CRIS History

1979 CRIS sign on Wethersfield property
The first CRIS program broadcast
articles featured in the Hartford Courant and a national magazine.
Volunteers Alan Sagal, Jim MacPherson
and Ron Milligan
shared reading
responsibilities for the two-hour broadcast that was aired on the
subcarrier frequency
of WJMJ.
1981 Reel-to-reel recorder
CRIS moves into a
building located behind the Board of Education and Services for the Blind offices in Windsor.
CRIS introduces
“Bookmark,” a program
featuring a New York Times best-selling book and increases
programming to eight hours per day, Monday
through Friday.
1981 Reel-to-reel recorder
CRIS begins broadcasting seven days a week.
1983 CRIS LIsteners
WPKN in Bridgeport
becomes the second station to provide CRIS
programming on its subcarrier frequency. Daily programming is
increased to 14 hours per day.
1984 Sound meter
The first regional
satellite studio opens in the University of
Bridgeport’s North
Hall. Readings from New Haven Journal and the Bridgeport Telegram and Journal are included. CRIS begins to air 24 hours a day.
1986 Reel-to-reel recording
CRIS continues to expand its programming, thanks to the dedication and commitment of numerous volunteers who provide on-air voice talent.
1988 On air light
The University of
Connecticut begins
carrying CRIS on the subcarrier frequency on its college radio
station, WHUS. Continental Cable
adds CRIS to their
audio channel line-up.
1989 Recording board
Cox Cable and United Cable of Eastern CT begin to carry CRIS.
•
The University of
Bridgeport studio
is closed and CRIS
relocates to Trumbull High School.
1990 radio speaker
Tele-Media Company of Northeastern Connecticut, Cablevision and United Cable of Eastern CT add CRIS programming. CRIS changes its name from Connecticut Radio Information Service to Connecticut Radio Information System.
1993 Sampling of newspapers
CRIS opens satellite studio at Three Rivers
College in Norwich
and adds readings
of the Willimantic
Chronicle, Norwich
Bulletin, and The Day of New London.
1994 Picture of volunteer recording
Connecticut
Community College instructional
television makes CRIS programming available on its secondary audio
program (SAP) channel.The Danbury Lions
Club partners with
CRIS to start a satellite studio in Danbury.
Birthday cake for CRIS in 2000
CRIS celebrates 20
years of service.CRIS institutes its
Telephone Reader
Service, which
gives listeners the
opportunity to hear programs with a toll free
phone call.
Outside shot of CRIS studio at BESB
CRIS moves into new offices and studios in Windsor.
Recording studio computer screen
CRIS begins the transition from analog to digital recording.
Volume dial from a recording board
The Norwich Studio at Three Rivers CC was relocated to the Disabilities Network of Eastern CT in Norwich.CRIS develops plans to build a new broadcast center in Windsor.
The roof of the new CRIS Studio
Construction begins on a new building at 315 Windsor Avenue in Windsor.
CRIS Web Icon
CRIS moves into its own, newly constructed broadcast center in Windsor and begins to offer its programming on its Web site at www.crisradio.org.
CRIS Recording Studio
CRIS celebrates 30 years and begins planning for enhanced programming and listener options.
CRISKids for Schools @ Clover St.
CRISKids for Schools kicks off as the nation’s only library of children’s magazines, Common Core materials and customized classroom materials, all in human narration.
CRISKids
CRIS partners with Comcast to deliver streaming children’s magazines over the cable network at CT Children’s Medical Center.
CRIS and Old Sturbridge Village
CRIS launches CRISAccess as a pilot with Old Sturbridge Village. The service provides audio descriptions of museum exhibits using QR Codes.
cris en espanol logo
CRIS offers the nation's first dedicated stream of Spanish-language magazines.
2015 HIstory of CRIS Logo
Logo celebrates CRIS 2015-16 launch of mobile apps.
2016 Volunteer Reception
NARA logo
Voices of World War I launches as a partnership between the CT State Library and IDEAL Group, funded in part by the National Publications & Records Commission.