KNPR

Last updated

KNPR
Broadcast area Las Vegas metropolitan area
Frequency 88.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingNews 88.9 KNPR
Programming
Format Public Radio and talk
Subchannels
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner Nevada Public Radio
KCNV, KBGZ, KLNR, KTPH, KVNV, KWPR
History
First air date
March 24, 1980 (1980-03-24)
Former frequencies
89.5 MHz (1980–2003)
Call sign meaning
Nevada Public Radio
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 79047
Class C
ERP 22,000 watts
HAAT 1,190 meters (3,900 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 35°57′55″N115°30′02″W / 35.9652°N 115.5005°W / 35.9652; -115.5005
Translator See § Translators
Repeater See § Repeaters
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website knpr.org

KNPR (88.9 FM, "News 88.9") is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is owned by Nevada Public Radio, and it airs news and talk programming from NPR and other public radio networks. As a sister station to classical music station KCNV (89.7 FM), the two stations share studios at the Donald W. Reynolds Broadcast Center on the West Charleston campus of the College of Southern Nevada on South Torrey Pines Drive in west Las Vegas.

Contents

KNPR's transmitter is on Potosi Mountain in Blue Diamond. Programming is simulcast on a network of repeater stations and FM translators throughout Nevada. KNPR broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 subchannel carries the signal of KCNV and its HD3 subchannel carries jazz and other music from KUNV, owned by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and broadcast from its School of Journalism.

History

A group of Las Vegas-area residents started Nevada Public Radio in 1975 as a non-profit organization, wanting to bring public radio to the state. It sought a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission to build a station. [2]

KNPR signed on the air on March 24, 1980. [3] It was founded by Lamar Marchese. [2] KNPR was the first NPR member station in Nevada; KUNR in Reno signed on in 1963 but did not join NPR until 1981. [4]

In its early years, KNPR carried a mix of NPR news programs along with classical music. At first it broadcast at 89.5 MHz. The studios were located along Boulder Highway on the property of Sam Boyd Stadium. The station was powered at 7,500 watts, one-third of its current output. [5]

By the early 2000s, Nevada Public Radio wanted to have two stations to serve both audiences, those who wanted to hear news and information and those who preferred classical music. In 2003, KNPR moved to 88.9 and switched to a full time news and talk format. Classical music moved to a new sister station, KCNV at 89.7. [6] In 2005, Nevada Public Radio acquired an additional transmitter, KSGU at St. George, Utah, [7] but later sold it to the Educational Media Foundation in 2020. [8]

Programming

KNPR carries a news and information format with most shows provided by NPR and other public radio networks. Weekday programs include Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, Here and Now, The World and Marketplace . The BBC World Service runs overnight and for one hour at midday. KNPR produces a local hour of interviews and talk, State of Nevada, hosted by Joe Schoenmann. It is broadcast live at 9 a.m. and is repeated at 7 p.m.

NPR also publishes a magazine about Nevada living, Desert Companion.

Repeaters

Call sign Frequency City of license FID FCC info
KLKR89.3 FM Elko, Nevada 174342 LMS
KWPR88.7 FM Lund, Nevada 90472 LMS
KLNR91.7 FM Panaca, Nevada 48350 LMS
KVNV 89.1 FM Sun Valley, Nevada 172600 LMS
KTPH91.7 FM Tonopah, Nevada 48356 LMS

Translators

Call sign Frequency City of license FID FCC info
K219LM91.7 FM Lake Havasu City, Arizona 48355 LMS
K201AD88.1 FM China Lake, Etc., California 28593 LMS
K219AV91.7 FM Beatty, Nevada 49873 LMS
K208BB89.5 FM Laughlin, Etc., Nevada 48353 LMS
K201HX88.1 FM Mesquite, Nevada 48357 LMS
K210ET89.9 FM Moapa, Etc., Nevada 48352 LMS
K207CY89.3 FM Round Mountain, Nevada 92879 LMS
K201BF88.1 FM Scotty's Junction, Nevada 49874 LMS

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KNPR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. 1 2 Lamar and Patricia Marchese Papers, 1959-2015. MS-00884 . (2023). Las Vegas: Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Nevada Radio" (PDF). Broadcasting and Cablecasting Yearbook: A Directory of Radio and Cable Stations in the United States and Canada. 1984. pp. B-161. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Van Hoozer, Natalie (November 15, 2023). "KUNR FAQ: Answers to community questions about the station". KUNR . Archived from the original on October 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ Morrison, Jane Ann (April 2, 2007). "KNPR Pioneer was One Man in Las Vegas Who Wasn't Full of Hot Air". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Archived from the original on June 4, 2017.
  6. ↑ Baird, Kirk (October 20, 2003). "Station to Station: News, Classical Music Lovers Benefit from KNPR/KCEV Move on Oct. 31". Las Vegas Sun . Archived from the original on April 5, 2025.
  7. ↑ Baird, Kirk (March 23, 2005). "Open to the Public". Las Vegas Sun . Archived from the original on July 24, 2025.
  8. ↑ Jacobson, Adam (April 3, 2020). "An NPR Sale In Southern Utah Home". Radio + Television Business Report. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020.
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