WNBF Radio Marking 95 Years of Service to Binghamton Region

News Radio 1290 WNBF is celebrating its 95th birthday as the region's first surviving broadcast station with an ongoing mission of informing and entertaining the Twin Tiers.

Although WNBF Radio's programming has originated in Binghamton for most of its existence, the station actually went on the air in the village of Endicott in February 1927.

As The Binghamton Press reported on Valentine's Day of that year: "A fine thing for this community as well as additional entertainment for thousands of radio fans will be the permanent radio station at the Elvin theater."

The theater was located on West Main Street, a half block from Nanticoke Avenue.

According to the newspaper story, there were no plans for the station to carry advertising "but the broadcaster will be free to say that this is the home of the Endicott Johnson shoe or the International Business machines."

Some of the earliest WNBF programs featured "accordion solos" and "piano selections."

After three weeks, WNBF's operations were moved to the Hotel Frederick on Washington Avenue. The station was relocated to Binghamton's Arlington Hotel in November 1928.

Since then, WNBF has remained in Binghamton operating from various sites including the Sheraton Inn on Front Street, Centre Plaza at Henry and Chenango streets and the Security Mutual Building at Court and Exchange streets.

WNBF started broadcasting from its current location at 59 Court Street on December 2, 1997.

The station has had several owners over the decades. It's now owned by Townsquare Media, which acquired WNBF and four other Binghamton radio stations in 2012.

WNBF has operated at 1290 on the AM dial since August 1942. The station has been heard via a translator at 92.1 FM since December 1.

Listeners are able to stay connected with the station's information, sports and entertainment features online at wnbf.com and by using the WNBF app.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.