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Favorite Classical Stations
- Thread starter Kemosabe
- Start date
Sorry I believe the best classical music station the country is KUSC and it's O&O up the West Coast. Although I can't say that that I have listened to WFMT to compare. A real surprise when I was up in Alaska was KLEF in Anchorage. Automated but does not sound like an automated or satellite delivery service. Stream it every once in a while.
Excellent timing. Because WQXR just started its fundraising, I'm streaming KUSC as I write this. (Apparently their fund drive just ended.) I certainly like what I hear.
Incidentally, KUSC's website reports, "91.5 is operating at reduced power," without providing further details. Any idea what's going on?
No special temporary authority has been filed with the fcc, but if its under 10 days they dont have to notify. .10 days they notify 30 days they ask for permission to operate at other then licensed parameters.
Interestingly enough the license to cover for their auxiliary facility was granted a month ago.. wonder why they arent using that? Could be a ploy to drum up more donations
Not in SC at the moment. But SC has been getting nasty weather (high winds and rain) lately. Could be a weather related issue. And I am willing to believe that their prime facility (even on reduced power) gives better coverage than their auxiliary facility (otherwise they would just do a permanent swap).
Or it could be that because the coverage of the auxiliary is less than the main, and they are explaining that to listeners as "power".
(The auxiliary site is at 288 meters and 4.5 kw; the main is 39 kw at 891 meters.)
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WRR is a good sounding classical station.
I discovered some years ago a classical station in Wichita Falls. From what I gather the station struggled. In speaking to someone that knew the management, he said it barely brought in $25,000 a year and the person said the dominance of WRR was the reason. As the Wichita Falls station (then KTEO) was automated unannounced classical, WRR with the larger music library, live jocks and involvement in the arts community really worked to prevent KTEO from getting solid footing although he admitted Wichita Falls had it's own distinctive arts community.
I discovered some years ago a classical station in Wichita Falls. From what I gather the station struggled. In speaking to someone that knew the management, he said it barely brought in $25,000 a year and the person said the dominance of WRR was the reason. As the Wichita Falls station (then KTEO) was automated unannounced classical, WRR with the larger music library, live jocks and involvement in the arts community really worked to prevent KTEO from getting solid footing although he admitted Wichita Falls had it's own distinctive arts community.
(Unless you are referring to South Carolina)... the SoCal stations on hilltops and mountain peaks are all built to withstand severe Santa Ana winds. About the only dangers to those sites comes from earthquakes and forest fires.
Stations on Mt Wilson have auxiliary transmitters, and some have auxiliary antennas. Most have auxiliary, but dramatically lower, sites.
If KUSC is on its Aux site right now, it might have something to do with antenna work on the tower they share...perhaps repack work for TV, although I do not know the schedule for that work in LA.
The Aux site is low power... 4.5 kw vs. 39, and at about one-third of the HAAT.
I understand that WRR is a long standing debate by the city. They look at the immediate income (at one time $100 Million was suggested) but then the discussion seems to disappear. I suspect there must be some influential listeners.
I did go poking around and there is a pretty good list of classical music stations in the US on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Classical_music_radio_stations_in_the_United_States). I had not realized here were quite this many. I may have to go and review the list though (missing some translators).
I have also noticed, in my travels, that classical stations using only a single HD channel (no HD-2 or HD-3) have some mind blowing sound in digital (KBAQ comes to mind).
I did go poking around and there is a pretty good list of classical music stations in the US on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Classical_music_radio_stations_in_the_United_States). I had not realized here were quite this many. I may have to go and review the list though (missing some translators).
I have also noticed, in my travels, that classical stations using only a single HD channel (no HD-2 or HD-3) have some mind blowing sound in digital (KBAQ comes to mind).
FYI most on that like are non-commercial, although WRR is commercial. As is WFMT.
Many of these are stations belonging to a statewide network, carrying the same programming. Vermont Public Radio alone has about a dozen stations listed. Others aren't classical 24/7, airing standards, show tunes, jazz, folk or some variety of world music during the evening or on weekends. At my location in Connecticut, I have more classical music stations to choose from than I do country stations, at least during the day.
However, there are stations that air significant hours of classical music that aren't listed. These are mostly NPR affiliates that air classical music to fill up the hours between Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and overnights via Classical 24, Beethoven Network or a similar syndicated feed. Evenings and weekends sometimes contain classical, but not much.
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