Connecticut Public Radio Dumps Classical Music

[MarcB]

Connecticut Public Radio - WPKT 90.5 Meriden, WNPR 89.1 Norwich, WEDW 88.5 Stamford, WRLI 90.3 South Hampton, Long Island, and W258AC 99.5 in Storrs has dumped it's classical music programming. CT Public radio aka WNPR is now more or less news/talk 24/7. http://www.wnpr.org/

 

[GlennO]

Can't say I'm totally surprised to hear this news. New Hampshire Public Radio did this a few years ago. An LP-FM in Concord filled some of the void in that town, but it certainly doesn't replace a statewide network as a classical outlet. Classical music will be a hit or miss proposition in Connecticut as it is up north. Block programming on noncomms (or Beethoven Radio WTMI 1290 in the Hartford area) are the limited future of classical on terrestrial radio. There's a bottom line involved in public radio as well, and the NPR route gets the funding more than classical. The classical audience is also pretty fickle, in that Bach fans may not be Chopin people. In any case, it's the end of an era for CT Public Radio WNPR.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I wonder if John Ramsey and crew will try and make upgrades to 1290 to get more coverage. I know they used to be 1KW. maybe put up another tower? Maybe buy another station? If they were to want a hartford area signal, I could see one other small AM outside Hartford that they could buy.. and i think the owners would sell it too.

 

[MarcB]

Dude, WTMI's tower is on the West Hartford/Avon line. Them people who live in those areas don't want any more towers. A friend of a friend lives on Deercliff Road in Avon and he's sent several letters to the FCC asking them to take down all them towers. (Yeah that'll happen. And I still got that bridge in Brooklyn to seel you).

 

[Ozman]

I don't think 1290 can be upgraded. from what I had heard thats one of the reason why WCCC-AM when it was rock music left was because of the coverage it was not worth it with WCCC-FM everyone listened there. If they could have upgraded WCCC-AM to get it twards the NYC metro area it might.... might.... have still been rock music. last I heard though 1090 has many online listeners.I think the main reason why they can't upgrade is because of being too close to bradley int airport. correct me if i am wrong

I wonder if John Ramsey and crew will try and make upgrades to 1290 to get more coverage. I know they used to be 1KW. maybe put up another tower? Maybe buy another station? If they were to want a hartford area signal, I could see one other small AM outside Hartford that they could buy.. and i think the owners would sell it too.

 

[KML0224]

WTMI-AM 1290 is only running 490 watts daytime from West Hartford and is licensed to West Hartford. As for expanding their coverage area, they can't. You've got another broadcaster on 1290 AM in Rhode Island. Plus you've got WAVZ-AM 1300 of New Haven in the way as well.

 

[Ozman]

I was wondering what the real reason was thanks~OZ

WTMI-AM 1290 is only running 490 watts daytime from West Hartford and is licensed to West Hartford. As for expanding their coverage area, they can't. You've got another broadcaster on 1290 AM in Rhode Island. Plus you've got WAVZ-AM 1300 of New Haven in the way as well.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I'm no engineer obviously..... but wonde rif they added a second tower and beamed it NW towards Avon/Simsbury or North would it work? it'd be keeping them away from New haven's WAVZ and Providence's WRNI.

 

[GlennO]

I believe then-WCCC-AM tried at one point to put a directional array beamed NW from Glastonbury, but that never materialized. With all the nulls needed to protect daytime adjacents alone (don't forget WSPR 1270), you've got to be talking more than two towers in this NIMBY world of ours. You'd also have to avoid going too far westward or northward at night to protect 1290s in Binghamton, NY and Keene, NH. It would be an engineering challenge. Even if you got a better signal out of it, classical is no guarantee of return on investment. WTMI should just be glad a major classical signal is out of their way. They may make the book regularly, even as a low power AM with flea power at night.

 

[RobertAnthony]

Can't say I'm totally surprised to hear this news. New Hampshire Public Radio did this a few years ago. An LP-FM in Concord filled some of the void in that town, but it certainly doesn't replace a statewide network as a classical outlet. Classical music will be a hit or miss proposition in Connecticut as it is up north. Block programming on noncomms (or Beethoven Radio WTMI 1290 in the Hartford area) are the limited future of classical on terrestrial radio. There's a bottom line involved in public radio as well, and the NPR route gets the funding more than classical. The classical audience is also pretty fickle, in that Bach fans may not be Chopin people. In any case, it's the end of an era for CT Public Radio WNPR.

Well, there's still for classical fans WSHU 91.1 and those WSHU stations and translators not NPR News Talk, also WMNR Monroe and their stations. Also WQXR 96.3 but they are a commercial station. And also WFCR Amherst. So there are choices, but the picking have been reduced.

 

[Ozman]

theres also the annucence of 103.1 Lp a relay of a station in stamford orginating from nyc...I know this because i am getting sick and tired from hearing from my mom that 103.1 is the only oldies station that she can listen too. that lp in stamford interferes with the oldies station from LI

Can't say I'm totally surprised to hear this news. New Hampshire Public Radio did this a few years ago. An LP-FM in Concord filled some of the void in that town, but it certainly doesn't replace a statewide network as a classical outlet. Classical music will be a hit or miss proposition in Connecticut as it is up north. Block programming on noncomms (or Beethoven Radio WTMI 1290 in the Hartford area) are the limited future of classical on terrestrial radio. There's a bottom line involved in public radio as well, and the NPR route gets the funding more than classical. The classical audience is also pretty fickle, in that Bach fans may not be Chopin people. In any case, it's the end of an era for CT Public Radio WNPR.

Well, there's still for classical fans WSHU 91.1 and those WSHU stations and translators not NPR News Talk, also WMNR Monroe and their stations. Also WQXR 96.3 but they are a commercial station. And also WFCR Amherst. So there are choices, but the picking have been reduced.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

Ok, Jamie... when you can spell correctly and compose sentences that actually make sense, then you can come back...

 

[Ozman]

working on that one slowly with english courses. I was always weak at english you should see my handwriting. iIam very thankful for computers. the big issue is I need to spend more time proofreading as well. Its too bad this board can't count as part of my english courses.

Ok, Jamie... when you can spell correctly and compose sentences that actually make sense, then you can come back...