'WNTI Is Over': Centenary College Radio Station Reportedly Sold

Nearly 57 years after it first hit the airwaves, Centenary College’s WNTI 91.9 FM radio station is no more.

According to a Tweet put out by the station just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, the college sold the station’s license.

“Thank you all for listening and for your support,” the Tweet, embedded below, read. “Centenary College sold out (sic) license. WNTI is over.”

In a published post at njarts.net late Monday night, one report said WNTI was sold by Centenary College to National Public Radio (NPR).

Patch is waiting on a response from Centenary College and its president Dr. Barbara Jayne Lewthwaite.

UPDATE: As of 11:45 a.m., Centenary College released the following information to Patch:

“Centenary College has been exploring new directions for WNTI - ones that will ensure the station’s listeners will continue to enjoy the music they love. The College will release more information once it becomes available in the near future.”

WNTI reached an area in northwestern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania consisting of approximately 1 million people and was launched on Dec. 8, 1958. The studio was located on the first floor of the David and Carol Lackland Center on Centenary’s campus in Hackettstown.

The station was a 24-hours per day operation, supported financially by mostly private sources.

It was known by its listeners to include specialty music, arts, and entertainment programs on weeknights and weekdays, also providing NPR news on the hour and local news produced by Centenary’s journalism department.

Supporters of the station, dubbed “the soundtrack of my life,” hit social media Monday night and Tuesday morning, creating a Facebook page called “Protest Centenary’s WNTI Takeover” to share their sadness, frustration and memories.

According to listener Dave Votta:

“WNTI was a cornerstone for the northwestern NJ music community. It was the one station we could listen to that we knew great music would be playing. I looked forward everyday to hear what Spider Glenn’s daily dose of Dead was going to be! WNTI helped me discover so much new and interesting music throughout the years and there is literally no alternative on our airwaves to replace this void.”

Scott Judy, an employee with the Sherman Theatre in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, also commented.

“I am for one devastated by the robotic Corp overtake of the great station. Mel & I had just created a great bond that would have helped WNTI & the Sherman Theater in a quest for great community service to the listening area. It is a very sad day for the WNTI family.”

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available. Check back often for details.