WLVR To Convert To Public News/Talk In Conjuction With WLVT-TV

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/...-public-news-talk-in-conjuction-with-wlvt-tv/

The change is set for November 1st.

Lehigh Valley Public Media, home of PBS39, is proud to announce a new partnership with Lehigh University. Through this collaboration, Lehigh Valley Public Media will broadcast radio content on the HD-1 channel, while student-driven content will continue on Lehigh’s HD-2 radio channel. The official launch is scheduled for November 1, 2019, with a pre-launch testing phase planned for October.

“Lehigh Valley Public Media is proud to partner with a station and university that has such deep ties to our community,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of Lehigh Valley Public Media said. “We are excited to bring our experience and talent, along with our dynamic communication platforms, to existing listeners, while also reaching out to a brand new audience.”

As part of this partnership, WLVR will convert to a multi-channel HD transmitter which enables information to be broadcast simultaneously over digital and analog signals. Found at 91.3 FM, the station will be programmed with locally produced news and information, and content from NPR, American Public Media (APM) and Public Radio Exchange (PRX). A second channel, transmitted through both HD Radio and online streaming, will remain the college radio station programmed entirely by students and community members under the management of current WLVR Chief Operator and Station Manager Al Fritzinger Jr. (aka A.J. Fritz). This partnership will significantly enhance the Lehigh student experience by offering high-quality professional development opportunities, such as engaged scholarship, service-learning and paid internships.

 

[TheBigA]

The change is set for November 1st.

There's a little more to this story than what was reported here.

WLVR had been a long-time student-operated radio station that programmed a "free form" format. All that will end on November 1st, and the student station will be demoted to HD and online. This ends over 40 years of student run radio on FM. The university is retaining the license, unlike many other colleges that have sold their FM stations to groups like LVPM. But broadcasting isn't a priority at the college any more, so the money they've spent operating the station is better spent elsewhere.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Makes sense. Not nearly as many kids are wanting to be on the radio as when I was in school 30+ years ago.
Fewer still are looking to make a career out of it. That money is better spent on other programs as you say,
plus the listeners receive the new news content.