Pamal Broadcasting has decided to steer its Altamont, NY-licensed WINU 104.9 frequency towards Country music, introducing a format branded as “Big Country.” The format switch gives the company two signals in competition with Townsquare Media’s heritage Country station, WGNA.
Originally acquired by Pamal in 1998 for $2.2 million, WINU has undergone multiple format changes over the years. It started as “The Point,” moved to Smooth Jazz, then Urban Adult Contemporary, and eventually became Active Rock as “The Edge.” Prior to its latest country pivot, the station had briefly adopted a Country format known as 104.9 The Cat.
In terms of reach, WINU is also being simulcast on W250CC at 97.9 MHz, extending its coverage to include the nearby Adirondack foothills and Lake George. This move follows low Nielsen Audio ratings for WINU’s previous Alternative format, which registered a 0.5 share in August 2023.