play-by-play announcer for Philadelphia Phillies baseball from 1976-2001,[38] WAER Hall of Fame Inductee
- Dave O'Brien, lead play-by-play announcer on the New England Sports Network (NESN)
- Dave Pasch, radio play-by-play voice of the Arizona Cardinals and ESPN announcer
- Cory Provus, radio voice of the Minnesota Twins
- Lou Reed, musician, singer, songwriter[39]
- Bill Roth, play-by-play voice of Virginia Tech Hokies football and men's basketball (1988-2015), WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2014)[37]
- Adam Schein, radio host on Sirius XM since 2004
- Lakshmi Singh, national midday newscaster for NPR, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee
- Jerry Stiller, comedian, actor, and author known for his roles in Seinfeld and King of Queens
- Dick Stockton, play-by-play announcer for NFL on Fox Sports[40]
- Mike Tirico, voice of ESPN's Monday Night Football from 2006 to 2015, WAER Hall of Fame Inductee (2014)[41][42][43]
See also
References
- "FM Broadcast Station License Facility ID: 64354" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- "About Us". www.waer.org. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- Korey, Eileen (January 15, 2019). "Engaging the Public Media Audience, Serving the Community While Preparing Students for Careers in News and Sports Journalism". SU News. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- "Frahm-Hingtgen Named Content and Operations Manager for WAER". SU News. January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- Student Opportunities (PDF) (Media notes). WAER 88.3 FM. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- "WAER Collection An inventory of the collection at the Syracuse University Archives". library.syr.edu. SU Libraries. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- "Syracuse's Infant FM Radio Industry Rapidly Growing into Lusty Giant". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. December 7, 1947. p. 69. Retrieved October 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Serving as a practical workshop for Syracuse university radio students, FM Station WAER is a non-commercial station located on the campus of Syracuse university and is managed by Larry Myers. Broadcasting on an assigned frequency of 88.1. mc, WAER has a power output of two and a half watts, which not only covers the campus, but a radius of about three miles.
- Speach, Amy (Fall 2017). "The WAER Connection" (PDF). Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 34 no. 3. Syracuse University. pp. 46–47. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- "It began in 1932 for TV-Radio at SU". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. May 31, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved November 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
The following year [after 1946], the campus radio station, WAER, was founded
- Loughlin, Wendy S. (January 25, 2021). "WAER Will Transition to the Newhouse School This Summer". SU News. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- "Radio Station Offering Good Music Listed". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. April 9, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved October 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
The exception, of course, is our own Syracuse University FM station. WAER. at 88.1 on the dial. They give us much of the music of the great masters...
- "Selection of 'Sauciest' Co-ed Settles SU Saucer Question". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. July 12, 1947. p. 2. Retrieved October 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Sponsered by WAER this two hour program...
- "400 SU Graduates will Get Degrees at the Chapel Today". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. September 6, 1947. p. 6. Retrieved October 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Dr. O'Geran stated Cermonies will be broadcast over the campus experimental FM station WAER.
- Niles, Lydia (March 4, 2018). "Syracuse University alum produces documentary on 70-year history of WAER". The Daily Orange. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- "NYSAPA broadcast, newspaper award winners announced". AP NEWS. June 2, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- Scott MacFarlane and Keith Kobland (2017). The Miracle Microphone (video). Syracuse University. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- Baker, Chris (June 18, 2014). "Changes coming at WAER: More news, less jazz". The Post-Standard. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- Kobland, Keith (June 18, 2014). "WAER Changes Format to News All Day, Jazz All Night". SU News. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- Intaglietta, Mary Kate (November 18, 2020). "Student Reporters Played Critical Role in WAER 88.3 FM's Election Coverage". SU News. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- "WAER News, Sports & Online Efforts Draw 10 Syracuse Press Awards". SU News. May 9, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- "WAER 88.3 FM Launches 'City Limits: Winds of Change'". SU News. October 23, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- "About". City Limits. WAER. September 23, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- Intaglietta, Mary Kate (January 26, 2021). "WAER 88.3 FM Welcomes New Sports Director". SU News. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
As sports director, May will be responsible for leading a team of students in the tradition of providing high-quality sports broadcasts and coverage to...
- Macri, Josh (November 9, 2008). "Double Overtime Recap - Rutgers 35 Syracuse 17". The Post-Standard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- Herbert, Geoff (February 10, 2017). "Syracuse radio station returning to airwaves for first time in 6 years". The Post-Standard. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- Herbert, Geoff (September 13, 2017). "Marv Albert returns to Syracuse for WAER Hall of Fame, new radio doc". The Post-Standard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- "Ed Levine, Marv Albert Among New WAER Hall of Famers". Insideradio.com. September 14, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- Bush, Greta (September 27, 2018). "WAER Inducts Len Berman '68, G'70 and Steve Kroft '71 into Hall of Fame". SU News. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- Niedt, Bob; Post-St, The; ard (April 19, 2012). "Dick Clark, who died Wednesday, had solid connections to SU, Central New York radio and television". syracuse. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- Tobin, Dave (June 5, 2013). "Newhouse School to name new studio after America's DJ, Dick Clark". The Post-Standard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- "Bob Costas '74 to Be Enshrined in WAER Hall of Fame". SU News. September 16, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- September 21; 2015. "Syracuse Radio Station WAER To Induct NBC's Bob Costas Into HOF". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- "Ian Eagle Inducted into WAER Hall of Fame". American Sportscasters Association. August 19, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- "'60 Minutes' journalist speaks at SU graduation". The Ithaca Journal. AP. May 13, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved January 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
- "Syracuse University to receive Ted Koppel Collection". SU News. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- Herbert, Geoff (May 25, 2012). "Syracuse University alumnus Ted Koppel is WAER Hall of Fame's first inductee". The Post-Standard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- Lee, Joe (August 26, 2014). "McDonough '84 Roth '87 Newest Hall of Fame Inductees". www.waer.org. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- "Andrew Musser - Obituary". www.legacy.com. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- Segelbaum, Dylan; van Rheenan, Erik (November 4, 2013). "Excursions on a Wobbly Rail: Alumna remembers Lou Reed's time at WAER". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- Kobland, Keith (October 21, 2016). "Dick Stockton '60 Recognizes WAER and Newhouse School During NFL Broadcast". SU News. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- Kobland, Keith (February 24, 2014). "Mike Tirico '88 Enshrined on WAER-FM Wall of Fame". SU News. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- Lee, Joe (March 3, 2014). "Mike Tirico WAER Hall of Fame Induction". www.waer.org. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- "ESPN's Mike Tirico to be inducted into Syracuse University's WAER Radio Hall of Fame". ESPN Front Row. February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
External links
- WAER in the FCC's FM station database
- WAER on Radio-Locator
- WAER in Nielsen Audio's FM station database