WLIW Acquires Montauk Radio Station, Planning To Launch New App

WLIW-FM has undertaken new initiatives to expand its listenership by acquiring a new frequency — WEER 88.7 FM in Montauk — and working on the development of a mobile app that will allow listeners to stream the station’s broadcasting from anywhere.

Broadcasting from Main Street in Southampton, WLIW-FM is Long Island’s only NPR station, and is part of The WNET Group of New York, which also includes PBS television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21.

The goal of the new initiatives is to expand the station’s listenership and continue to provide community coverage for eastern Long Island, as well as southern Connecticut. Programming is broadcast on 88.3 FM, but also simulcast on 96.9 FM out of Manorville and will now also be simulcast on 88.7 FM.

“WLIW is listener-supported, so it’s critical for us to be able to serve our audience and also grow our audience,” said Diane Masciale, the vice president and general manager of WLIW-FM and WLIW21. “So, hopefully, these new additions will help to do both of those things.”

Prior to acquiring the Montauk frequency, Masciale said that the radio signal going into Montauk was patchy at times due to being blocked by the higher elevation of Hither Hills State Park. Now, the sounds of WLIW-FM will ring loud and clear in Montauk as the station looks to incorporate the village more into its programming.

“We’ve always paid attention to Montauk, because it’s a part of the East End,” she said. “We’re going to lean more into that by looking for stories there, guests there and [covering] weather and traffic.”

Having the Montauk frequency will also help the station to reach coastal Connecticut “in a more consistent way” than before, as well as being able to be heard in Rhode Island. Previously, the signal’s reach was affected by weather at times. But with the new Montauk transmitter, the signal will broadcast stronger across the Long Island Sound.

“The weather would sometimes determine whether people in southern New England could hear us or not,” said Masciale. “But now, the signal is very strong and goes all the way across the sound.”

WLIW is also pushing to expand its listenership through the development of a mobile app. This app will have the same features as the station’s website, allowing users to listen to a free livestream of the broadcast, as well as video broadcast from inside the Southampton studio. App users will also be able to donate to the station from the app, as well.

The app has been in development since June, and is in the final part of its testing stage. Once that stage is complete, it will be sent to app stores to be approved before it will be available to download. Masciale said that she expects that the app will be launching within the next few weeks.

The app will allow people to listen to WLIW-FM no matter how far they are from the East End. Masciale said that will allow people to continue to enjoy aspects of the East End even when they aren’t physically there.

“There’s something magical about this area, and you crave that when you leave,” she said. “And so this is a way for people to take that with them wherever they are, whenever they want to and listen anywhere and anytime.”

Much of the funding for the initiatives came from the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, which has supported previous capital expenses for the station. Masciale called Cassidy “an incredible philanthropist and generous friend to WLIW-FM and so many other organizations across our community.”

Masciale said that these programs will help them further their community involvement and get more listeners.

“We’re really looking forward to increasing our ability to serve our community, to reach more listeners and to have them enjoy the programming that we provide,” she said.

The WNET Group is America’s flagship PBS station. It is the parent company of New York’s THIRTEEN, WLIW21, WLIW-FM and the operator of NJTV, the statewide media network in New Jersey and its news division, NJ Spotlight News.

The WNET Group acquired the former WPPB-FM, Long Island’s only NPR station, in March 2020. In July 2020, WLIW-FM opened its brand new, state-of-the-art studio in downtown Southampton.

For more information, visit wliw.org/radio.