Vermont Public Radio is a network of public radio stations covering the state of Vermont. 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.
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 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.
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. 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.
W237BF has a construction permit to move to Methuen, MA to rebroadcast WCCM AM 1570.
VPR Classical
Since 2007, VPR has broadcast classical and opera music on a separate network. The main station is WOXR, 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. VPR Classical continues to air on its original full-power home station, WNCH in Norwich, as well as full-power WVTQ in Sunderland and WVTI in Brighton. It is also available on VPR HD Radio throughout Northwestern Vermont via WVPS HD-2. On April 4, 2014, WOXM moved its signal from 90.1 FM to 89.1 FM; interference with the Vermont Electric Power Company's emergency response radio system led VPR to reverse the move on October 12, 2015.
