WCPE

Infobox Radio station
name = WCPE-FM


city = Raleigh, North Carolina
area =
branding = "The Classical Station"
slogan =
airdate =
frequency = 89.7 (MHz)
format = Classical
power = 96,700 watts
erp =
class = C (WCPE, affiliates generally class A)
HAAT = 359 meters
facility_id = 18831
coordinates = coord|35|56|25|N|78|28|45|W|type:landmark
former_callsigns =
owner = Educational Information Corp.
webcast = [http://www.theclassicalstation.org/listen.shtml www.theclassicalstation.org/listen.shtml]
website = [http://www.theclassicalstation.org www.theclassicalstation.org]
affiliations =

WCPE-FM is a private classical music radio station broadcasting in the United States out of studios near Wake Forest, North Carolina. Broadcasting from Raleigh, North Carolina on 89.7 FM at 100000 watts, the station went on the air July 17, 1978 and switched to a 24-hour classical music format in 1984. The station has obtained a construction permit from the FCC for a power increase to 4,500 watts. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WZPE |title=WZPE Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ] [cite web|url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SU08&band=fm&callLetter=WZPE|title=WZPE Station Information Profile|publisher=Arbitron]

WCPE's main signal extends from the South Carolina state line to the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, and some parts of Charlotte, North Carolina as well.

Overview

Despite its seeming connection to composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, WCPE's call letters don't stand for anything in particular; the station simply did not have the money to petition the FCC for a specific set of call letters, but was happy with the result.

WCPE has an extensive network of affiliate radio stations across both central and eastern North Carolina and in ten states in the U.S. It can be also be heard on cable television systems, on free-to-air (open format) "small dish" home satellite systems via the AMC-1 satellites, and around the world via six streaming audio formats on the Internet, including mp3, Ogg Vorbis, QuickTime, Real Audio, iTunes, and WMA. The station also streams via IPv6. Listening options and instructions are at [http://theclassicalstation.org/listen.shtml http://theclassicalstation.org/listen.shtml] .

It also distributes its classical music format to affiliate stations as a service entitled "Great Classical Music." It is made available to these stations via the communications methods listed above. Distribution rights and rebroadcast consent to cable systems, broadcast stations, private systems - any legal communications entity (even cruise ships at sea) - is free without cost or obligation. The [http://www.theclassicalstation.org/rebroadcast_consent.shtml consent letter] is available on the WCPE website.

As of December, 2007 WCPE has lost access to its C-Band (Big dish) transponder. [http://theclassicalstation.org/guide/home_sweet_home.shtml]

WCPE was the first public radio station in the nation to broadcast its programming on the Internet and one of the few radio stations in the United States to broadcast a dedicated, non-commercial classical music format. WCPE is 100% run by listener donations and is not funded by a government or other civic organization.

Location and farmland

Few of the WCPE announcers who work at the station were born in the "Old South". The WCPE studios are located in a heavily-wooded rural area near Rolesville and Wake Forest. The 80-acre grounds once housed a dilapidated farmhouse. WCPE gave orders to clear the property for the building of the station's facilities and tower. The full amount of land is needed to accommodate the guy wires for the 1,200 foot transmitting tower.

WCPE Translators

*88.9 FM Foxfire, North Carolina 27 watts
*88.3 FM Aberdeen/Pinehurst 80 watts
*89.9 FM New Bern, North Carolina 120 watts
*90.1 FM Bath, North Carolina 675 watts
*WURI 90.9 FM Manteo, North Carolina 3900 watts
*97.3 FM Greenville, North Carolina 10 watts
*WBUX 90.5 FM Buxton, North Carolina 5900 watts
*95.3 FM Fayetteville, North Carolina 10 watts
*106.3 FM Bassett Forks, Virginia 10 watts
*102.9 FM Danville, Virginia 38 watts
*93.7 FM Kinston, North Carolina 27 Watts

WCPE affliates

Portions of WCPE's programming can also be heard on these stations:

Kansas

* KBTL-FM 88.1 El Dorado - various

Illinois

* WLNX 88.9 FM Lincoln - 24 hours

Michigan

* WCHW 91.3 FM Bay City M-F, 7 p.m. - 7:50 a.m, all day Saturday and Sunday

* WHPS 89.1 FM WarrenM-F - 9 p.m.-6:30 a.m, all day Saturday and Sunday, and during student vacations

* Holy Name of Jesus Radio, Wyoming (suburb of Grand Rapids) - various

Nevada

* KQMC 90.1 FM Hawthorne, Nevada 24 hours

Ohio

*WMCO 90.7 FM, New Concord M-F 12 p.m. - 3 p.m, and midnight - 3 a.m.

Oklahoma

*KCSC 89.9 FM, Oklahoma City11 p.m. - 6 a.m, daily.
*KBCW-FM, Muskogee, Oklahoma11 p.m. - 6 a.m. daily

Texas

*KMBH 88.9 FM, Harlingen, TexasMon-Sat, 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.
*KHID 88.1 FM, McAllenMon-Sat, 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.

West Virginia

*WVBC 88.1 FM, Bethany10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
*103.5 FM, DurbinTue-Sat, 10 p.m. -6 a.m.

Virginia

*WCHG 107.1 FM, Hot SpringsTue-Sat 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.
*WVLS 89.7 FM, Monterey, VirginiaTue-Sat 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.

External links

* [http://www.theclassicalstation.org/ WCPE website]
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