In 1963 WPKN FM began broadcasting as a 100 Watt station on 88.1 MHz
licensed to the University of Bridgeport. The station carried news from United
Press International (UPI) and also had an AM signal that broadcast directly to
the University.
A contest was held to determine the call letters of the new station. WPKN
was chosen to represent the “Purple Knights”, the name of the UB sports teams,
and the “Purple Knight Network” (WPKN) was born.
In 1965 the addition of a new wing to the Student Center was planned. WPKN’s
students consulted with Jeff Tellis, who had started at WHUS at UCONN in Storrs
and had worked at several commercial stations and the ABC Radio Network in New
York City. Tellis contributed his expertise to the design of WPKN’s new studios
and was subsequently hired as its first paid General Manager by the University.
Jeff Tellis’ tenure included a change in frequency to 89.5 and an increase
to 700 Watts in 1967, 2400 Watts in 1972, and the application for 10,000 Watts.
The new broadcast area encompassed most of CT except lower Fairfield County and
New York City (to protect the antenna pattern of WSOU in New Jersey), as well
as significant portions of Long Island.
In 1969, Bill Nolan became the first “non-student” to become a programmer,
and he paved the way for increasing reliance on community members. Bill can
still be heard broadcasting his show “Antique Blues” on Sunday nights.
Subsequently the all-volunteer staff began to be populated by a mix of UB
students and community members.
In 1976, the University of Bridgeport threatened to sell WPKN’s license to a
private corporation. The station, however, had already established a loyal and
active following and a blue-ribbon panel was established to study the potential
sale. It concluded that WPKN was a valuable community resource that ought to be
left alone and the offer was withdrawn.
Soon after, in 1978, Jeff Tellis left his General Manager position in order
to become the full-time President of Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. Harry
Minot, who had a background in commercial radio and was then a producer at
Compton Advertising in New York, was hired by UB as his successor.
However, in the mid-1980s the University of Bridgeport began to experience
severe financial difficulties. It had failed to anticipate a decline in
enrollment and embarked on an ambitious and expensive pair of construction
projects. In July of 1989 Minot was informed that WPKN would have to become
self-supporting.
WPKN, now having to become a self-funded entity, altered its structure to
draw community people (“non-students”) into its governance. At the same time it
resolved to adhere to funding principles which would preserve the freedoms that
its programmers enjoyed and the resultant unequivocal nature of its
programming. Accordingly it refused to accept underwriting, government funding,
or “restricted” grants which might favor one program or genre over another.
In 1991 there were ownership changes at UB and severe financial hardships
followed.
In 1992, the WPKN staff, fearing loss of the station’s independent voice,
hurried to effect a transfer of the station’s license from the University of
Bridgeport, and a filing was made with the FCC. It included the transfer of the
license and all of the physical assets to WPKN, Inc. a 501 c-3 non-profit corporation.
WPKN continued in its evolution and listener support. It sought to add a
satellite, full-facility transmitter at Montauk, NY, simulcasting at 88.7 FM.
Minot departed as General Manager as of June 2008, having served almost
thirty years in that capacity. He was succeeded by interim GM Jeep Ward and
then by Peter Bochan, who came from WBAI, a Pacifica Network station in NYC. In
2011 Steve DiCostanzo became GM after an intensive search process.
Starting in 2010, a decision was made to renovate and update the studios. Much
of our broadcast equipment was 30-40 years old, and technology was fast going
digital. The middle studio was cleared out to create a dedicated performance
space, and the production room was modernized. Computerized systems are still
being installed and connected, but the main broadcast studio has yet to be
renovated.
WPKN primarily funded itself through its traditional on-air drives. In 2011,
after intensive debate, the WPKN constitution was amended to allow
underwriting, within guidelines that maintain the integrity of our commitment
to freedom of expression, diversity of programming, and the mission to serve
and educate our community.
WPKN persists in its mission to stand apart from convention and to serve
diversity. Its volunteers and programmers have created an institution with
depth, importance, and passion. Its listeners have made its continued existence
possible. WPKN’s next fifty years are certain to be as exciting and provocative
as those which have already occurred.