Classical sounds reach more of the Green Mountain State via VT Public Radio

[ThatManDan]

According to the article linked below, Vermont Public Radio says it now covers about 70% of the state with the sounds of classical music.   http://www.7dvt.com/2011vpr-classical  Add streaming internet service and the only HD Radio offerings in the state, one could suppose VPR might claim a monopoly on the format?  Hey, WCVT, Stowe, we know you're still there!  Pop quiz!  Does VPR have an advantage by being public rather than commercial?

[Dusty Dale Brooks]

The subject of Classical stations came up recently on another discussion board (Boston ?) and WCVT was listed as one of the few remaining commercial stations in NE.

Thanks to VPR (and WCVT) classical music is the signature format for Vermont. It has always been the soundtrack for my visits and growing up there it was hard to avoid classical music. I was blessed to have grown up in Stowe under the tutelage of the great Matthew Pykosz to whom I owe my enduring love of music--all music. Lots of credit must go to Brian Harwood (my first radio mentor) for standing behind WCVT and keeping it classical.

I am sure there are many like me for whom classical music is a memory peg for Vermont. That's a good thing. When a guy like Chris Bojalian uses VPR as a subject for a book that's not bad either!

[Joseph_Gallant]

Might Vermont Public Radio itself try to acquire WCVT at some point in the future to have it join its VPR Classical service??

[kc1ih]

Why?

[Joseph_Gallant]

Why (would Vermont Public Radio acquire WCVT-101.7 to expand it's VPR Classical network)?

According to Radio-Locator.com signal-area maps, there are some areas that get a strong signal from WCVT, but do not get a strong signal from any VPR Classical outlet.

Radio-Locator.com signal map for WCVT: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WCVT&service=FM&status=L&hours=U .

Radio-Locator.com signal map for WOXR-90.9 (the VPR Classical station serving the Burlington area): http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WOXR&service=FM&hours=U .

Radio-Locator.com signal map for W234BD-94.7 (VPR Classical translator serving the Bolton area):
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=W234BD&service=FX&status=L&hours=U .

If you look at the VPR coverage area maps on their website (http://www.vpr.net/listen/radio), you will discover that the area served by the WCVT transmitter is just about the last major region of Vermont not served by a VPR Classical transmitter.

With very few commercial classical stations left in North America, perhaps it may become difficult for a commercial operator to keep a classical station profitable. Hence, my thought that VPR might buy WCVT to make it part of VPR Classical and hence, preserve a strong signal for a classical-music format in that area.