WNYC announced today that the station has acquired classical music station WQXR and the radio channel 105.9 FM from the New York Times for $11.5 million.
WQXR broadcasts on 96.3 FM, but in a separate deal with Univision, the Times exchanged the station’s current spot on the dial for 105.9 FM, then sold that location, along with the WQXR call letters, to WNYC. WQXR will move to its new channel in October.
Through the acquisition, WNYC will turn WQXR into a public radio station and preserve its 73-year classical music format, whose future was in doubt due to the Times‘ economic woes.