Vermont Public Radio

Vermont Public Radio (VPR) is a network of public radio stations covering the state of Vermont and operated by Vermont Public Co., which also operates Vermont PBS.[1] The network is a mix of programming from NPR, Public Radio International, American Public Media with some locally produced programs. VPR also broadcasts classical music on a different set of stations and has some online-only programming, including a 24-hour jazz music service. VPR is headquartered in Colchester, a suburb of Burlington. Other studio facilities are located in Montpelier, Manchester, Norwich and Brattleboro.

Vermont Public Radio
Broadcast areaVermont and bordering areas of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Quebec
FrequencySee § VPR News and § VPR Classical
Programming
FormatMain VPR stations: Public Radio and Jazz
VPR Classical stations: Classical and Opera
Ownership
OwnerVermont Public Co.
History
First air date
1977
Links
WebcastVPR Webcast PLS
Websitewww.vpr.org

History

In 1975, four Vermonters met to make preliminary plans to form a member station for the then-fledgling National Public Radio. Two years later, in 1977, Vermont Public Radio signed on from studios at the historic Windsor House in Windsor. Despite criticism that Vermont was too small and too rural for partially-listener-supported public radio, the network has expanded to 13 full-power stations and 12 low-power translators covering almost all of Vermont as well as parts of New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Quebec.

In terms of market size, VPR is the smallest NPR member station/network in New England and one of the smallest in the nation. However, since the mid-1990s, it has been one of the most listened-to public radio stations per capita in the country, with approximately 194,000 listeners each week and 27,000 members who support VPR with a voluntary financial contribution.

For many years, VPR broadcast a mixed format of news and information programming, classical, jazz, and folk music. In 2004, VPR launched a separate 24/7 classical service, VPR Classical.

In October 2007, all classical and opera music was moved to VPR Classical. VPR News carries news, information, cultural, and entertainment programs throughout the day, with the BBC World Service airing weekday mornings for one hour following NPR's Morning Edition and every night during the post-midnight hours. Weekend evenings feature jazz, rock, and folk music programming.

On September 9, 2020, VPR announced it had agreed to merge with Vermont PBS.[2] The merger was completed on July 1, 2021.[1]

Controversy

In 2013, VPR confirmed that a listener found lead inside the ink used in VPR's Artist Mugs. The health department found that the outer rim of the 2011 VPR cup contained 3.18 percent lead. That greatly exceeds the level considered safe for children, .01 percent.[3] VPR has since stopped using Artist Mugs as gifts for donors.

VPR News

Vermont Public Radio's news and information service, VPR News carries most of the more popular news and talk programs from NPR, APM, PRI, and the CBC, as well as several local shows.

Local Programs on VPR
  • Vermont Edition with Connor Cyrus and Mikaela Lefrak (daily call-in newsmagazine)
  • All the Traditions with Robert Resnik (folk music)
  • My Place with Joel Najman (early rock & R&B from the 1950s and 1960s)
  • Friday Night Jazz with Ray Vega (jazz)

Stations
VPR News
Call sign Frequency City of license State Facility ID Class ERP
(W)		 Founded
WBTN-FM94.3 FMBenningtonVermont9310 A3,000August 21, 1978[4]
WVBA88.9 FMBrattleboroVermont175088 B18,9002012
WVPS[lower-alpha 1]107.9 FMBurlingtonVermont69952 C48,400February 25, 1981[4]
WRVT[lower-alpha 2]88.7 FMRutlandVermont69953 C24,000March 13, 1987[4]
WVPA88.5 FMSt. JohnsburyVermont85029 C2850March 19, 1999[4]
WVPR[lower-alpha 3]89.5 FMWindsorVermont69951 B1,7001975

Notes:

  1. For WVPS translators, see WVPS § Translators
  2. For WRVT translators, see WRVT § Translators
  3. For WVPR translators, see WVPR § Translators

WVPS transmits from atop of Mount Mansfield.[5][6][7] Due to its signal strength, the station can be heard in parts of New York state, southern Quebec and as far west as eastern Ontario in Canada.

VPR Classical

Since 2007, VPR has broadcast classical and opera music on a separate network. The main station is WOXR (90.9 FM), which is licensed to Schuyler Falls, New York and serves the Burlington, Vermont/Plattsburgh, New York area.

The former WAVX took the WOXR calls and VPR Classical format at 9:09 AM on August 31, 2007. VPR President Mark Vogelzang, when asked about the new call letters' origin, said that they were an "homage" to New York City classical music station WQXR.[8]

VPR Classical continues to air on its original full-power home station, WNCH (88.1 FM) in Norwich, as well as full-power WVTQ (95.1 FM) in Sunderland and WVTI (106.9 FM) in Brighton. It is also available on VPR HD Radio throughout Northwestern Vermont via WVPS HD-2 (107.9-2 FM).

On April 4, 2014, WOXM moved its signal from 90.1 FM to 89.1 FM;[9] interference with the Vermont Electric Power Company's emergency response radio system led VPR to reverse the move on October 12, 2015.[10]

Local Programs on VPR Classical
  • Classical Music with Helen Lyons
  • Classical Music with Walter Parker
  • Classical Music with James Stewart

Stations
VPR Classical
Call sign Frequency City of license State Facility ID Class ERP
(W)		 Founded
WOXR90.9 FMSchuyler FallsNew York78628 C22,700July 8, 2004[4]
WVTI106.9 FMBrightonVermont165996 A1,420July 4, 2007[4]
WVNK91.1 FMManchesterVermont175524 A115—
WOXM90.1 FMMiddleburyVermont174578 A1,200May 27, 2010[4]
WNCH[lower-alpha 1]88.1 FMNorwichVermont84441 B1,550September 4, 2003[4]
WVXR102.1 FMRandolphVermont63473 C311,000October 25, 1982
WVTQ[lower-alpha 2]95.1 FMSunderlandVermont54687 A96October 3, 1990[4]

Notes:

  1. For WNCH translators, see WNCH § Translators
  2. For WVTQ translators, see WVTQ § Translators

Podcasts

VPR produces the podcasts The Frequency, But Why?, Brave Little State and Timeline.

See also

References
  1. "Together For Vermont". Vermont PBS. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  2. "Vermont Public Radio, Vermont PBS To Merge". All Access. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  3. Poston, Pamela (October 1, 2013). "Cream, Sugar and ... Lead? VPR Tests Its Artists Mugs". Seven Days. Burlington, Vt.: Da Capo Publishing. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. Exact dates reflect the date on which the FCC issued a license for the station. The station will normally have been operating under program test authority for some months prior.
  5. Mount Mansfield, Vermont, Scott Fybush/fybush.com, August 14–21, 2002
  6. mpf. "WVPS transmitter site and studios". www.necrat.us.
  7. "History". vpr.org.
  8. Fybush, Scott (2007-08-27). "NorthEast Radio Watch by Scott Fybush". FybushMedia.com. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
  9. Owens, Michelle (March 31, 2014). "VPR Classical In Middlebury Moves From 90.1 to 89.1, Doubles Reach". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  10. Mathews, Sarah (October 8, 2015). "VPR Classical In Middlebury Moving To 90.1 FM". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

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