Non-comm. changes

[Yabadabado1]

At the end of March WKSU will become the only area NPR affiliate and Classical will move to WCPN 90.3 from WCLV. WCLV will basically become a repeater station for WKSU. Personally, I think the smart move would be to put WCLV call letters on 90.3 & put WCPN letters on 104.9. WKSU will be sole NPR provider in area starting March 28; WCLV classical moving to 90.3-FM

 

[skiwest]

I'm pretty sure 90.3 and 104.9 will be swapping call letters when the switch occurs.

I assume 90.3 HD 2 will still be activated. I wonder what they are planning to air? Hopefully it will be programmed to fill a void in the area and not just a simulcast of WKSU.

I believe WKSU switches to classical music in the evening whereas WCPN does not. It will be interesting to see how that situation is handled.

Also, WCPN airs a few ethnic programs on the weekend. I assume they will have to move elsewhere.

 

[Tim]

Don’t be surprised if you hear a lot of programming changes and shifting around on WKSU & their other FMs/translators, as classical music shifts fulltime to WCPN. The various HD channels might see a re-working of their programming as well.

Some listeners are not happy with all the changes, and that’s no surprise. Rest assured, the leadership and WKSU & WCPN are doing what they feel is the most sensible solution for both stations audiences, and in a radically changing mass media and advertising environment, they are trying to spend available revenues wisely to maintain both stations.

 

[skiwest]

I guess we should be happy that NE Ohio still has a classical music station. There are not very many of them remaining. It did seem odd to have two NPR stations in NE Ohio. I think combining them makes a lot of sense now.

 

[Tim]

I guess we should be happy that NE Ohio still has a classical music station. There are not very many of them remaining. It did seem odd to have two NPR stations in NE Ohio. I think combining them makes a lot of sense now.

There is no 100% perfect solution, but I really believe Kent State University and Ideastream have the best of interests at heart. While I am not a classical music fan personally, I am very happy for those who are, the format is returning to a much better signal on FM.

 

[Santa fe]

Now I'll be able to disconnect all the extra wire antennas I had to add to pull in 104.9. Not that I am a big classical fan but I need someplace to set the clock radio for a pre dawn wake up that isn't jarring music or a Dr. Pinkus infomercial. I'm not sure what wclv is playing at that hour, but it's gentle on my ears and on my psyche!

 

[Tim]

Now I'll be able to disconnect all the extra wire antennas I had to add to pull in 104.9. Not that I am a big classical fan but I need someplace to set the clock radio for a pre dawn wake up that isn't jarring music or a Dr. Pinkus infomercial. I'm not sure what wclv is playing at that hour, but it's gentle on my ears and on my psyche!

Be thankful you will soon have a much stronger signal for classical music on your clock radio. It’s nice we all have choices! What others like is up to them, right?

 

[VintageMac]

Be thankful you will soon have a much stronger signal for classical music on your clock radio. It’s nice we all have choices! What others like is up to them, right?

Very true as it's good to have choices. I wonder if they will keep the HD signal and sub channel perhaps for NPR use. I don't think I've heard anything on that. It would be nice though if they put something different on the HD2 like jazz as some other public radio stations have.

 

[VintageMac]

I guess we should be happy that NE Ohio still has a classical music station. There are not very many of them remaining. It did seem odd to have two NPR stations in NE Ohio. I think combining them makes a lot of sense now.

WKSU was first with NPR in 1974 according to its history page. WCPN wasn't even around then as it was still WBOE, the Cleveland Public School's radio station. WCPN started in 1984. The two stations do have a lot of coverage overlap but WKSU's signal goes further south. Radio Locator maps are attached.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that NPR was on WBOE in 1976 but since the station went off the air in 1978 due to budget issues, WKSU was the only source for NPR programming until WCPN came on the air some time later.

WKSU History

WKSU History

www.wksu.org

 

[VintageMac]

Here is information regarding the HD situation as well as other points. It appears that the WCPN call letters are not going to be used since they're not listed but not sure. WCLV will be on 90.3 HD1 and WKSU 89.7 HD3. Folk Alley will still be on WKSU 89.7 HD2.

How to Access Ideastream Public Media Broadcasts

Find your preferred method for enjoying the wide range of products Ideastream Public Media has to offer.

www.ideastream.org

 

[skiwest]

So apparently 90.3 HD2 will be a simulcast of WKSU. That's is disappointing since 104.9 will also be a simulcast of WKSU. I was hoping they would put something else there.

 

[VintageMac]

So apparently 90.3 HD2 will be a simulcast of WKSU. That's is disappointing since 104.9 will also be a simulcast of WKSU. I was hoping they would put something else there.

That's what their site indicates. I was hoping for something else too like some jazz programming. With 104.9 covering the west fairly well and WKSU has decent coverage in most places, it seems like a lot of duplication.

 

[chrocket87]

I’m curious to see how the programming will shake out. I enjoy listening to Sound of Ideas, so I’d hate to see that one go. Also looking at WKSU’s schedule, they don’t have The Pulse. Hopefully that show finds its way on, as it’s great to have a medicine-based show on in a region that is well-known for healthcare.

 

[Tim]

Many shows are also on TuneIn, Spotify, etc. on demand.

 

[Santa fe]

One thing we will have to see is how these changes will affect NPR listeners in Lake, Northern Geauga and Ashtabula counties. WCLV 104.9 never did get out there well faced with the stronger 104.7 in Geneva. As for 89.7, it could have a tough time getting over the ridge into Lake and Northern Geauga. I wonder how well WYSU can be heard up there? That gives them NPR but not the local coverage heard only on Ideastream. At one time, WCLV simulcast on 1460 AM in Lake County to try to plug that hole. They could do that again or get another repeater put out that way. Although I thought they had one for 89.7 in Madison.

 

[Tim]

90.3 going classical will leave some NPR holes to the east, for sure.

89.1 WKSV Thompson, Ohio simulcasts 89.7...that will continue. WKSV is 50,000 watts and covers Lake & a good part of Geauga counties.

 

[johnbasalla]

Is 1460AM in Painesville still on the air? (WPVL, WQLS, WBKC (one or two missing?)... WABQ). I worked there when it was WQLS.

 

[Tim]

Is 1460AM in Painesville still on the air? (WPVL, WQLS, WBKC (one or two missing?)... WABQ). I worked there when it was WQLS.

When I drove to the transmitter/studio site a weekday midday about 3 years ago they were off the air, and a portion of the office roof at the front had collapsed. Building looked like it hadn’t been in regular use in some time. Towers looked like they hadn’t been painted in years. Portions of fencing around the tower “doghouses” had fallen down. Driveway had uncut grass growing.

 

[skiwest]

It was announced this evening that the German program with Dr. Joe Wendell will not be continuing on any of the Ideastream stations (89.7, 90.3 or104.9). Hopefully, it will continue elsewhere, perhaps on one of the college stations. His last program on WCPN will be on March 27th.

 

[skiwest]

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