CPB helping to grow noncom HD
85 radio stations will get a boost into the digital era via grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 7.74M will be divvied up between stations in 28 states, including 49 serving rural and/or minority audiences. "Public radio must be equipped to participate fully in the digital revolution," said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison. "Building on support from Congress, state governments and local communities across the nation, these critical grants will help ensure the success of public radio's digital transition and new and better radio broadcast service for the communities these stations are connected to."
Stations receiving grants
California: KUBO-FM (Calexico), KVUH-FM (Laytonville), KNHM-FM (Bayside), KNCA-FM (Burney), KPMO-AM (Mendocino), KNSQ-FM (Mount Shasta), KNHT-FM (Rio Dell), KJPR-AM (Shasta Lake City), KSYC-AM (Yreka), KNYR-FM (Yreka)
Colorado: KPGS-FM (Pagosa Springs; Connecticut: WMNR-FM (Monroe), WRXC-FM (Shelton)
Iowa: KTPR-FM (Ft. Dodge)
Idaho: KNWO-FM (Cottonwood), KRFA-FM (Moscow)
Illinois: WVIK-FM (Rock Island), WNIJ-FM (DeKalb), WNIU-FM (Rockford), WSIU-FM (Carbondale), WRTE-FM (Little Village)
Indiana: WVUB-FM (Vincennes)
Kentucky: WEKU-FM (Richmond), WEKH-FM (Hazard)
Louisiana: KSLU-FM (Hammond)
Michigan: WNMU-FM (Marquette)
Minnesota: KFAI-FM (Minneapolis)
Missouri: KDHX-FM (St. Louis), KUMR-FM (Rolla)
Montana: KUFM-FM (Missoula)
North Carolina: WFQS-FM (Franklin)
North Dakota: KCND-FM (Bismarck), KDPR-FM (Dickinson), KDSU-FM (Fargo), KFJM-FM (Grand Forks), KUND-FM (Grand Forks), KPRJ-FM (Jamestown), KMPR-FM (Minot), KPPR-FM (Williston)
Nebraska: KUCV-FM (Lincoln), KVNO-FM (Omaha)
New Hampshire: WEVJ-FM (Gorham), WEVC-FM (Jackson)
New Mexico: KUSW-FM (Farmington), KUTE-CP-FM
New York: WEOS-CP-FM (Ithaca), WNYE-FM (New York), WNED-FM (Buffalo)
Ohio: WAPS-FM (Akron)
Oklahoma: KCSC-FM (Edmond)
Oregon: KBPS-CP-FM (Gleneden Beach), KQHR-FM (Hood River), KSMF-FM (Ashland), KSRG-FM (Ashland), KSBA-FM (Coos Bay), KLMF-FM (Klamath Falls), KSKF-FM (Klamath Falls), KOOZ-FM (Myrtle Point), KTBR-AM (Roseburg), KSOR-FM (Roseburg), KSRS-FM (Roseburg), KSJK-AM (Talent)
South Carolina: WSSB-FM (Orangeburg)
South Dakota: KILI-FM (Porcupine)
Texas: KACU-FM (Abilene), KHID-FM (Harlingen), KMBH-FM (McAllen), KEDT-FM (Corpus Christi)
Virginia: WCNV-FM (Heathsville)
Washington: KSER-FM (Everett), KUOW-AM (Tumwater), KPBX-FM (Spokane), KSFC-FM (Spokane), KZAZ-FM (Bellingham), KNWV-FM (Clarkston), KQWS-FM (Omak), KNWP-FM (Port Angeles), KWSU-AM (Pullman), KWWS-FM (Walla Walla)
Wisconsin: WLBL-AM (Auburndale), WHHI-FM (Highland), WHLA-FM (La Crosse), WHWC-FM (Menomonie), WHBM-FM (Park Falls), WHDI-FM (Sister Bay)
RBR observation:
One of the knocks on public radio is that stations are often forced to make a difficult choice between musical formats not generally available from commercial radio, including Classical , Jazz and Progressive, or serving niche groups in the community, or providing in demand News-Talk fare from NPR. Or there is the formatically problematic option of a schizophrenic block programming schedule, often resulting in undesirable audience turnover every time a new block kicks in. HD side channels would free up stations to provide the full gamut of traditionally noncom program offerings. And who knows? Maybe some creative noncoms will point the way to sideband commercial success in some areas.
