WCNY formally opens its broadcast and education center

SYRACUSE — WCNY, Central New York’s public-broadcasting company, today formally opened its new 56,000-square-foot broadcast and education center at 415 W. Fayette St. in Syracuse.

The project’s total construction and capital costs were about $20 million, according to a WCNY fact sheet on the project. The organization used both private and public funding to finance the project.

King + King Architects, LLP of Syracuse designed the building and Hueber-Breuer Construction Co., Inc. of Syracuse served as the contractor on the project, according to WCNY.

WCNY moved into the new facility earlier this year after having previously operated at 506 Old Liverpool Road in Salina.

WCNY is “eager” to open its doors to “engage” with the public, Robert Daino, president and CEO of WCNY, said in a news release about the formal opening.

“We are excited for our community to witness the power of public broadcasting to educate, entertain, and inspire and recognize WCNY’s commitment to position itself for the future, for the benefit of the Central New York community that owns and values this essential community asset,” Daino said.

Paula Kerger, president and CEO of Arlington, Va.–based Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and New York Education Commissioner John King spoke at the ceremonies to mark the occasion, the organization said in the news release.

WCNY is a private, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization and member-supported PBS affiliate.

The organization employs more than 70 people, according to the WCNY fact sheet.

Its broadcast area encompasses about one-third of upstate New York and reaches more than 1.8 million people in 19 counties, the organization said.

WCNY broadcasts five digital television channels, including WCNY, Create, World, Plus, and HowTo, the fact sheet says. 

It also broadcasts three primary radio channels, including Classic FM (91.3 in Syracuse, 89.5 in the Utica–Rome area, and 90.9 in Watertown and the North Country). Its Jazz and Oldies formats are available on high-definition (HD) radio and in streaming audio, according to the WCNY website.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com