Wisconsin Public Radio

Infobox Network
network_name = Wisconsin Public Radio
network_
network_type = Public Radio Network
airdate = April 1979
country = USA
available = Wisconsin
Elgin, Illinois
founded = 1970
key_people =
foundation = [http://wpra.org/ Wisconsin Public Radio Association]
owner = University of Wisconsin System & University of Wisconsin-Extension
launch_date = April 1921
past_names =
affiliations = National Public Radio
former_affiliations =
website = [http://www.wpr.org/ www.wpr.org]

Wisconsin Public Radio is a network of 27 radio stations in the state of Wisconsin. WPR's network is divided into two distinct services, the "Ideas Network" and the "NPR News and Classical Network", plus a digital-only full-time classical service.

Ideas Network

The "Ideas Network", is devoted mostly to discussion and call-in shows, with a focus on the state of Wisconsin and issues involving the state; the name of the network, along with the philosophy of the network, comes from the Wisconsin Idea concept associated with the UW System.

The Ideas Network airs locally-produced talk programming throughout weekday daytimes. Other weekday programs include "On Point", the CBC's "As It Happens", and overnight, the BBC World Service. On the weekend it airs WPR-produced shows such as "Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?" and "To the Best of our Knowledge". Weekends also include NPR/PRI/APM entertainment programming such as "Car Talk", "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" and "A Prairie Home Companion".

The flagship station of the Ideas Network is
WHA 970 AM in Madison, the oldest radio station in Wisconsin, with programming also originating from the Milwaukee studios of Delafield licensed WHAD-FM.

NPR News and Classical Network

The "NPR News and Classical Network" devotes itself primarily to broadcasting classical music, but carries National Public Radio's programs "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered".

The flagship station of the NPR News and Classical Network is WERN in
Madison.

Digital Services and Internet Streaming

The "HD Classical Network" service, is available through the HD Radio subchannel of the News and Classical stations along with via the Internet, and features music in HD Radio's CD-quality audio.

All three services are broadcast on the Internet through the Windows Media, Real, and streaming MP3 formats along with streaming WPR program archives in Real, while downloadable versions of WPR shows in MP3 are only available to WPR members who have contributed to the network.

Network stations

WPR's stations are licensed to several different organizations. Most stations belong to either the University of Wisconsin System and are administered by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, or to the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, a state agency. Other stations are affiliates, owned by local schools or colleges. The network's headquarters is located on the Madison campus, but a substantial amount of programming originates from studios in Milwaukee, and all of the regional studios originate some local programming. Not all UW-owned stations are part of the network; some are student-run, and others, like WUWM, are independently-operated public stations. Two high school radio stations (which includes a station in the northwest Chicago suburb of Elgin which does not reach the Wisconsin state line) carry the network outside of school hours, while a station in Wausau is split-licensed with another non-commercial public radio operation.

Wisconsin Public Radio shows with national distribution

*"Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?"
*"To the Best of Our Knowledge"
*"Zorba Paster On Your Health"
*"Calling All Pets"
*"Tent Show Radio"

See also

* National Public Radio
* Wisconsin Public Television
* Wisconsin Educational Communications Board

External links

* [http://www.wpr.org/ Wisconsin Public Radio]
* [http://www.wpra.org/ Wisconsin Public Radio Association]