RIPR has dedicated reporters covering specific beats, including Politics, Health Care, Education, the Environment, and Arts & Culture. RIPR also produces local segments including:
Political Roundtable with Ian Donnis every Friday morning.
Weekly Catch a half-hour weekly roundup of the top stories, every Friday afternoon.
Artscape, a weekly look at the arts & culture scene in Rhode Island.
In addition to the main studio at 1 Union Station in downtown Providence, TPR also operates three local news bureaus:
South Coast, with Ben Berke, based in downtown Fall River, covering the South Coast region.
Newport, located at Washington Square in downtown Newport, covering Aquidneck Island and Jamestown.
Each bureau has a permanently-assigned, full-time bureau reporter, and a fully-soundproofed recording booth for interviews, live broadcasts, and similar projects.
The network's primary signal, WNPN (89.3 FM) in Newport, broadcasts from the old WLNE-TV tower in Tiverton and covers most of Rhode Island and the Massachusetts South Coast. It is the tallest active FM broadcast transmitter in Rhode Island (measured in height above sea level).
Smaller repeater signals provide additional coverage in Providence (W275DA, WPVD), Portsmouth (WNPH) and South County (WNPE).
From October 2011 until September 2021, RIPR's content was simulcast on WELH (88.1 FM) in Providence, RI.[1]
From April 2011 until April 2021, RIPR's content was simulcast on WCVY (91.5 FM) in Coventry, RI.[2]
The network's programming is also available on i3 Broadband Digital Cable channel 799 in Bristol, Warren and Barrington.
Technology
WNPN transmits using a Nautel GV15 transmitter with 10,187 watts transmitter power output (TPO) to make 7,000 watts effective radiated power (ERP). A Shivley Labs 6016 four-panel antenna array is used; the antenna is fairly directional, with nulls to avoid prohibited interference to/from WQPH (89.3 FM) Shirley, Massachusetts, to the north-northwest, and to WPKT (89.1 FM) Norwich, Connecticut, to the west-southwest. An Omnia 9 FM/HD processor from The Telos Alliance is used to keep audio levels consistent. The station broadcasts in digital HD Radio, and the BBC World Service is transmitted on the HD2 of WNPN.[11] A 67kHz subcarrier is transmitted for the Massachusetts Radio Reading ServiceAudible Local Ledger.
HD Radio
WNPN broadcasts in HD Radio, simulcasting the analog signal on the HD1 channel.
WNPH, WNPE, WNPW, WPVD and W275DA do not broadcast in HD Radio.
From March 2013 until February 2018, MVYradio leased the HD2 multicast channel of WNPE to broadcast a modified content stream of WMVY (88.7 FM) on Martha's Vineyard, which could also be heard on W243AI (96.5 FM), a lower powered FM translator transmitting from the roof of Newport Hospital.[12] Afterwards, WNPE discontinued the HD2 broadcast, but continued HD Radio operations for its main HD1 channel.
History
Boston University
In the 1990s, a group of Rhode Islanders formed the "Foundation for Ocean State Public Radio" to bring a local public radio station to the state. Clare Gregorian was described as the "driving force" behind the idea.[13] At the time, Rhode Island was the only state in New England (traditionally one of the bedrocks of support for NPR) and one of only two in the entire country (the other being Delaware) that did not have a full-service NPR station within its borders. Most of the state got at least a grade B signal from Boston's 89.7 WGBH and Providence is within WGBH's city-grade signal. Many in Rhode Island could also receive 90.9 WBUR. But both stations focus primarily on Boston and its suburbs.
After a few years of looking, they found a partner in Boston University, owner of WBUR. BU agreed to buy WRCP (1290 AM), a 5,000-watt station that had been on the air since 1947. The price tag was $1.9million. The foundation conducted a statewide drive to help raise the funds. For many years, 1290 AM had been known as WICE, but switched to Portuguese language programming as WRCP in 1983.
WRNI and WXNI
On May 1, 1998, WRCP's call sign changed to WRNI, and the license was officially transferred. The new owner was the "WRNI Foundation," a separate fundraising group set up by WBUR to handle local underwriting.
Even though BU doubled WRNI's transmission power to 10,000 watts, its signal was not strong enough to reach the southern and western portion of the state. Accordingly, in 1999, BU bought WERI (1230 AM) in Westerly, which had been on the air since 1949. BU changed WERI's call letters to WXNI, and made it a full-time satellite of WRNI. The station brought a city-grade NPR signal to southern Rhode Island for the first time.
BU and WBUR had big plans for WRNI at first. It moved WRNI from its longtime studio on Douglas Avenue to a state-of-the-art facility at Union Station. It also started a daily two-hour local news magazine, One Union Station.[14] There were plans to set up a third station to fill the gaps in WXNI's 1,000-watt signal.[15]
However, budget problems brought on by the September 11, 2001 attacks forced One Union Station's cancellation. It was replaced with a one-hour news magazine but that was also canceled in 2004. At that point, WRNI's local operations were significantly cut back, with most of the station's staff either laid off or transferred to Boston. As a result, WRNI's schedule became almost identical to that of WBUR.
Controversy over sale of 1290 AM
On September 17, 2004, with no advance warning, WBUR Group general manager Jane Christo announced that WRNI and WXNI were being put up for sale. She wouldn't give any specifics, only saying that it was time for Rhode Islanders to buy the stations if they wanted to keep NPR programming in the state.[14] WBUR claimed that it never planned to operate WRNI on a long-term basis, and had only intended to help develop it into a self-sustaining service.[15]
The reaction in Rhode Island was negative. In an editorial, The Providence Journal said that WBUR had made numerous long-term commitments to WRNI. The Journal claimed that if the station's local backers had to buy WRNI, it would be tantamount to buying the station twice.[16]
On September 27, BU interim president Aram Chobanian delayed the sale of WRNI and WXNI, citing concerns raised by both Lynch and Rhode Island GovernorDon Carcieri. Memos obtained by The Boston Globe revealed that WBUR felt the Rhode Island stations were money bleeders, and had decided to either lease or sell the stations at the earliest opportunity.[18] The furor over the WRNI sale was one factor in Christo's resignation almost a month later.[19]
In June 2005, BU took WRNI and WXNI off the market. It promised to hire a full-time general manager based in Providence, and also stepped-up local news coverage. As a result, Lynch closed his investigation in November 2006.[17]
Independence from WBUR
On March 21, 2007, WBUR announced that it was selling WRNI to "Rhode Island Public Radio" (formerly the Foundation for Ocean State Public Radio) for $2million. Rhode Island Public Radio also announced it was buying WAKX (102.7 FM) in Narragansett Pier from the Davidson Media Group to serve as a repeater for WRNI in southern Rhode Island.[20] WAKX, which signed on in 1989, had been a smooth jazz station. As part of the sale agreement, BU agreed to provide engineering and programming assistance to RIPR for five years.
RIPR officially took control of WAKX on May 17, 2007. The call sign was changed to WRNI-FM. The addition of WRNI-FM made WXNI redundant, and BU sold that station separately to Diponti Communications, which renamed it WBLQ. RIPR took control of WRNI on September 1, 2008.
RIPR registered the domain name ripr.org on February 13, 2007; the site was live as of June 2007.
Migration to FM
The Public's Radio Studio A, where local newscasts originate daily.
RIPR recognized the long-term challenges of public radio on the AM dial.[21] There was a general expectation by listeners that public radio stations transmit on the noncommercial end of the FM band (88.1-91.9MHz). In 2011 WRNI began to expand into a statewide network of FM signals. Accordingly, it also began branding itself exclusively as "Rhode Island Public Radio".
July 2011 (WCVY): RIPR entered an agreement with WCVY (91.5 FM), which is owned and operated by Coventry High School and covers the Kent County region. Previously, because WCVY did not broadcast 24/7, they had been forced, under FCC rule 73.561(b), to "share-time" 16 hours per day of the frequency with the now-defunct religious station WRJI. After WRJI lost its license, RIPR assisted WCVY in "reclaiming" the frequency for 24/7 operation. With the 2011 agreement, WCVY aired its own student-created programming on weekdays from 2-8p.m. when school is in session, and The Public's Radio filled the remainder of the time to avoid another "share-time" challenge.[22] The lease agreement ended in April 2021 and WCVY left the network.[23]
October 2011 (WELH): RIPR signed a 10-year lease with The Wheeler School, a K-12 private day school and owner of WELH (88.1 FM).[24] RIPR's content would be heard 24/7 on 88.1 in Providence except for a student-produced sports talk program midnight-3 Saturday mornings. The remainder of Wheeler's student media was migrated to internet radio and, more recently, to internet video projects. As part of this new lease, the previous lease tenants on 88.1, Brown Student Radio, and Latino Public Radio, each broadcasting a limited number of hours each day, were displaced:
BSR began an internet radio station "BSRlive" and, in January 2015, was granted an FCC license for an LPFM station, WBRU-LP, on 101.1 FM in Providence, in conjunction with Providence Community Radio and AS220.[25][26]
Latino Public Radio signed a lease with RIPR to broadcast on RIPR's 1290 AM signal, WRNI,[27][28] and moved to 1290 AM the same day RIPR moved to 88.1 FM. In addition to allowing LPR to broadcast 24/7, it also gave them a larger signal.[29]
In part because of W275DA coming on the air, RIPR elected not to renew the 10-year lease of WELH upon its expiration. On September 30, 2021, WELH reverted to Wheeler School-created programming.
July 2017 (WXNI): RIPR announced a deal in January 2017 with the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth to purchase WUMD (89.3 FM).[30][31][32][33] The deal included a move and expansion of the existing signal from the UMass Dartmouth campus to a taller tower in Tiverton. The station's FCC city of license was changed from North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to Newport, Rhode Island. While not quite a "statewide" signal, the new 89.3 will provide one, single frequency that all the Narragansett Bay and South Coast communities can tune to hear the network. On June 26, 2017, "WUMD" ended at noon and transitioned to an online-only station; the 89.3 signal went dark for two weeks to add new studio/transmitter link equipment. 89.3 returned to the airwaves at 10 p.m. on July 11, 2017, as "WXNI", simulcasting RIPR programming.
September 2018 (WNPN): Construction quickly began to expand 89.3 by refurbishing the old WLNE tower,[34] and a "license to cover" was applied for with the FCC on August 2, 2018[35] indicating imminent operation from the new facility. On September 1, 2018, WNPN began transmitting full-time from the Tiverton facility. The move roughly doubles the coverage of the original facility, adding 700,000 new listeners in Rhode Island and the South Coast.
September 2021 (WNPH): after the Portsmouth Abbey School returned the license for WJHD to the FCC, RIPR asked them to rescind the license deletion and purchased it on November 26, 2021, for $7500 plus technical assistance in their "podcast studio". The call letters were changed to WNPK and an application filed[36] to move 90.7 off-campus to a tower in South Kingstownnear the University of Rhode Island, greatly expanding the signal. At the moment, the now-WNPH operates at a low power while waiting for the FCC to approve its application to move to a new tower in and greatly expand the signal.
October 2021 (W275DA): at the end of September, repeater station W275DA begins broadcasting on 102.9FM in Providence from high atop the WPRO-FM tower on Neutaconkanut Hill. Concordantly, the lease on WELH is not renewed.
December 2021 (WPVD): to avoid significant looming infrastructure repair costs and ongoing operating expenses, WPVD 1290AM is modified from 10,000 watts directional (4 towers) to 400 watts day / 16 watts night (1 tower).
Rebranding to The Public's Radio
In October 2018, to reflect its expanded audience, the network rebranded as The Public's Radio. According to CEO Torey Malatia, branding as merely a Rhode Island service was no longer accurate since it now served Massachusetts as well. After seriously considering rebranding to "Southern New England Public Radio", the network decided it was best to choose an identity "based on what we do as opposed to our zip code."[37] However, the corporate name remains Rhode Island Public Radio.
Merger with Rhode Island PBS TV
On November 9, 2023, The Public's Radio announced its intention to merge with WSBE-TV, Rhode Island's PBS station.[38]
The merger was approved in April 2024 and finalized in June 2024.[39]
Subsequent to the merger, new CEO Pam Johnston was announced on July 16, 2024.[40] She formerly took office in August. She is the third leader of independent radio operations in Rhode Island, following Torey Malatia and Joe O'Connor.
WBUR-FM is a public radio station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Boston University. Its programming is also known as WBUR News. The station is the largest of three NPR member stations in Boston, along with WGBH and WUMB-FM and produces nationally distributed programs, including On Point and Here and Now. WBUR previously produced Car Talk, Only a Game, Open Source, and The Connection. Radio Boston, launched in 2007, is its only purely local show. WBUR's positioning statement is "Boston's NPR News Station". The station's transmitter is located in Needham, while its studio is located on the Boston University campus.
WFCR is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Amherst, Massachusetts. It serves as the National Public Radio (NPR) member station for Western Massachusetts, including Springfield. The station operates at 13,000 watts ERP from a transmitter on Mount Lincoln in Pelham, Massachusetts, 968 feet above average terrain. The University of Massachusetts Amherst holds the license. The station airs NPR news programs during the morning and afternoon drive times and in the early evening. Middays and overnights are devoted to classical music and jazz is heard during the later evening hours.
WMVY is a non-commercial community-oriented radio station based in the town of Tisbury, Massachusetts, and licensed to serve Edgartown, both on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The station is owned by Friends of Mvyradio, Inc., and broadcasts an adult album alternative format.
WTKL is a radio station in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It is an owned-and-operated station of the national K-Love Contemporary Christian network, covering the South Coast of Massachusetts from a tower located on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
WHJY is a commercial mainstream rock iHeartRadio station in Providence, Rhode Island. WHJY has been a rock station since September 4, 1981.
WHCN is a commercial radio station licensed to Hartford, Connecticut. It broadcasts a classic hits radio format for the Hartford, Waterbury and New Haven areas, and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It is branded "The River 105.9", a reference to the Connecticut River. Its studios and offices are located on Columbus Boulevard in Hartford.
WNWR is a commercial radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching format and is owned by Wilkins Broadcasting LLC. Program hosts include Jim Daly, John MacArthur, Greg Laurie and Charles Capps. The studios are at 200 Monument Road, Suite 6, in Bala Cynwyd.
KCBX is a non-commercial radio station that is licensed to San Luis Obispo, California. The public radio station is a member station of NPR and airs a wide variety of programming, including All Things Considered, Democracy Now!, and jazz and classical music.
WELH is a radio station owned by The Wheeler School of Providence, Rhode Island. Originally signing on in January 1995 with a pop alternative format and a line up of student DJs, WWKX veterans including Kickin Al Snape, a young Robby Bridges and others as "WELH: Taking Music to New Heights". In 1996 the station moved to a modern rock format programmed by student DJs as "Extreme 88", and later jazz and oldies, eventually offering programming from various groups. From October 8, 2011 until September 30, 2021, WELH broadcast programming from Rhode Island Public Radio. Beginning in October 2021, the station has broadcast a primarily classic alternative format supplemented by radio shows from Wheeler School students on weeknights and electronic dance music during portions of the weekend.
WPVD is a public radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. It is owned by Rhode Island Public Radio. The station simulcasts WNPN 89.3 FM.
WGBH is a public radio station located in Boston, Massachusetts. WGBH is a member station of National Public Radio (NPR) and affiliate of Public Radio Exchange (PRX) and American Public Media (APM). The license-holder is WGBH Educational Foundation, which also owns company flagship WGBH-TV and WGBX-TV, along with WGBY-TV in Springfield.
WBLQ is a radio station licensed to serve Westerly, Rhode Island. The station is owned by DiPonti Communications. Its programming is also carried on FM translator W276DF (103.1).
WDOM is a radio station licensed to Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The station is owned by Providence College and broadcasts from studios and a transmitter on the campus.
WSKP is an AM radio station licensed to Hope Valley, Rhode Island. The station is owned by John Fuller's Red Wolf Broadcasting Corporation and airs an oldies radio format. WSKP operates as part of the "Kool Radio" simulcast, along with 990 WNTY in Southington, Connecticut, and formerly with 1270 WACM in Springfield, Massachusetts.
WADK is a radio station licensed to serve Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The station is owned by 3G Broadcasting, Inc. It airs a business news/talk format, with jazz airing each weekend.
WCVY is a local student-run high school radio station in Coventry, Rhode Island that broadcasts on 91.5 FM. The station is owned by Coventry Public Schools of Rhode Island, and broadcasts from Coventry High School. The station broadcasts a combination of adult album alternative (AAA) and modern rock music formats.
WNPN is a radio station broadcasting an NPR news/talk format. It is the flagship broadcast outlet for The Public's Radio. Its official community of license is Newport, Rhode Island, but from a tall tower in Tiverton the signal covers most of Rhode Island and the South Coast of Massachusetts. It also has repeater stations WNPE in Narragansett Pier and WPVD in Providence. The network provides the sole local public radio outlet for Rhode Island.
WRNI may refer to:
WGTX is an AM radio station licensed to West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and serving Cape Cod. It is owned by GCJH, Inc. and broadcasts a classic hits format as a simulcast of WGTX-FM (102.3) in Truro.
WNPE is a public radio station, providing programming from The Public's Radio to southern Rhode Island from its transmitter at Narragansett Pier. It was the first FM transmitter in the network. Prior to operating noncommercially, the 102.7 facility was a commercial radio station from its sign-on in 1990 to 2007.
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