Is classical radio in New York saved? Here's what the new boss of WQXR has to say

WNYC chief exec Laura Walker writes about the New York

public radio station's plans for all-classical station WQXR.

by Ken

I'm on record voicing substantial skepticism about the deal whereby New York City's last all-classical radio station, WQXR, is being sold by the New York Times Company and shifted to the stratospheric FM frequency 105.9, where it will be operated by public radio station WNYC as a public radio station -- i.e., basically listener-supported.

My problem isn't the involvement of WNYC, which is in a position to substantially upgrade the listenability of what goes out over the air on the new WQXR, which I and most of the people I know have considered mostly unlistenable for a long time now. (I wondered in particular whether the bright, personable, and music-loving WQXR morning guy, Jeff Spurgeon, might not be able -- liberated from all the mindless commercial babble of the current format -- to do the kind of show that not only services but creates classical-music lovers.)

No, my biggest problem is whether anybody will be able to hear the new WQXR, since under the terms of the deal it will be giving up one of the strongest FM signals on the dial for one of the feeblest: a 600-watt signal that maybe 27 people in the tristate metropolitan area will be able to receive well enough to listen to classical music. Also, it has been known for some time that WNYC was looking for a "spare" channel on which it could dump the remaining classical music it broadcasts off the too-precious-for-classical-music 93.9 frequency. That mission too seems to have been accomplished.

None of this was intended as a reflection on the seriousness or good will of WNYC's chief exec, Laura Walker. Clearly WNYC could never have afforded to pay the Times the $33.5 million that Univision is reportedly paying to move its Spanish talk-and-music station WCAA into WQXR's choice 96.3 frequency and 6000-watt broadcast capacity. (WNYC's announced price tab is $11.5 million. A $15 million fund-raising effort has already been launched, to cover the purchase price plus "transition costs," which I imagine will indeed be considerable.)

In fairness to Laura Walker and the WNYC people, I thought it only appropriate to pass on the statement Ms. Walker sent out yesterday to WNYC listeners, without further comment. (You'll note that she does deal with the question of the new WQXR's receivability: "We will look for ways to enhance the signal and add repeater signals throughout the metropolitan area.")

Dear WNYC Listener,

I am delighted to share the news that WNYC will preserve classical music radio on the New York radio dial through an agreement with The New York Times to acquire WQXR radio, which we will operate as a public radio station.   Because we feel very strongly that New York needs a full-time station dedicated to classical music, when the New York Times decided to sell WQXR, we worked with them to develop an agreement that will preserve classical music on the radio dial in New York for years to come. 

WQXR (currently broadcast on 96.3 FM) will move to its new frequency on 105.9 FM, in October. Univision Radio, which currently broadcasts on 105.9 will move to 96.3 FM.  Although the 105.9 signal is weaker than the 96.3 signal, we will look for ways to enhance the signal and add repeater signals throughout the metropolitan area.

Under the stewardship of WNYC, WQXR will continue to be a trusted curator of classical music, rooted in and reflecting New York’s vibrant classical music community.  We’ll continue and even enhance the on-air connection to the most diverse and talent-filled concert halls in the world, and the presence of their artists and impresarios on-air alongside live concerts.  Through digital streaming, WNYC will also extend a great classical music station’s reach not just to all parts of the City, but throughout the United States, and the world. 

By joining the WNYC family, WQXR will be preserved and will benefit from our stewardship.  Pianist Emanuel Ax, called preserving WQXR as a classical station “the sonic equivalent of saving Carnegie Hall from the wrecker’s ball.” I am delighted and honored that WNYC will be part of this exciting venture.

Please visit click here for more details about the acquisition, and information about what you as a listener can expect to see and hear in the coming months.  We also look forward to hearing your thoughts - you can click here to join the conversation about this news.

With regards and thanks for your support,






Laura Walker
President and Chief Executive Officer
WNYC Radio

UPDATE: ALAS, THOSE SIGNAL ENHANCEMENTS
LIKELY WON'T HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON, IF EVER

Personally, I was kind of dubious about the prospects for the kind of signal enhancements Ms. Walker promises to look into, but what do I know? I wondered even about the economics of WQXR being able to retain the "independently owned 'repeater' signals in Poughkeepsie and Asbury Park, N.J.," of which Richard Perez-Pena and Daniel Wakin's original NYT report said, "It was not clear on Tuesday what would become of those arrangements." In any case, I thought it would be nice to let Ms. Walker just have her say.

Alas, however, in an important comment, our friend Balakirev, writing "as someone who wrote the grant and secured the extra local funding for four translators and repeaters in a West Coast public station," outlines what's actually involved in doing what she suggests -- "a very long term project that is extremely resource intensive," adding that here in the Northeast, where our radio frequencies (which the FCC won't allowed to be interfered with in such an undertaking) are that much more tightly packed, the whole thing becomes that much more difficult.

After describing what the process actually entails, he concludes: "I'm not suggesting this is impossible, or that the new manager doesn't have the best of intentions. But given the likelihood of this having in a reasonable timeframe, she might as well have stated that they're looking into the option of delivering caffeinated mocha directly to the mouths of listeners during their morning drive time. Ingenuous at best, her comments deal with something that is years away, if at all possible."

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