WXXI lauches 105.9

WXXI’s award-winning news reporting can now be heard on a dedicated FM signal.

WXXI News/NPR, which has broadcast on AM 1370 since 1984, can now be heard on a full-powered FM signal. 105.9 WXXI-FM Rochester has launched as a 24/7 simulcast of WXXI-AM 1370. All of the vital WXXI and NPR news programming that listeners depend upon now will also be heard on 105.9 FM, but with the enhanced audio quality, signal strength, and consistency that the FM frequency provides. WXXI News will continue to be heard on AM 1370, as well as streamed on WXXINews.org, and can be accessed on home smart speakers and mobile devices.

WJZR-FM (105.9), which was formerly owned and operated by Lee Rust of North Coast Radio Inc. signed off the air on July 12, 2022, and its ownership was transferred to WXXI.

“Investing in 105.9 FM will help us provide a better service to our community by reaching a broader and more diverse audience and improving our services,” said WXXI President Norm Silverstein. “With the AM frequency, the FCC requires us to pull back our signal at sundown, which cuts service to a large portion of our broadcast region. With WXXI News now on the FM dial we will be able to provide a superior listening experience.”

NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, along with Connections with Evan Dawson will continue to simulcast on 88.5 WRUR-FM, but the acquisition of 105.9 FM offers the future opportunity for increased music programming on WRUR.

With the move of the WXXI-FM call letters to 105.9 – which were formerly WXXI Classical’s call letters – WXXI Classical is now WXXO-FM 91.5. This change only affects WXXI Classical’s legal Identification. WXXI Classical remains Rochester’s home for classical music at 91.5 FM.

The launch of 105.9 is part of WXXI’s ongoing investment in local journalism and its news team, which includes more than 20 journalists whose work can be heard on air and read online and in CITY Magazine. The news team provides in-depth reporting on topics that have the greatest impact on the Rochester and Finger Lakes region – from education, economic development and health to the region’s robust arts and culture scene. This new FM signal will mean that more people will be able to hear those reports and news programming, especially in the evening.

NPR is an independent, nonprofit media organization that was founded on a mission to create a more informed public. Every day, NPR connects with millions of Americans on the air, online, and in person to explore the news, ideas, and what it means to be human. Through its network of member stations, NPR makes local stories national, national stories local, and global stories personal.

WXXI-FM 105.9 joins a family of radio station services that includes WXXI-AM 1370, WXXI Classical FM 91.5, WRUR-FM 88.5, WXXY-FM 90.3 (Houghton), WEOS-FM 89.5 (Geneva), WITH-FM 90.1 (Ithaca).