Media in Binghamton, New York

There are a number of notable sources of media in Binghamton, New York. Located near the border with Pennsylvania, Binghamton media act as a source of information and entertainment for a large region, extending well beyond the metropolitan area. Most local television and radio stations broadcast from Ingraham Hill, which is located in the town of Binghamton, just south of the city.

Television stations

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According to the Nielsen Company, Binghamton is the 159th largest TV market in the United States.[1]

Callsign Channel Affiliation Subchannels Owner
Channel Programming
WBNG 12 CBS 12.2
12.3
The CW (formerly cable-only "WBXI")
MeTV
Gray Television
WBGH-CD 20 NBC 20.3 ABC (WIVT HD simulcast) Nexstar Media Group
WIVT 34 ABC 34.2
34.3
34.4
NBC (WBGH-CD HD simulcast)
Laff
Escape
Nexstar Media Group
WICZ 40 Fox 40.2
40.3
MNTV (WBPN-LP simulcast)
Ion Television
Imagicomm Communications
WSKG 46 PBS 42.2
42.3
42.4
PBS Kids
Create
World
WSKG Public Telecommunications Council

There are also two local cable stations in Binghamton, both carried by Charter Communications (doing business as Charter Spectrum). Spectrum News Central New York broadcasts 24-hour local cable news programming, and Spectrum Sports provides regional sports programming. Both channels originate from Syracuse, but maintain distinct feeds for the Binghamton market. Binghamton falls under the regional broadcasting market of the YES Network, MSG, and SportsNet New York.

Radio stations

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As of 2021, Nielsen ranks Binghamton as the United States' 194th largest radio market.[2]

FM stations with transmitters located within 30 miles (48 km) of Binghamton (excluding translators that simulcast other FM stations within the radius):[3]

Callsign Frequency
(MHz)
Branding/Affiliation Format Owner Power
(Watts)
City of license
WCII 88.5 Family Life Network Christian Family Life Ministries 17,000 Spencer
WSKG 89.3 NPR Public radio (classical/news) WSKG Public Telecommunications Council 11,500 Binghamton
WIFF 90.1 CSN International Christian Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls 100 Windsor
WHRW 90.5 Binghamton University Free format Binghamton University 1,450 Binghamton
WSQX 91.5 NPR Public radio (jazz/news) WSKG Public Telecommunications Council 3,500 Binghamton
WKGB 92.5 92.5 KGB Mainstream rock iHeartMedia 1,450 Conklin
W225BC 92.9 Z93 Rock Fitzgerald and Hawras, Partnership 175 Endicott
WJOB 93.3 Urban contemporary Broome County Urban League 1,900 Susquehanna, PA
WIYN 94.7 Cumulus Media Networks
AP Radio
Oldies Townsquare Media 770 Deposit
WPEL 96.5 Christian Montrose Broadcasting Corporation 57,000 Montrose, PA
W245BV 96.9 US 96.9
AP Radio
Westwood One
Premiere Radio Networks
Classic Country
simulcast of WINR
iHeartMedia 65 Endwell
WHWK 98.1 98.1 The Hawk Country Townsquare Media 6,700 Binghamton
WAAL 99.1 99.1 The Whale
New York Giants Radio Network
Classic rock Townsquare Media 8,700 Binghamton
WDRE 100.5 100.5 The Drive Alternative rock
Adult album alternative
Equinox Broadcasting 1,600 Susquehanna, PA
WLTB 101.7 Magic 101.7 Adult Rock GM Broadcasting 6,000 Johnson City
WLTB HD2 102.5 102.5 The Vault Classic Hits GM Broadcasting 261 Johnson City
WMXW 103.3 Mix 103
Westwood One
Adult contemporary iHeartMedia 520 Vestal
WWYL 104.1 Kiss 104.1 Top 40/CHR Townsquare Media 930 Chenango Bridge
WBNW 105.7 Now 105.7 Top 40/CHR iHeartMedia 35,000 Endicott
WCDW 106.7 Cool 106.7 Oldies Equinox Broadcasting 1,200 Port Dickinson
W296BS 107.1 Sunny 107.1 Soft AC Equinox Broadcasting 250 Johnson City
WBBI 107.5 New Country B107.5 Country iHeartMedia 2,200 Binghamton
W300BV 107.9 News Radio 1330 WEBO
CBS Radio Network
Motor Racing Network
Performance Racing Network
Full service (AC/news)
simulcast of WEBO
Radigan Broadcasting Group 250 Owego
WXL38 162.475 NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Weather radio National Weather Service 1,000 Binghamton

AM stations with transmitters located within 30 miles (48 km) of Binghamton:[4]

Callsign Frequency
(kHz)
Branding/Affiliation Format Owner Daytime
Power (W)
Nighttime
Power (W)
City of license
WINR 680 US 96.9
AP Radio
Westwood One
Premiere Radio Networks
Classic Country iHeartMedia 5,000 500 Endwell
WPEL 800 Christian Montrose Broadcasting Corporation 1,000 135 Montrose, PA
WNBF 1290 News Radio 1290 News
Talk
Townsquare Media 9,300 5,000 Binghamton
WEBO 1330 News Radio 1330 WEBO
CBS Radio Network
Motor Racing Network
Performance Racing Network
Full service (AC/news) Radigan Broadcasting Group 5,000 36 Owego
WENE 1430 1430 The Team
Dial Global
Fox Sports Radio
Premiere Radio Networks
Sports iHeartMedia 5,000 5,000 Endicott

Print

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Currently, Binghamton is home to a single regional daily newspaper, the Press & Sun-Bulletin. There are, however, a number of community newspapers produced regionally.

Commercial

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  • Greater Binghamton Business Journal (weekly)
  • Press & Sun-Bulletin (daily)
  • Southern Tier Business News (monthly)

Non-commercial

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  • Night GalleryRod Serling's home address in Binghamton was used in the episode "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar." Serling was famously fond of the city and based the Twilight Zone episode "Walking Distance" on the carousel near his childhood home. A plaque placed in the ground near the carousel commemorates this and there is a plaque commemorating Serling in front of the Binghamton High School on Main Street. In the "Twilight Zone" episode "Mirror Image," Paul Grinstead is from Binghamton (https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0734590/; episode watched and confirmed by editor).
  • The song "Ragged Old Flag" was written by Johnny Cash when he was in Binghamton for a concert in 1974.[5] The song references a flag in the courthouse square, which was likely inspired by the Broome County Courthouse square.
  • Liebestraum – This motion picture was filmed in many locations in and around Binghamton, in particular utilizing the Perry Block, a building with a cast-iron facade. Binghamton has one of the last remaining examples of such architecture downtown.
  • Inside Deep Throat
  • Death Wish 3 - Paul Kersey's girlfriend's sister is from Binghamton.
  • Rounders - A poker game is played here, not filmed here.
  • Mystery Alaska - At the end of the movie, a character says, "I'm not going to the New York Rangers right away. They're sending me to Binghamton, which is like the AHL."
  • The Sopranos – In season six, Christopher Moltisanti's mistress is from Binghamton.
  • X-Files – In season 2 episode "Colony", Mulder and Scully briefly track a killer through Binghamton, stopping at the fictional Globe and Mail local newspaper office. In season 9, Monica Reyes' new Georgetown apartment address of 67 Bennett Avenue was actually Rod Serling's home address in Binghamton.
  • 7th Heaven - Binghamton is mentioned by the Reverend when a visitor comes to town. He says "Binghamton… my Binghamton?"
  • The King of Queens - In the episode "Tube Stakes", Carrie asks Arthur if he remembers a college guy she used to date when she was 16 and Arthur responds, "Oh, yes. Russell from SUNY Binghamton." Victor Williams, who plays Deacon on the show, graduated from Binghamton University in 1992.
  • Law & Order – Binghamton is mentioned and shown in various episodes of all the Law & Order shows.
  • Pardon the Interruption – Tony Kornhiser went to Binghamton University and often mentions the school's basketball team.
  • A scene in an episode of Seinfeld was shot in Downtown Binghamton (yet to be verified by a credible source).
  • Slap Shot – The fictional Broome County Blades are from Binghamton. The pregame fight is based on a real story that took place on January 16, 1975 in Binghamton, when the Syracuse Blazers and Broome Dusters had a 30-minute pregame brawl.
  • The music video for Taylor Swift's "Back to December" was filmed in Binghamton.
  • A large portion of the international web series Pioneer One was filmed in Binghamton.
  • Alphas - Numerous episodes reference Binghamton as the place where dangerous Alphas are sent.
  • The Office - The episode "Turf War" focuses on the closing of the Binghamton branch of Sabre. Jim, Andy, and Dwight visit a Binghamton business to woo them as a potential client.[6]
  • Family Guy - In the episode "Valentine's Day in Quahog", Peter tells his ex-girlfriend that he will meet her in Binghamton for a Fine Young Cannibals concert.
  • Revenge - In the episode "Fear", Conrad mentions sending Victoria to an office in Binghamton to "christen a landfill".
  • What We Do in the Shadows - In the episode "Freddie", Laszlo takes Baby Colin to perform in Binghamton when there's a contract dispute with them and Nadja.
  • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - In the episode "Susan", Midge mentions that the trash collector suit that she's wearing belongs to a man who is hiding out in Binghamton.

Binghamton in books

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  • A History of the Binghamton Slovaks, by Imrich Mazar: A chronicle of one of Binghamton's largest ethnic populations.
  • From Vision to Excellence: A Popular History of Binghamton University, by Karen T. Hammond: Although Hammond's book focuses on the SUNY campus, it also provides interesting information on the city of Binghamton.
  • Binghamton (Images of America), by Ed Aswad and Suzanne M. Meredith: A photographic history. There are several companion books dealing with IBM, Endicott, Johnson City, and baseball and hockey in Broome County.
  • A Mind of Summer, by Erik Grayson: Includes "Tales of Three Cities", a short oral history of the greater Binghamton area.
  • Diary of a Binghamton boy in the 1860s, by Morris Treadwell: Early Binghamton through the eyes of a young boy.
  • Victorian Pride – Forgotten Songs of Central New York, by Diane Janowski, New York History Review Press: Includes 5 songs written in, or about Binghamton.[7]
  • Partners All: A History of Broome County, New York, by Gerald R. Smith.
  • Working Lives, Broome County, New York, 1800–1930: A Social History of People at Work in Our Region, by Ross McGuire.
  • Broome County Heritage: An Illustrated History, by Lawrence Bothwell.
  • Broome County: A Contemporary Portrait, by Karen Hammond, Suzanne M. Meredith, Kirk Van Zandbergen, and Leslie Van Zandbergen.
  • Actual Conversations With Myself, by Jeff Orlick: Includes many chapters based in and around the city of Binghamton and Binghamton University.
  • A Picture Post-Card History of New York's Broome County Area — Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott, Owego, and Surrounding Communities, published by the Kiwanis Club of Binghamton
  • Tastes and Tales of New York's Southern Tier, by Paul VanSavage, Suzanne M. Meredith and Ed Aswad: Profiles of Binghamton area restaurants and other food related businesses.
  • Drunkard's Refuge: The Lessons of the New York State Inebriate Asylum, by John W. Crowley and William L. White: Provides a history of the nation's first mental health facility to treat alcoholism as a disease (located on the grounds of the current Binghamton Psychiatric Center). The site of the facility is on the National Endangered Properties List.[8]
  • The Fear of Being Found, by Erin Elizabeth Smith: A collection of poems partially set in Binghamton.
  • The Dark Paper Series, by local author Waldo Tomosky: Five anthologies (horror and otherwise).
  • Joe and the Vinegar Pissers, by Waldo Tomosky: Centers on local youth in the 1940s who spend their time terrorizing their parents and the local fire chief.
  • Going with the Pitch: Adjusting to Baseball, School, and Life as a Division I College Athlete, by Ken Jacobi: Focuses on Jacobi's college baseball experience while playing at Binghamton University.
  • The Night Eternal, by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan: Several characters stop for gas in Binghamton.

References

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  1. ^ "Local Television Market Universe Estimates" (PDF). Nielsen Company. 2013. p. 5. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Radio Market Survey Population, Rankings & Information - Spring 2021" (PDF). Nielsen Company. 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. ^ "FM Query Results". Federal Communications Commission. p. 6. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  4. ^ "AM Query Results". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  5. ^ Johnny Cash interview by Ralph Emery (Television production).
  6. ^ McNutt, Myles (4 May 2012). "Turf War". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  7. ^ Victorian Pride – Forgotten Songs of Central New York
  8. ^ Preservenys.org Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
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