Vermont Public Radio

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Vermont Public Radio
Broadcast areaVermont and bordering areas of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Quebec
FrequencySee § VPR News and § VPR Classical
Programming
FormatMain VPR stations: Public Radio and Jazz
VPR Classical stations: Classical and Opera
Ownership
OwnerVermont Public Co.
History
First air date
1977
Links
WebcastVPR Webcast PLS
Websitewww.vpr.org

Vermont Public Radio (VPR) is a network of public radio stations covering the state of Vermont and operated by Vermont Public Co., which also operates Vermont PBS.[1] The network is a mix of programming from NPR, Public Radio International, American Public Media with some locally produced programs. VPR also broadcasts classical music on a different set of stations and has some online-only programming, including a 24-hour jazz music service. VPR is headquartered in Colchester, a suburb of Burlington. Other studio facilities are located in Montpelier, Manchester, Norwich and Brattleboro.

History[]

In 1975, four Vermonters met to make preliminary plans to form a member station for the then-fledgling National Public Radio. Two years later, in 1977, Vermont Public Radio signed on from studios at the historic Windsor House in Windsor. Despite criticism that Vermont was too small and too rural for listener-supported public radio, the network has expanded to 13 full-power stations and 12 low-power translators covering almost all of Vermont as well as parts of New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Quebec.

In terms of market size, VPR is the smallest NPR member station/network in New England and one of the smallest in the nation. However, since the mid-1990s, it has been one of the most listened-to public radio stations per capita in the country, with approximately 194,000 listeners each week and 27,000 members who support VPR with a voluntary financial contribution.

For many years, VPR broadcast a mixed format of news and information programming, classical, jazz, and folk music. In 2004, VPR launched a separate 24/7 classical service, VPR Classical.

In October 2007, all classical and opera music was moved to VPR Classical. VPR News carries news, information, cultural, and entertainment programs throughout the day, with the BBC World Service airing weekday mornings for one hour following NPR's Morning Edition and every night during the post-midnight hours. Weekend evenings feature jazz, rock, and folk music programming.

On September 9, 2020, VPR announced it had agreed to merge with Vermont PBS.[2] The merger was completed on July 1, 2021.[1]

Controversy[]

In 2013, VPR confirmed that a listener found lead inside the ink used in VPR's Artist Mugs. The health department found that the outer rim of the 2011 VPR cup contained 3.18 percent lead. That greatly exceeds the level considered safe for children, .01 percent.[3] VPR has since stopped using Artist Mugs as gifts for donors.

VPR News[]

Vermont Public Radio's news and information service, VPR News carries most of the more popular news and talk programs from NPR, APM, PRI, and the CBC, as well as several local shows.

Local Programs on VPR[]

  • Vermont Edition with Jane Lindholm (daily call-in newsmagazine)
  • All the Traditions with Robert Resnik (folk music)
  • My Place with Joel Najman (early rock & R&B from the 1950s and 1960s)
  • Friday Night Jazz with Ray Vega (jazz)

Stations[]

VPR News
Call sign Frequency City of license State Facility ID Class ERP
(W) 		Founded
WBTN-FM 94.3 FM Bennington Vermont 9310 A 3,000 August 21, 1978[4]
WVBA 88.9 FM Brattleboro Vermont 175088 B1 8,900 2012
WVPS[a] 107.9 FM Burlington Vermont 69952 C 48,400 February 25, 1981[4]
WRVT[b] 88.7 FM Rutland Vermont 69953 C2 4,000 March 13, 1987[4]
WVPA 88.5 FM St. Johnsbury Vermont 85029 C2 850 March 19, 1999[4]
WVPR[c] 89.5 FM Windsor Vermont 69951 B 1,700 1975

Notes:

  1. ^ For WVPS translators, see WVPS § Translators
  2. ^ For WRVT translators, see WRVT § Translators
  3. ^ For WVPR translators, see WVPR § Translators

WVPS transmits from atop of Mount Mansfield.[5][6][7] Due to its signal strength, the station can be heard in parts of New York state, southern Quebec and as far west as eastern Ontario in Canada.

VPR Classical[]

Since 2007, VPR has broadcast classical and opera music on a separate network. The main station is WOXR (90.9 FM), which is licensed to Schuyler Falls, New York and serves the Burlington, Vermont/Plattsburgh, New York area.

The former WAVX took the WOXR calls and VPR Classical format at 9:09 AM on August 31, 2007. VPR President Mark Vogelzang, when asked about the new call letters' origin, said that they were an "homage" to New York City classical music station WQXR.[8]

VPR Classical continues to air on its original full-power home station, WNCH (88.1 FM) in Norwich, as well as full-power WVTQ (95.1 FM) in Sunderland and WVTI (106.9 FM) in Brighton. It is also available on VPR HD Radio throughout Northwestern Vermont via WVPS HD-2 (107.9-2 FM).

On April 4, 2014, WOXM moved its signal from 90.1 FM to 89.1 FM;[9] interference with the Vermont Electric Power Company's emergency response radio system led VPR to reverse the move on October 12, 2015.[10]

Local Programs on VPR Classical[]

  • Classical Music with Helen Lyons
  • Classical Music with Walter Parker
  • Classical Music with James Stewart

Stations[]

VPR Classical
Call sign Frequency City of license State Facility ID Class ERP
(W) 		Founded
WOXR 90.9 FM Schuyler Falls New York 78628 C2 2,700 July 8, 2004[4]
WVTI 106.9 FM Brighton Vermont 165996 A 1,420 July 4, 2007[4]
WVNK 91.1 FM Manchester Vermont 175524 A 115 —
WOXM 90.1 FM Middlebury Vermont 174578 A 1,200 May 27, 2010[4]
WNCH[a] 88.1 FM Norwich Vermont 84441 B 1,550 September 4, 2003[4]
WVXR 102.1 FM Randolph Vermont 63473 C3 11,000 October 25, 1982
WVTQ[b] 95.1 FM Sunderland Vermont 54687 A 96 October 3, 1990[4]

Notes:

  1. ^ For WNCH translators, see WNCH § Translators
  2. ^ For WVTQ translators, see WVTQ § Translators

Podcasts[]

VPR produces the podcasts The Frequency, But Why?, Brave Little State and Timeline.

See also[]

  • Vermont PBS

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Together For Vermont". Vermont PBS. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  2. ^ "Vermont Public Radio, Vermont PBS To Merge". All Access. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  3. ^ Poston, Pamela (October 1, 2013). "Cream, Sugar and ... Lead? VPR Tests Its Artists Mugs". Seven Days. Burlington, Vt.: Da Capo Publishing. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Exact dates reflect the date on which the FCC issued a license for the station. The station will normally have been operating under program test authority for some months prior.
  5. ^ Mount Mansfield, Vermont, Scott Fybush/fybush.com, August 14–21, 2002
  6. ^ mpf. "WVPS transmitter site and studios". www.necrat.us.
  7. ^ "History". vpr.org.
  8. ^ Fybush, Scott (2007-08-27). "NorthEast Radio Watch by Scott Fybush". FybushMedia.com. Retrieved 2007-08-27.[dead link]
  9. ^ Owens, Michelle (March 31, 2014). "VPR Classical In Middlebury Moves From 90.1 to 89.1, Doubles Reach". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  10. ^ Mathews, Sarah (October 8, 2015). "VPR Classical In Middlebury Moving To 90.1 FM". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

External links[]

Coordinates: 44°30′29″N 73°09′03″W / 44.50792°N 73.15077°W / 44.50792; -73.15077

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