Western North Carolina Public Radio

Western North Carolina Public Radio, Inc. (WNCPRI), is a nonprofit organization that serves the western part of North Carolina through its public radio services. The organization operates under the umbrella of Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR), offering a dual-format public radio service to the region.

History

Western North Carolina Public Radio was incorporated in 1979. Initially, it provided funding to support the operation of a noncommercial radio station at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. By 1984, WNCPRI acquired the station, which was then known as WUNF-FM, and renamed it WCQS. The station expanded its program offerings to include classical, jazz, and traditional music, as well as National Public Radio (NPR) programming by 1985.

Throughout the 1980s, WCQS increased its broadcast power and added translators to serve a wider area, including counties in western North Carolina. This expansion included the installation of translators in Waynesville and Clyde in 1986, and further coverage in Sylva, Dillsboro, Cullowhee, and Webster by 1987.

Developments

By the late 1980s, WNCPRI continued to expand its services, installing a high-powered repeater near Franklin to serve Macon, Clay, Graham, Swain, and Cherokee counties. In the 1990s, the organization raised funds for a new transmitter and increased its programming offerings.

In 2007, a major fundraising campaign concluded successfully, supporting digital upgrades and translator services. The organization added new frequencies over time, including WYQS in Mars Hill, which initially broadcast BBC and NPR content.

Rebranding and Format Change

In 2017, WCQS and its associated stations rebranded as Blue Ridge Public Radio. As part of this change, WCQS became BPR Classic, focusing on classical music and NPR programming, while WYQS launched as BPR News, providing full-time news and talk content. In 2022, BPR announced a format swap between WCQS and WYQS, shifting BPR News to WCQS and its satellites, and moving BPR Classic to WYQS and WZQS.

Mission and Values

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Western North Carolina Public Radio aims to inform, inspire, connect, and reflect the people and places of Western North Carolina through its content. The organization values non-partisan editorial practices, editorial integrity, excellence, openness to diverse ideas, respectful relationships, and transparent stewardship of its resources. It strives to create an inclusive environment serving diverse communities in the region.

Programming

The organization's programming includes extensive local, national, and international news coverage through BPR News, as well as enriching cultural content and music through BPR Classic. This dual format allows the organization to cater to a wide range of interests and needs within its service area.